Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Cylinder Block, Crankshaft, Connection Rod, and Camshaft Differences

Chris

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This information was taken from the Jeep Stroker's website. I get the impression that website won't be around forever and the information will eventually be lost. That being said, I'm merely reposting some of the information I've found to be very useful on that site, as I don't want to lose it to the sands of time.

Here is the original article:



Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Cylinder Block Differences

1987-1990

Casting Number: 8933002665, 53005535
Cast iron block, left side may have three 2" or two 1" cast plugs. Second bolt from pan rail on right side of timing cover is a threaded bolt hole. Oil filter mounting on left side of block is pointing downward.

1991-1995
Casting Number: 53008405
Cast iron block. left side has five 2" cast plugs. Second bolt from pan rail on right side of timing cover is a through hole. Oil filter mounting on left side of block is pointing downward. The upper (block side) bearing—locating tab was moved to the center of the bearing register. Two additional bolt bosses added to block where fuel pump would sit (lower right front) for coil mount.

1996-1998
Casting Number: 3010341, 53010449
Cast iron block. left side has five 2" cast plugs. Second bolt from pan rail on right side of timing cover is a through hole, coil mount bosses lower right front. Basically it is the same as the 1991-‘95 blocks except for dowel pins in the deck for head and block alignment. Oil filter mounting on left side of block is pointing downward. Uses long main bolts and stud girdle. Has “NVH” on side to denote block strengthened for "noise, vibration and harshness" reductions (no visible differences).

1998
Casting Number: 53020514, 53020515
Cast iron block. oil filter mounting surface is 90° to pan rail of engine instead of pointing downward. Uses long main bolts and stud girdle. Has 1/8? pipe thread oil tap into main oil line in rear of block. Will retro back with filter kit available from Daimler-Chrysler. Has "NVH" on side to denote block strengthened for “noise, vibration and harshness." Grand Cherokee application.

1999-2001
Casting Number: 53010449AA
Cast iron block. second bolt from pan rail on right side of timing cover is a through hole. Oil filter mounting on left side of block is pointing downward. Uses long main bolts and stud girdle. Basically the same as 1996-1998 except that it is a camshaft thrust plate block. Has "NVH" on side to denote block strengthened for “noise, vibration and harshness."

1999-2006
Casting Number: 53010327AB, 53010328AB
Cast iron block. oil filter mounting surface is 90° to pan rail of engine instead of pointing downward. All kinds of configuration and boss changes with long mounting boss protruding off the lower left of block. Uses long main bolts and stud girdle. Camshaft thrust plate block. Has “NVH” on side to denote block strengthened for "noise, vibration and harshness." No coil pack mount bosses, now mounted on cylinder head.



Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Crankshaft Differences

1987-1991

Casting Number: 3003453
This application uses the old style AMC pilot bushing p/n 33004041. Hole for converter hub machined to .550" depth. May also have hub hole depth of .850" using bearing and sleeve assembly p/n 53009180. Caution: this crankshaft can have either .550" or .850" pilot hole. Standard transmission must have .550" pilot hole, can
interchange .850" pilot hole crank for automatic transmission. Best information indicates that .550" depth crank has knurled rear seal surface.

1992-1994
Casting Number: 3003453
Cast iron crankshaft that has a .850" rear pilot hole. Caution: this shaft can have either .550" or .850" pilot hole. For standard transmission applications a sleeve and bearing assembly p/n 53009180 is required. The pilot bushing is available separately as p/n 53009181. Can be used for 1987-1991 applications only if the pilot bushing housing bore is drilled out from 1.005" to 1.055". Best information is that .850" depth crank has smooth rear seal surface

1995
Casting Number: 53020767
Cast iron crankshaft which has a .850" rear pilot hole. This shaft is the forerunner to the 1996-2006 shaft with a shorter casting lug at the outer most edge of the rod throw to clear the stud girdle used 1996 and later. Will interchange for 1992-1994.

1996-2006
Casting Number: 53020767, 53020767
Cast iron crankshaft which has a .850" rear pilot hole. This shaft has a shorter casting lug at the outer most edge of



Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Camshaft Differences

1987-1995

Casting Number: 8933002893
Cast iron hydraulic lifter camshaft for flat type lifter.

1996-1998
Casting Number: 53020436
Cast iron hydraulic lifter camshaft for flat type lifter. Slightly different grind and used with light pressure springs. This cam will retro back for 1987-1995.

1999-2006
Casting Number: 53010397
Cast iron hydraulic lifter camshaft for flat type lifter. This is a thrust plate style camshaft.



Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Connecting Rod Differences

1987-1995

Casting Number: 205, 2670, 288, 296, 351, 544
Forged connecting rod, Center-to-Center length is 6.127" with a .931" diameter pin. Casting number 544 is the most common number seen.

1996-2001
Casting Number: 691
Forged connecting rod. Center-to-Center length is 6.127" with a .931" diameter pin. It will retro back for 1987-1995.

1999-2006
Casting Number: 548
Forged connecting rod, center-to-center length is 6.127" with a .931" diameter pin. It has a slightly different shaped beam, but weighs the same as all the other rods. The assumption is that these rods will retro for all applications.




Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Cylinder Head Differences

1987-1990

Casting Number: 2686
Cast iron cylinder head has half circle relief on top of each intake port toward the front of the engine for injector clearance. Has "D" shape exhaust ports that face backto back.

1991-1995
Casting Number: 7120, 33007119
Cast iron cylinder head has a much shallower riser on the front of the intake port than 1987-1990. The exhaust ports are now rectangular shaped with rounded corners.

1996-1999
Casting Number: 0630
Cast iron cylinder head that has two receiver holes on each end of the deck face for block that now uses dowel pins. The intake ports have been changed once again, and there is a new designed rocker cover and gasket that will not retro. This head also uses a lighter pressure valve spring that is beehive shaped.

1999-2006
Casting Number: 0331
Cast iron cylinder head that has two receiver holes on each end of the deck face for the block dowel pins. Once again the intake and exhaust ports have changed and closely resemble 1996-1999. The interior of these ports is very rough almost semi-finished looking. There are nowfour bolt bosses for the coil pack bracket on the spark plug side of the cylinder head.
 
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Chris I would not say dead, just not used much anymore for a platform that is obsolete...the 4.0 that is...

Maybe it was the wrong choice of words, I'll change that. I just meant that the website looks like it was build in the 90s with Microsoft front page. I get the idea it won't be around forever.
 
I am actually hoping some members from here will check out their website, it is really old and the website has not changed in 15 years. and I still love my stroker in the YJ...
 
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I am actually hoping some members from here will check out their website, it is really old and the website has not changed in 15 years. and I still love my stroker in the YJ...

Hopefully! I'd like to try and preserve as much information on the 4.0 as possible. 30 years from now or so it will be a classic, and the more of them we can keep on the road, the better!
 
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I would agree that jeep strokers is a great resource for 4.0 builds, but there doesn't seem to be nearly as much traffic on there as there was in the hayday of stroker builds 8-10 years ago. It's helped me immensely, but only a couple of knowledgeable members ever post tech responses (and I'm thankful they do).
 
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I googled "Jeep Stroker" and it certainly didn't come up with what you would think!:D
 
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In the -Jeep Wrangler 4.0 Crankshaft Differences-1996-2006, the sentence is not finished? Any one know the finish of the sentence?
"1996-2006
Casting Number: 53020767, 53020767
Cast iron crankshaft which has a .850" rear pilot hole. This shaft has a shorter casting lug at the outer most edge of"