Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

4.0 stroker vs Magnum 5.9

Adam's TJ

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Chandler AZ
I am looking for a jeep TJ with the intent of swaping a Magnum 5.9 as I understand it isn't a difficult swap (I have swaped several engines in the past, I know how much work it is). Here is the thing. I found a Jeep about 300 miles away that has a 4.7 stroker. I am thinking of driving over to see it this weekend, but I wonder if anyone can tell me what performance is like on this kind of build vs a magnum 5.9. as a side note, I have the magnum doner vehicle that my brother wrecked some time ago. So cost isn't going to be a major factor.

If you have driven a 4.7 stroker and a magnum motor (5.2 or 5.9) I would be interested in your thoughts on power, specifically low end power.
 
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I have a stroker 6/5 speed,33s/4.10 gears and my brother has 5.2l/auto, 36's/4.88 gears. Both in 97 tj's

The stroker 6 is no v8. But if you go all out they can make great power ($$$).i have high compression forged pistons,edelbrock head and a comp cam and it scoots really well and has great bottom end.

Its a little hard to compare the two rigs as mine is smaller,lighter and the manual is different from the auto. The healthy 5.2l with headers and a few things has more power but I'd bet my jeep against his from 0-60mph.though my stroker wouldn't turn his heavy tsl sx's near as easy

I did a stroker because it hides from the california smog guy under the valve cover.And i wanted it quiet as i could because i hunt with it.not have the v8 jeep hotrod sound. If i was in a more lenient place i would have spent less and got more from a v8 swap.

If you have a known good 5.9l in your back yard it would be an easy choice for me
 
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Here is a thread where his stroker wiped out the cam so he dropped in a Magnum V-8 and he talks about it a little. He started with a 5.2 then got a 5.9. He then got a stroker kit for his 5.9 making it a 6.7. I have that same engine in my TJ that I'm almost done with the rebuild.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/m...ps-my-stroker-wiped-its-cam-bearings.1516649/

Wheres the link to your magnum swap thread? So he can chose the right year tj for his swap.

To anyone reading,I also have to point out having a stroker doesn't make you wipe out cam bearings any more than in a 4.0l or a 350. Poor quality parts and sloppy assembly does. Strokers get a bad rap for reliability.when it is usually valvetrain related not the stroker components.
 
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Wheres the link to your magnum swap thread? So he can chose the right year tj for his swap.

To anyone reading,I also have to point out having a stroker doesn't make you wipe out cam bearings any more than in a 4.0l or a 350. Poor quality parts and sloppy assembly does. Strokers get a bad rap for reliability.when it is usually valvetrain related not the stroker components.

My build thread is in my sig.

I never said anything about the stroker causing the cam bearings to go. It's just the title to his thread.
 
Sorry i meant the informational thread about magnum swaps. Was it p1cp's?

No this is a thread over on JeepForum. The member isn't active on there anymore but I did see him on FB a while ago. His name on there was doublins and he was from MD. He was a pretty handy guy with some of the stuff he built. He made his own fuel rails for his engine.

 
Stroker can make for a great way to power a rig. It ain't no V8 though. All other things being equal, v8 will win the power war every time. The real decision is how much time/money do you want to spend, legality in your area, and your wrenching ability. I'm very happy with the performance of my stroker(s) but I'm also stubborn and if I could have told myself way back when to Magnum swap it when I turded my first 4.0, I would.
 
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Wheres the link to your magnum swap thread? So he can chose the right year tj for his swap.

The easy answer to this is if you are wanting to do a Magnum swap and keep it emissions legal then it's got to be a 2002 or older TJ since they stopped offering the magnum in most vehicles in 2002. There were limited rigs offered with the magnum engine in 2003 but they are rare. If you have a 2003 or newer then the better options are either a Hemi or LS swap.

To anyone reading,I also have to point out having a stroker doesn't make you wipe out cam bearings any more than in a 4.0l or a 350. Poor quality parts and sloppy assembly does. Strokers get a bad rap for reliability.when it is usually valvetrain related not the stroker components.

Proper parts selection is KEY in any engine build but from some threads I've read it seems to be more important with the 4.0. I've not read enough about these issues to say what caused the problems so I won't comment.

Stroker can make for a great way to power a rig. It ain't no V8 though. All other things being equal, v8 will win the power war every time. The real decision is how much time/money do you want to spend, legality in your area, and your wrenching ability. I'm very happy with the performance of my stroker(s) but I'm also stubborn and if I could have told myself way back when to Magnum swap it when I turded my first 4.0, I would.

Now you have buyers remorse like do too except I wished I'd done a Hemi swap as opposed to my Magnum swap.
 
Now you have buyers remorse like do too except I wished I'd done a Hemi swap as opposed to my Magnum swap.
Maybe, kinda. I've had a great time learning to put together motors and like getting the power I do out of a little n/a 6 banger. But after all the iterations of stroker I've done and ridiculous money I've spent on "exotic" (read overpriced) parts like an aluminum cylinder head, billet TB, and other stuff not mass produced v8 cheap, I would be further ahead with more power by now. And there is definitely a limit of HP that is actually usable in a TJ (do not confuse usable with fun though).
 
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Maybe, kinda. I've had a great time learning to put together motors and like getting the power I do out of a little n/a 6 banger. But after all the iterations of stroker I've done and ridiculous money I've spent on "exotic" (read overpriced) parts like an aluminum cylinder head, billet TB, and other stuff not mass produced v8 cheap, I would be further ahead with more power by now. And there is definitely a limit of HP that is actually usable in a TJ (do not confuse usable with fun though).

My only reasons for wanting the Hemi is the better transmission. But I CAN get an adapter to run a new transmission behind the magnum.
I'll let you know what I think of the stroker V-8 once mine is drivable. I'm sure it's going to be LOADS of fun if I can keep my foot out of the floor.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts