Jeep Strokers

Dropped the block,crank and rods off at the machine shop today.

So to update

Block was stripped
Dropped block crank and rods off at the machine shop
Got the final price for all machine work and parts
$1390
Not including assembly price is up from original 1500$ because I opt'd to have it decked to 0 and a new cam.
So here's where I stand now I want to build this myself to just say "I did it" and I am sure I could pull it off with a little guidance. But I dont know if its worth it or not to just have the shop assemble it. I wanted to keep cost down a bit. Can anyone give me an overview of what I may encounter if I decide to do the assembly myself? Thanks

I was having the same dilemma. I have built several engines (motors run on electricity! ) and it isn't that hard, but if you rely on your jeep for a daily driver, putting it together yourself may not be a good idea. You have to plasti-guage the bearings to check the clearance (both rods and mains, all of them) then you have to end gap the rings (the top two on each piston) and various other intricate fussy things. Getting any of this wrong won't make it not run, it will just make it wear out quicker. If you want the pride of putting it together yourself (and there is a good measure of that) then press on! But if you need your vehicle and aren't sure of your results, get the machine shop to assemble it as they will stand behind and fix any defective materials or workmanship. If you do not care or think it is pretty cool to watch smoke and fire shoot out of an engine, then do it yourself. It is not hard to assemble an engine there is just lots of detail oriented things to watch out for. Having someone around who has done it before is best if you are going the "do it to yerself" route.

rascal77 wrote:I was having the same dilemma. I have built several engines (motors run on electricity! ) and it isn't that hard, but if you rely on your jeep for a daily driver, putting it together yourself may not be a good idea. You have to plasti-guage the bearings to check the clearance (both rods and mains, all of them) then you have to end gap the rings (the top two on each piston) and various other intricate fussy things. Getting any of this wrong won't make it not run, it will just make it wear out quicker. If you want the pride of putting it together yourself (and there is a good measure of that) then press on! But if you need your vehicle and aren't sure of your results, get the machine shop to assemble it as they will stand behind and fix any defective materials or workmanship. If you do not care or think it is pretty cool to watch smoke and fire shoot out of an engine, then do it yourself. It is not hard to assemble an engine there is just lots of detail oriented things to watch out for. Having someone around who has done it before is best if you are going the "do it to yerself" route.

Yeah I'm aware of all of that. That's pretty much the reason I'm not sure the route I wanna go. Im having some extra work done I wasn't gonna have done before and that drove my cost up a little more but in the end it will be worth it I believe.
Having the engine
Hot tanked
0 decked
Line honed
Bored .030
New cam
Recondition rods
Turn crank
New pistons bearings etc etc
$1390

Talked to the machine shop today the crank is being ground right now and the machine work should all be done by next week. Definitely ready for this thing to be done.