Jeep Strokers

I am about to purchase a nearly new '05 short block.
Short story, the new TJ owner heard 'lifter knock' and wanted engine swapped... after 1400kms. So after enough complaints the dealer did it, and a mech grabbed the short block for a spare of his own, but never used it.

Fast forward to now, I am looking to pick up the block/head, complete but in pieces, for about $550.

I had thought of just tossing it in my rig now (97 XJ) but since I am currently building it up for the winter I would rather use this engine as a side project to swap in next winter maybe (or as soon as money allows it to be built)

For someone who has never really gotten into engines before (replaced head gasket tho) I figured why not ask the pro's here for some assistance.

Since this is such a new engine, is that something I have to take into concern when building it?

I wasn't going to stroke it at all, but since its in pieces already I decided its easier now than tearing apart again later. That said, I still don't care much about gaining huge numbers, nor will I will dyno'ing it... so I am ok with doing a simple 4.5L as opposed to 4.7 but only because I see it being easier/cheapier to gather the pieces required for the 4.5L

Bottom line

1. anything to be concerned since this is very new engine?
2. am I just an uninformed noobie by skimping towards 4.5L as opposed to 4.7L?
3. anything else the masses would like to throw in for my benefit?

oh, yes I have, am, and will continue to search.

thanks all, here's some pics of the block, head and pieces.

The bores "should" be fine.
A light hone may be needed if that's rust I see in the bores and not cosmoline or grease.

If you are reusing the stock cam, you'll need new lifters since the old ones are dumped in a bag.
The lifters wear to match the cam lobe they ride on. The rockers and pushrods will probably be fine.

If it were my build with such a fresh engine, I would be totally lazy and cheap about it (I've been called "a stupid retard" before for doing things on the cheap before so YMMV)
hone the bores myself
replace the lifters with new
4.2 crank and rods
I'd even try to use the pistons and rings that are in there now.

items to get (cheapest list)
Gaskets
Lifters
cost to press slugs onto new rods (it's a gamble and sometimes the slugs crack)
4.2 Crank, rods, and matching bearings.

What's up with that first freeze plug? Is that a cts sensor on it?

gradon wrote:What's up with that first freeze plug? Is that a cts sensor on it?

Probably a block heater.

RAPTORFAN85 wrote:

gradon wrote:What's up with that first freeze plug? Is that a cts sensor on it?

Probably a block heater.

x2 : It's a block heater.

Nice engine to work on, seems very clean.

it is a block heater... its warm today (0*C) but it has dropped to -30*C lately up here in the great white north.

the pics do look very nice and good, but I'll have a better idea when I pick it up whether its rust, or packing grease type stuff.

just thought I'd add, this will be for my mostly trail rig, thats another reason I don't want to drop lotsa coin into it (that means the simple build I know)
my main concern is getting as much low RPM torque as I can... so that will mean more searching/reading to figure out how.

So I am picking this up tomorrow, total is going to be $500Cdn and gas money to my buddy since he has the truck.

I have concerns tho, since I no very little about such things...

1. Since this engine was never really broken in (1400kms), should I put it together and drive it stock for a while. Then build it up next winter as a stroker.
OR
2. Drive what I have this season, build this up as I am able to, and just drop it in when its ready. It will need a break in once stroked anyway, so that should be ok, right?

thanks for any insight.

beakie wrote:So I am picking this up tomorrow, total is going to be $500Cdn and gas money to my buddy since he has the truck.

I have concerns tho, since I no very little about such things...

1. Since this engine was never really broken in (1400kms), should I put it together and drive it stock for a while. Then build it up next winter as a stroker.
OR
2. Drive what I have this season, build this up as I am able to, and just drop it in when its ready. It will need a break in once stroked anyway, so that should be ok, right?

thanks for any insight.

The Cam is already broken in (it was at the factory) the rings may or may not be fully seated yet, but you'll be replacing those anyway with the new pistons. either way will work.

I'd stroke it now, instead of removing and replace the same engine twice

Man if shipping wouldn't cost a arm and a leg I'd love to have late model crank.

heartlandoffroad wrote:Man if shipping wouldn't cost a arm and a leg I'd love to have late model crank.

I wish I new. I would have gave you one. I just tossed it.

D@mn it just my luck

well I picked the works up the other day, came with new lifters, and a few other tidbits I didn't know about, paid $500 total.

seeing how this head will be the 0331 casting, should I waste anytime time/effort on decking, porting/polishing it? I thought I read somewhere they corrected the head cracking problem around '03 but I can't confirm.

sadly this thread will probably die off over the next few months since I have plenty of work to do on the rig itself. But I will make a proper build thread when the time comes to put this thing together...



thanks for the help and advice thus far tho.

beakie wrote:well I picked the works up the other day, came with new lifters, and a few other tidbits I didn't know about, paid $500 total.

seeing how this head will be the 0331 casting, should I waste anytime time/effort on decking, porting/polishing it? I thought I read somewhere they corrected the head cracking problem around '03 but I can't confirm.

sadly this thread will probably die off over the next few months since I have plenty of work to do on the rig itself. But I will make a proper build thread when the time comes to put this thing together...
thanks for the help and advice thus far tho.

any thoughts, I don't want to remove the head I have in the Jeep now. Don't want to invest in this one if its gonna crap out on me... so will start looking for a 0630 if thats the best idea.
reading, this head has a few good points, but the past cracking issues are what worry me... had they been corrected by '05?

Most of the cracked heads I have heard about are in 2000. a couple in 01 and none after that.

For what its worth my original was a 01 and had 60,000 miles on it and no issues what so ever.

If you arn't paying anything for it, it cant hurt to use it for now and get another one ready.

the only drawback to using an older casting are that you will have to figure a way to mount the coils.

or you could use an Alabama Cylinderhead casting. same as an 0331 but stronger...

RAPTORFAN85 wrote:If you arn't paying anything for it, it cant hurt to use it for now and get another one ready.

well I had planned on getting some work done on this head ('05 head) maybe larger valves, 3angle valve job, and probably port n polish the head a bit.

RAPTORFAN85 wrote:the only drawback to using an older casting are that you will have to figure a way to mount the coils.

I won't be going with coils, the dizzy hole should still be there, being used by the cam shaft sensor instead. I'll be going with the distributor setup, same as in the '97 it will be going into.

RAPTORFAN85 wrote:or you could use an Alabama Cylinderhead casting. same as an 0331 but stronger...

I don't understand the benefits of those heads? how do they make them stronger? are the ports machined out at all. the description on the site doesn't say much, other than they are new castings.
I'll have to do some more reading on them, it maybe an idea.

thanks for the info.