Got your attention didn't i?

I got a XJ for $350, with a blown head gasket.
I ve been tearing everything apart, degreasing, cleaning and replace whats worn or broken from power steering to spark plugs.
I got the headers off, the manifold off, the valve cover off.. now i m staring at the head.
I read a lot of write ups and some scarey stuff out there,
This jeep's main use will be offroad. So i dont want to drop a fortune in it. Craigslist has running engines for around $400, parts added up on this build came up to $140.
Some said to remove the lifters and rockers.. some said to remove the head as is.. Machine it and then slap it back on.
Some say, its better to check for cracks on the block and a new block is $$$..
so you figure.. machining the head is between $200 - $500..
or
clean the head from old gasket, buy new gasket kit for $56, no machining, put it back together with new gaskets, torque it to spec's. then pray it works when you crank the key.

Since its torn down.. might as well do the machining? or say..F it and put it back together with new gaskets, retorq'ed and pray?

Questions i need advice on:
If i dont get it machined.. and it works.. im lucky
If i do get it machined.. spend $300 on it, slap it back together and it runs.. less luck more money
If i Dont machine it, and it leaks again, and coolant leaks, i can spend 400 and get a running engine on CL and not worry about it.
If i do machine it, spend 3 bills, and it still leaks due to cracked head or whatever, i ve wasted 3 bills for nothing.

Which is the better solution? which would you do?


thanks
Mark

 

If it ran and all that was bad was the head gasket,put a new one in torqe it down and run the beast.

 

X2.
I would just clean it up put new seals and relap the valves and put it back on. You can think about it all day what should you do. I mean sense you have it about there are alot more stuff you can do to it. I would say if anything else put a brass freeze plug in your head to help later on.

 

It's worth the money for piece of mind to have head checked atleast. If you want a halfass job do halfass work. Make sense

 

yeah i m thinking about getting it checked.. i talked to a friend of mine.. he said they ll change all that needs to be changed on the head. I could always sell the head if all else fails.. lol

all depends on how much they charge me to machine it..

Mark

 

You can have it checked without maching. During the check they should check for atleast 3 things. 1. cracks
2. trueness
3. valve seat problems
If all these check out good clean block install head gasket and torque to specs.

 

You da man BIGO!