I have a deposit on a 2001 88,000 mile Cherokee Limited 4X4 until I can get it to a mechanic for a PPI. I have read the post that summarizes the number I am to look for on the cover to see if this engine has the cracked head issue. The entire number is 53020323 and here is a pic of it. In the thread summary the bad head number is a 0331. The thread said I can find the number on the "Cylinder Head Casting # 0331 (stamped on Driver's Side at top, middle at valve cover edge."

Am I looking at the correct number and is this one okay as far the as cracking of the head issue?

Thanks, Mark

I am looking to buy a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4x4

 

You are looking at the top of the valve cover. The number you are looking for is cast in the head, on the intake/exhaust side of the engine.

https://goo.gl/images/jWBmka

 

Thanks motojunky. That is not easy to locate then since there is a heat shield there and I think I'd need to start taking things off to see. I am thinking it probably is the 0331 head and better pass on this one. It is way over priced anyway.

I am also looking at a 1998 Cherokee 2 door that is in great shape with 160,000 miles also. And over priced.

 

The head cracks because it is to thin there and the valve springs push on the head and it cracks . It does not need to get hot , it is a bad casting jeep should have recalled the head but it never happened .

 

remove the oil cap and look inside for 0331 or tupy

 

The reason this head cracks is any long straight engine head will flex due to thermal expansion, but they put 2 exhaust valves together in the weakest place that gets all the flexing, THEN they changed the port size and installed cast iron manifolds on it that hold the heat and just cook that section! Chrysler never acknowledged there was a problem with the head and put the failures on poor maintenance of the cooling system! HOWEVER, they proceeded to have new heads for the 02 production run made at the TUPY Foundry in Brazil! These TUPY heads are the same castings, but with added manganese in the metal for more flexibility. You can Identify the TUPY head by looking down the oil filler hole in the valve cover and seeing the TUPY molded into it, but if you find a 2000-2001 XJ with a TUPY head on it, someone has already installed it. Picture follows. Notice the 0331 code at the top of the photo. These heads can be found on WJs and TJs built after June 2002.

 

Are you sure it's overpriced? Values seem to be going up as they get more scarce. 98 is a great year.

 

How much are they asking for the '01 with 88k on it? And how much are they asking for the '98???

There are LOTS of 2000-01 Cherokees out there with over 200k that have NEVER had a head issue. Not saying that the '01 you are looking at will not have an issue, but for me, if the price was right and everything else was good, I would not have a problem running it. Worst case, you get a reman head down the road IF you ever need to.