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latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 19th, 2015, 7:05 pm
by jj1000
I'm not opposed to having a 4.6 poor mans stroker built, but I would rather just order one whole engine and be done with it.

So, besides hesco (known to be good) and golen (agian, known to be good), but both expensive. Who would you order from?

If there isn't a definite answer to that question, does anyone have a suggestion for an engine builder around Tulsa Oklahoma?

Thanks,
Justin

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 19th, 2015, 8:41 pm
by CburbXJ
ATK makes a crate engine I'm also considering. Company is pretty reputable seems like.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 20th, 2015, 1:13 am
by jsawduste
Other then giving props to Hesco I am not touching this subject.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 20th, 2015, 2:10 am
by Cheromaniac
I think the decision will depend upon how much longer you plan to own the Jeep, how many miles you're likely to add, and obviously your budget.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 20th, 2015, 4:07 am
by FlyinRyan
I am no longer tuning Titan or ATK strokers without compression/leakdown/UOA results. The liability is too great . and I wont touch 505 assembled motors regardless of the circumstances.

If you need a motor completely pieced together, go directly to Newcomer Racing, tell him I sent you.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 20th, 2015, 11:31 am
by SilverXJ
x2 on Ryan's comments.

I've heard from many people that Russ Pottenger is good as well. http://www.jeepstrokers.com/forum/membe ... ile&u=2212

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 20th, 2015, 4:09 pm
by jj1000
SilverXJ wrote:x2 on Ryan's comments.

I've heard from many people that Russ Pottenger is good as well. http://www.jeepstrokers.com/forum/membe ... ile&u=2212
I'll shoot him a PM tonight
FlyinRyan wrote:I am no longer tuning Titan or ATK strokers without compression/leakdown/UOA results. The liability is too great . and I wont touch 505 assembled motors regardless of the circumstances.

If you need a motor completely pieced together, go directly to Newcomer Racing, tell him I sent you.
I gave him a call. Nononsense kind of guy, I like him.

Does anyone have Newcommer Racing's email? He asked me to send him a detailed email, but it isn't on his website and I'd like to type it up this weekend vs calling him monday when our conversation isn't fresh on my mind.
Cheromaniac wrote:I think the decision will depend upon how much longer you plan to own the Jeep, how many miles you're likely to add, and obviously your budget.
I don't see myself selling it anytime soon. I'm pouring money in it to rebuild it and I'll never get my money back, so I'll be keeping it and letting it mature with my driving. Budget: 3k +/- a little
jsawduste wrote:Other then giving props to Hesco I am not touching this subject.
Yeah I just can't spend 7k on an engine when I can do a v8 for that cost.
CburbXJ wrote:ATK makes a crate engine I'm also considering. Company is pretty reputable seems like.
I didn't mention them in my post as to prevent any leading questions, but they seem to have very mixed reviews. Some good, but Newcomer Racing laughed when I mentioned them. So I'm avoiding that option.

I'll fill in some details since I was on my phone for the original post.

I have a 2005 TJ, currently going under the knife as funds allow. Going to end up with a 8.8 rear end, d60 front, long arm suspension. Currently 130k miles, I've put 60k miles on it in 4 years of ownership. I like to drive this thing a lot. I also like to drive, wheel, and drive home. So reliability is important to me. AAA won't take me more than 100 miles without charging an arm and a leg. I don't intend to sell anytime in the future. It's paid for and slowly turning into the perfect jeep. I like to explore. I'm not a rock crawler, hill bouncer, drag racer, just a guy that bought a jeep to take him places that look cool. I've never really felt like the stock 4.0l was underpowered, well not until it started missing and acting up. When it's running good, I'm perfectly happy with it. However, if I'm going to put a 2500 long block in it, why not put a little more money with it and get something with a little more power. Same reason I run a super88 and not another D35. If I'm going to take the time to pull a part, I like to put an upgrade in it.

With that being said, what do y'all think?

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 21st, 2015, 1:17 am
by Cheromaniac
You could just build this out of your existing 4.0 and it would cost considerably less than a crate engine:

4.6L low-buck stroker

Jeep 4.2L 3.895" stroke crank
Jeep 4.0L 6.125" rods
Bulltear custom forged +0.030" pistons, 1.380" compression height, 23cc dish
9.6:1 CR
CompCams 68-231-4 camshaft
Ported 0331 cylinder head
Mopar/Victor 0.043" head gasket
0.043" quench height
'99-'00 Chevy LS1 26.2lb/hr injectors for '05-'06 engines
256hp @ 4750rpm, 323lbft @ 3500rpm

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 21st, 2015, 8:16 am
by jj1000
Cheromaniac wrote:You could just build this out of your existing 4.0 and it would cost considerably less than a crate engine:

4.6L low-buck stroker

Jeep 4.2L 3.895" stroke crank
Jeep 4.0L 6.125" rods
Bulltear custom forged +0.030" pistons, 1.380" compression height, 23cc dish
9.6:1 CR
CompCams 68-231-4 camshaft
Ported 0331 cylinder head
Mopar/Victor 0.043" head gasket
0.043" quench height
'99-'00 Chevy LS1 26.2lb/hr injectors for '05-'06 engines
256hp @ 4750rpm, 323lbft @ 3500rpm
If my math is correct, I can order those parts for $1500ish and reuse my block and rods. Does this sound correct?

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 2:31 am
by Cheromaniac
jj1000 wrote:If my math is correct, I can order those parts for $1500ish and reuse my block and rods. Does this sound correct?
Ay ay captain. :mrgreen:

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 6:05 am
by jj1000
Cheromaniac wrote:
jj1000 wrote:If my math is correct, I can order those parts for $1500ish and reuse my block and rods. Does this sound correct?
Ay ay captain. :mrgreen:

Right on. I called a shop here in town that was recommended to me, but their machinist quit recently. So they gave me a number to call to the guy they've used before. I'm also going to talk to Newcomer about all this.

If I can get through all this cheap enough I'm looking at the Edlebrock head as well. Ya'll know the 0331 head that I have, and even though I've read that the late model design was improved I would like to get a new head since I'm doing all this fresh. I'm going to get the Crown OPDA also. I read that they designed it to fix the lubrication issues, and I want that since this jeep was a victim of the OPDA going bad. I tapped it for a grease zerk and keep the new one lubed, but that's a PITA. I'd rather just have a proper piece in there.


Thanks for making this a simple process to figure out.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 7:00 am
by jsawduste
If you decide to use the Edlebrock head. Plan on doubling the purchase cost of that head in order to release any true benefit.

Hint #1....You won`t want to use the Bulltear pistons.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 7:11 am
by Cheromaniac
jsawduste wrote:If you decide to use the Edlebrock head. Plan on doubling the purchase cost of that head in order to release any true benefit.

Hint #1....You won`t want to use the Bulltear pistons.
What's the issue with the Bulltear pistons and the Edelbrock head? Am I missing something?

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 7:18 am
by jsawduste
Bulltear dome is designed around the factory shaped chamber. The Edlebrock "kidney" shaped chamber lends itself to a much different dome design. Both for efficiency and achieving desired compression ratio.

Re: latest opinion on crate engines.

Posted: February 22nd, 2015, 8:11 am
by jeepxj3
I'm sure Bulltear will cut/reshape the dish to a heart shape for the Edelbrock head in the future as demand requires. No biggie.