Jeep Strokers

The muffler shop didn't tighten up the exhaust clamps enough so that was the exhaust leak. Score another one for me.

Valve noise is fine except for one troubling thing. I detect a slight clack at higher RPM. Not there when the engine is cold, but more noticeable after everything is warmed up. My well-tuned ears have narrowed it to somewhere in the back 1/4 of the valve cover.

Going to pull the valve cover tomorrow after work. It's either a loose rocker bolt, collapsing lifter or the dreaded cam lobe wipe.
I'll check the bolts again and then put a dial gauge on the rockers.
please let it be a rocker bolt.....

Not a lifter and not a cam!

One of the bolts was a shade loose. It's back to the nice quiet 'sewing machine' type noises.

i missed it somehwere and cant find it going back and readin through, stock rockers??

Yup, stock rockers.

Added 24lb Accel injectors today. The plugs have been reading 'crispy clean'. So, I know I was running lean.

Holy Cow what a difference. Acceleration is markedly better and the valve train is quieter. Guess some of that noise was pinging after all.

Time to update.

45k on the clock later and my first problem. My wife has been driving her and she isn't the best at looking at the gauges...ran it hot. Blown head gasket, cracked head and a leaking intake valve on #1.

The crack is getting pinned and a valve job done. Then it's back on.

great build gotta post pics. and btw how is that cam working out for you? i have a stage 2 cam from mopar in mine and i wanna go bigger lift what is your thoughts on this?

The cam is fine. You can feel the power above 2k all the way through redline. I've been fighting detonation on hot, Summer days using premium fuel.

The next one I build will be lower Compression.