Jeep Strokers

I guess you can tell from the question that I am a newby! I have an 88 YJ with a 4.2 L and an 05 Unlimited Rubicon. I am currently removing the 4.2L to do a V8 install on the YJ so was kicking around the idea of using the parts from the YJ to do a mild stroker on my 05.

The 05 only has 30,000 miles on it. I am assuming that I would have to remove the engine from the 05 in order to build the stroker but wanted to check with the experts first.

Is it possible to get it done without removing the engine?

engine has to come out.

you should run a bottle brush in the cyl bores to get a new crosshatch, get new rings.

have a machine shop turn the crank, clean up the rods from the 4.2L. re-use stock pistons.

new bearings, and a gasket set. Probably can leave the stock cam and reuse the stock head... sounds relatively simple

Aye, the motor definately has to come out.

Before I had realized a piston decided to go through the cylinder wall (I thought it was just a broken skirt.. ha!), I was hoping I could do everything from the bottom end via a extreme poor mans stroker, but alas the main bearing supports won't allow the piston to come out, they have to come out through the top end. I don't know about your 05, but I know on my 99 that even if I could get to the rear most head bolts (which I don't think I can), it would still be far easier to pull the motor.

FWIW, I had my motor, tranny, t-case and rad pulled, with every wire labled, taking pictures along the way and multiple beer breaks in ~7 hours I think.

It really wasn't nearly as daunting as I would have thought. This was my first "late model" EFI, assloads of wire, etc pull.

Brandon_K wrote:Aye, the motor definately has to come out.

Before I had realized a piston decided to go through the cylinder wall (I thought it was just a broken skirt.. ha!), I was hoping I could do everything from the bottom end via a extreme poor mans stroker, but alas the main bearing supports won't allow the piston to come out, they have to come out through the top end. I don't know about your 05, but I know on my 99 that even if I could get to the rear most head bolts (which I don't think I can), it would still be far easier to pull the motor.

FWIW, I had my motor, tranny, t-case and rad pulled, with every wire labled, taking pictures along the way and multiple beer breaks in ~7 hours I think.

It really wasn't nearly as daunting as I would have thought. This was my first "late model" EFI, assloads of wire, etc pull.

Even if you could get the piston out the bottom, how would you compress the rings to install the pistons back in?

Very carefully!

In all seriousness, I didn't give thought to how close the bearing supports were. Originally when I thought about it, it was just one of those mind fart things where you know better, you just don't give any thought to it.

Also how are you going to get the crank past the transmission??

No one ever said that the tranny wasn't coming out...

haha had the motor out of my YJ in 4 hours, including taking the front grill out, full wiring harness, and several beer breaks

Seriously, the motor NEEDS to come out. Can't drop a crank with it sitll attached to the flywheel (for standard or auto tranny's)

Brandon_K wrote:No one ever said that the tranny wasn't coming out...

Never said it was, either, cuple more bolts and it out anyway.