RANT: Hatin' on my XJ

[dj's 2000 xj]

To be clear, I loved this thing when I bought it in 04! I got it cheap with 24,xxx on it, never a problem. BUT, it is a 2000 sport with the 0331 head and it f'd me! 100,000 on it, and it busted, need a whole new rebuild. The oil pressure always read @ 80 lbs, when checked it showed 6 at idle and 20 max! I am keeping the bad head, and going to shove it right up Chryslers @$$! :passgas: What a pain this has been, a lifter stuck open and ruined the crank. I have it paid for and now have to borrow to get the rebuild. I am going to just rebuild as stock, then possibly trade for a wrangler. I may have to keep it however because of the loan now. I am back in school and on a tight budget. I bought an S10 for $400 with a ton of miles that is running nice and using less gas, there is a small upside. I have a lift on it, and nice 31 bfg's, I just about had it finished. :explosion
Thanks for the time and space.

D.J.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

Hell, it's just a motor, get one from the JY for about $400 and have your buddies help ya swap it out. An EASY weekend job.

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

as a matter of a fact, tug that bitch over to my shop ( little road trip :D) and I will do labor for pizza and beer.

[jeepcomj]

DON'T put another 0331 head on it. pick up a 95-98 head if you can.

hell, even an original 91-94 HO head would suffice better than the 0331.

I got a 2001 TJ motor with the head cracked straight through the number 4 cylinder, burnt and cracked piston but didn't wreck anything else

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

DON'T put another 0331 head on it. pick up a 95-98 head if you can.

EXACTLY what he said.............

[dj's 2000 xj]

I'm cooling down a little. Got a NAPA head for it already. I got a shop down the road working on it, cant find an engine locally. Plus, I will get a warranty with the rebuild. I appreciate the offer for the work. I am to the point where I want to pull the lift and sell it (the lift) to the neighbor kid that bought my 88 XJ. That was a fine vehicle. He repainted it and it looks like new, he just graduated body school in Indy last year.

peace

[sharq]

if you gotta rebuild and the crank is fuxed i would build a stroker. get one of the earlier HO heads.

[4wdParakeet]

+1 bild a stroker you can do it for about the same price.



Parakeet

[XJ Stryker]

+1 bild a stroker you can do it for about the same price.



Parakeet


Isnt that one of those easier said than done type of idea's

[RAM-ROD]

Hang in there i feel your pain. Do not give up on her yet. I was in the same position with my 2000 this winter and she is good to go. Started her build up this weekend with her new lease on life. Hang in there... as we all know jeeps have to piss us off now and then or they just would not be jeeps....

[lilredxj99]

I'll give ya' a $1 for it. I'll even come and get it! :)

[dj's 2000 xj]

OK. I am getting a new cam and and a quick overhaul. The local machinist in the part stop is going to get me fixed up and my mechanic is going to get me back on the road. I am cooling down and just accepting this Heep as it is. Jeeps, you know we need them, I guess.

Now, the local machinist also has a Stroker 4.0 that he started for a customer and the guy never came back. I told him I might be able to sell what he has so far. He will be getting me a list and price, then I will post details with his #. Maybe somebody will find something they have been looking for.

[dj's 2000 xj]

Question: I am getting the engine hot tanked and cleaned up real nice for a fresh start. What Motor oil should I be looking to use as I want to make this repair last a long time?!
I dont have a problem going synthetic, or conventional, I do my own oil changes and minor repairs. Thanks!

[jeepcomj]

synthetic, and use only a genuine mopar oil filter. do not put a "performance" filter on it...Fram, K&N filters both do a worse job of filtering, and don't have a good back flow preventer...this preventer is a necessity to keep oil in your valve train/lifters etc. after every shut-down. if this part fails (or just doesn't work, as in above "performance" filters), then your oil drains down to the pan every time you shut it off. this means no lube for the first few seconds at every start-up, and that will wear an engine real quick. It's the general cause for XJ engine ticking.

I run Mobil 1 full synthetic, factory recommended viscosity in mine.

another factoid...only run dexron mercron auto trans fluid in your aw4. synthetic lube will cause the brass linings on the clutch discs inside the trans to seperate off the discs, causing slip and eventual transmission failure.

[stewie]

some people advise a good oil with ZDDP content at minimum until the cam is broken in. i dont know the acuracy of it, just throwing it out there.

and you may want to think of something other than the stock sized oil filters. i know this topic has been beaten to death as well but, NAPA WIX 1515 filter. about twice the capasity= almost twice the filter media surface area. catches more before the bypass filter opens, and allows for higher flow. it also has an anti drain back feature

[stewie]

edit: double post. f ing computer. sorry

[dj's 2000 xj]

Hey fellas, I have right @ 100,000 on the speedo, would you replace the radiator? the coolant looked like crap when the engine was pulled. I can get a 3 row from radiatorbarn for about $175. It would be asy to swap, but cost more money. I can just get a flush it with it out too. What would you do? THX! :repair:

[Rev Den]

yes.

Rev

[dj's 2000 xj]

yes.

Rev

Thats what I was feeling, I just needed that little push to do it. LOL

[Rev Den]

Just a hint.

When I had a rebuilt engine put in mine....the radiator had about 60K on it.....it was over 50% plugged. You could tell when it was pulled....it was very heavy.

I have had 3 OEM radiators, the orig died during an overheat and blew the plastic tanks off, the second was replaced with the engine, and I am still running the 3rd. the last 2 have been metal tanks....but OEM otherwise.

I have never had an overheating issue (other then the 1st one due to my stupid azz) running all stock stuff.

HTH

Rev

[IllianaXJ]

synthetic, and use only a genuine mopar oil filter. do not put a "performance" filter on it...Fram, K&N filters both do a worse job of filtering, and don't have a good back flow preventer...

Hate to bust your bubble, but some Genuine Mopar filters are made by Fram. Just depends on the lot. You can check any filter at the parts store, and as long as they have the check valve you're pretty much good to go. IIRC the Purolator PureOne filters have it and they are a very good filter. I used to use Motorcraft filters in all my rigs since they have the check valve, but switched to the PureOne simply because they're coated in the grippy stuff.

I agree, avoid Fram and K&N (mainly b/c of price).

As far as radiators go, I put a 3 core from Radiator Barn in my 4.6L stroker and never had any heat problems. It would be waaaay easier to swap it now than to have to do it later once the engine is in. You'll be kicking yourself too.

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

OK. I am getting a new cam and and a quick overhaul. The local machinist in the part stop is going to get me fixed up and my mechanic is going to get me back on the road. I am cooling down and just accepting this Heep as it is. Jeeps, you know we need them, I guess.

Now, the local machinist also has a Stroker 4.0 that he started for a customer and the guy never came back. I told him I might be able to sell what he has so far. He will be getting me a list and price, then I will post details with his #. Maybe somebody will find something they have been looking for.

keep me posted about this please

[dj's 2000 xj]

Polar,
I havent heard anything yet, I will check tomorrow if I get a chance. I know that he is pi$$ed the dude left him with labor and some parts.

[dj's 2000 xj]

I havent heard anything yet on the stroker start up. My engine was being put together yesterday, I ordered a new Radiator too while it is ripped apart. Apparently I had a valve sticking open, it wore a smooth spot on the cam shaft. Pretty wild to compare it to the other. W0W. Maybe driving by end of week.

[dj's 2000 xj]

You wont believe the total for my bill! I should have parted the whole thing and bought something different. :( It is obscene. I am selling my lift to the neighbor kid now just to pay part of the expense. F-me.

[miglia-spyder]

This is scary for me... I drive a 2000 XJ, with 132k.... The coolant drops like an inch every couple months... Im gonna check for a crack today... If it is, should i swap the head before something bad happens?

[dj's 2000 xj]

Find that leak. If it gets in the oil, you will have the problem I did. If you catch it early enough, a head swap will likely take care of the issue. I thought mine was water pump because it only leaked when running. Chrysler really has no soul for letting this head issue exist in such a manor. If you do run into my problem, look for engine swap, as rebuild parts are expensive.

Best of luck,

D.J.

[FlexdXJ]

You wont believe the total for my bill! I should have parted the whole thing and bought something different. :( It is obscene. I am selling my lift to the neighbor kid now just to pay part of the expense. F-me.


Worse things have happened. I would rather have a repaired XJ than a 400 a month car payment!

[dj's 2000 xj]

Yea, I now have a brand new 2000 xj with a little character and some scratches I guess. And, a just broken in AW4 with 94,000 miles :) now for the 100,000 mile maintenance once I get some $$ saved back up.

[FlexdXJ]

Yea, I now have a brand new 2000 xj with a little character and some scratches I guess. And, a just broken in AW4 with 94,000 miles :) now for the 100,000 mile maintenance once I get some $$ saved back up.

Thats the spirit. At least you took a hit and it will be a reliable vehicle for years to come. Good thing its not a korean car you would be screwed.