Titan Stroker Engine or a Better Option?

[duffer]

I will say that I'm getting 17mpg on my 40-50mph daily commute. That is based on GPS mileage, not the odometer. That said, I have a n LS in my CJ5 and there is no way that I'll upgrade my 4.0. I'll immediately swap to another LS. I was getting 15mpg on the same commute with the same size tires and no overdrive.

Yep. Same scenario as the early CJ crowd upping the CR, headers, Weber's on the L134/F134. The proverbial lipstick on the pig. Don't get me wrong, I think the 4.0 makes a great Jeep engine. You just need to accept it for what it is or make a complete transplant. My TJ isn't the daily driver and I already have one hot rod Jeep so I have zero intentions of messing with the 4.0.

 

[g.hayduke]

I have a Golan stroker that was installed about 1 year ago. I really like how it runs. I had them bump up the CR to help compensate for my roughly 6k ft elevation.

That said, IMO, it was an unacceptably sloppy build and I would choose some other option today. It took me roughly a year to resolve all the issues (so far).

If I knew of a good local machine shop, I would buy a complete, balanced rotating assembly and build it myself. For now, fingers crossed that I've slayed all the gremlins.

 

[LJBean]

You can get a material bump in hp and torque with std pump gas, but you have to spend a bit more on the head.

 

[macleanflood]

You can get a material bump in hp and torque with std pump gas, but you have to spend a bit more on the head.

Valves? Port matching? Springs? Rockers?

-Mac

 

[LJBean]

Valves? Port matching? Springs? Rockers?

-Mac

Yes

 

[LJBean]

LS valves, porting, port matching, springs. Stock rockers also work in my case.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

You can get a material bump in hp and torque with std pump gas, but you have to spend a bit more on the head.

The reverse flow head will always have a limiting impact on the AMC I-6 platform. There are big improvements possible with the head, but you can only make ports and valves so big. With a 4.060" crank bored out with a relatively high CR with better quench, you can get 400hp at the crank n/a, and more with a turbo. Some of those choices might not make for a good TJ (poor vacuum, choppy idle, easy to stall)

 

[LJBean]

400 HP would be awesome, but might as well do a LS swap to go there. I'm talking about a real bump from the std 4.0, not a double in hp.

 

[Strizzo]

That's why we just end up running the 93 when we can't get 91. Wife says its "terrible" on sub-91, but no science has been applied.

My wife has had a couple of turbo 4 and 5-cylinder engines that didn't require premium but ran better on 91/93. Her dad told her that 87 was the same as 91/93 and they're just selling you the same gas for more $$ so she wouldn't put premium in.

Both made more power and got about 1-2mpg better on premium.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

400 HP would be awesome, but might as well do a LS swap to go there. I'm talking about a real bump from the std 4.0, not a double in hp.

There are alot of advantages to stay with the AMC I-6 block. For starters you can keep the PCM and whole wiring harness intact. Run the same transmissions, T-case and driveshafts. There is no conflict with uptravel. The costs for the "5.0L" build aren't that much more than a 4.6L.

There's alot of hidden costs in changing out to an LS or anything else in time and money.

 

[LJBean]

There are alot of advantages to stay with the AMC I-6 block. For starters you can keep the PCM and whole wiring harness intact. Run the same transmissions, T-case and driveshafts. There is no conflict with uptravel. The costs for the "5.0L" build aren't that much more than a 4.6L.

There's alot of hidden costs in changing out to an LS or anything else in time and money.

Agreed, much less modification of the chassis. If you can achieve 400HP, I'd likely want to upgrade the transmission. Would that force PCM changes? Particularly on the '05-'06?

 

[GoldenGorilla]

Agreed, much less modification of the chassis. If you can achieve 400HP, I'd likely want to upgrade the transmission. Would that force PCM changes? Particularly on the '05-'06?

For the auto, I would think so. For the NSG370, no. But you still need to tune it.

I'm aiming for closer to 325, with a fat left side of the power curve. 400 will generally come with a cam that revs higher and either requires a faster idle or chops at stock rpm. To me, that is a disadvantage offroad.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

For the auto, I would think so. For the NSG370, no. But you still need to tune it.

I'm aiming for closer to 325, with a fat left side of the power curve. 400 will generally come with a cam that revs higher and either requires a faster idle or chops at stock rpm. To me, that is a disadvantage offroad.

Agreed. I ran a KB supercharger on my I6 for years. It made about 300 ponies and 400 torque at the crank. Power down low, perfect idle, and dead nuts reliable. But I think that general power target is about as far as you can push the 4.0 and still have a good mill for off road.

When you start trying to push the I6 into the 400 pony range and up, you are doing a bunch of work to open up the top end at the expense of the low end. Ok for a street vehicle - and perhaps a mud bogger - but that would turn a great engine for offroad into one that is not.

 

[MtPockets]

Agreed. I ran a KB supercharger on my I6 for years. It made about 300 ponies and 400 torque at the crank. Power down low, perfect idle, and dead nuts reliable. But I think that general power target is about as far as you can push the 4.0 and still have a good mill for off road.

When you start trying to push the I6 into the 400 pony range and up, you are doing a bunch of work to open up the top end at the expense of the low end. Ok for a street vehicle - and perhaps a mud bogger - but that would turn a great engine for offroad into one that is not.

I'd like to learn more about your experience with the KB.
Search function, here I come...

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I'd like to learn more about your experience with the KB.
Search function, here I come...

I've heard lots of nightmare stories of trying to add a supercharger to the I6, but the Kenne Bell liquid intercooled package worked very well. I ran 5-6 psi. The real key was their tune. Unfortunately, they stopped making this kit years ago.

 

[MtPockets]

I've heard lots of nightmare stories of trying to add a supercharger to the I6, but the Kenne Bell liquid intercooled package worked very well. I ran 5-6 psi. The real key was their tune. Unfortunately, they stopped making this kit years ago.

View attachment 683317

Thanks.
I found a couple of threads where you talked about it. Sounds like a great setup!
What blower did they use, or was it their own?
The Boosted Tech sounds pretty good. Might have to dig around in the couch cushions...

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Thanks.
I found a couple of threads where you talked about it. Sounds like a great setup!
What blower did they use, or was it their own?
The Boosted Tech sounds pretty good. Might have to dig around in the couch cushions...

I believe it was their own twin-screw design. Something like 1.7 liters as I recall.

Interesting thing, KB would not ship you the supercharger until after you shipped them your PCM to be flashed with their tune. Too many people installed the SC and fired it up without getting it tuned - and smoked their engines from a crazy lean condition. I guess they got tired of dealing with that.