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bigwalton Postal teardown/rebuild - what would you do?

LS is the best bang for the buck. And they don’t look that bad- although I may be prejudiced!😆

D52348F7-A525-4C4B-86D2-E232EE9ECD60.jpeg
I did use the Vortec Max engine covers that hide the coil packs. I think that makes it a lot cleaner.

Plus, I’ve got a lot of crap going on with dual batteries, one on each side, add-on a/c, and winch wiring.
 
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Randyzzz said:
LS is the best bang for the buck. And they don’t look that bad- although I may be prejudiced!😆

View attachment 108398
I did use the Vortec Max engine covers that hide the coil packs. I think that makes it a lot cleaner.
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Honestly, I'd rather look at the top of the engine :eek:

Those covers are the ones that I don't like -- at all. Looks like an alien hiding in there! All the curves are the problem. An engine in a CJ is not supposed to be curved. Reminds me of a 90s Taurus.
 
bigwalton said:
Honestly, I'd rather look at the top of the engine :eek:

Those covers are the ones that I don't like -- at all. Looks like an alien hiding in there! All the curves are the problem. An engine in a CJ is not supposed to be curved. Reminds me of a 90s Taurus.
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A 90s Taurus? Lol, ouch. That's pretty bad. 😂
 
BW-

I know you've had some issues with the 4.0L lately, and are considering a V8, but curious why you are moving away from a stroked version of the 4.0L?
Seems like it would have similar power & fuel economy (albeit limited vs. what you can modify V8's to or a Hellcat). Cost maybe about the same or less? Certainly an easier swap being in and out.

Disclaimer: this is coming from a guy who has never run a stroked 4.XL and runs an AMC V8....but has run many stock 4.0L in XJ's

Good luck with your project!
 
bigwalton said:
Honestly, I'd rather look at the top of the engine :eek:

Those covers are the ones that I don't like -- at all. Looks like an alien hiding in there! All the curves are the problem. An engine in a CJ is not supposed to be curved. Reminds me of a 90s Taurus.
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90’s Taurus! That hurts! 🤣
 
Ron84cj said:
I think the truck intake manifold is a big part of why they are ugly. The car (f body) manifolds look way better.

View attachment 108399
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I have no problem with that look right there. I don't get the aversion to seeing the coil packs. The later 4.0L had them on the plug rail and I never saw an issue.

Maybe I just need to drop a supercharger on top to look at?
I kid...
 
Scott_P said:
BW-

I know you've had some issues with the 4.0L lately, and are considering a V8, but curious why you are moving away from a stroked version of the 4.0L?
Seems like it would have similar power & fuel economy (albeit limited vs. what you can modify V8's to or a Hellcat). Cost maybe about the same or less? Certainly an easier swap being in and out.

Disclaimer: this is coming from a guy who has never run a stroked 4.XL and runs an AMC V8....but has run many stock 4.0L in XJ's

Good luck with your project!
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My stroker plan always was as I willfully ignored the stories I came across where they weren't able to run right with the stock ECU. I was always planning to go very mild and not try to get 4.7-4.9L out of it (and that gets very pricey very fast).

Mr. Jake White, @CJ8LVR is one of them, particularly because he got a stroker I was actually coveting and does very nearly identical stuff with his Scrambler. I just desperately want to be as cool as Jake, in the end.

Really, it's all about knowing that for driving across the country to wheel, I want the engine working as little as possible. That's ALL modern V8. I knew that all along, I just didn't want to admit it and go the "easy" route, but my recent IAC problems/vapor locking pushed me past the point of no return, once I was truly honest with myself.

I also would seriously argue the fuel economy point, I don't see a stroker getting anything close to either an LS or Hemi.

On cost, I will end up going with a known good take-out, not anything new. And there's no chance I could do a stroker for what I've seen in my limited searching around because I'd want to go with new bits in a stroker to know it was done as right as possible. That's the big difference knowing a stock V8 of either flavor will do everything I want properly where I'd need to be very detail-oriented in a stroker build :shrug:
 
I was curious as I put a 4.0L in my Willys Wagon project many years ago, back when it was still sort of modern w/eventual plans of going stroker.

I am just now getting back on this project and it may actually see the light of day this summer...as I am getting down to brakes and cleaning up the wiring harness. (Not like it will be finished, but it will be driveable hopefully.)
 
Scott_P said:
I was curious as I put a 4.0L in my Willys Wagon project many years ago, back when it was still sort of modern w/eventual plans of going stroker.

I am just now getting back on this project and it may actually see the light of day this summer...as I am getting down to brakes and cleaning up the wiring harness. (Not like it will be finished, but it will be driveable hopefully.)
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I still love it if the Jeep isn't towing regularly (I just love my camp trailer too damn much) and doesn't see a ton of highway time. I have a convertible Jeepster build in mind for tooling around town and/or a vacation place and it's 4.0L powered. Parts-wise, I'm still shocked at how easily I find in-stock parts for the 4.0s at part stores (the hard angled water neck blew my mind when every local AutoZone had one, for example.)
 
Randyzzz said:
LS is the best bang for the buck. And they don’t look that bad- although I may be prejudiced!😆

View attachment 108398
I did use the Vortec Max engine covers that hide the coil packs. I think that makes it a lot cleaner.

Plus, I’ve got a lot of crap going on with dual batteries, one on each side, add-on a/c, and winch wiring.
Click to expand...
My exact covers... The only covers that I liked on the LS frankly... But since @bigwalton said they look like an alien... :banghead: Guess I'll have to bolt a supercharger on top instead.
 
designerRob said:
The wagon version is even worse. I hate to say I actually designed a few parts on that series. Although, the overall design theme was all Ford stylists.
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What did you design on these things? If it's anything mechanical on the Taurus it may be in your best interest to plea the 5th. Lol
 
My dad and then I put over 300 thousand miles on a 90s Tauraus. For the money one of the best cars I owned..
 
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