v8 is nice but at the end of the day it's still a second hand motor, a stroker done properly will be a rebuilt motor.

I personally prefer a straight 6 anyway, we have three in our household (Jeep and two BMWs).

 

So swap in a low mile V8, run it til it blows just like we do with our 4.0's, then rebuild it.

 

I have to say I'm amazed at the votes here. At most I was expecting something close to a tie. I guess all the V8 XJ guys out there are a breed of their own lol. Didn't know there were so many 4.X stroker enthusiasts here.

 

I have six. Haha! Two bmws, 3 xjs, and a wj. Soon maybe seven.

 

How did you hook the AW4 to a 5.3 ? I didn't think it was possible that's why I ruled out V8 swap.....

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/aw4.htm

"Engine Compatibility
AMC / Mopar Jeep
As the AW4 was married to the Jeep engines mentioned above, it is OEM compatible with them. The AW4 is an electronically controlled transmission, and is therefore compatible only with the 4.0L engine and its PCM package.


GM
We do not offer any conversion from this transmission to V6 or V8 power. The customer's efforts and funds may best be spent converting to a stronger transmission during the engine upgrade. This is not a difficult thing at all and these details are discussed in the following articles:"




The latter part sounds like a ripoff, if you really did it !

 

Look up his thread on NAXJA. He swapped over both the 5.3 and it's mated 4L60E transmission, then made a bastard t-case of sorts with various parts of an NP231C, NP231J, and a Dodge unit. The AW4 has no purpose behind a V8 in my opinion, or even a heavily modified stroker.

 

Well it says AW4 in his vehicle description.... It is one of the best automatic transmissions I have ever had, downshifts very easily and has very smooth firm shifts... I don't find the shifting point awkward at all(besides finding myself wanting to go 43 in a 40 so I can be in OD). The 4L60e in a silverado 5.3 that I drove was just as smooth but it has a shorter 2nd gear and pulls harder there.... Cherokee with AW4 pulls harder in 1st. WOT in 3rd is the worst thing to do in a 4L60e I have heard, friend is on his 3rd trans on his 4.8 ! It's a 2007 ! With 88k miles fully maintained, oil change every 2k miles, etc. He put a stall on his current one and boy is it fun though... he has nitrous too.

 

Don't get me wrong, the AW4 is a nice tranny. Mine has 207k miles, and still shifts firm, smoothe, and makes no noise. And this poor thing has seen some very hot days in traffic. I love the reliability of the AW4, but I just don't think it should be pushed beyond its limit. As for the 4L60E, the transmission will act differently with different engines. The issue with the 5.3 is that it has a much higher peak output RPM than the earlier 5.7 Vortec. It's all about where that peak is. But, if I had a super duty AW4 and an adapter, I think I'd mount that baby right behind any engine any day. The AW4 has it's respect with me.

 

fire in a reman stock 4L or go with a ford fox body 5L

 

the AW4 will bolt right up to a yota with an adapter plate. If it'll bolt to a Jap vehicle it'll sure find a way to mate to its American counterparts.

 

Thought I'd fixed that.

 

This whole AW4 idea has made me think though...

Since the earlier XJ's like my '91 had a seperate TCU, would that mean you'd have the Vortec engine PCM setup like a manual, then run the AW4 off it's own thing?

 

I wonder if I had added a "Cummins engine" option to the poll, if the votes would be any different? Lol