Got her back today. So happy to have her home!

Like i said in my original post, it was a broken piston skirt on 5.

Ended up also having them put in a new water pump, thermostat, and radiator while they were at it.

The radiator was gunked up beyond being cleanable, water pump was tired and ready to go, thermostat had been leaking.

Holy crap.... The difference in the way she runs now - AMAZING.
I am over the moon happy that i had the motor rebuilt. There was quite a bit of cylinder damage from the broken piston skirt, and i feel that had i just replaced the bad piston... I wouldn't be near as happy as i am now. I didn't think it was possible, but i love my cherokee ten times more now.

Oh... Here is the culprit:

 

Engine guys, would that piston destroy cylinder wall?
Aluminum piston shouldn't damage cylinder, right?
I never repaired problem like that.
I repaired a few engines with pistons welded to cylinder wall (overheating), no big deal.

 

Ouch!

Glad it's back and running well!

 

Did the ticking would like lifters? My 00 jeep ticks like its the lifters but I just replaced them. I think I might have the same issue as you

 

We tried for two months to figure the ticking out at home and gave up.
It didn't even spit metal into the oil pan until i drove it five miles to the shop where i had it fixed. It sounded like so many different things. Ticking did follow the rpms. Also, when i first got it to the shop, the mechanic took a listen and revved it really high - the sound was very metallic (like a ball bearing rattling around in a tin can super fast) when he did that. Sounded NASTY.

And, now that it's rebuilt... The oil pressure was always way lower than it sits at idle now.
Now, it's around 30 idle. Before, it was around 12 or 13 idle, but had always been that way since i had it... And it ran fine.

Oh... The other benefit of having the motor rebuilt: they installed pistons with thicker skirts. So, hopefully this will never happen again. It shouldn't ever happen again.


Here is the video of the noise it made at idle, so you don't have to search for my original post:

 

Yikes....not exactly what I'd call a "ticking" sound.... but congrats on getting her fixed up....Mind if I ask how much you spent for the whole rebuild?...

 

Way too much.

$2975.48 total for the rebuild. on my original motor with one year warranty.
Then another $133.06 for the water pump and thermostat.
And yet another $428.20 for the radiator....

For a grand total of: $3536.74 incl. tax.

But, for me, it was either spend that much on a new vehicle with new unknown problems...
Or fix what i already have and love, and know (for the most part) that i shouldn't have any other problems for a while.

I'm happy I took the route i did.

 

Damn, that's a lot for a radiator.

 

looks good .. I was lookin at 1 like that

hope all goes well .. hopin mine too

luckily purchased it for $2k after exhaust reimburse for emissions by seller, he was asking $2950 .. I pointed out bad U-joint & some other stuff, sale price was way lower

now, Im in approx $3425 w/ fixes & new tires .. about where i expected to be buying used (all in / reliable), praying motor is what its said to be .. fingers crossed

love black XJs .. but white / basic .. I really love

 

It was $225 for the part itself, and another $165 or so for labor, plus fluids.

 

sounds bout right .. paying $280 for rad install / flush / new fluid monday .. I coulda done it today for $150 .. no flushing tho

 

Glad you saved another xj. Hate to say it but a reman motor would have been cheaper. BUT bottom line is you have her back and all is good.


And to whomever asked about the piston destroying a cylinder wall. Ni a piston would not have done that damage, but a ring sure as hell could have

 

Why can't I find a cool (and cute) chick here in Florida who loves XJ's??

 

I'm actually a huge fan of Ford as well. I had a mint '79 ltd Landau i used to take to car shows.

This is my first cherokee. Wanted a Wrangler a lot before i found my cherokee. Love my cherokee though. It's great in Michigan winters. My ex had several junk cherokees that we took through the silver lake sand dunes, and that was a blast... But i had sworn I'd never get one of my own because all of his had horrible death wobble. But, i love boxy vehicles, and absolutely fell in love with my cherokee upon test driving it. I will always own a Jeep from now on. Preferably a cherokee. I will have this one for years to come now, I'm sure.

Also, side note on the rebuild: the shop where it was fixed gave me 5% cash back on a gift card... So i have $167 on a card that i can either use on maintenance, or, let accrue with other repairs/maintenance and use on a later repair.

 

That is a beautiful cherokee! Glad to see it's still on the road.