Project Basketcase!

[FarFire70]

I looked into zinc when I put my stroker in. I’ll cut and paste from a post in my build thread a couple of years back.

“Based on some reading, in the past, minimum ZDDP was standardized by the American Petroleum Institute (API) to around 1200 ppm. This was reduced to 800 ppm in 2004 because higher levels were hard on catalytic converters. The problem is lower levels of ZDDP lead to higher wear on cams with flat tappet lifters. It’s hard to find the exact ZDDP content for a given oil. I use Castrol GTX 10W40 in my TJ (because I always have-no better reason than that). I assume it has around 800 ppm ZDDP, but I may be wrong. If I’m right, my motor should probably have another 500 ppm or so to protect the cam. Lucas TB Zinc plus has 50,000 ppm. So, in 6 quarts (192 oz), 1.92 oz of Lucas TB plus (I rounded up to 2 oz) should add the desired 500 ppm of ZDDP. I realize there are a bunch of assumptions here, so if anyone has hard data to refute this plan, I’m all ears.”

I’m still using the zinc additive and the conventional oil which I change every 3000 miles.

I recall cats being impacts by the increase (normal) ZDDP levels being a cause in the reduction.

My 05 has the mini cats with (under my experience) break apart every 20-50k anyway, so why should I care on cat life... The mini cats don't have a long lifespan in my experience.

In seriousness, I would rather protect the internal and burn out a cat any day!

 

[Rickyd]

I responded yesterday but I guess that was lost in the site issue last nite.
Here’s my cam card:
View attachment 549861
Its only a little less mild than yours.

My head is a 7120 and my block is a ‘92 which is pre-NVH. Whatever the reason, my valve train (or something) is definitely noisier than stock. I’ve done a couple of oil analyses with Blackstone. The first was a little concerning. Fuel dilution and multiple metal particulates were higher than spec. However, that all settled down 5 or 6K later.

With regard to yours, the Eddy head is aluminum, correct? I’m not sure if that effects things but it might transmit more sound? Is your block stock or pre-NVH?

Yes,aluminum head and a 96 nvh block.

 

[Rickyd]

I responded yesterday but I guess that was lost in the site issue last nite.
Here’s my cam card:
View attachment 549861
Its only a little less mild than yours.

My head is a 7120 and my block is a ‘92 which is pre-NVH. Whatever the reason, my valve train (or something) is definitely noisier than stock. I’ve done a couple of oil analyses with Blackstone. The first was a little concerning. Fuel dilution and multiple metal particulates were higher than spec. However, that all settled down 5 or 6K later.

With regard to yours, the Eddy head is aluminum, correct? I’m not sure if that effects things but it might transmit more sound? Is your block stock or pre-NVH?

I've wondered the same thing about the aluminum head transmitting sound. This seems to be beyond reasonable though. The blackstone analysis is a great idea just for some peace of mind! I'll be doing that when i get some miles on this oil change

 

[Rickyd]

Not tracking all the details of your setup but I have been running 10w30 diesel oil for the ZDDP increase after my OEM engine ate an OPDA and the replacement dealer-installed cam ate a lifter...

Haven't pulled the pan nor OPDA to inspect yet. Only 30k so far on the new long block. Plan to pull OPDA in near future.

So I can't say it's done anything.

Many here (and elsewhere) say there is enough ZDDP in regular motor oil for our engines (even though the amount in oil has dropped over the years)... but I've had so much internal wear, I struggle to believe it on this motor design...

How have your seals been behaving with the diesel oil?

I looked into zinc when I put my stroker in. I’ll cut and paste from a post in my build thread a couple of years back.

“Based on some reading, in the past, minimum ZDDP was standardized by the American Petroleum Institute (API) to around 1200 ppm. This was reduced to 800 ppm in 2004 because higher levels were hard on catalytic converters. The problem is lower levels of ZDDP lead to higher wear on cams with flat tappet lifters. It’s hard to find the exact ZDDP content for a given oil. I use Castrol GTX 10W40 in my TJ (because I always have-no better reason than that). I assume it has around 800 ppm ZDDP, but I may be wrong. If I’m right, my motor should probably have another 500 ppm or so to protect the cam. Lucas TB Zinc plus has 50,000 ppm. So, in 6 quarts (192 oz), 1.92 oz of Lucas TB plus (I rounded up to 2 oz) should add the desired 500 ppm of ZDDP. I realize there are a bunch of assumptions here, so if anyone has hard data to refute this plan, I’m all ears.”

I’m still using the zinc additive and the conventional oil which I change every 3000 miles.

I use the lucas as well. I can't say what my cat's effectiveness is 30k miles later but it makes me feel better about my cam

 

[Mike_H]

I recall cats being impacts by the increase (normal) ZDDP levels being a cause in the reduction.

My 05 has the mini cats with (under my experience) break apart every 20-50k anyway, so why should I care on cat life... The mini cats don't have a long lifespan in my experience.

In seriousness, I would rather protect the internal and burn out a cat any day!

Dang....My jeep has 155K on it and still the original cats. I've thought about replacing them, just because, but then I kinda want to see how long they will go!

 

[Apparition]

Dang....My jeep has 155K on it and still the original cats. I've thought about replacing them, just because, but then I kinda want to see how long they will go!

Should have jumped on those Holley Flowmaster sets, I'm guessing you're on borrowed time. Mine made about 117k unless they weren't factory when I replaced them.

 

[Mike_H]

Should have jumped on those Holley Flowmaster sets, I'm guessing you're on borrowed time. Mine made about 117k unless they weren't factory when I replaced them.

I had them in my cart…

 

[Jezza]

Last time I had the engine out I pulled all but 4 of the lifters through the Edelbrock head. There were a couple of them that wouldn't come straight up and out. I think I could have snaked them out through the other holes but I didn't care to try that hard.

 

[SkylinesSuck]

I wonder if it's worth my time/effort to clearance the holes then. I'm planning on swapping valve springs anyways.

 

[Rickyd]

I wonder if it's worth my time/effort to clearance the holes then. I'm planning on swapping valve springs anyways.

It takes a half hr to do. Worth it in my book

 

[SkylinesSuck]

How much did you wind up removing? I worry about finding a coolant passage or something.

 

[Rickyd]

How much did you wind up removing? I worry about finding a coolant passage or something.

Not much.Like jezza said. A couple of the holes fit the lifters out of the box.

 

[Rickyd]

Incremental wear on suspension joints can make you forget how these tj's are supposed to drive.Replaced the front upper rough country xflex joints(now they are all jj's),added caster and now the tj drives great again.

Also,I finally took a pic of how well the flat black slider uppers match my dads soft top. Not too bad.the shadows make it a little hard to see,but I'm happy with the rustoleum flat black

 

[Rickyd]

Well it's been too long since anything fun has happened to the tj.

Thanks to @ChadH for the great deal on a rear currie trackbar and some fox shocks! Honest guy and packed everything very well. Everyone who got parts from his back to stock project is lucky. I'm grateful to be part of a community like this one.

 

[Rickyd]

Also got a windstar style intake from a 97 ranger with a 3.0l. It uses the same filter as the windstar and is almost identical. Something different i did notice was the housing outlet is 3.5" O.D. unlike the 4" I'm seeing for other guys using the windstar. I grabbed the housing and a couple different full size ford intake halves for 40$ at a pic n pull recently. I have a ducting parts list queued on amazon.it should be a fun weekend project

 

[Rickyd]

Gotta give it to currie for quality. The joints in the track bar are still tight after 9 years. Some grease and it'll replace the RC bar in my jeep.

It's a great feeling every time a currie product replaces another piece of rough country junk!

 

[Rickyd]

The shocks will be a bit of a project. None of them are blown and seem to have uniform resistance but 2 of the shafts have nicks and rust at the end by the eyelet. Not a big deal,new shafts are 35$ each. I love how serviceable and easy to modify these shocks are.the plan is to rebuild them and convert the odd needle fill on the reservoirs to schrader valves.

Once that and any other advisable upgrades are done I'll get both ends of my jeep weighed and have them tuned.

 

[Rickyd]

To integrate the 10" front and 9.6" rear fox shocks into my build, I plan on leaving my bumps where they are and raising the upper mounts as needed to match where the current worn out rancho 5000x's compression limits are.less than 2" in both cases.

at my 2.5" front lift, the 239 ranchos 9" travel is close to being centered at ride height. My plan is to bump the lift to 3" with different springs so the 10" travel shock is also near its center of travel.

My rear 241 5000x's have an uptravel bias at the current 1.75" lift. 4.75" uptravel out of their 8" total. The fox will add 1.6 to that and get a similar height bump to the front with spacers.

more flex,height,and tuned,rebuildable shocks here we come!

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Also got a windstar style intake from a 97 ranger with a 3.0l. It uses the same filter as the windstar and is almost identical. Something different i did notice was the housing outlet is 3.5" O.D. unlike the 4" I'm seeing for other guys using the windstar. I grabbed the housing and a couple different full size ford intake halves for 40$ at a pic n pull recently. I have a ducting parts list queued on amazon.it should be a fun weekend project
View attachment 576048
View attachment 576049

The low-power 3.5” inlet version was designed for the LS…

 

[Rickyd]

The low-power 3.5” inlet version was designed for the LS…

The part with the 3.5" inlet is definitely for a low power motor

I may not be doing an LS swap. But if i crack the stroker open for a bigger cam, the edelbrock head will get some LS valves! Something I've seriously considered is having my piston dishes milled to put the compression ratio into turbo friendly territory. Or just get some new pistons.