Cam retainer or bolt pin? What's better?

[offrd3]

Ok so I have been going back and forth with this. I currently have Nice 1998 jeep Cherokee 4.0 block that i havent sent to the machine shop yet but I'm wondering if I should pickup a 1999 block that uses the cam retainer instead of the bolt pin setup. Either way I'm going to run a stock camshaft in my 4.6 stroker. With all the camshaft problems I keep reading about I'm really leaning towards getting a 1999 block cause I can get one for around 60$ and then sell the 1998 block. Some other input would be great thanks

[SilverXJ]

I don't think cam bearings are much of a problem with a stock cam shaft. I would just stick with what you have unless you really want the retainer plate setup (like I did). However you are limited to a single style timing chain and advancing or retarding the cam with offset crank keys.

[Cheromaniac]

Ok so I have been going back and forth with this. I currently have Nice 1998 jeep Cherokee 4.0 block that i havent sent to the machine shop yet but I'm wondering if I should pickup a 1999 block that uses the cam retainer instead of the bolt pin setup. Either way I'm going to run a stock camshaft in my 4.6 stroker. With all the camshaft problems I keep reading about I'm really leaning towards getting a 1999 block cause I can get one for around 60$ and then sell the 1998 block. Some other input would be great thanks

I've been running the recessed cam bolt/spring/pin set-up in my stroker since Day 1, and I've done almost 70k miles on it since.

[jeep7081]

Ok so I have been going back and forth with this. I currently have Nice 1998 jeep Cherokee 4.0 block that i havent sent to the machine shop yet but I'm wondering if I should pickup a 1999 block that uses the cam retainer instead of the bolt pin setup. Either way I'm going to run a stock camshaft in my 4.6 stroker. With all the camshaft problems I keep reading about I'm really leaning towards getting a 1999 block cause I can get one for around 60$ and then sell the 1998 block. Some other input would be great thanks

I've been running the recessed cam bolt/spring/pin set-up in my stroker since Day 1, and I've done almost 70k miles on it since.

70k miles? Nice. Good build.

[Cheromaniac]

I'm past 72k miles now.

[6TIME]

However you are limited to a single style timing chain and advancing or retarding the cam with offset crank keys.

There is another easy way...Offset cam bushings are a cheap and quick route to advance or retard cam timing on just about any motor using a similar dowel alignment pin . They are cheap and plentiful from any performance parts supplier. All you have to do is drill the dowel hole in the cam sprocket to a specified diameter and slip it in....

[SilverXJ]

There is another easy way..

Not for the retaining plate style I was referencing. It doesn't have a pin like that but a key cast into the cam gear. No pin to move a bushing around on.