Going to start over

[optmaxx]

So here's a video on how it sounds like now, it's night and day compared to how it used to sound like. So yeah, the problem before was that I put in metric rings in my original forged pistons that required standard. I used the rings that came in my rebuild kit for my 1996 Jeep not knowing that in 96 Jeep switched over to metric rings, so the result was that the rings ended up shattering pretty much instantly. Looking back I can almost remember when it happened and how it sounded like, it actually sounded like glass shattering, but because of my inexperience, I thought that the lifters were damaged. So metric rings in pistons that need std rings = shattered rings; it's a shame too, but live and learn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8XHZa9 ... e=youtu.be

I took it out for a drive and it was quite and smooth. I took it on the freeway for a bit, but it was mostly uphill and I didn't notice any pinging. I just want to point out that I'm using kb944 pistons, but I didn't deck the block. I don't recommend not decking the block, but I was on a really tight budget since I had to do my stroker over. I measured one piston and it was about .018 inside the hole...now I just need to clean up my wiring. Thanks for everyone's patience and guidance.

Oh, and I used pretty much all Lucas break in lubes, like their green assembly lube, extreme pressure valve train grease and their 30 wt break in oil. I believe that they make pretty good products, and also for some reason their assembly lubes have a sweet smell, like the extreme pressure valve train grease seems to have a minty scent which was interesting haha. No I didn't taste any of them haha.

[Cheromaniac]

Glad you got it sorted and hope the engine remains reliable in the long term.
Some mild cold start piston slap is normal with forged pistons but it should disappear once the engine reaches normal operating temp.

[optmaxx]

Thanks. Can some piston slap be heard in the video? I can't really tell. I can't really hear anything this time driving it around, it sort of sounds like a typical Jeep.

[Cheromaniac]

Thanks. Can some piston slap be heard in the video? I can't really tell.

Only a very faint ticking noise that's normal in these engines.

[optmaxx]

Oh yeah I hear it too. It is faint, and it's not even noticeable once inside or while driving. It seems to fade in and out if you're really listening for it in person. As far as morning cold starts, I don't really hear any knocking or anything that sounds like piston slap, it's probably there, but I can't hear it. That faint tick seems to show up once it's warmed up.

[optmaxx]

Early update. Everything seems to be running great, good power and torque and sounds good too. I recently changed the oil filter and switched back to OEM temp thermostat. No overheating or pinging on 89 octane so far, but I haven't taken a really long drive just yet cause I'm going easy on it, but I'm driving it the way I normally do at the same time.

I think I know the source of that faint tick. I'm pretty certain that it's coming from the trans (TF 999) cause when I put it in reverse, it goes away. It varies in volume too, like sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not, but it definitely goes away when I put it in reverse. Also, it's not there at cold start up, it seems to show up after driving around a bit and it's more audible inside the Jeep than outside while standing in front of the engine. From what I've described does that sound like a trans problem? It's really not an alarming noise, plus it sounds much too fast to be piston or engine related. I'm just being extra cautious I guess.

I did check the flex plate bolts and they were good, my trans does leak fluid too.

[optmaxx]

So here's me shifting from park, drive and reverse. The tapping becomes more audible around the middle of the video, but you can sort of hear it early on as I shift around. When the tapping stops, it's either in Reverse or Park. I placed the camera around where the 4X4 shifter is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyyznrO ... e=youtu.be

[optmaxx]

Looks like that tapping noise is gone, and I'm not sure exactly why?

This is what I did though: I straightened and resealed the transmission pan ( with Permatex The Right Stuff...I know ), but I was still getting a leak on one side after topping it off. Then I find out that it was seeping from the trans dipstick tube, so I pulled that and changed the O-ring, tapped the tube back in and it looks like the leaks are gone. Then I find out that my TV cable wasn't adjusted correctly at all after watching some videos, so I adjusted that too. Well, after all of that and driving it for a day, that tapping noise is gone; also, with the TV cable adjusted it pulls waaay stronger now. All I hear now is normal sounding Jeep engine.

[optmaxx]

Going to do my first 500 mile oil change, and everything seems to be good. I've driven this stroker on 87 octane on the highway with no pinging on a few fills ups, but I'll be switching to 89 to be safe, and I honestly don't think it needs anymore than 89. This thing is fun to drive.

The only thing is that I do have a slight tick, and it's definitely a tick and not a knock. It's slight though and it's more audible if you crawled under the Jeep, and towards the back like the bell housing. It doesn't follow RPMs or get worse under load at all, and you won't even know it's there if you were standing outside or driving it, only if you crawled under. I do remember always having a tick or noise under the Jeep even before the stroker build, and I even asked about it when I still had my 4.2 years ago, but I can't remember what explanation I was given, just that it wasn't a big deal. I did have a cracked flex plate when I had my 4.2 that I had replaced, but I do remember my mechanic pointing out that the transmission still had a slight tick and that was nothing to worry about.

The point is, I do have this slight tick from underneath that's always been there, and I do remember always having it since before the rebuild, I'm just trying to tell myself that it's nothing to worry about as far as the engine goes. I've read that Jeeps are notorious for having a noisy bottom end, but it's considered normal? It sounds great driving it, and I've gotten complements that it sounds smooth while driving so I know that it can't be heard while on the road, even at very low rpms.

Anyways, it's not very concerning to me because it doesn't sound no where as bad as it did before, not even close. Just thought I'd share it. I also don't have the inspection cover on my transmission, my mechanic forgot to put it back on and I forgot to tell him years ago. Could that be amplifying noise?

[Cheromaniac]

The point is, I do have this slight tick from underneath that's always been there

Cracked header perhaps?

[optmaxx]

I'll check that out, I know that my exhaust vibrates against the cross member. It was pretty bad before I took it to the muffler shop that put in the CAT, and all they did was move the exhaust around with a long bar till it stopped making a metal on metal sound, but there's still some vibration.

Here it is on a cold start up, it doesn't sound bad compared to they way it used to sound, and towards the end of the video you can hear what I think is ticking. It's not warmed up at this point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxLEpiw_Juc

Here it sort of settles, and I think it was closer to being warmed up. The sound is more under and towards the back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlgSYo_4sRI

Here it is on the inside with the phone as close to the shifter, with a few revs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQovrV_FVo

This doesn't really bug me compared to the way it used to sound like, cause before it was almost embarrassing to drive. This at least sounds close to some stock Jeeps I've heard, but I don't mind hearing people's thoughts. It's not noticeable at all when driving.

Oh, and don't mind that makeshift fan shroud. I had to put something till I was able to get a stock one. Could it be the torque converter? I wouldn't be surprised if my torque converter is on it's way out, only time will tell I guess.

[optmaxx]

I didn't find an exhaust leak, but I'm sure that my engine is not making the tick or whatever that is. I'm pretty certain that it's coming from the transmission, probably the torque converter. Is it just me, or does the flexplate and torque converter wobble with the sound? I added a video of me revving it to show the noise doesn't increase, sorry the flexplate video is kind of shaky cause I was trying not to get burned ha. Anyways, everything is good, the transmission is a whole other project for later cause it's shifting fine. No pinging, pulls hard and sounds great driving.

Also, how much horse power does someone lose if the TV cable isn't adjusted properly? Mine wasn't, and when I adjusted it, the performance was even better.

Flexplate view. Does it seem that it wobbles with the tick?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCoHI6Svjiw

Revving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oqQZNlNzZo