Found this in my oil pan! now engine swap to 03 tj
#1
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
Found this in my oil pan! now engine swap to 03 tj
so that noise ive been brushing off wasnt valve tap, no my friend it was piston slap!
i was driving to work and boom! slap got way worse. i took it straight to my buds house and started tearing it down. found chunks of #6 piston in the pan, took the head off, cylinder walls seem fine (havnt measured them yet) also found some wearing on the bearings. i figured .... well i already got all this going on, might as well pull the motor and find a new one. so 8 hours after the intense tick, i have located a 2003 tj 4.0 with 0 miles! from the line. awesome news, so i throw down the 1000 for the motor ( a steal in my book) i bring it back and get ready to swap some brackets and install , of course i jumped on the new motor without doing my research and my ac/alternator wont bolt up, water pump wont work and oil filter isnt bent toward the rear like our xj motors. after some measurements and bracket ideas, i think we can get it in there. i'll use the xj timing chain cover, xj water pump, and modify the xj brackets to bolt onto this tj motor. if anyone has experience or knows anyone swapping to a 2002+ tj let me know! worst case i'll find a way and show you guys all the details so know one has to measure this crap up again! i'll keep this thread updated!
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
I am going with the stroker! super pumped, i talked them down to 1200 from 1800 brand new, i'll start the install 2moro- i'll keep this thread updated
and i thought today was going to be a 'normal' day !
i was driving to work and boom! slap got way worse. i took it straight to my buds house and started tearing it down. found chunks of #6 piston in the pan, took the head off, cylinder walls seem fine (havnt measured them yet) also found some wearing on the bearings. i figured .... well i already got all this going on, might as well pull the motor and find a new one. so 8 hours after the intense tick, i have located a 2003 tj 4.0 with 0 miles! from the line. awesome news, so i throw down the 1000 for the motor ( a steal in my book) i bring it back and get ready to swap some brackets and install , of course i jumped on the new motor without doing my research and my ac/alternator wont bolt up, water pump wont work and oil filter isnt bent toward the rear like our xj motors. after some measurements and bracket ideas, i think we can get it in there. i'll use the xj timing chain cover, xj water pump, and modify the xj brackets to bolt onto this tj motor. if anyone has experience or knows anyone swapping to a 2002+ tj let me know! worst case i'll find a way and show you guys all the details so know one has to measure this crap up again! i'll keep this thread updated!
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
I am going with the stroker! super pumped, i talked them down to 1200 from 1800 brand new, i'll start the install 2moro- i'll keep this thread updated
and i thought today was going to be a 'normal' day !
Last edited by MASTERS; 03-24-2010 at 08:57 PM. Reason: STROKER !
#3
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Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
wow best of luck to you, I dont have an answer to your question though, sorry, I do however feel your pain. my 93 is pushing 200,000 and is making some interesting sounds these days. I cant wait to drop in a new engine, maybe v8 hmmmm... Good luck man.
#4
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
thats a good question! im not sure, it had 160k on it, i stuff its mouth with good quality lubricants, i guess someones got to have bad luck, this month its my turn
#5
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Year: Jeepless at the moment
I just had this happen to my 99 with the #3 Piston, I pulled the head on monday looks like it just came apart no damage to the rod just when the piston got between the crank and the block it pushed the piston out of the block.
#7
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
I havnt looked into the damage it did on my original motor, I I've a brand new original 4.0 from the factory line back in 03 waiting to go in, but today I ran into another brand new but stroked from the same seller, might upgrade to that
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#8
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Year: 1996 Limited
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
I feel your pain. I had my #6 piston slam right into the valves and shattered everywhere and cracked the cylinder. ( I bought it that way) I wish I had an answer for you but Ill look around a little and see.
#10
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Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
swap all the brackets from the xj motor onto the tj motor, buy a new xj filter screen and pump seal kit, swap that in, and put your xj oil pan on it.
done.
don't waste your tiime retrofitting anything to work with the TJ bracketry.
done.
don't waste your tiime retrofitting anything to work with the TJ bracketry.
#13
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
You know what they say...When the time is right, stroke it . Right now is the perfect opportunity, so I would go with the stroker. A couple extra horsies and a perfect sleeper.
#14
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
problem is the motor is 2003 tj, so none of the xj brackets will mount in the tj. but as of a couple hours ago, im going the stroker route so no problems!
thanks for the input tho
#15
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6L Stroker
BTW i now have a 03 tj long block .......... $> ?