Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: IgniteTJ on December 30, 2010, 06:11:48 PM
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Hey there all, first post and all..
A few months ago I picked up a 2000 Jeep TJ with a 4.0L and want to build it into a 4x4.. My dad is a mechanic and the engine has a really bad knock and as such we need to replace it.. Now the lowest price I can get for a rebuilt is about $2700 all told.. We don't know the best economical way to go.. I don't really want to put a used engine back in since we are rebuilding everything else to new standards.. So the big question is whether to send it off to carstairs to get the engine that's in it currently rebuilt (256,000km on it) Get that same engine made into a stroker.. Order the rebuilt and just put that in and rebuild my 4.0L on the side.. Or just go big and put a chevy 350 under the hood..
So I'm basically looking for prices and costs if anyone has gone the sending the engine in to make it a stroker route.. Or putting a 350 under the hood..
Thanks!
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cummins
thats the route ill be going
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Haha my next truck will have a cummins in it.. But not too sure I want to put an engine that heavy into my TJ
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My brother has a 327 that was rebuilt, ran in a engine stand for maybe an hour then put in a shed. Its sat for about 10 years in a shed so it might need a tear down and little clean up, but if your interested I could ask him how much he would want for it. If you're thinking of the V8 option. I believe it was 400+ horsepower and should have been about a 6K redline.
But you'll need a tranny and rad too.
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I'll ask my dad on that one and get back to you, having to find a new rad and tranny may be an issue though - the one thats in there is already rebuilt.. Thanks though =)
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cummins made a 4 banger
4bt search it . theres lots of info on it and it only weights 700 LBS so not to much more then your stock 4.0
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the jeep was designed for the motor it has in it now. even a stroker can tear apart the rest of the stock drivetrain if you aren't easy on the pedal. the motor it has in it now is plenty powerful enough to move the brick in stock form without any issues.
$2700 sounds high to me but would be my only choice of the ones you posted above.
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That price is from renfrew chrysler on an account so already quite a bit knocked off because of preferred customer.. The other one they list is $4000.. But the $2700 one comes with a new oil pan, new timing cover and a 80,000km warranty on it.. I'd prefer to stay stock like you said since the jeep is built around the stock motor
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(http://i43.tinypic.com/jtkidf.jpg)
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lol isn't that just wonderful
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Check with the american stroker sites. You can get an affordable short block strocker from them for reasonable dollars.
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Thanks I'll check them out :) sounds more and more like I'm getting the one from renfrew though
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Personally I would find a low milage used motor and freshen it up, new seals, maybe new rings and bearings if you feel really ambitious. The 4.0L is a pretty stout engine and commonly go 300,000kms with basic maintenance. Even a used motor with 150,000kms would give long life with a freshening up. The money you save can be used to buy some goodies like maybe a cam and header. I've rebuilt motors before and find that for the cost a low milage unit is WAY cheaper and just as good. I can usually buy a complete wrecked vehicle with a good motor for about 1/2 to a 1/3rd of what a rebuilt will cost.
Thats just me though, if you've got a generous budget and want a simpler route then a factory rebuilt maybe the ticket.
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Just ordered all to parts for a stroker build in my zj. As was stated it's not going to be cheap, but if you need an extra 100 ft-lbs then its an easier route than a V8 swap and a lot easier than a diesel swap. I looked into several options before deciding to build one.
option 1: Precise engine rebuilders in Calgary have a 4.6L shortblock for sale for $2000, but I think they'd take less. Apparently, a customer ordered it and couldn't pay for it. In the end, it wasn't exactly what I wanted so decided not to. Also, their customer service is questionable.
option2: order a prebuilt long block from golen or Hesco out of the states. Stay away from Titan. They are the cheapest, but lots of guys have had trouble with their engines and spend more in the end. Hesco is rated as the best, but $1000 more than golen. Golen has a realy good rep. I would go with them.
option 3: do a ton of research and figure out what you want. follow a proven recipe and go for it. This is the recipe I chose:
http://telusplanet.net/public/cdkruchk/Stroker%20Recipe%202009.pdf
I'm getting firebolt to do the machining and assembly. In the end I expect it to be in the $3000 range.
There are also a ton of info available on jeepstrokers.com
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Just ordered all to parts for a stroker build in my zj. As was stated it's not going to be cheap, but if you need an extra 100 ft-lbs then its an easier route than a V8
? A V-8 swap for a ZJ seems pretty simple, sell I-6, find a Limited, swap done ;)
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I'd prefer to stay the stock 4.0L if possible lol, trying to find a good running used one for now to at least get my jeep on the road and maybe rebuild the 4.0L I'm pulling from it
So if anyone has a 4.0L for sale (preferably around TJ age..) I'm interested
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I'd do that. I bought a whole 4.0 TJ with 120,000km for $1800. It was a rollover but I was really only after the engine and tranny, I'll sell the bits I don't use to bring my swap cost down after.
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i still do have that one at work
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I'm getting firebolt to do the machining and assembly. In the end I expect it to be in the $3000 range.
You do realize that firebolt engines are built by cetus right? These guys make their money by hosing old ladies that don't know any better, your bill will probably be twice what they quote. Hell, they even hosed their parts suppliers rep on an engine build after telling him they would give him a discount.
option 1: Precise engine rebuilders in Calgary have a 4.6L shortblock for sale for $2000, but I think they'd take less. Apparently, a customer ordered it and couldn't pay for it. In the end, it wasn't exactly what I wanted so decided not to. Also, their customer service is questionable.
This is funny, Chris is actually a nice guy. That stroker has been sitting for a year now and I know they would love to see it gone. These guys do top notch engine machining and assembly, I would not recommend using anyone but them.
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I may have to re-think who I get to do the machining work then. Decided against Precise's short block because after all is said and done it would be around the same price as building my own. I've already ordered all the parts so my bed is made anyway.
Heard a bad review about Precise from a previous customer. That was where I based my comment. Interesting how you can hear opposite things from different people.
Precise
Firebolt
any other comments / recommendations on engine rebuilders? Looking for someone who can deck the block, valve job, engine assembly.
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+1 on precise doing good work
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If it was up to me, I would look into a chev 5.3l engine, and transplant that into you jeep. I am not big on chevy's but their lsx engines made decent power and tq, and are built pretty well. There are quite a few old 5.3l engines in trucks with 300k on the odo..
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/tj_swap.htm
If you bought a jeep with the d44, you will have 3:73 gears (i think), otherwise you will have 3:07 gears. That gear isnt enough with a stock 4.0l to run anything larger than a 33" tire, and even a 33 is pushing it...and a 33" tire is pretty small in the jeep world. If you plan to build this jeep of yours into a monster, you will be re-gearing shortly which isnt cheap if you dont do it yourself..
Running an engine like the chev 5.3 will help mitigate a gear swap, however your axles will need work sooner than later the larger you go with tires. In calgary, you can get a 5.3 from a wrecker for 1k pretty easily...(and the other dirty little secret is you will improve your fuel economy quite significantly as well).
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hey i just threw in a 350 was a bit pricey but i didnt do the work with lack of time took it down to national transmission on 14th and he gave me a great deal only negatives that i have now is brutal fuel milage (need to re-gear) but it drives great.
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Decided against a v8 swap because of the work and potential gotchas to work through. Also didn't want to deal with a wiring mess. A stroked 4.0 puts out about the same HP and torque as a 5.3L (290HP, 325ft-lbs). I've also always wanted to do a 4.6L stroker for some reason.
I'm covered for gearing. Just had my front regeared to 4.56 and I'm in the process of swaping in a D44 from an XJ with 4.56 and an auburn posi.
I'm running 265-75-17 tires (roughly 33").
Got all of my parts except for pistons. I'll have to talk to Precise. Hopefully, they won't be too choked that I didn't buy their engine.