Ok so an update on the jeep had I small mishap lol, the jeep was dead reliable on 10 psi, I beat the shit out of it all year, had it offroad a few time camping, revlimiter in the mud etc, dead nuts reliable, on 10-11PSI..... so I turned up, because that's what I do, lol, so turned up the boost not thinking about extra fuel, the stock pump regulator runs a low pressure I think about 45 psi (you can buy upgraded regulator online that raises it to about 60), my mind was thinking LS terms, that have around 60PSI of pressure, and was thinking i should have plenty of fueling left for 16ish PSI....... so I ran out of fueling on a 16-17 psi run when I first turned it up, got some nasty knock and the engine is a bit hurt now, I'm 99% it's a cracked ringland as it doesn't knock and runs fine when in throttle, just a bit of a mis when at idle, and cranks like an engine with a cylinder down on compression, so likely down compression on one cyl.
so ive turned it back down to the orignal tune about 10 psi, still been driving it around, and still WOT pulls at every single stop sign and light etc, i am blown away at how bullet proof these engines are, it just keeps staying alive, one thing i will say is at 16 PSI it pulls HARD, like lifting a wheel off the ground in a straight line lol.
so after some thinking and pricing out pistons and rods and trying to find aftermarket valves, valve spring etc to build the 4.0, i decided i will be going another route as the bottom end parts are easy to find but top end stuff it hit and miss, and also the 4.0 with a turbo guzzles gas, i can burn a tank of 94 in one day if im having fun.
The current plan is a BEW TDI engine out of a MK4 Jetta, golf etc, you can make really good torque numbers with them and still get 30+MPG in a lifted TJ, based on my research, and paying regular fuel prices instead of 94 prices.
The BEW is what they call a PD engine, basicly it means it has unit injectors, on a bone stock engine with just a stage 1.5 tune (max safest tune on stock turbo) you can make 239WTQ and 130WHP, Stage 4 Big turbo with minor mods they can make 269WTQ and 157WHP, while still getting great MPG. I'm a Deisel tech by trade, so this is right up my alley. you can also do with the PD engine whats called a hardcut, essentially a Diesel 2 step sounding rev limiter setup, makes it sound super agressive when bagning gears.
There a few companies that make an adapter plate that converts the rear of a TDI engine to be the same as the stock 4.0, lets you bolt right up to the stock trans in stock location.
Anyways figured i fill you guys in on what been going on with the jeep, and the plans, next year or 2 i hope to be starting a TDI swap thread, but currently we are saving up for a house, with a garage for me to do more dumb projects in. I currently have another project as well thats taking priority, a Honda ruckus that i did a 150CC GY6 swap, im working on converting to fuel injection from carb setup and adding a tiny turbo and big bore kit, i love wierd shit.
I may buy another TJ in the future just to explore the inline 6 again with a fully built engine, maybe more of a stock look Dana 44 rear sleeper with 20+PSI, but for now i want something reliable and cheap to run, as this is also my camping rig, so i cant get down the trails to go camping on crown land without it.
For now ill be beating on my TJ with the hurt engine, i honestly believe it will last until im ready to do the swap