lol

You must be joking.

If you are serious, that is really bad advice.

If you get the JY head, you're spending the money now AND later. Plus time and frustration.

ummm. my advice is if you get a JY head to go through before putting it on (read my other posts in this thread) to keep from having to do it twice... if thats bad advice i don't know what good advice is.

What led you to this conclusion?
Oil pressure OK?

Yes I see your intention now. The word "if" wasn't in there before. It's an important qualifier for clarity in this case.

that sucks

dunno why 0331 xjs still get bought

because there are still a lot of good ones out there. not all of them crack. plus a cyl head is an easy fix. rather replace a cyl head then fix a rusty vehicle.

Primarily because people don't know about the head issue until they have already bought it and come here to find out why it's acting up.

That said, I would buy another rust-free EPA 2000 if the deal were right. Once you take care of the head problem, there's nothing really wrong with the vehicle. The only other real drawback is the LP front axle, which is a relatively easy swap. The coil rail is actually an advantage once you realize how good the '00-'01 computer is.

If my neighbor across the street offered to sell me his red 2000 Limited for $2000, I would buy it in a heartbeat, swap out the head preemptively and have a $5K to $6K vehicle for $2500. The key to buying a 2000 is knowing what you're getting into. If you just plan for the head issue and budget for it when you buy the vehicle, there's no real reason not to buy one.

I don't see a reasonably used stock XJ bringing 5-6K in real money on the open market today.

Average for a 2000 Limited in good shape is probably $4K around my area.

However, without its original 0331 head, the fully-loaded 2000 Limited sitting across the street would easily be a $5000 vehicle. It has 70K miles on it, and the guy has had it maintained perfectly. It doesn't have a spot on it. It doesn't even have the split in the leather on the driver's seat that I thought all Ltds had. It looks like a new vehicle that just rolled off the lot. Makes mine look like a junker sitting near it.

So while I would otherwise agree with you, this one is not your average reasonably used stock XJ. I am covetous.

It sounded like a nice Jeep which I'm sure would be worth more to an enthusiast.

Most people aren't enthusiasts.

Most aren't. The XJ is most useful as a cool inexpensive machine for off-roading and light towing. The emphasis on inexpensive. Otherwise I'd be on the landcruiser forums......

I have done 4 head replacements now, and multiple head gaskets.

On my first one I bought a Clearwater, and used the same head again on the new one. I wouldn't even consider anything else for the price, it comes ready to bolt on, with an awesome warranty, usually for the same price as a new parts store one too.

DO NOT "slap" another head on (used) without getting it resurfaced. Even replacing a head gasket I won't put the head back on until I get it checked by a machine shop.

It's a very easy thing to do, even the first time I did it I had the head off in 2 hrs. Just take your time and be methodical.

Most of the answers above are on point.

The very act of releasing the tension on the head bolts can cause a head to go out of true.

That almost sounds like a life lesson.