I'm Stroking It!

Johnie Burns

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2017
Messages
68
Location
Killeen, TX, United States
Well I pulled the trigger! Let me first say thank you to everyone at wranglertjforum for all the knowledge you've shared. And a special thank you to Russ Pottenger, my Jedi Master in the way of the stroker!

Truly everyones advice on what to do or not to do to your jeep is based on how they think a jeep should be used. So that you understand my intent I will give you some background. First I lived the 80's!
rockout.gif
Monster trucks ruled. The 60-70's Ford Broncos I owned destroyed Jeeps off roading or on. We off roaded to go hunting in the Capitan mountians or arrow head hunting off the Caprock sandhills in New Mexico. We didnt have trails we made our own and hammered those beasts relentlessly. If it broke we made it stronger. The 302 in the Broncos spanked the Jeeps. It was all about getting there first the most radical way possible! But the Jeep clansman were committed and dedicated. We all gave them respect because lets face it, Jeeps are just cool! They were just dog slow. Young and dumb, but it was fun.

Fast forward to now. Single Dad with 3 kids, 2 girls 11, 14 and my boy 15. I come across this Jeep for $1900 bucks with a locked up motor. And Im thinking this is a father son bonding project! Of course I dont want a stock motor they cant even pull a boat. So to the net for some research on a V8 swap and of all things I want to stay Jeep and put another contender on the field. Im hooked. I tell the boy, he's singing Dads praises and then a month later 16 and girls throw my boy into idiot mode. Some of us have been there. And to make a long story short hes at he's Moms, Girls go visit Mo m and 16 year old gets a boyfriend down there and they tell me they need to bond with Mom and now I went from Awesome Dad to Empty Nest bam just like that. I have a small landscape and irrigation business and the guys have totalled 2 trucks within 6 months. And the fact I turn 51 next month, Im pretty much on a downer and need a new drug! Lol. I need a little of the glory days blowing axles apart and catching air, and popping wheelies on steep parking lot entrances. My mid life counsler Guru Russ is making that happen! I dont want to be practical, I dont want to be conservative, I just want to play. So with that in mind pitch in for what its worth and Ill keep you updated on the journey out of a mid life crisis by the power of a stroker and my new Jeep clansmen!
20170713_112105.jpg

First up Ive purchased a salvaged motor to get it running while we build the stroker. I have the old 4.0 pulled, I had to cut the stripped torx head off the bolt to pull the engine...lots of fun.
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Congrats on the TJ and the build! You're never to old to have a Wrangler! Hell, I was 30 years old when I got my first Jeep Wrangler, and I kept wishing I had discovered them when I was in my twenties. Instead I wasted so much time on so many other vehicles, yet this Wrangler is the most fun of any vehicle I've ever had.

I look forward to watching your build progress! Just get ready to empty your pockets (Jeeps are known for that), but enjoy yourself throughout the process. This new drug you've found is a damn good one!
 
Thanks Chris. Its been a while and the Jeep 4.0 and manual tranny is a new one for me. I know there are some tips and tricks so Im all ears. I already stripped the top passenger torx bolt and had to cut it off to pull the engine. Im getting a new throw out bearing, hoses, and thermostat, anything else before I try and stab this back in? Im waiting on a new clutch to go in when I put the stroker in. Also if you have any vid threads you can point me to on putting the engine back in Id appreciate it. I didnt remove any of the shifters or drive lines, I just unbolted the skid plate from the frame and had it on a jack, it worked but am I missing something?
 
Well I pulled the trigger! Let me first say thank you to everyone at wranglertjforum for all the knowledge you've shared. And a special thank you to Russ Pottenger, my Jedi Master in the way of the stroker!

Truly everyones advice on what to do or not to do to your jeep is based on how they think a jeep should be used. So that you understand my intent I will give you some background. First I lived the 80's! View attachment 19616 Monster trucks ruled. The 60-70's Ford Broncos I owned destroyed Jeeps off roading or on. We off roaded to go hunting in the Capitan mountians or arrow head hunting off the Caprock sandhills in New Mexico. We didnt have trails we made our own and hammered those beasts relentlessly. If it broke we made it stronger. The 302 in the Broncos spanked the Jeeps. It was all about getting there first the most radical way possible! But the Jeep clansman were committed and dedicated. We all gave them respect because lets face it, Jeeps are just cool! They were just dog slow. Young and dumb, but it was fun.

Fast forward to now. Single Dad with 3 kids, 2 girls 11, 14 and my boy 15. I come across this Jeep for $1900 bucks with a locked up motor. And Im thinking this is a father son bonding project! Of course I dont want a stock motor they cant even pull a boat. So to the net for some research on a V8 swap and of all things I want to stay Jeep and put another contender on the field. Im hooked. I tell the boy, he's singing Dads praises and then a month later 16 and girls throw my boy into idiot mode. Some of us have been there. And to make a long story short hes at he's Moms, Girls go visit Mo m and 16 year old gets a boyfriend down there and they tell me they need to bond with Mom and now I went from Awesome Dad to Empty Nest bam just like that. I have a small landscape and irrigation business and the guys have totalled 2 trucks within 6 months. And the fact I turn 51 next month, Im pretty much on a downer and need a new drug! Lol. I need a little of the glory days blowing axles apart and catching air, and popping wheelies on steep parking lot entrances. My mid life counsler Guru Russ is making that happen! I dont want to be practical, I dont want to be conservative, I just want to play. So with that in mind pitch in for what its worth and Ill keep you updated on the journey out of a mid life crisis by the power of a stroker and my new Jeep clansmen!
View attachment 19614
First up Ive purchased a salvaged motor to get it running while we build the stroker. I have the old 4.0 pulled, I had to cut the stripped torx head off the bolt to pull the engine...lots of fun.
View attachment 19615
Congratulations on your new Jeep! Life events can be relentless...Hang on my friend...and enjoy building the new Jeep...
 
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Wow, this looks like it is going to be a very cool project! I am excited to see your progress!


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It helps when your Super Hot Girlfriend is wanting to wrench.....Kinda. lmbo!
Nice shop !
Makes 'wrenching' just a little bit easier .....
Stroker '6' ..... beyond cool!
It was an old pole barn with dirt floors. I was thankful it provided shade but I hated dropping parts in the dirt so man was I happy when we concreted the floor. Then with the help of Harbor Frieght I can really screw things up!
 
Ok Ive stabbed the engine back in the Jeep. I replaced the torx head bolts with half inch head bolts. Put a new clutch and throw out bearing in while it was out.
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Im hooking everything back together and the manifold and throttle connections are different. My original engine is a 2000 and the new engine is a 2004. I dont want to use the old intake so Im going to splice the 2004 connectors on the 2000 wiring. Any suggestions?
 
I have not looked on mine but if the # of wires are the same why not extract the wires from the old connector and install them in a new connector. I would think that would be better than a splice.
 
I have not looked on mine but if the # of wires are the same why not extract the wires from the old connector and install them in a new connector. I would think that would be better than a splice.
Lol. Well I guess I posted before I pulled my head out. The old throttle body sensor an others unbolted from the old and fit the new. Somebody slap me!
 
It gets even better. I get everything plugged and bolted up, check everything twice, put in a new battery and nothing, wont turn over, no dash lights, and leaving the key on I go to recheck my double check. Go back in to crank it and see no bus on the odometer. It dawns on me I have no clue if the computer was even good. Usually a ground issue so I put a cable to the battery and to ground wiring on the block and the dash lights come on. Im singing my praises as I grab the key and crank. And crank, and crank.... crapsters! And I have an injector leaking fuel everywhere. I clean every terminal twice, pulling wire lume checking anything and everything I can think of and then remember when I bought the Jeep there was a baking pan with a dodge/chysler key bob and an alarm computer brain. Dug under the dash and behold an alarm wiring harness. Plugged the cobera alarm in and it immediately goes off with the key off but off if the key is on. Im again super proud of myself and I crank, and crank, and crank..... It was Friday nite... I pack it up and we go float the Guadalupe Saturday!
 
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It gets even better. I get everything plugged and bolted up, check everything twice, put in a new battery and nothing, wont turn over, no dash lights, and leaving the key on I go to recheck my double check. Go back in to crank it and see no bus on the odometer. It dawns on me I have no clue if the computer was even good. Usually a ground issue so I put a cable to the battery and to ground wiring on the block and the dash lights come on. Im singing my praises as I grab the key and crank. And crank, and crank.... crapsters! And I have an injector leaking fuel everywhere. I clean every terminal twice, pulling wire lume checking anything and everything I can think of and then remember when I bought the Jeep there was a baking pan with a dodge/chysler key bob and an alarm computer brain. Dug under the dash and behold an alarm wiring harness. Plugged the cobera alarm in and it immediately goes off with the key off but off if the key is on. Im again super proud of myself and I crank, and crank, and crank..... It was Friday nite... I pack it up and we go float the Guadalupe Saturday!
Which crank are you running? Any issues with the crank sensor or snout of the crank?
 
It gets even better. I get everything plugged and bolted up, check everything twice, put in a new battery and nothing, wont turn over, no dash lights, and leaving the key on I go to recheck my double check. Go back in to crank it and see no bus on the odometer. It dawns on me I have no clue if the computer was even good. Usually a ground issue so I put a cable to the battery and to ground wiring on the block and the dash lights come on. Im singing my praises as I grab the key and crank. And crank, and crank.... crapsters! And I have an injector leaking fuel everywhere. I clean every terminal twice, pulling wire lume checking anything and everything I can think of and then remember when I bought the Jeep there was a baking pan with a dodge/chysler key bob and an alarm computer brain. Dug under the dash and behold an alarm wiring harness. Plugged the cobera alarm in and it immediately goes off with the key off but off if the key is on. Im again super proud of myself and I crank, and crank, and crank..... It was Friday nite... I pack it up and we go float the Guadalupe Saturday!
I would guess the pcm/ecm/computer is not compatible with the sensors on the new engine.