4.6 stroker compatability

redrider2911

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Yakima, WA
Im getting ready to build my first budget stroker and was wanting to make sure everything is compatible. I'll make a list of what I have and if anyone else can tell me what i need to make it a successful build? any cam or ecu problems I might run into, ect...

87 wagoneer (xj)
4.0 HO Block, head and intake

258 crank and piston rods out of a 84 concord (i believe)
block cast # 3227445

all going into a 94 cherokee usiing its exhause and header.

is there anything special i will need to do? and what cam would you guys recommend.
 
I know that these questions probably sound stupid and pointless but this is actually my first ever rebuild also. I just would like to know what kind of problems i should expect and how to take care of them if they happen to me. I just couldnt see doing a plain stock rebuild when i was able to get the crank and rods out of a salvage yard for only 70 dollars!
 
i can see what it would run me to pick one up but is it necassary? will it run that much better with it. i thought the H.O. intake was a good intake?
 
well that would be nice. I can actually probably get one here in yakima for alot cheaper. that extra 15 would be nice but will it match up with the H.o. head? cause i heard that the head and intake were to two things different on my engine. lile the ports were actually raised up a little to make for a more gradual flow. sorry im just learning all this stuff. what about the rest of it? i can use stock 4.0 pistons +.04, stock crank bearings, harmonic balancer, and flywheel? I was considering going with the comp cams complete kit k68-232-4. any other suggestions on a good cam and or kit. or good cheap parts to complete the build if i use the comp kit. bearings, gaskets, oil pump, ect... thank you for your help.
 
well that would be nice. I can actually probably get one here in yakima for alot cheaper. that extra 15 would be nice but will it match up with the H.o. head? cause i heard that the head and intake were to two things different on my engine. lile the ports were actually raised up a little to make for a more gradual flow. sorry im just learning all this stuff. what about the rest of it? i can use stock 4.0 pistons +.04, stock crank bearings, harmonic balancer, and flywheel? I was considering going with the comp cams complete kit k68-232-4. any other suggestions on a good cam and or kit. or good cheap parts to complete the build if i use the comp kit. bearings, gaskets, oil pump, ect... thank you for your help.



I have used comp cams in my last build, but only got 500 miles on it before i sold it. Its still running around town.It will work but you have to do some bracket changing. Because the 99+ power streeing hook up to the manafold and the 98 and below are on the fan bracket. You will need a spacer for the 4.2 crank becuase its longer then the 4.0. Im sure the people that have already made a stroker will know more. I'm going to be building one soon as i get home in a couple month or buy one from ATK.
 
The 99 intake will work fine on the 91-98 heads(0630 and 7120 ports match up). The ps pump from the 96-98s bolt on w/o modding. I wouldn't spend more than $100 on a complete one(can get them at my JY for $26 w/o fuel rail or tb). Buy the regular oil pump. Comp cams are good quality--talk to silverxj to get details about them. Get the crank checked out by a machinist and maybe get the rods shot-peened and arp bolts for them. Go visit www.jeepstrokers.com and do some research. My stroker was my first rebuild too.
 
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Go with the 68-231-4 Comp cam nif you are set on using comp cams. No reason to go with the 232 and the 231 will give you a bit more HP in the higher RPMs. They make decent cams, but they are a bit on the noisy side from the high ramp rates. If interested I have a CC 68-231-4 kit available. PM me.
 
well i was only interested in comp cams cause from what i've seen and heard they are the best cam for the cheapest money. I am confused about the cam you are talking about. the 231, according to their site is only for non fuel injeccted vehicles. since im definitely running fuel injection how does that work out? oh, the reason i am kinda set on the 232 is because im building a stroker for the low end torque, so wouldnt i want a cam that produces the most torque at a lower rpm. my thought is i want to pretty much idle around the trails and crawl up hills no problem. of course with added gears too...
 
That "not for fuel injection" Is just a blanket statement they use on cams with certain specs. I have ran the 231 in a stock 4.0L and a 4.6l stroker. As have other people. The 231 will behave like a 232 down low, but it will give you a bit more up high. You might also want to look at Lunati, Howard Cams, Isky, etc. for a cam. There are a lot of good companies out there, some better than Comp Cams.
 
well i got a 99 intake manafold off of seattle craigslist for 200 bucks compelte. its not necassary but its about 15HP added to the older engine

I hate to disappoint you but the '99+ intake isn't worth anywhere near 15hp compared to the '91-'98 intake. I did that intake swap on my 4.6 stroker and gained 2rwhp/4rwtq at the peaks (5rwtq maximum gain). MrShoeboy (Aaron Clements) gained 3rwhp/5rwtq doing the same swap on his 4.6 stroker so that gives you a real indication of what the '99+ intake swap is worth.
All the 15hp claims you hear banded around the www are bogus.
 
Still, with c4c Jeeps sitting in the junkyards, $20 isnt a bad price to pay for those few extra ponies, and doesnt it move the torque band lower and make it a little more broad?

One other thing I dont know if youve come across yet: get main bearings for the year of your engine block, and connecting rod bearings for your year crankshaft.

A lot of people (including me) have bought standard rebuild parts (gaskets, bearings, piston rings, oil pump) from Falcon on ebay. You can buy a la carte, so you dont get things you dont need. I ordered my stuff over the phone and though it was my first build too, they were very helpful in pointing me in the right direction. They even had stuff drop shipped to me from Israel.
 
IIRC the bearings for the 4.0L HO block fit all 4.0L HO blocks and the rod bearings are the same between 4.2L and 4.0L engines. Don't use the 4.2L bearings in a 4.0L block, if you buy a crankshaft kit for a 4.2L you will need to replace the crankshaft bearings.

x2 on Falcon on ebay.
 
I was going to order my rebuild kit from carter performance on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories will that be an alright kit minus the timing set then i was going to order the comp kit off there too. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Comp...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Comp...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

you just cant beat those prices can you? so what about this intake swap? anyone else have opinions or personal experience on if you notice the difference.
 
25 hp is equal to 3-5 rwhp

15-18% loss on a manual

so 3/.15 = 20 5/.15 = 33.3 also 5/.18 = 27.7

so 3-5 rwhp is the same as 20-33 hp give or take

so if you have a auto then your getting better then a 25hp gain if your achieving 3-5rwhp!
 
Im confused, the kit is for a 4.0 so why would the springs not work? Would they really put the wrong springs in there? And i was just using that timing set since it would be cheaper then using the other one with a small cam kit. and i have no idea what rwhp is but if im gaining that much horsepower i would say it would be worth it. I am driving an auto.
 
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