Can anyone recommend a good shop in the Denver area to get my cylinder head checked? I believe it is warped and or cracked.

 

Not too familiar with the Denver area, sorry!! What is it doing?? Could be a gasket issue, or are you sure that it is something more...

 

I’m not sure yet, I’ll tear it down tonight. I’m loosing coolant somewhere. It’s not in the oil or leaking anywhere I can see. It has been running warm for about a week and this weekend it would keep overheating anytime I put a load on it. I spent three days in the Monarch pass area trying to figure out something so I could drive it home. I ended up hauling it home on a trailer. All the hardcore mechanics I’ve talked to think it’s a cracked head. I’m sure that even if it was a gasket, I probably trashed the head with the constant overheating. We will see.

 

Well, I hope all goes well buddy!!

 

sounds like you have a warped head to me. when your driving does it smell sweet inside? if so your leaking into the exhaust which steams and creates that smell.

 

Crap, I thought that sweet smell was me. Actually, it smells like antifreeze and I’m assuming that’s because everything is fricking covered with it inside and out. I popped the pressure cap several times and when you are going up a steep hill, it just flows inside the cab. By the way, wasps love antifreeze and that’s just another treat when you are working on your jeep in the woods.

I’ll start pulling it apart tonight and get an idea what is going on. I just need to find a reputable place to check the head. At this point, I am hopping it is warped or cracked and it’s not a problem with the block.

 

If it's not the gasket, it has to be the head. The chances of you trashing the block are pretty slim!!

 

did you have your heater on when you were wheeling? if so then your head might be fine it could also be your heater core if it gets plugged it or a rubber line breaks it can leak alot into the cab just a thought.

 

I had the heat on a couple of times to try and keep the engine a little cooler but I’m sure it is not leaking. My XJ has the sealed cooling system with the expansion tank high on the passenger side firewall. When it pops, it sprays everywhere, finds all the little holes on the firewall and as soon as you pop the hood it sprays into the air vent below the windshield. What a mess.

 

That makes me feel a little better about the block but I am not looking forward to picking up that head. Those things are heavy and the 5-1\2" lift will not make it any easier.

 

A cherry picker would help a great deal, but not everyone has one sitting around. Maybe you have a buddy that owes you a favor...

 

Yes, a cherry picker would have helped, someday I’ll get one. Unfortunately, I called in all my favors getting this beast home from Salida. I finally got the head off at 11:00pm last night and just dropped it at the shop. Gasket and head both looked alright. We will see.

 

keep us posted please i might be able to help you out with a new one if need be.

 

I have a great Jeep exclusive salvage yard down here, and I'm kinda in with the owner a little. I can get you a good deal on a used I'm sure. Let me know, I'd be glad to help out!!

 

you only have 3 weeks left till zombiefest better hurry and get it fixed. and like 4 1/2 weeks till the chapter run.