So I found a deal on an unfinished 4.5L...

[ben824]

Ok so I started my stroker build project plans to spend $4000 on my dream engine and now I have to pay a lot more for our wedding than I ever anticipated so my budget was ruined. I decided to do a little Craigslist searching and a guy in NC (I live in Atlanta) has an unfinished 4.5 low buck simple stroker fully assembled block and rotating assembly with comp cams 6-232-4. Needs a head and oil pan and my accessories and it's done. The guy is asking $865. My research shows it has 9.7:1 compression so I'm guessing it runs 93? Can anyone let me know what they think of this setup and if it is worth it?

4.2 crank
4.2 rods
Stock pistons
Comp Cams 6-232-4

[Cheromaniac]

I'd be concerned about ring/bore seal with stock pistons reused in unmachined cylinders unless the engine had a very low mileage at the time of the rebuild. With a 9.7:1 CR, a quench of 0.073", and an iron head, a diet of 93 octane is pretty much a given.

[Russ Pottenger]

Ben,
Your getting a bunch of compromises for your $865.00
A 9.7:1 static with no quench will be borderline trying to run it on pump gas.

[ben824]

After receiving some more pictures of the engine it is clear no machine work was done and absolutely nothing was done to the block prior to assembly. If I did indeed purchase it it would be purely for the parts of the rotating assembly but I would not run the engine as is. But being that it is $865 and in NC, I will be passing.

Russ school me on a well built long rod low compression stroker? My budget was drastically reduced so now I want to see what it will take to run my stock rods to save some money.

[Cheromaniac]

You could build this:

4.6L Modified "poor man's" stroker

Jeep 4.2L 3.895" stroke crank
Jeep 4.0L 6.125" rods
Custom forged +0.020" bore pistons, compression height 1.380", dish volume 26cc
9.25:1 CR
Stock 4.0 camshaft
DIY ported HO 1.91"/1.50" cylinder head
Mopar/Victor 0.043" head gasket
0.043" quench height
Accel 24lb/hr injectors for '96-'04 engines
245hp @ 4700rpm, 315lbft @ 3000rpm ('96-'04 camshaft)

[ben824]

I have seen that recipe and what confuses me about that one is it calls for a .020" overbite for a 4.6L but every other recipe I read calls for .030 overbore for a 4.6 and a .060 overbore for a 4.7. I want to do a 4.7 so my question is could I do .060 overbore and the appropriate piston for that recipe and what should the pistons be dished out to to run 87 octane? And could I still run the comp cams 6-232-4 cam with it?

[Russ Pottenger]

The Modified "poor mans" stroker recipe will work in any bore combination.

[Cheromaniac]

I want to do a 4.7 so my question is could I do .060 overbore and the appropriate piston for that recipe

Yes, but there's little advantage to overboring +0.060" for a 4657cc displacement instead of going +0.020" for 4563cc, and there'd be no more room for another rebore should it be needed sometime in the future.

and what should the pistons be dished out to to run 87 octane?

For a 9.25:1 CR and 4657cc, it'll be 28cc if you have 57cc head chambers

And could I still run the comp cams 6-232-4 cam with it?

Yes, definitely, but you'll also need to upgrade the valve springs so factor springs/retainers/locks in as an extra cost as well as the cam.

[ben824]

Ok so 28cc dish, would 27.5 be close enough? I have come across this Clegg stroker Kit a lot and it says it has Icon forged #IC668 Pistons with a 27.5cc dish but outside of their website I can't find any information on these Pistons. https://www.cleggengine.com/stage-ii-4- ... -1c-r.html

I also can't find any info on anyone using Clegg because I thought maybe I might use their kit but I'm not sure. They also sell cylinder heads and cam kits but again no info on them.

[Russ Pottenger]

Ben,

That IC668 comes with a full circular dish. That's not a good choice unless your going to run a blower or turbo.

[ben824]

I see, and that my friends is why I am here asking questions! Thank you for educating me and helping me learn!

Ok so next question, with the poor man setup, do I need to deck the block at all?

[Cheromaniac]

Ok so next question, with the poor man setup, do I need to deck the block at all?

Yes. You'd be aiming for zero deck clearance. Keep in mind that you'd need shorter pushrods to correct for the increase in lifter preload that would otherwise be caused by decking the block.