4.0L HO Jeep Engine Build

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Still cleaning..... This crap got everywhere, even some closed toolboxes and of course, everything in the garage with a magnet. Yeah nothingbutdarts, I used a mask but I still have that iron taste in my mouth. Blech! Washing it down with St. Pauli Girl as I clean up. :)
 
OK, here we go. You can see some evidence of serious core shift but I didn't want to hog too far as I'm using a stock cam. I may epoxy that in... Should flow quite a bit better regardless. :)

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So there you have it. Deep gasket match, bowl work and short side transition without going hog wild. I didn't do much around the guides because I decided after all this work, I'm going to have them put new guides in and redo the valve job. I have about 24 hours into just porting these heads and hell if I'm going to pull them off again after driving 40k for guides again... I do wish these were cleaner castings or using larger cam and aftermarket fuel injection. I couldn't get that core shift out without changing the shape of the bowl and shape IMHO is very important.

Now to get some heat in the garage and crack another beer! :cheers:

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How about a ride in your buddys Jag as well!! LOL

I was down in Pueblo @ the Motorsports Park watching the vintage car races a few years ago, they were running on the road coarse, mid race they were giving rides, I rode in a Ferrari, the guy was flogging it! Well into 100 in the straights! If I remember right my oldest brother rode in a Cobra kit car.
 
nothingbutdarts said:
How about a ride in your buddys Jag as well!! LOL

I was down in Pueblo @ the Motorsports Park watching the vintage car races a few years ago, they were running on the road coarse, mid race they were giving rides, I rode in a Ferrari, the guy was flogging it! Well into 100 in the straights! If I remember right my oldest brother rode in a Cobra kit car.
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That might be a little more difficult to arrange. :-D We were blasting west of Simms on Alameda @ 100+. 8)

That Ferrari ride must've been a kick!
 
Lookin real good Joe. That should make a nice improvement. Do you have any plans on getting them flowed just to see what they do or just gonna go with them? I got lucky and found a guy a couple yrs. back that only charges me $25 to flow a couple cylinders so I usually do it just to see what their doing.
 
fishy68 said:
Lookin real good Joe. That should make a nice improvement. Do you have any plans on getting them flowed just to see what they do or just gonna go with them? I got lucky and found a guy a couple yrs. back that only charges me $25 to flow a couple cylinders so I usually do it just to see what their doing.
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Thanks Fishy! When I was at the DC Racing Friday the cylinder head guy (Chris), has a '92 XJ too so he's really interested and he'll be the same guy doing the guides and valve job. We were both thinking at my last visit that I should have flowed them "as is", but at the time I was in survival mode and had no idea I was going to put this much time in the head. As you know, things just snowball and I'd really like to see what difference I made, good or bad. I used to port all my drag race motorcycle heads and a .3 to .5 sec difference was the norm depending on build and rider but never had or used a flow bench.

I'm hoping he'll give me deal, lol. :read2: I'm kinda reluctant to even let Dave (the Dave in DC racing) know I ported the heads since this guy's been doing this for 35 years.... I'm an amateur. His discerning eye could really bum me out, lol. This guy sold his first shop (Mapcap Racing) to V. Gaines. Dave can get 640 hp from 347 ci. and a 390 cfm carb. I'm a nothing.... :notworth: Chris has been with him for 12 of those years and did the NASCAR/ARCA tour with him. All I did is win some minor stuff bike racing (Dragbike USA, etc). :read2: BTW, Chris's XJ was V. Gaines shop runner and V. used to take it out for lunch now and again. :) Dave also told me about about a slew of W-2 heads he let go with the shop..... ARRRGGGHHH!
 
I've got two I believe "Econo" W-2's still sitting in the box that I bought back in like 1980, never been assembled. Along with some gosh, 12.5 to 1 pistons for my 340 (I had in my dragster) that have never been assembled. They must all be so outdated by now!

Golly, I hope sometime in the not to far future I have the funds to put both the 340 and the Hemi back together, get them installed in the Darts and play with them!
 
Really? W-2's on a 340 stroker would be a killer combo for the street... Open or closed chamber W-2's?
 
ramcharger said:
Really? W-2's on a 340 stroker would be a killer combo for the street... Open or closed chamber W-2's?
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I would have to pull the boxes and get the part number or look at them, they are somewhere in my big trailer. No valves, rockers or intake for them.
 
nothingbutdarts said:
I would have to pull the boxes and get the part number or look at them, they are somewhere in my big trailer. No valves, rockers or intake for them.
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Wow.... If were rich I'd buy a pair to put in the new rec room, lol. Seriously though, if I were to build a LA, those would be my head of choice, who cares if they are bit heavy. Iron heads retain more heat and technically produce more power given the same flow rate as aluminum heads.

Renegade said:
Nice build! My DD is a '96 Cherokee, great car!
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Thanks Renegade! I think you were the one who turned me toward the NAXJA forum. I'm not there all that much, but I did meet a great used parts supplier there who saved my butt when my quarter window got bashed in.

This whole build is for a DD and camp/fish/light tow vehicle. I'll keep it updated as the idea is to let everyone know what can be done on a budget and if the OBD II can handle these types of mods. :read2: With my luck it'll breath too well and I'll have to go with a hidden Megasquirt...
 
Joe my man, looking good!!! A visit to DC racing engines cannot hurt for your machine work, my friend!

The AW4 trans is good, I'm sure ... :-D

They rarely fail .. but if you need a freshen up, lemme know. 8)
 
LOL! How the heck are you Chris! You know me, if the trans barfs, I'll just bug the crap out of you for advice and parts and where the hell to find a manual. :) I'm working now so hopefully next year some time we can work on 700-800hp capable 727 and a Dana 60. Don't worry, I'll pay for that... :-D

So the port work looks OK? You know DC and damn man, I feel like a newbie everytime I walk in his shop. :notworth: I may just spend another hour Sunday with a buffer pad on the Dremel.

BTW, the trans on the Ramcharger has put up with all the abuse I could ever do in 3K miles and shifts snappy as ever. Thanks Chris for all your help and reasonable prices on 727 stuff I can't find anywhere else. :notworth:

Thanks to Fishy68 for all of his advice as well. :)
 
ramcharger said:
Thanks Fishy! When I was at the DC Racing Friday the cylinder head guy (Chris), has a '92 XJ too so he's really interested and he'll be the same guy doing the guides and valve job. We were both thinking at my last visit that I should have flowed them "as is", but at the time I was in survival mode and had no idea I was going to put this much time in the head. As you know, things just snowball and I'd really like to see what difference I made, good or bad. I used to port all my drag race motorcycle heads and a .3 to .5 sec difference was the norm depending on build and rider but never had or used a flow bench.

I'm hoping he'll give me deal, lol. :read2: I'm kinda reluctant to even let Dave (the Dave in DC racing) know I ported the heads since this guy's been doing this for 35 years.... I'm an amateur. His discerning eye could really bum me out, lol. This guy sold his first shop (Mapcap Racing) to V. Gaines. Dave can get 640 hp from 347 ci. and a 390 cfm carb. I'm a nothing.... :notworth: Chris has been with him for 12 of those years and did the NASCAR/ARCA tour with him. All I did is win some minor stuff bike racing (Dragbike USA, etc). :read2: BTW, Chris's XJ was V. Gaines shop runner and V. used to take it out for lunch now and again. :) Dave also told me about about a slew of W-2 heads he let go with the shop..... ARRRGGGHHH!
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Joe I know exactly what you mean about the snowball effect. I did the same on my X heads for my 360. Wasn't planning on doing more than clean up the bowls. Well one thing led to another and about 40 hrs. later I finally finished them, LOL

Also know what you mean about the intimidating feeling of working with a pro. The guy I take my heads to get them flowed had a 420 ci Chevy roundy round engine there he just finished and showed me the dyno sheet. 896 hp at 9100 rpm and nearly 750 lbs. of torque with a fuel curve as flat as Kansas. He did the dyno tuning too. I almost said "and think how much power it would make if it were a Mopar" LOL! I figured that might affect my pricing so kept my mouth shut.:-D
 
fishy68 said:
Joe I know exactly what you mean about the snowball effect. I did the same on my X heads for my 360. Wasn't planning on doing more than clean up the bowls. Well one thing led to another and about 40 hrs. later I finally finished them, LOL

Fishy, it never seems to end, lol. I just can't do a job halfway and good is never excellent. You and I seem to have the same frame of mind. :read2:

Also know what you mean about the intimidating feeling of working with a pro. The guy I take my heads to get them flowed had a 420 ci Chevy roundy round engine there he just finished and showed me the dyno sheet. 896 hp at 9100 rpm and nearly 750 lbs. of torque with a fuel curve as flat as Kansas. He did the dyno tuning too. I almost said "and think how much power it would make if it were a Mopar" LOL! I figured that might affect my pricing so kept my mouth shut.:-D
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Yeah man, any other machinist I wouldn't give a darn but I don't trust any other machinist.... Dave would crack up if I told him that, lol. He has a great sense of humour. He called once about another engine I was working on and said "Hey, that crank you gave me? I dropped it and it shattered...... (dead silence on my end...)....Just kidding! It's done and ready to go!) lol.
 
ramcharger said:
LOL! How the heck are you Chris! You know me, if the trans barfs, I'll just bug the crap out of you for advice and parts and where the hell to find a manual. :) I'm working now so hopefully next year some time we can work on 700-800hp capable 727 and a Dana 60. Don't worry, I'll pay for that... :-D

So the port work looks OK? You know DC and damn man, I feel like a newbie everytime I walk in his shop. :notworth: I may just spend another hour Sunday with a buffer pad on the Dremel.

BTW, the trans on the Ramcharger has put up with all the abuse I could ever do in 3K miles and shifts snappy as ever. Thanks Chris for all your help and reasonable prices on 727 stuff I can't find anywhere else. :notworth:

Thanks to Fishy68 for all of his advice as well. :)
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Joe, I'm very good, my friend! Could use some more work, though!!

Glad the Ramcharger trans is kickin butt!!!

As for 7-800 horsepower with your 727, mine are good to 1400hp.

Here's proof if you need it:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzXf4iVK0d8"]Steve Stracener's blown Challenger, Andrews Racing Transmissions 727[/ame]
 
PS--sorry to hijack your 4.0L build thread ..

The 4.0 is a VERY good motor though ..

Keep us posted on your build!
 
No problem at all Chris, feel free. :) You can post videos of blown Challengers on any of my threads, lol. It's great to know that you have a recipe for something like I have in mind all the way up to a beast like that. Damn. 8)
 
:happy10:Sounds like you are moving right along Joe :cheers: Man those heads and valve are going to make some HP =P~ I can't wait to see the up upgraded exhaust and intake in and hear it fire up.
Know I know who the go to member is on a trans is ramcharger:happy10:
Duster346 Chris :cheers: I hope you and Maxi are doing well and Mellin is being a good man there at home for ya :happy10:
 
Come on Joe. You knew there was no possiblilty of just a cleanup and drop in for a dd. You're too much of a fanatic. If it ain't perfect, it ain't good lol..

Grant
 
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