New Guy, New Jeep Owner. 2000 XJ, with almost 120,000 on the ticker

I have a cracked head, and already picked up another one and had it worked. $400.00

I am hope that I can get it started in done near the end of this month.

Already have and plan on doing.
New gaskets
New Head Bolts
Knocking out freeze plugs and cleaning out around cylinders (recommended by the guy that built up my head)

Just wondering if there is anything else I should do while I'm in there. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

While you're at it.....
water pump, T-stat, new spark plugs, and have you flushed the entire coolant system? Now's the time. Check your heater core as well. NEW head bolts!

I JUST did the head last month on MY 2000 Sport. The reman'd head cracked again and I went with a beefier brand new version. I went with a brand new one from Clearwater Cylinder for $450. I replaced the oil pump, lifters, crank and rod bearings, all the u-joints, all ball joints, and both front hub bearings. The PO didn't take very good care of her and I had low to no oil pressure at hot idle.

Good luck, and PM me if you have any questions. Grab the FSM (factory service manual) if you can. It's a life saver. You can get an electronic copy for $7.99 from Pacific Coast Manuals.

 

Thanks for the info, that's why I am cleaning out the whole block around the cylinders, just so this doesn't happen again. I am going to have my current head fluxed just to make sure it is cracked, but I had coolant on the valve cover. Nothing in the old yet, its burning up before it gets there...so either I was seeing things and its a head gasket or its the head and its trash. If its good Im just going to sell it to make some money back, or I might keep it just in case.

 

You have an 0331 head. (you knew that)
If you have been over heating and loosing coolant, take it to the bank that the head it cracked. With the work I was going to put into the motor, not to mention the entire vehicle, I wasn't going to screw around with that old head anymore.

Check your T-stat. Be sure it's working. Make sure the water pump is the right one for the 2000 sport.

 

Yeah hence the swap, also removed the T stat.... as far as I know the water pump is correct, ill have to check plan on putting a new High volume on at some point. along with a new radiator, maybe find a good on one here...

 

Thanks for the info on the manual, its very nice to have something that I can put on disk and take with me, and only print out the pages I need, instead of flipping back and forth. Will recommend that site to other jeep owners...

 

You don't mention what head you're putting back on the engine.

I have worked with multiple 0331 cylinder head failures.

If I take a factory 0331 cylinder head (2000-2001-2002), it does not go back on the engine. Putting the same 0331 head back on your engine will likely result in the same cracked head down the line.

The only 0331 cylinder head you want on your engine if you do repairs is a 2003 and newer. Those are redesigned by a Brazilian foundry (TUPY) and are fine.

I buy replacement heads from Alabama Cylinder Head and Clearwater Cylinder Head. Both great vendors with a
great redesigned head for the 4.0. Or as I mentioned, find a salvage head from a Grand Cherokee or Wrangler (2003 or newer)

The 00-01-02 0331 cylinder head is a dog; pure and simple.

 

Agree, wholeheartedly. I hope you're not putting the same head back on. Just did a Clearwater head onto my 2000, couldn't be happier. $450 out the door, no core needed. Beefed up, and likely to be solid for years to come.

 

I did Clearwater and they paid to ship my core back. Same $450. Oh well, didn't need a new boat anchor.

 

weird. I guess it varies. Got mine from their ebay store, said no core involved in the sale.

Also to the OP: Replace your radiator cap while you're at it. That was my initial source of overheating.

 

I'm not sure to be honest..... is there a stamp some where that I can check and see??

 

Year............Casting No
1987-90......2686
1991-95......7120
1996-98......0630
1999-06......0331

Seems I'm good

 

Yep looks like you got the best of the bunch, you'll just have to fashion some brackets for the coil pack. Do check your radiator cap though, it seems to be a pretty common weak spot for us.

 

Johnny9Inches Some 99s had the 0630 mines a 99 and has the 0630 but the build date was 8/98

 

The 0630 is a very good cylinder head, but as mentioned, a bit of fabrication necessary because you have the coil packs.

Worth it though.