I’ve read every stoker build or forum post I could possibly find but none of them had quite what I wanted. At first it was going to be a basic build cheap easy very little down time. Then I remembered if there’s any possibility for more power I can’t stop myself. With great mods like an HO head, 99 intake, bored throttle body and larger exhaust how could I say no. I needed an engine that could take full advantage of everything.
I wanted to try and get as much performance out of the engine but stay away from some of the higher end engine parts and machine work, fast expensive but not too expensive. All the parts needed to complement each other. I decided on a high compression 4.7 and mixed in all the best mods.
The only work done by a shop was the machine work on the block everything else was done at home, you get little extra something that way.
I couldn’t have built the engine the way I wanted without the help of my brother and because of that I have to leave out some information. He put in a lot of time and research into this build.
Original Vehicle: 1989 4.0 Limited RENIX AW4 automatic
Head & Block: Head 93 HO port polish, Bee hive valve springs*, 89 Block
Machine Shop: balanced rotating assembly, Bore 0.060” over, decked 0.044”,***
CR: 10.6:1
Camshaft: CompCams 68-232-4
Connecting Rods: AMC 4.2
Pistons: KB Silvolite 3242hc Hypereutectic
Crankshaft: 25300 AMC 4.2
Intake & Fuel: 99 intake gasket matched, 63mm throttle body, custom air filter assembly, modified 99 fuel rail, Bosch 30# injectors, adjustable fuel pressure regulator. 93 throttle cable, modified 93 throttle & kickdown bracket.
Exhaust: Custom full 2.5” 304 stainless, modified APN Header, Magnaflow muffler, Wideband O2 for tuning.
Cooling: Radiator CSF HD 3-Row, open system, dual 12” electric fans
Electrical: Adjustable MAP Sensor, custom battery cables, repaired wiring harness, all new sensors. Modified TPS & adapter bracket.
Other: 99 power steering & tensioner bracket. Other major parts rebuilt or replaced: Transmission, transfer case, Truetrac, larger swaybars and many more.
Cost: As long as I’m happy when it’s finished I don’t care. It was expensive and I will never add it up.
What’s Next: Dyno run hopefully within a month or so I will give another update when that happens. Lots of minor changes I was in a rush near the end. Maybe a modified valve body for the transmission. And when I get bored and need another project switch to Mega Squirt. The RENIX system can run the engine but I think it has more to give.
After about 2000mi everything seems to be working fine it’s fast loud and doesn’t feel like a Cherokee anymore.
I started taking pictures after we finished the bottom end. Sorry.
I wanted to try and get as much performance out of the engine but stay away from some of the higher end engine parts and machine work, fast expensive but not too expensive. All the parts needed to complement each other. I decided on a high compression 4.7 and mixed in all the best mods.
The only work done by a shop was the machine work on the block everything else was done at home, you get little extra something that way.
I couldn’t have built the engine the way I wanted without the help of my brother and because of that I have to leave out some information. He put in a lot of time and research into this build.
Original Vehicle: 1989 4.0 Limited RENIX AW4 automatic
Head & Block: Head 93 HO port polish, Bee hive valve springs*, 89 Block
Machine Shop: balanced rotating assembly, Bore 0.060” over, decked 0.044”,***
CR: 10.6:1
Camshaft: CompCams 68-232-4
Connecting Rods: AMC 4.2
Pistons: KB Silvolite 3242hc Hypereutectic
Crankshaft: 25300 AMC 4.2
Intake & Fuel: 99 intake gasket matched, 63mm throttle body, custom air filter assembly, modified 99 fuel rail, Bosch 30# injectors, adjustable fuel pressure regulator. 93 throttle cable, modified 93 throttle & kickdown bracket.
Exhaust: Custom full 2.5” 304 stainless, modified APN Header, Magnaflow muffler, Wideband O2 for tuning.
Cooling: Radiator CSF HD 3-Row, open system, dual 12” electric fans
Electrical: Adjustable MAP Sensor, custom battery cables, repaired wiring harness, all new sensors. Modified TPS & adapter bracket.
Other: 99 power steering & tensioner bracket. Other major parts rebuilt or replaced: Transmission, transfer case, Truetrac, larger swaybars and many more.
Cost: As long as I’m happy when it’s finished I don’t care. It was expensive and I will never add it up.
What’s Next: Dyno run hopefully within a month or so I will give another update when that happens. Lots of minor changes I was in a rush near the end. Maybe a modified valve body for the transmission. And when I get bored and need another project switch to Mega Squirt. The RENIX system can run the engine but I think it has more to give.
After about 2000mi everything seems to be working fine it’s fast loud and doesn’t feel like a Cherokee anymore.
I started taking pictures after we finished the bottom end. Sorry.
.
