aftermarket 0331 head

[H8PVMT]

so i got an xj with a blown motor a while back, PO thought it was the head so got a new one, then figured it was the oil slinger that did it (along with horrible maint). so he also gave me the new head, but it's an 0331 casting......

so are the aftermarket 0331 heads subject to the same fate as the ones that originally came from the day of production? it also has a silver paint on it, any idea what that might be?

TIA

doug

 

[casm]

so are the aftermarket 0331 heads subject to the same fate as the ones that originally came from the day of production?

Here's the thing: most of the 0331 heads I've seen or heard of exploding usually do so after someone neglects oil, coolant, or both. That's not to say that the 0331 doesn't have casting issues - it does - but in vehicles where both of those things have been looked after they've typically remained reliable. I'm at 160,000 miles on mine, and checking over it a few weeks ago while I was doing the valve cover gasket showed no cracks - but that's with 3,000-mile oil changes, no overheating, and coolant changes every 9 to 12 months.

Having said that, I wouldn't replace an 0331 with another 0331 if I could reasonably avoid it. While it looks like the bad 0331 runs probably took place in batches between about 1999 and 2001, going with a TUPY head (known-good) would definitely be preferable.

it also has a silver paint on it, any idea what that might be?

Is it possible it's a reman? Can't say I've ever seen a crate 0331 head straight out of the box from Chrysler, but the paint sounds like something that may have been done by a remanufacturer.

 

[H8PVMT]

thanks for the info, from what I've heard people usually didn't or didn't do something that lead to the head failing. as for the paint, it seems to be fading/surface rusting so I'm wondering if the dude just put high temp rattle can on it for some reason, I've never heard of painting the internals of a head before

 

[tbburg]

It seems that a small percentage of 0331 head made in 2000 and into 2001 had flaws that weaken them around the #3 cylinder. Nobody knows for sure what the flaw was, but it stopped happening mid-year '01, so presumably Cryco fixed it.
You'll have to research this, but somewhere there are casting marks on the head indicating when(date and time/shift) it was made. I'd look real close at the head and determine when it was made. If it's a later head(late '01-forward) I'd say go ahead and rebuild using that head. if it's a '00, I'd say toss it. Also, if there is any sign of welding around the #3 cylinder, toss it. I've seen several threads of people having the heads fixed, or buying re-manufactured heads, that have subsequently failed right next to the repair area.

 

[dj's 2000 xj]

I do regular maintenance on my vehicles and my 0331 went at 94,xxx on it. A very costly rebuild, I got a new head from Napa.

 

[birchlakeXJ]

The 00-01 heads have a casting defect between cylinders 3-4. Not all of these heads will crack to be sure, but this forum and all other XJ forums are littered with ones that have.

In 03, Chrysler started sourcing their heads from a different vendor. (For Grand/Wrangler). Those new/redesigned heads have the word TUPY on them between cylinders 3-4.

If your 0331 head does NOT have the word TUPY on it, I would NOT install it on your engine. Why take the chance?? Just not worth it for what can happen to your engine if the head was to crack.

Clearwater Cylinder Head and Alabama Cylinder Head are two very good suppliers of beefed up heads that will work great on the 00-01 XJ. $400 give or take.

 

[joe_peters]

TUPY heads from Brazil: http://www.tupy.com.br/ingles/home/index.php

 

[casm]

as for the paint, it seems to be fading/surface rusting so I'm wondering if the dude just put high temp rattle can on it for some reason, I've never heard of painting the internals of a head before

You know... Given that he painted the head internals (I'm baffled by that also, FWIW), you may want to bath-strip all of the paint off of it and make sure it's in good shape before using it. Paint would likely do a reasonable job of covering up certain types of cracks or other damage, not to mention blocking water jackets or oil passages. Not saying that the guy you got it from necessarily tried to swindle you, but he could have got it from someone who tried to pull one over on him.

 

[birchlakeXJ]

TUPY heads from Brazil: http://www.tupy.com.br/ingles/home/index.php

Joe, thanks for that information and link. I hadn't seen the link to the company that produced the redesigned 0331 heads for Chrysler before....

Good "bookmark"!

 

[H8PVMT]

thanks again for all the info guys, I'm not using the head, it was just thrown into the deal so was wondering if it was worth selling or not, I'll take a closer look at it for the TUPY, just got an email an hour ago from the guy, it's either new or a reman, he got it with the paint so he has no idea either.:dunno:

 

[dieselenthusiast]

If I were to buy a remanufactured 4.0L for my 2000 XJ, would it come with a better quality head?

 

[birchlakeXJ]

If I were to buy a remanufactured 4.0L for my 2000 XJ, would it come with a better quality head?

Probably, but it is certainly a question you should ask.

Again, you do NOT want a head with the 0331 casting number on it UNLESS it also has the word TUPY stamped between cylinders 3-4.

 

[dieselenthusiast]

Probably, but it is certainly a question you should ask.

Again, you do NOT want a head with the 0331 casting number on it UNLESS it also has the word TUPY stamped between cylinders 3-4.

Okay, that's good to know. I plan on buying a new "remanufactured" engine sometime within the next 12 - 17 months. I need to start looking, making phone calls, etc.