How much would a new engine add to the value of my jeep?

[SteveD2]

I have a '96 Cherokee with almost 200k on it. It is in absolute perfect condition, several new cosmetic parts, new wheels and tires, etc. The "private party" blue book on it is around $4,000. I plan on keeping it about another year or so, and then I'm going to get something alot more expensive when money allows.

Anyway, I've been thinking about putting a stroker engine in it. It's currently got the 4.0 inline 6, 190hp. If you put in the crankshaft from an older 4.2L inline 6 you get around 4.7L, and with a few other parts around 275hp.

But, since I won't be keeping it that much longer, I don't want to sink too much money into it. How much do you think an engine like that would add to the value of it? Just simply a new engine should help, but with almost 100hp over stock it would have more power than a V8. I might also throw in a low mileage transmission, there's nothing wrong with the current one, but used AW4s are dirt cheap.

 

[XS650]

Modified cars are usually harder to sell and often get less money than stock ones.

You could get whatever value a normal rebuilt engine would add to the car if you were lucky. If you were really lucky and found someone who was looking for exactly what you had and had faith in your -stroker-, you might get a little bit more.

Appearance and first impressions will have more impact on what you get for it than any hiddden work you do.

 

[michaelc80]

Unless you really trick it out and find a willing buyer, the book value won't change much. I really love my wife's 96 Cherokee (nearly perfect with 130K on it) but no matter what, it's never going to be worth much more than the book value.

 

[XS650]

I got curious about what combo you were talking about so looked it up:

Jeep poorman's strokers

That's a nice combination of mostly stock parts you can toss together. You should do it "just because" and not worry about resale. You would really feel that extra grunt in everyday driving.

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:
I got curious about what combo you were talking about so looked it up:

Jeep poorman's strokers

That's a nice combination of mostly stock parts you can toss together. You should do it "just because" and not worry about resale. You would really feel that extra grunt in everyday driving.

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Yeah, well, I want to do it "just because", but since I won't be keeping it that long I don't want to just give a free stroker to the next owner. I don't drive that much, so if I did do it, the engine would probably have less than 10k on it before I sold it. I am definately going to do some power upgrades, but I don't know if I should go so far as a new engine. The main reason I'm thinking about it is because when the average person sees over 200,000 miles on the odometer, they crap their pants and run away.

If it has a new engine and transmission, it would look alot better, especially with almost 300hp.

 

[FL-400S]

Id be surprised if you could get $4000 for a jeep with 200K on it. Why bother gettting rid of it if you're making it better? Just keep it and get something add'l.

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

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Originally posted by FL-400S:
Id be surprised if you could get $4000 for a jeep with 200K on it. Why bother gettting rid of it if you're making it better? Just keep it and get something add'l.

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Mainly getting rid of it for towing. Cherokee's tow about as well as a Taurus. I also want something newer, bigger, nicer, etc.

I would just keep it as a second vehicle, but I would end up never using it. I don't think I'd have too much trouble getting $4k for it as it sits, I would really think it had less than 100k on it if it didn't have an odometer. Plus it looks nice to the average dumb kid that would buy it - nice aluminum wheels and oversized tires, lots of shiny chrome, nice clean engine, remote starter, upgraded headlights, amazingly good gas milege, etc.

 

[SteveD2]

double post

 

[tom slick]

you'd probably get $4200 for it with a new engine. mods don't really add much value unless it's built in a way that appeals to an enthusist that realizes it's value in parts.

if you just want to do it for the heck of it then go right ahead, your repayment will be

not $$$.

 

[drm7]

I run from vehicles with mods. This is because some backyard mechanic probably got into it, did it half @$$ed and now trying to dump his wreck on me. Here is how I view rebuilding engines / trans, you are just putting the vehicle back into running condition so it will be worth what blue book says and not one nickel more. I really can't think of a way to make a car worth more than it's worth. If this makes sense. Restored rods being the exception. Also, what you described wouldn't get $2500 around here. You might find a wheeler that wants a base jeep to start with but I can't imagine $4k for 200k miles.

 

[drm7]

Oh, and you are right about the towing. I sold my 98 Cherokee for the same reason. I bought an F150 to tow my 19ft boat with. It pushed the Cherokee around. I love those Cherokees though. Great for offroading!

 

[Gary Allan]

The "stroker" is a "done" package. Well proven in reliability and power production. It's a no brainer for great power production without much sacrifice in longevity. It gives a decent return in the $/hp+ft/lb ratio.

I wouldn't do this for a vehicle that I'm ditching in a year. I might do it for a vehicle that I was keeping ..even if I didn't drive it much. It would be kinda nice to have an appropriately tricked out Cherokee for occasional use (be prepared - it's a lifesytle). I'd also do it if I intended to hand the vehicle off to a close friend/relative for a decent price. There's some "warm and fuzzy" worth to that type of thing too.

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

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Originally posted by drm7:
Here is how I view rebuilding engines / trans, you are just putting the vehicle back into running condition so it will be worth what blue book says and not one nickel more.

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Think about it this way. You have two jeeps that are exactly the same in every way. Both have 200,000 miles. One has a brand new engine/transmission, the other does not. The one with the new engine is worth more. I would certainly pay more for it.

 

[rjundi]

Personally I would not buy a vehicle with a rebuilt motor or replaced motor. The reason being is that one I would second guess the previous owners driving/maintenance habits and the quality of installation. So to me it adds no value and keeps me away. In your case this is not true as you frequent this board but I see those words in an ad and look on.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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but I see those words in an ad and look on.

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Many people see that and move on. The question in the back of your mind (two actually) are, What did they do to need a rebuild and, how good was the rebuilder? If the unrebuilt engine is apparently sound ...it would be unlikely that anything major wouldn't be apparent upon inspection/road test/investigation. You don't know what characteristics are going to show up in the fresh engine. Is that reconditioned rod going to start knocking? ..etc...etc..

quote:

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Think about it this way. You have two jeeps that are exactly the same in every way. Both have 200,000 miles. One has a brand new engine/transmission, the other does not. The one with the new engine is worth more. I would certainly pay more for it.

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Not necessarily. You may choose one over the other, but I think the ultimate price would not change in the "offer" for the reasons given above. Both are down to residual value.

Now if you get a jeep buff who can appreciate a stroker ..that's another story. In a Wrangler or CJ that's somewhat beefed up for decent trail use ..sure..you can add to the bottom line if the alternative was a tired 4.0 ..but you're eliminating a whole bunch of people that are ignorant to the advantages of this mod. Try telling the downscale soccer mom the advantages of an MSD ignition system and see the look you'll get.

This is a "ZmOz is selling his Cherokee. I think he wants $xxxx for it. He takes pretty good care of his stuff. I think I'll look into it." type thing. YOU'RE going to sell this thing ..not the engine. I've seen this more times than I can remember. The integrity of the owner sells the vehicle for a higher price than it would pull otherwise. That is, you can recoup your investment into the vehicle ...but it will be to a narrow customer base, IMHO. It's not like you're throwing in a "crate engine" (sbc) from the factory.

 

[Propflux01]

old 200k'er or 'new' rebuild...hmmm....Old for me. I have seen way too many 'rebuilds' consist of new rings, main and rod bearings, on an old crank, pistons and block, and 12 cans of spray paint to make it look 'new'. Not to say yours is like that, but unless you have reciept for a new engine, like from autozone or NAPA or something like that, with the guarentee, As far as I am concerend, It is rebuild-by-bubba...

 

[Gary Allan]

I just checked on the specs of the respective engines.

If you just throw the 258 crank in a 4.0 ..you go to a 3.88 bore and a 3.90 stroke ..basically a "square" relationship. I'm uncertain of the effect on the better flow design of the 4.0 head ...but on the 258 the torque peak was WAY lower than the 4.0 ...like to the tune of 1500 rpm.

258 specs 4.0 specs

No wonder this thing revs like an irrigation pump engine. It's got the stroke of a BBC 454/502 (almost).

I think you end up, if you don't bore it out, with a 4.3 +/-.

 

[SteveD2]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gary Allan:
258 specs 4.0 specs

No wonder this thing revs like an irrigation pump engine. It's got the stroke of a BBC 454/502 (almost).

I think you end up, if you don't bore it out, with a 4.3 +/-.

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Yep...that's why they call it a stroker.

If you don't bore it out you end up with 4.5L. .030 over is 4.6L and .060 is 4.7L. I've heard of them being bored out enough to get to 5.0L.

Those specs on the 4.0 are wrong, it was never 185hp in the XJ/ZJ. From '91-'01 in the XJ it was 190hp, in the ZJ it went up to 193hp at some point, but never below 190hp. 91-95 engines had 225 ft lbs at 4000 RPMs, '96 and up lowered it to 3000 RPMs with a dual pattern cam. The factory rates the 4.0 with 225ft lbs, but many dino tests of stock engines have shown around 245ft lbs.

 

[JeepZJ4.0]

ZmOz:
The ZJ's 4.0L had a max of 195 (WJ) and a min of 185 (OBDII Equipped ZJs). Non OBDII Equipped had 190.
The Renix equipped XJs had 177. The Non OBD HO 4.0L had 190.

OR:

'87-'90 XJ: 177hp at 4500rpm, 224lbft at 2400rpm, redline 5000rpm
'91-'95 XJ: 190hp at 4750rpm, 225lbft at 3950rpm, redline 5250rpm
'96-'99 XJ: 190hp at 4600rpm, 225lbft at 3000rpm, redline 5300rpm
'00-'01 XJ: 193hp at 4600rpm, 231lbft at 3000rpm, redline 5300rpm

'96-'99 TJ: 181hp @ 4600rpm, 222lbft @ 2800rpm, redline 5300rpm
'00-'03 TJ: 190hp @ 4600rpm, 235lbft @ 3200rpm, redline 5300rpm

'93-'95 ZJ: 190hp @ 4750rpm, 225lbft @ 3950rpm, redline 5250rpm
'96-'98 ZJ: 185hp @ 4600rpm, 220lbft @ 2400rpm, redline 5300rpm
'99-'03 WJ: 195hp @ 4600rpm, 230lbft @ 3000rpm, redline 5300rpm