RockMJ Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Hey everyone. So some of you already know, but I have my 90 Eliminator up for sale in the Classifieds section of the forum. If the Jeep does not sell I will move forward with my plan for a cruiser/weekend warrior style build. With that said I have been doing research on crate motors for the MJ and have narrowed it down to an ATK 4.7 base stroker motor. The 4.7 Baja is a great bit of hardware but the extra money and the one year, 12,000 mile warranty turned me off a bit. After reading up on Golen experiences on various other forums, I have taken them out of the equation. Hesco is the obvious winner among the Jeep community but the price tag and hardware being comparable to ATK lost my vote. My main question for everyone is if anyone has experience with ATK Performance Motors or any input to add? If I end up doing the ATK base 4.7 stroker I will opt for the upgraded aluminum roller rocks and ARP hardware. Spec sheet and details on the motor I am considering below. Any input or recommendations are welcomed. And for anyone curious, I am not going for a powerhouse motor but rather a built one that will be reliable. Thanks in advance guys, ATK 4.7 RockMJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I have heard the exact opposite that Golen is golden and ATK is crap. *Shrugs* However, ATK is the supplier for the MOPAR stroker crate engines. I heard so many mixed opinions that I decided to build my own for cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockMJ Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 I have heard the exact opposite that Golen is golden and ATK is crap. *Shrugs* However, ATK is the supplier for the MOPAR stroker crate engines. I heard so many mixed opinions that I decided to build my own for cheaper. Yeah, I have seen that ATK supplies the Mopar units. I unfortunately do not have the space to build one myself although it would be a much better option. I have read a good deal over the past week or so regarding the crate 4.7 with a crazy amount of mixed reviews for all companies. I guess it boils down to the warranty terms and how good the company is with honoring them. Thanks for the input, RockMJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakal Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 did a search, too many complaints. the problems are one thing, the honoring of the warrantees is another. the prices are good, but after reading about them i wouldn't buy from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Asking for opinions here for stroker options isn't the right place. Cruise the stroker forum and you'll hear that ATK, Golen, and Hesco stroker motors are junk, then hear just the opposite from a different batch of folks. If you haven't run all three for several thousands of miles, or used your own stroker recipe to built your own, you can't intelligently recommend one over the other. But as you know, the Hesco motors get the least complaints by far, except for their cost. So I'll reply based on my experience.Your stated goal "I am not going for a powerhouse motor but rather a built one that will be reliable" was the same goal I had. I read all I could, weighed the pros and cons of each, and decided on a Hesco 4.6 crate motor. This was about five years ago, when they cost less than half the price they do now. I have over 35K on it now, and it's still going strong and has caused no problems. Over time I researched which bolt-on performance upgrades actually worked, and eventually installed the mods I wanted, including the 99+ intake manifold, bored throttle body, Modified K&N FIPK intake, Mike Leach headers, dual 2.5" exhausts, Unichip, and lots of cooling and gearing modifications to get the most from the motor and add longevity. After each major mod, I'd cruise on down to Hesco and compare the before and after dyno results to be certain I was going in the right direction. Overall and over time I'm very happy with the Hesco engine and it has proven to be the right decision in my case, even though the Hesco engines were about 25% more than the competition even five years ago.Now the cost differential between Hesco motors and similarly equipped strokers from the competition is even more than 25%, and I might do things differently. From what I read on the various stroker forums, I'd consider the ATK over a Hesco strictly because of cost, but would not be interested in anything from Golen or the others. The best warranty/guarantee is one you never have to use. I've heard horror stories when Golen or ATK engine owners have requested warranty work, but not much regarding Hesco aftercare. And since you live close-by, even if you needed tech support, you won't have to go far to get it. If you can afford a Hesco engine, even in today's economy and Hesco's high prices, over time Hesco is still probably the best option. It sure was for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1987Comanche Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 My ATK reman engine lasted exactly 282 miles before the cam bearings ate themselves. To say I was not amused would be a gross understatement... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 My ATK reman engine lasted exactly 282 miles before the cam bearings ate themselves. To say I was not amused would be a gross understatement... The thread topic is ATK 4.7 stroker. Are you referring to an ATK stroker engine? If so, was it warrantied? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 The cam bearings don't know or care of the displacement is 4.0 or 4.7 liters. Cam bearings should not fail in 282 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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