What is a "stroker" engine?

[TexasJ10]

I'm going to show my ignorance here. I have heard of AMC 401 forged cranks being used in AMC 360 blocks. I know nothing about the process, but have seen tis process called a stroker engine. What does it mean and what is involved, and what benefit would there be for a FSJ?

[Oracle]

Do a "search" for "stroker" and you'll find several threads on the subject assuming they are still up. The idea is that the crank has longer "throws" i.e. it moves the piston through a greater range of motion, increasing the length of the 'stroke' thus raising displacement while keeping the same 'bore', i.e. the circumference of the piston. While longer stroke motors cannot rev as high as similarly constructed oversquare motors-greater bore than stroke-(the limiting factor is piston speed) all other things being equal, they provide more torque, which is good news for 4wheelin.

[xj2fsj]

Incredibly well explained oracle.

[TexasJ10]

I saw the theory in old posts, but has anyone here ever actually done it? Every post ends with questions that apparently can't be answered. If this is a big torque builder, why isn't it done more often? I need resolution!!! I need closure!!!

[Oracle]

there was a post here some time ago about a noted AMC motor man, I believe in West Virginia. I'd do a search on that post and get that fellows name and number and give him a call.

I think one of the reasons its not done more often is the scarcity of 401's and thus 401 cranks.

[Joe J-Truck]

It also takes alot of $ at the machine shop. The crank has to be turned down and the block has to be clearanced for the extra through of the crank. I don't think its worth it unless you have a 401 crank, a 360 block and a pile of cash just laying around going to waste.

[TexasJ10]

I have none of the above, and I haven't heard of a 360 cast crank or rods failing. The forged 401 crank and rods are best left to the guys that need them for their 401 motors. Thanks for all of the input.

[Panoscopic]

Go to www.jeepsunlimited.com (http://www.jeepsunlimited.com) Wranger forum. You can do a seach there and find lots of info on the 4.6L stroker - basically a 4.0L with a 258 crank. There area a couple of companies that provide kits to do it, but it is a pretty complicated operation.

[wanablikemike]

I met a guy at a local rock crawling competition that did exactly that to his 360 and he it was very impressive. He had his Wag on 38's and could loose all 4 of them without even really revving the motor. He told me that he pulled a Scout II up out of a mud pit at idle in Hi-4! The only problem was that he spent over $8000 on the motor alone and he still didn't even place at the event because he couldn't drive for beans. :mad:
Anyway ... if you've got the money I'd say do it but if you don't you can definitly do without it. (The competition was won by a Suzuki Samurai with a stock 1.3ltr) :D

[67Gladiator]

There's at least one person who did a stroker conversion on the FSJ lists at Yahoo : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FSJ-List/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1FSJ/

I haven't had the time to read them for a while but the subject used to come up quite regularly

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: 67Gladiator ]</p>