I have really heard some crazy answers. I am a "newbie", but I have owned like 10 jeeps and have swapped my share of engines.

A cracked head is the most common need fof a jeep rebuild. It can be easier to just swap it out than almost anything else.

It is cheap and easy to just buy a used motor off craigslist and swap it. 300-600 and ur rollin'. There are tonz of used motors out there.

If you are looking for mor power, find a 4.0 HO and slap on an intake and exhaust and ur rockin'. I did that to my 99 TJ after a hydro-lok.

I put a "jasper" motor in my 1990 and it is very strong. I think it was 1700 a couple years ago.

If you are going stroker, go with a warranty. A home-built stroker is only a little cheaper that what you can buy one for now. A 4.6 will run ya anout 2700-3000. I bought a 4.9 stroker for my current XJ (3800) and it ROCKS!!! Very Powerful!!!

A V8 swap into an XJ is crazy risky because of the ammount of stress to the UB unless it is totally a trail rig. Even then, it's wicked hard to get all the kinks out.

 

do have to agree with that, but how bad *** would it be to have that much power behind a cherokee? I mean the power/weight ratio would be rediculous

 

I've been thowing this idea around too, as I am looking at a swap/rebuild myself.

Kneejerk reaction was to get a new engine. Picked up a whole running drivetrain for $500, but it's a 89 renix, and I'm putting it into a 93... I'm still trying to figure out what issues I'm going to have with the cooling system.

Anyway, the old engine may end up rebuilt as a stroker, but I'm having trouble finding the parts! The one I want to go with is the 'low CR' (compression ratio) version for the low power, as discribed here:

http://www.ajeepthing.com/stroker-motor.html

A lot will depend on what you have availible in your area. I can find a 4.2l for anything. Saw one once, in pieces, rusting in a pile, useless.

In the '91, the head is the best part of it, and the core of any high power build. The 99-01 intake is a good addition, but only if you add good injectors.

Ran out of time, be back later...

 

having rebuilt quite a few, I'd say

gasket set

rings (only if the pistons are removed)
oil pump
main and rod bearing set (if the crank is good)
lifters (they've been removed, probably not in order, so it's time to replace)
cam (if you want to spend $300 and yours looks "flat")
water pump
thermostat
head gasket
valve cover
obviously the main seals.
I'd look into a new timing chain
harmonic balancer.

all told that would run you a thousand bucks, but you'd know what you have.

you could get a 4.2 crank and connecting rods, and have the crank machined to balance for the weight of the 4.0 pistons, and make a mild stroker.



....or you could be cheap, like me, and buy a parts donor with a good motor, throw a rear main, oil pan, valve cover gasket on it, pressure wash it, paint it, and put it in. that would cost less than $500 in my experience (but I rarely ever pay ofer $300 for complete vehicles)

 

Really? I was under the impression you could do a 4.6L fairly simply, a minor bore and a 4.2 crank with a set of pistons would just about do it. A 4.9L though, geez, yeah that'll be expensive since you may need to try several blocks to find one suitable for that kind of bore! Must be a torque monster and a half.

 

a "poor man's stroker" still has $500 in machine work to be done RIGHT.


you can NOT just throw a 4.2 crank and rods in with a 4.0 piston. even just boring it with the stock crank and rods is a bad idea.


the crankshaft in a vehicle is balanced to the weight of the connecting rods and piston. since the 4.2 and 4.0 pistons do not weigh the same, simply throwing the 4.2 crank and rods in a 4.0 will result in a loss of neutral balance on the crankshaft. that can be counteracted by weights on the flywheel, but the end result is that it still will eventually fail, throwing out bearings, or even rods through the block.


so, the whole idea of a "poor man's stroker" is not true. they still cost money, if done right.

BUT. you still are not going to spend over $1000, maybe $1500 to build a nice 4.5 or 4.6 stroker. which, to me, is much cheaper than buying one with a warranty.


BUT, do some cost-benefit analysis. do you have the time to build one? the skill? would you be better off with a warrantied stroker that, if it goes bad, will be replaced for free (i.e. NO time spent on your part to install the motor...they pay).


I would build my own. but, in the back of my mind, I know it would make me feel ALOT better to know that if **** hits the fan, it will end well.

 

ya man. it is rediculous. I've givn' it everything it needs to run right. I'd reccommend it to anyone who wants to brag on having the fastest cherokee in town. It is from TITAN motors. Get this; you can buy them right off ebay shipped right to your house.

I'm not kidding. Red light to redlight I havn't lost yet running 4:56 and 35's. If ur smaller than that, I'd say it might just be scary off the line.

 

I would;
Only bore it if required.
New moly rings.
Have the rotating assembly balanced.
New stock oil pump, water pump and thermostat.
Mild port work on the head (short turn work and bowl blend).
Valve job (3 angle)
New stock cam/lifters/springs/rods/seals/guides.
ANP header, custom down pipe.
Neon injectors.
Done.

My rig is geared properly and I have no complaints wih the power of the stock motor.
The slight head work would aid cylinder filling/evacuation which would help low rpm performance(mpg). A balanced rotating assembly makes for one seriously smooth motor, and would help with longevity.

 

This requires further research on my part.

I've already got 2 motors, one in my '93 DD and one in the parts '94. I was going to stroke the '94s motor then put it in the '93 (using the 4.6L 'Poor Mans' build, but balanced and with larger valves to let it breath). But now you have me thinking about the 4.9L, plus Titan isn't that far from here...

I wish they'd hurry up and announce this new pay grid they keep talking about at work.

 

A 4.9 stroker is a rich man's toy.


that is the largest bore possible in a 4.0 block. end result, if that motor burns down (which it's chances are EXPONENTIALLY increased of doing), the block is scrap.


basically, that's a bore size only possible on a mapped block that has more wall thickness than the average 4.0 block. you could spend months searching for the right block to do it on.



don't build one. fast, yes. expensive? yup. good idea? nope. you need to know your ***** in order to be the owner/operator of a 4.9 stroker. if you don't set everything up spot on, you're gonna wreck the motor. and maintenance must be meticulous.

 

all this talk of spending 4 grand on a motor makes me sick....i have less than 2 grand in my cherokee and even thinking of spending 4000 on ONE part of the jeep makes me sick......if you wanna feel power drive a 4 banger around town with 31s and 4:10s, and then get back in yours.

 

Nah, I won't build a 4.9L. At most I'll build a 4.7L, maybe a 4.6L. It depends on if I can find a crank that's not outrageously expensive. Honestly sometimes I just go out into the garage and look at the two Jeeps and wonder what the hell I'm thinking. LOL

 

$4k was all I spent on TWO jeeps origionally! 1800 and 2200 several years ago. I couldn't agree more-- they make a supercharger that adds 100hp with no other changes other than whatever it takes to install it, but it's $4500 or so!

lol, I have the same problem, only I have 2 DD, 1 OR, and 1 parts jeep that could be buggied out....

Did just read a way cheaper way to go with all bolt on mods, if you like turbos (which I'm not thrilled over the lag), the guy is doing a write up on it....

http://www.jeepstrokers.com/forum/vi....php?f=5&t=530

The info keeps changing, but it sounds like it about doubles the HP and torque without doing anything to the block or head, just fuel management, MSD ignition, a turbo, and maybe an intake. He did crack two pistons and the head gasket, though, and ins't running an intercooler.

 

yeah, if i were interested in the turbo route, i would opt for a set of forged connecting rods and pistons, at least the pistons. i believe i am just going to do a good rebuild, then maybe some bolt on stuff, header, maybe have the head worked, cam(any opinions?). i dunno, have a little bit till i can get my hands on it, i have a couple of extra projects i have to finish before i can start. promised myself i would get these done before i started the next, haha. we will see how it goes

 

HAHA!!! I am by FAR not a rich man. My jeep is paid off and needed a motor. I wanted real power and no hassle and a WARRANTY. So I went with these guys. http://www.titanengines.com/index.ph...feq87e0809hql7

I added some extras (cold air, headder, injectors) to make it work better, but It's a drop in motor. Total cost of aboput $4500 and no issues. It is turn key just like it was origionally. Runs great and if you popped the hood, you wouldn't even be able to tell. Race me off the green light and I'll leave you wondering what just happened.

I dunno... 5K might seem like too much, but I plan on driving this XJ 5-6 more years at least. That is easily justifyable.

Check out some of my vids if ur curious. You can find them on my thread. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/i-w...lk-mods-58234/

I am very mechanical and can follow instructions, but my apprehensiveness was this. It would SUK to start my home built stroker and it go poopie. There goes a lot of cash. If my warrantied stroker goes bang, I get a new one free...