Jesse Byrd

a little history to start it off

my 88xj started out back in 09 or so as my first vehicle when i was 16. I got it off my uncle for $1500 The motor had a knock so he swapped in a 4.0 from a 89 parts Cherokee he had it also got a new drivers door from it too. we spent a few days at his place installing the lift that he had for it and getting it ready for the road. we wound up getting a new front axle out of a 1990 because when we went to install the front springs the cup was rusted through pretty bad. we also snagged a good set of 235s and aluminum wheels out of the jy and it got new breaks all the way around. My uncle actually used the $1500 i paid him to get me the parts it needed so in the end i paid for parts and he gave me the jeep

just a fun fact: when you use a 90 axle and calipers/ brake lines on the 88 chassis you wide up with enough slack in the line that you can run a 3in lift, that with a mid 90s Dakota line in the rear works quite well

sadly i didn't really think about taking pics way back when

i didn't own the jeep for a month until i was wheeling it at a buddies place and put a nail through the side wall of those nice 235s. i ran it on a spare for quite a long time until i saved up to get myself a brand new set of 30 x9.5 general grabber At2s ( a great tire btw). it was funny when i told my uncle i got the tires because when i said 30 by 9.5s he heard 39.5s and he kinda flipped haha

these are the pics my uncle sent me when i bought the jeep












the jeep remained basically the same for most of the rest of the time i was in high school. in my automotive class i was supposed do some work on my buddies 99xj. well i got into the front diff and the spiders were trashed so i told my buddy and instead of fixing it he said i could have it for the $200 i loaned him for a snowmobile....so i got a complete 99 for only $200 O_o I pulled it apart, talking the motor, trans, doors, and the front sheet metal and sent the rest to the yard and got $175 or so back...not really the best option but it needed work and i vaunted the parts.

just before i graduated my grandpa and uncles all pitched in to get me my 02 silverado so i would have a reliable vehicle for me to go out to collage with...got to say i really love my family!!!! so up until recently the jeep was stored and became a playground for mice and the like......to be continued

Jesse Byrd

this is a pic after some light wheeling when it was still on the at2s (also you can see that i had to add some lift shackles to get it to sit level again after a few years of sagging)





then got it sitting on some 33s and new wheels (no i didnt drive it like that haha just a kinda funny pic i took)



after some more light wheeling with a "custome" bummper that was off the 99, i re-worked the winch plate and mount but the rest was the way i got it...i still dont really like it, should have mounted the winch plate higher and made it not stick out so far





and then i got the deal of a life time hahah...more to come....maybe ill finally get to why i called it the strokaaa...or maybe not

Jesse Byrd

Well in august of 2011 i left for Ohio and the university of north western Ohio (unoh) so the jeep was left 1000 miles away back home. but it wasn't forgotten.. so when a roommate said he had a set of tires and wheels off his truck that he wanted to sell i was interested. he originally wanted $200 for 6 BFG mud-terrains, 4 mounted on 12in wide steelies. all but one tire had well over 50% tread and the wheels where like new..not a bad deal i said but at the time i wanted to focus on building up the truck and i had my eyes on a lift kit for it so i couldn't swing the cash...then time went on and he flunked out of unoh and didn't have a way to get the tires back home...so he asked if i would give him $80 for them...and i almost died...but i couldn't quite afford the lift for the truck and the tires...so i told him i couldn't....he asked what i could afford and i told him i had a 50 in my wallet.....then it was in his hand and the tires where in the back of my truck

well the wheels where 5x5.5 so i dismounted and put them on good ol' cragslist...i sold them to a guy for $80 and he couldn't have been happier

so they sat around a wile before i could get them back home but when i did i wasted no time getting them under the jeep...on 3in of lift it was a tight fit but where theres a will and a sawsall there is a way...actually had to take the front fenders off for now untill i can trim them up the right way

sittin on 35s (next to my moms "jeep"....i hate that thing with a passion)

❂|||||❂...Andrew

HOLY CRAP!

Jesse Byrd

so to continue my rambling of a madman,
here are some pics of when i flexed it out on a dirt pile in my back yard






sway bars....who needs em'.....do need some bump stop work



and what i call wheel fitment



and after that it was back to Ohio for a wile

in Ohio i am working on my associates in Automotive/ high performance and was planing on building a 6.0L for my silverado but now that my custom engine building class is getting closer i realized there was no way i could spend $700 for pistons, $500 for connecting rods and $450 for a long block....thats when i started thinking...i could spend the same on pistons and rods as i could to build an entire 4.6l for the jeep....and the beginning or the strokaaa was born

Outlaw Star

Nice rig. I myself have an AA in Automotive Engineering. To help keep your goal and budget more obtainable, you drive a Renix so for reference, the AMC 242 (4.0) is a mix of GM, Ford and Chrysler components. This makes the sourcing of parts and upgrading a lot easier than most know.

Jesse Byrd

i have been doing a ton of reasearch on here and on jeepstroker. got to say i didnt know that ford had a part in it. Im a little disapointed in that but i guess good ol' amc used whatever parts it could get haha thanks

Jesse Byrd

well the last time i was home (Christmas break) i got a ton done with the jeep. I started buy ditching the carpet and trim because it smelled horrible and hope to chop the top and i know mud and watter will be getting everywhere.

it was well below zero out side but the 9 60w bulbs it was actually quite comfortable...I'm not a honda guy but i now swear by there little 2000w generator


i was supposed to bring it to a friends shop to pull the motor but that fell through and i almost lost hope in getting it out but on the last day i was home i rented a cherry picker to pull it

found out my uncle left one of the top bellhousing bolts loose...form 6 years ago 0_o


AMC!!!!


and finally it was on its way to ohio


and the colecting of stroker parts begins

Jesse Byrd

well Finlay got motivated to do an update. just started my HP fuels/ignition class so i will be focusing head work for the next few weeks

soooooo this is a list or what i have so far

• renix block (from my jeep)
• 7120 head, intake,exhaust manifold, and tb
• 84ish 4.2 crank and rods (long snout, 4 weight)
• felpro MLS head gasket
• felpro intake/exhaust gasket
• felpro conversion gasket set (CS81693) i got the one for 92+ for the one piece oil pan gasket...all the other gaskets should work with my renix block right?
• set of LS1 valves and springs (2.0in 1.55ex)

so the plan is to ream the valve guides for the 8mm valve stems and install new seats in the head and finish it off with a bowl blend and gasket match and some general cleaning up of ports...any one have any pointers on any specific areas that the 7120 needs attention as far as porting goes? also was thinking of rounding out the exhaust port but want to consult my teacher and this forum before i do haha

i actually got a complete engine form a teacher here with the head,intake, etc. i needed for only $150...couldn't pas it up. ill probably keep the block around in case i mess something up lol...it also had the fancy felpro permadry valve cover gasket...good thing i didn't order one before

i have the renix block torn down...it was in amazing shape, bearings didnt show any signs of wear or anything but im still going to measure and strait edge everything when i get it in the shop

picked this up from a cj resto shop..he had like 5 of them...$150 w/ rods


and my block



and this is the engine i got from the teacher...pulled the head for now and will go back for block when it warms up


and this is what i got from a LS1 forum

stang65

very nice keep it up

Jesse Byrd

small update, i got bored last weekend and felt like spending some money so i got a JP timing set. looks good to me and it will open up some options when it comes to cam choice. also last time i was at summit i picked up these "scratch and dent" ARP head bolts for $25



sooooo i have a few questions for some one with some engine building experiences so first off ill try to list what I'm thinking about as far as spec's...i will mark anything I'm not sure on with a (???)

this jeep will be trail use only!!!!
so i do not care about mpg or other things like that...I'm looking for performance not a DD or even a weekend wheeler...it will most likely be trailered from home to trail

bottom end

89 renix block
4.2 crank (long snout 4 weight)
4.2 rods
pistons h802cp30
decked to .000
mls head gasket
oil pump m81a
clevite bearings
arp rods/main/head bolts (because race car)
scr of about 10.3:1 (???)

cylinder head/intake

94 ho head
2.0/1.55 LS1 valves/springs
full port and polish
94 intake (maybe a 99+ down the road)
ported stock tb
injectors (maybe ls1 28# ???)

other
160 or 180 degree t stat or maybe no t stat (???)
flowkooler wp (???)

i plan on running the renix fi system and fool the cts/iat/ and maybe a map adjuster. thinking of ditching the O2 sensor to keep it out of closed loop and close to 12.5-13:1 afr but unsure if that would have any unwanted side affects. one day i think it will get a true stand alone but don't want to right off (???)

chassis
aw4 w/ manual shift mod/ tcm delete
it has 3.55 gears now but will get 4.88s when i find a better axle for the rear
has 35s, don't plan on going bigger
no frills interior/ weight reduction

so finally to the main Question

according to the math i learned in class last week the comp cams 68-239-4 cam would be almost the perfect cam for a 4.6L with the head setup/specs i want to go with but there are a few things the math doesn't cover.

1 for a non street use application could i get it to idle well enough
2 i was thinking of running it 2-4 deg. advanced to bring rpm range down
3 would there be any other issues running this cam
4 would a dynamic compression ratio of 8.7- 8.9:1 too high to run mid or premium fuel?

i have heard of a few people running this cam but most of the people asking about this cam ask about its use in a dd or how it will sound...I'm sure it will sound cool but really i want performance over sound

i have tried to be as specific as i can to keep this from being an answer-less question but i know that there are still a lot of variables so if i don't get any response i get it.... but I'm sure there are some smart people here and maybe some one will have some insight or pointers

Jesse Byrd

well i have ordered a bunch of parts

oil pump, m81
clevite cam bearings
piston rings
arp rod bolts

still waiting for...
pistons ic944s
arp main bolts

haven't ordered the rod or main bearings, have to wait to see if the crank will polish up or if i will have to get it ground, also cam is still up in the air, im thinking about the 235 now but i havent been able to get into the shop to do my valves and port job and i think i should do that before i get the cam

now on to the bad news...the head bolts i got way back when are not the right ones, didnt notice the 4.2 and 4.0 was different...guess what ones i got atleast i only paid $25 for them... sooooo any way if any one needs some 4.2l head bolts i have the 112-3601's $25+shipping