My engine is in pieces.

[Chihlidog]

My Jeep's trusty 4.0 is currently sitting in various pieces in the trunk and in front of the vehicle. Blew the head gasket 2 weeks ago after the thermostat went and we severely overheated it.Found out today the head is cracked. The only cool part about this is that I've always wanted to get way down inside an engine and learn what I'm doing in there, and my father in law is a mechanic. So, yeah. It's actually not as horrible as you'd think. He even gave us a car to use in the interim.

We'll have the head back a bit later today, we're gonna weld it (or he might do it before I get there), clean it up, and put it back together.

[Prages]

I've never done a head gasket on a car, but I've rebuilt motorcycle engines from the ground up.

I'm assuming it's not an overhead cam? That would make it a bit more daunting, I'd think. One of the motocycle engines I rebuilt was an overhead cam and that thing was a giant PITA.

[Mark Wein]

Actually sounds like a fun project if you have that kind of guidance.

Once we get another family car we're taking the engine out of my truck and doing an overhaul of sorts on it.

[Chihlidog]

I've never done a head gasket on a car, but I've rebuilt motorcycle engines from the ground up.

I'm assuming it's not an overhead cam? That would make it a bit more daunting, I'd think. One of the motocycle engines I rebuilt was an overhead cam and that thing was a giant PITA.

LOL nope. Basically the same 4.0 theyve been using for 30 years. The biggest pain was getting the intake/exhaust manifold off, since the bolts werent visible at ALL. It's connected right to the head and block and the bolts are waaaaayyyyy down in there. The rest was cake honestly. The biggest challenge is making sure we laid everything out to know which bolts were for what. I'm pretty sure when we get our tax return I am gonna pick up an older Cherokee now that I've done all this to our current one.

The 4.0 is a great engine. Even my Father in law was amazed at how good the pistons looked when we got the head off. If I have a backup Cherokee, I can putz with it and make it something cool without having to worry if it breaks. I can pick one up for $1500 or so, maybe even less if it needs work. I've always wanted to be able to pick something like that up and do the work myself. I'm slowly getting to the point now where I could do just that.

[Chihlidog]

Actually sounds like a fun project if you have that kind of guidance.

Once we get another family car we're taking the engine out of my truck and doing an overhaul of sorts on it.

Working on it till midnight in the rain then driving almost 2 hours home wasnt fun, but it's great to be able to get in there and learn how to do it. I've always wanted someone to teach me.

[Chihlidog]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r70/chihlidog/block.jpg

[Mark Wein]

Man there's a lot of stuff there.

[Chihlidog]

Man there's a lot of stuff there.

It looks intimidating but it really isnt bad. The toughest part is the details. Which part was this particular bolt for, and am I sure I kept the rockers in the right order? Things like that. I'd do this again by myself. Got all the intakes cleaned up real good last night. They were really TERRIBLE. It was very satisfying though to really get in there and clean it out. Gonna do some valve seal grinding this evening, and a cooling system flush. Then hopefully torque the head back on.

[Prages]

The thing should run like a new car when this job is done! I assume it hasn't been burning oil or anything like that? If so, now's the time to put rings on it.

[Chihlidog]

The thing should run like a new car when this job is done! I assume it hasn't been burning oil or anything like that? If so, now's the time to put rings on it.

It leaks oil, but doesnt burn it. Valve cover gasket is the main culprit there, which I had been meaning to get around to but hadnt. We got the whole gasket kit so yeah it's gonna be an almost new top end. My Father in law was checking it out real close in the light yesterday, and he was amazed to see the hash marks still on the cylinder walls. The engine itself has basically no wear at all. He checked the piston rings, said if there was any wear he'd be able to push the pistons around, he thinks they're good to go. It looks a little nasty in the photo, but I cleaned the top of the block and the pistons real good and it looks almost new.

I'll have this thing off again in February, gonna put an aftermarket head on it. Apparently the 0331 head that this has is notorious for cracking exactly where it did. Might do a few other things to it at that point too. Funny thing is, even with the cracked head, clogged intake, and valves that werent sealing 100%, it still had assloads of torque.

[Prages]

I'll have to do a thread when I finally get around to replacing the rear end on the truck.

[Chihlidog]

I'll have to do a thread when I finally get around to replacing the rear end on the truck.

Indeed you should. When you gonna get around to that?

[Phil513]

Congrats Chihli, im glad you are enjoying the project. maybe sometime you should just pick up an inexpensive project car to fix up, you might have fun with something like that.

And yeah P, i'd enjoy a build thread of that. :aok:

[Prages]

Indeed you should. When you gonna get around to that?

I'm on vacation next week. Provided I have the cash, I'll probably try to at least make it up to Fairmont to pick it up.


And yeah P, i'd enjoy a build thread of that. :aok:

You know I'm not rebuilding the diff, right? Found a junkyard about 2 hours away that has plenty of them in stock (apparently the rear axle assembly on the Ranger has been the same for something like 17 years). Some of them only have about 50k miles on them, and they cost about $300.

So, basically I'll just be replacing the entire rear axle.

[Phil513]

I'm on vacation next week. Provided I have the cash, I'll probably try to at least make it up to Fairmont to pick it up.



You know I'm not rebuilding the diff, right? Found a junkyard about 2 hours away that has plenty of them in stock (apparently the rear axle assembly on the Ranger has been the same for something like 17 years). Some of them only have about 50k miles on them, and they cost about $300.

So, basically I'll just be replacing the entire rear axle.

Oh good, yeah, i knew that was an option but either missed or forgot you had found those. That will be much easier. I have never done it, but apparently setting the backlash with the pinion gear and all that isn't easy, and best left to guys that know what they are doing. :D

[Prages]

Oh good, yeah, i knew that was an option but either missed or forgot you had found those. That will be much easier. I have never done it, but apparently setting the backlash with the pinion gear and all that isn't easy, and best left to guys that know what they are doing. :D

That's what I've heard...and it intimidates me.

Replacing the whole rear end shouldn't be all that difficult...provided I can get the old nuts off. I'll probably go ahead and put new shocks on it too, since I'll have easy access.

[Phil513]

Yeah, it shouldnt be too bad. Nuts and bolts on the underside of cars are notoriously dirty and rusted, so penetrating oil, and air tools are a plus. :D

[Prages]

Yeah, it shouldnt be too bad. Nuts and bolts on the underside of cars are notoriously dirty and rusted, so penetrating oil, and air tools are a plus. :D

I haven't really done much with it yet, but just looking under there, the nuts and bolts look surprisingly good for being 10 years old. Luckily, Jeff, who has offered to help me out and let me use his garage, has an air wrench. I did the wheel bearing on the car over there and his tools made it a fairly easy job (other than us forgetting to put the axle back in before bolting the spindle back on). :facepalm:

[Chihlidog]

Congrats Chihli, im glad you are enjoying the project. maybe sometime you should just pick up an inexpensive project car to fix up, you might have fun with something like that.

And yeah P, i'd enjoy a build thread of that. :aok:

Come February or March, I intend to pick up another Cherokee. An older one that may need some work, whatever I find laying around for a good price. I wanted to pick up something cool like a Lincoln, a Mustang, or a Bronco (I miss my Bronco terribly) since my father in law is a big time Ford guy, but having done so much work on the Cherokee now, I know it pretty well, and it makes sense for me to get one of those so I have a better idea what I am doing. Plus, they're great vehicles all around.

So yeah, I intend to do exactly as you suggested. Maybe even make something REALLY cool out of it eventually. Something I can really take wheeling and not worry so much about breaking it.

[Phil513]

:aok:

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p80/noelpointer/header.jpg

[Chihlidog]

:aok:

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p80/noelpointer/header.jpg

Yup. Something like that. :D I dont know how much I would do to it at first. Get the drivetrain solid, and then just yank front and rear swaybars for sure. Beat it up pretty good and then see what else I wanted to do to it. Would depend on what I had to do to it to get it running really well at first. I'm thinking I want to spend no more than $1500 on it when the times comes so I'll be prepared to do some engine work.

Once we have a 2nd 4x4, the wife and I want to wheel them both.

[Phil513]

From my trip to Glamis pics, some people camping next to us had a couple of cool Cherokees. I like the doorless part.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p80/noelpointer/Glamis/IMG_0585.jpg

[Prages]

5XSxlXwf_oo

:o

[Phil513]

:facepalm:

[Chihlidog]

LOL I've seen that one before. Oops :o

[Chihlidog]

This is one of my favorites.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSMTRxIknpw

[Prages]

This is one of my favorites.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSMTRxIknpw

I think he's gonna need a front end alignment.

Sure didn't take much to snap that tie rod end. :eek:

[Chihlidog]

LOL. Big tough Hummer :o

[Phil513]

Those stupid pigs aren't real hummers. Its a tahoe with a fat square body on it.

The real hummer would have driven up that trail like it was a driveway.

[Chihlidog]

Those stupid pigs aren't real hummers. Its a tahoe with a fat square body on it.

The real hummer would have driven up that trail like it was a driveway.

I agree wholeheartedly. I'd take the original Hummer in a heartbeat. I'd take it over my Cherokee. Probably the ONLY 4x4 I'd rather have to off road than my Cherokee with the possible exception of a Land Rover Defender. I love watching the H2s get stuck, broken and generally embarrassed though. :D Theyre marketed to be big badass vehicles but theyre only good for sucking down fuel.

[Chihlidog]

Got the surfaces good and clean yesterday, got new valve seals on it, and got the head back on. Lost a u-joint for the torque wrench so that stopped us for the night. All we need to do is tighten the last sequence on the head bolts and we're good to go to just put everything back on.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r70/chihlidog/d53f26dbae41__1285828905000.jpg

[Phil513]

Cool! Pretty satisfying feeling to start it up and drive off after a job like that. :aok:

[Chihlidog]

I hope so. Assuming it does just start up and run :o

[telecaster911]

Mines in pieces too. :o
















http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o18/telecaster911/repairers1.jpg

[Mark Wein]

I've actually been pondering one of these lately...1974 Cherokee;

http://i.ebayimg.com/24/%21B0PWhOQEWk%7E$%28KGrHqZ,%21hwEw5CUI+ffBMZdnHQ7i g%7E%7E_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F

http://www.allpar.com/images/jeep/1975/cherokee.jpg

Theres a guy driving one of these around town right now and I dig it...

[telecaster911]

If you buy that Jeep, you will be glad you don't have far to drive to work.

[Mark Wein]

If you buy that Jeep, you will be glad you don't have far to drive to work.


I don't doubt it. We're getting a new car for Mrs W in a few months (she actually has a real commute) and I'll be inheriting her Suburban for everyday driving and gigs so anything I buy will be more for fun.

[Prages]

My grandpa used to have an old Comanchee pickup. I loved that thing when I was a kid. Always thought I'd end up with it, but he sold it when I was about 12. :o

[Chihlidog]

I've actually been pondering one of these lately...1974 Cherokee;

http://i.ebayimg.com/24/%21B0PWhOQEWk%7E$%28KGrHqZ,%21hwEw5CUI+ffBMZdnHQ7i g%7E%7E_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F

http://www.allpar.com/images/jeep/1975/cherokee.jpg

Theres a guy driving one of these around town right now and I dig it...

:love:

I'd love one. I think my next vehicle may, instead of a Cherokee, be an old Bronco though.

[Chihlidog]

Well, I drove my Jeep into work this morning, FINALLY. Finished up around 2:00 this morning. I still have a small leak in my radiator which I will fix over the next day or 2 with some JB weld. Aside from that, everything is running beautifully. I dont really notice any difference in engine power (it never lacked it), but the mileage is a TON better.

We fixed the guage cluster while we were at it. My wife made me proud. She pulled the dash, including the passenger airbag, and replaced the guages all by herself. We were gonna replace the condenser but decided against it.

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1160/dashr.jpg

So, the project, after a whole week, is finally done.

[Mark Wein]

Wow! Even the airbag? I'd be pretty afraid to mess with that.

[Chihlidog]

Wow! Even the airbag? I'd be pretty afraid to mess with that.

With her dad there, we were comfortable doing pretty much anything. He really knows what he is doing. Here's the airbag module, you can see it packed in there through the slots on the side. It was unplugged first, so no danger of it deploying.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4554/airbagt.jpg

[Mark Wein]

With her dad there, we were comfortable doing pretty much anything. He really knows what he is doing. Here's the airbag module, you can see it packed in there through the slots on the side. It was unplugged first, so no danger of it deploying.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4554/airbagt.jpg

Thats cool....I know that they are horribly expensive to replace once they've gone off...

[Phil513]

Congrats!

[Chihlidog]

Thanks Phil. I didnt think it was ever gonna run again. :o I cant wait till after work. I am going to drive it home, listen to it rumble a bit, and then sit on my butt in a warm, dry house and watch TV while stuffing my face.

[Phil513]

:D i know the feeling. But you should be pretty proud of yourself. Not many people would tackle something like that.

[Prages]

She pulled the dash, including the passenger airbag....

So she just had to open the door and get out? :o


Sorry, no offense to Mrs. Chihli, but it had to be done. :D

[Chihlidog]

So she just had to open the door and get out? :o


Sorry, no offense to Mrs. Chihli, but it had to be done. :D

:o

It almost was that easy.