Though I'd share one of my other projects.
Currently I’m working on my 1989 Jeep Comanche with a 4.7L stroker 2WD, and 5 speed. I started the engine project back in 2003 for another Jeep while I was at college. As a student at UNOH I was able to do all my own machine work and assemble the motor myself. (i'll post more specs below) By the time I got back my Cherokee had rusted out and it was time to find a replacement.
I picked up the Comanche sometime around 2005. It had 101,000 miles but the motor was junk. Body was pretty rust free with just a few dents. So for a few hundred dollars I dragged it hope with the intentions of dropping my stroker motor in. When I started working on the truck and pushing it around the yard there was some odd clunk when turning. I guess at some point the truck as hit in the front and there was a poor repair done. The subframe was welded but then cracked around the steering box. Instead of welding it back up I cut the outer part of the subframe back and welding in a new part from a parts Cherokee.
A month later after I fixed the subframe I had a tree branch land on the front clip.
Fenders, hood, and header panel had some damage so I decided to start swapping on a 97+ front clip
Here is a picture shortly after getting it running for the first time
As for the engine here is everything I can remember:
-1995 4.0L block bored .60 over
-4.2L crank polished and balanced
-4.2 rods with ARP bolts, removed and polished parting lines
-SpeedPro hyperutectic pistons with coated skirts, dished and rebalanced
-1994 4.0L head, backcut valves, 3 angle valve job, cut spring pockets, Chevy Z-28 springs with shims, ARP head studs, lots of port work.
-Double roller timing chain
-1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee 25 lbs injectors
-2001 4.0L intake
-Crane cam, either 260/272 Advertised Duration, .456/.484 Lift or 272/284, .484/.512, I forget what I went with.
Now that I've dragged the truck out of the woods and to my new place I've started working on it again. Most of the paint has flaked off the engine and the truck is moldy inside and out. The computer issue was still a problem so I decided to go with megasquirt. Install went smoothly once I found the correct ford shutter wheel to go inside the factor distrubutor. Since I've already megasquirted our Challenge Jeep the wiring was not bad either. There was also no shift computer to mess with and rewire since this Jeep is a manual.
So the Jeep finally runs again but this time correctly. It Idles and revs smoothly but still need some tuning. Biggest problem I have right now is that I can't sit in the Jeep. I'm currently working on making brackets for a set of WRX seats. Once thats done I can do some tuning.
Not really sure what my goal for the truck is. The challenge has crossed my mind since everything so far is under $2000 but all my receipts are gone and I'm not sure how to count the machine work I did at school. I also happened to pick up a 60 trim T3/T4 turbo and 36 lbs injectors. Might be fun to show up with 2 turbo Jeeps or I can swap in 4wd, add a mild lift, and just tow the Cherokee.
