HO head on Renix block
01-14-2019, 05:16 PM
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Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
HO head on Renix block
Hey guys I need some guidance. I’ve searched and I mostly see Renix heads on H.O. blocks, not the other way around. I have a 92 H.O. that has 285k miles on it. Runs good but rings are shot and I burn about a quart of oil every 3k miles. I also have an 88 Renix parts vehicle with only 147k miles on it. I was wondering if it would be possible or feasible to use the block from the Renix and keep the head, intake, and exhaust manifolds from the H.O. and put that in the 92. Basically just swap the Renix block into the 92 in place of the H.O.
Last edited by Tom Jackowski Jr.; 01-14-2019 at 05:20 PM.
01-14-2019, 11:20 PM
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I have a HO head on a renix block. The only difference was the lack of main bearing cap brace in the bottom end and the lack of alignment dowels for the head to line up on. Just get a upper gasket kit and some new head bolts and toss it on there.
01-15-2019, 05:49 AM
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Year: 1992
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Awesome that’s great to hear. Another question I had is, if I rebuild this engine with the Renix block and H.O. head, do I order the rebuild kit for the Renix or the H.O.?
01-15-2019, 06:43 AM
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Year: 1999
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I'm not sure what year they did it, but they changed the location of the tangs in the main bearings. I got all my parts through a machine shop and the guy accidentally gave me bearings for a 99 instead of an 87.
01-15-2019, 09:20 AM
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Year: 1992
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So if I rebuild the Renix block, can I use H.O. rebuild kit if I rebuild using the H.O. camshaft in the Renix block?
edit: I've read that the camshaft in the Renix is the same as the Camshaft in the 92 H.O., up to 1995, so I suppose it doesn't matter
edit: I've read that the camshaft in the Renix is the same as the Camshaft in the 92 H.O., up to 1995, so I suppose it doesn't matter
Last edited by Tom Jackowski Jr.; 01-15-2019 at 09:35 AM.
01-15-2019, 10:02 AM
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by Tom Jackowski Jr.
So if I rebuild the Renix block, can I use H.O. rebuild kit if I rebuild using the H.O. camshaft in the Renix block?
edit: I've read that the camshaft in the Renix is the same as the Camshaft in the 92 H.O., up to 1995, so I suppose it doesn't matter
edit: I've read that the camshaft in the Renix is the same as the Camshaft in the 92 H.O., up to 1995, so I suppose it doesn't matter
here you can see the main bearings for renix are offset tangs, but the later ones are Center tangs. I can't say for certain what year the tangs went from offset to centered though.
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01-15-2019, 10:14 AM
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Year: 1992
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Gotcha. That makes sense. So it doesn't matter which camshaft I use, but I'll still have to use the renix rebuild kit to be sure the tangs are the same
01-15-2019, 10:32 AM
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by Tom Jackowski Jr.
Gotcha. That makes sense. So it doesn't matter which camshaft I use, but I'll still have to use the renix rebuild kit to be sure the tangs are the same
01-15-2019, 10:54 AM
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Okay, well I'll probably just stick with the cam that's already in the Renix block to keep things simple. I suppose while I'm in there, I will replace the lifters as well. This will be my first time cracking an engine open so I'm learning as I go along. Thanks for the help so far
So I'm looking at this rebuild kit on rockauto for the renix block, and I suppose I could use everything here for the bottom end, and then just have to buy a manifold gasket for the H.O. separate for the top end. Would the valve cover and head gasket be the same for both?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...sn=434&jsn=434
So I'm looking at this rebuild kit on rockauto for the renix block, and I suppose I could use everything here for the bottom end, and then just have to buy a manifold gasket for the H.O. separate for the top end. Would the valve cover and head gasket be the same for both?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...sn=434&jsn=434
Last edited by Tom Jackowski Jr.; 01-15-2019 at 11:00 AM.
01-15-2019, 11:02 AM
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by Tom Jackowski Jr.
Okay, well I'll probably just stick with the cam that's already in the Renix block to keep things simple. I suppose while I'm in there, I will replace the lifters as well. This will be my first time cracking an engine open so I'm learning as I go along. Thanks for the help so far
So I'm looking at this rebuild kit on rockauto for the renix block, and I suppose I could use everything here for the bottom end, and then just have to buy a manifold gasket for the H.O. separate for the top end. Would the valve cover and head gasket be the same for both?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...sn=434&jsn=434
So I'm looking at this rebuild kit on rockauto for the renix block, and I suppose I could use everything here for the bottom end, and then just have to buy a manifold gasket for the H.O. separate for the top end. Would the valve cover and head gasket be the same for both?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...sn=434&jsn=434
01-15-2019, 11:18 AM
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Not sure which valve cover I have. I have one from my 88 and one from my 92 so I guess I could use either. Yeah I’m aware that I have to use the gasket that matches the intake, and since I’m going to be using the H.O. head and the H.O. intake, I’ll need an H.O. gasket, but I just wanted to make sure that was the only gasket that’s different
01-15-2019, 12:19 PM
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by Tom Jackowski Jr.
Not sure which valve cover I have. I have one from my 88 and one from my 92 so I guess I could use either. Yeah I’m aware that I have to use the gasket that matches the intake, and since I’m going to be using the H.O. head and the H.O. intake, I’ll need an H.O. gasket, but I just wanted to make sure that was the only gasket that’s different
this is the steel one
This is the aluminum one
01-15-2019, 01:14 PM
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Okay, well then by the looks of that I believe that both of mine are the aluminum valve covers. But all gaskets are the same from what I can tell for the valve covers
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