Ozark Mountain Ranger

Reading some random post about Jeep Renegades on another Forum got the gears in my head turning. I'm at 193XXX miles right now and my engine and transmission have never had a major rebuild. The most intrusive thing that has ever been done was I had the flywheel resurfaced for probably the first time in 21 years about 2 years ago. So if I were to undertake a complete 200000 mile overhaul what would I need to prioritize? I've never had any leaks except for the front and rear diffs the one time that I just didn't get the diff covers sealed backup good enough.

Any input helps. Realistically there's a lot of things that I could not accomplish on my own as I do not have a very well stocked shop and I just don't have the time or ability to pull the motor or transmission out as this is my daily driver.

But do not let that deter you from suggesting that I do something requiring me to pull the engine or transmission because if I can't accomplish it myself then I may end up paying a shop to do it.

00t444e

Is there anything wrong with your engine now? There is no need to pull it out and rebuild it just because it has 200K on it. They can go much longer than that if they are maintained. Mine has over 240K on it and it still runs great and has good compression.

tjwalker

Unless your compression is poor (post compression test results) or there is some other pressing concern to necessitate a rebuild, I agree with 00t444e and just drive it.

Look around on this forum and you will find evidence of many XJs going 300k-400k and a few even more than that.

kbeam418

I agree no sense in rebuilding because of mileage I've got 230k on mine and it has plenty of power and shifts fine. The 4.0 is a solid engine and the AW-4 is nearly indestructible.

Ozark Mountain Ranger

GUESS I should start with a compression test to be sure.

BlueRidgeMark

Yep. I had 292k on mine when a Suburban sent it to the junkyard. Compression was 145-150 on all cylinders, oil pressure was great.

The trans had been badly abused by the PO, and I suspect I did the first ever fluid change on it at about 150k, IIRC. The fluid was as black as bad engine oil, and it had started slipping badly. I replaced the fluid and ran it with no other maintenance until the Suburban made it a moot point @ 292k.

97grand4.0

You fought the Suburban and the Suburban won?
My biggest fear is investing tons of work to an older vehicle then some idiot T bones ya or something and the insurance wont pay squat.

Martlor13

its a risk sure, but many are willing to accept that. If you live infear you'll never have fun Haha

00t444e

The good news is old jeeps are cheap if you get one with a bad motor or transmission and you can swap everything over from Your wrecked jeep and your good to go.

97grand4.0

..lady pulled out of the hospital where I worked, wrong way on a one way, I tried to avoid but she clipped my 90 caprice old cop car. Picked up my bumper and on my way. Her new Rav4, however, not so much.

4WD4EVER

I'm with those who are discouraging you from wasting the money unnecessarily. Unless there is a good, sound reason for a rebuild, save it or spend it elsewhere.

I drove a '96 last week with over 364k on it and it had many other issues but being a strong runner wasn't one of them. I was pleasantly surprised.

Edit: btw, if/when you do rebuild or overhaul, be sure and know what the price tag is; you can put a 4.7l Mopar-built stroker in it for ~ $3,200.

Ozark Mountain Ranger

I have no intentions of putting a stroker in this build. I have thought about putting one in a different build if I ever get the Jeep I want for that particular build

LadyKenai

ive wondered that too, is it all worth the work a 24 year old jeep fixing it up..

i do it cause i like working on it, cant sit down and worry about a possible tbone that wont get us anywhere.. if any i would be standing on the side of the road flagging ppl down for help and that might even be more dangerous

Marc

Ralph77

I own a '00 with about a 160K. Best I can tell it has the original 0331 head and I don't have any cracked head issues. I picked up a TUPY head off an '04 GC engine with a cracked piston top for $50. Could be good or rebuildable. Could be a $50 door stop. Been talking with my buddy about building an engine. He is not a Jeep guy but definitely a car guy and says he can do it no problem. So I figure the next step is to see if I can get a handle on what condition my engine is in. Been avoiding this for awhile now. Ignorance is bliss and all that. So figure it is time to get the oil analysis done. Compression and a leak down test. Throw a mechanical oil pressure gauge on her. Coolant pressure test and maybe the combustion leak test. Trying to research how to do these and if I should do all these tests. Maybe some would just be a waste because you are kinda duplicating tests. Also I am toying with the idea of buying all the test tools. I can probably borrow them from friends or rent them but it gives me an excuse to buy more tools. LOL. Figure after all this I might have a better handle on what to do. Regardless I want to keep my Jeep. I would like this to be the last 4X4 I buy in my lifetime.

BlueRidgeMark

Big time!


Yep.