kmanxj5050

searched quite a bit but found more out about what to do after cracked head.

and was getting off the big rapids exit and heard a loud ticking noise.. well i stopped at the shell so the girls could use the bathroom and checked my oil (not milky at all) and it was in the safe area but towards the bottom side (leaks because of bad tappet cover gasket)

So i pulled my cap off and there was about a 1/4" of milkyness on there. And just the other day i had my check engine light pop on for small EVAP leak and very large EVAP leak. I had the same code a couple weeks ago but it went away in day or two so i wasnt that worried about it.

So i think the ticking noise was my head cracked, sound right??? i know these 01 XJ's have a cracked head issue so....

can i check the head on my own or should i take it to a shop????

also in july i pulled the motor, replaced the cam, lifters, oil pump, pickup tube, timing gears and chain (all mopar parts) all gaskets from top to bottom.

115,*** miles on the clock (right now, about 112,*** at previously part replacement)

it didnt over heat at all my jeep runs at the line below 210 (190* tstat)

I haven't got to checking the cast number(just happened yesterday, i am 95% sure it is 0331, because i had heard about the cracking and wanted to check)

1. just wondering what i should, and thanks in advance.

if it is cracked i plan on replacing with the 0630 and getting a adaptor from ummm. Wislick (sorry forgot your sn)

2. How much does a stock 0630 head cost?

3. What year should i look to get one off?

4. What should i have done to it at the machine shop?

thanks

LimitedXJAddict

Ticking is usually a lifter that has been starved of oil.

kmanxj5050

lifters are like 3 months old!!!!

and it sounds like an exhaust leak tick

that is why i think the head is cracked

okcjeeper

The 0630 head came off a 96-98 XJ 4.0, a reman head should cost under $200. I would actually head to the JY and get a used on and have a shop rebuilt it and port and polish and so on.

As for testing a cracked head have a shop pressure test your cooling system. The unit used is a pump and cap setup. If that checks out ok then it's onto other areas to start checking..Also get a compression gauge and check the compression of each cylinder.

BlueXJ

All the above is pretty much right on. I would worry about the foamy stuff inside the valvecover though. New (used) head from a J/Y would be my first choice and have the machine shop rebuild it and do a valve job on it. P & P is a pretty expensive upgrade but if you can afford it then by all means do it too.

LimitedXJAddict

I saw that they were only 3 months old... I didn't say they were bad, I was saying that they may have been starved of oil. Those of us with older and more abbused jeeps have angry lifters that let us know when its time to add half a quart of oil... :P Another way to check for a bad head is to take an air compressor and pressurize the cylinder with air and see if you get air bubbles in your coolant. Just do one cylinder at a time.

kmanxj5050

only 200 for a remaned?? where?? and how much do you think i would have into a junkyard and having it rebuilt??? i am on an extreme budget, as in i have no money to my name and cant afford this crap so p&p is outta the question.

thanks guys and that is a leakdown test right limited?

kmanxj5050

what should i do first is there anyway to check for cracks with it still on the vehicle?

kmanxj5050

would the head off a 2005 wrangler work???

okcjeeper

Well a reman from citymotorsupply.com for the 0630 head for a 96-98 XJ is $175 plus shipping and $115 core charge. I purchased my motor from these folks and they are based in San Antonio Texas. My shipping was dirt cheap since they have a weekly route to a couple shops in OKC. A buddy uses them to buy his blocks for his race cars..They do really nice work. You can look at pics of the new motor prior to install via my profile.

As for a JY head being done at a local shop don't know. I would call local JY's get a price on the head then call some shops to get a quote on have the head rebuilt and such. Now on a 2001 you will have to have some sort of adaptor like you said for the head to work. You can also get a reman 0331 one head for the 01's for the same price. That woul require no mods..

okcjeeper

Not sure in 05 they changed the heads I think on the 4.0's..The heads on a jeep 4.0 was the 0331 from 99-04 and from 96-98 was the 0630 head. So if you found one off a good 04 wrangler it would be the same or should be the same head as yours.

okcjeeper

Something to add..typically with a cracked head or blown head gasket you will see white smoke and your engine will heat up at idle. My wife had an old nissan that blew a head gasket and how I notcied was at idle it would heat up fast, blow white smoke and sputter at take off and had diminishing power. Just something to consider.You might be able to take it to a machine shop that does motors or a radiator shop and have them run a cooling system preasure check which could help determine if it's a cracked head or blown head gasket. If that comes up positive only way I know is to pull the head and examine it and the gasket. If you can't find any cracks you could toss a new gasket on and then test it but since the 2000-2001 XJ heads are known to crack it could be a cracked head.

kmanxj5050

right which it didnt get hot or anything, which i thought was weird but man was that ticking horrible!!!!! could it be a cracked manifold?????? (moisture could've just caused the milkyness????)

okcjeeper

yeah the ticking could be a cracked manifold for sure. I just can't seem to get my head around ticking and cracked head..Usually a cracked head or blow head gasket comes with white smoke and overheating..Since you are getting water mixing in with the oil. As for the milkyness got me on that one..couldn't see a cracked manifold causing that..Also you could drain your oil and see what it looks like..if it's milky then likely water is getting into the oil. Also check your coolant for oil.

kmanxj5050

dipstick wasnt milky.

well i forgot to mention, i drove about a 100 miles stayed there for about 5 hours then drove like 90 miles back and was slowing down for the off ramp when i started to hear this. I have had a small what i think to be an exhaust leak for a long time.

i dont know i am so stressed right now i am gonna run out on break and start it up again.