Headgasket on my 99 Cherokee is leaking right above where the distributor is. I have built many motors and pulled and swap many as well. Always in Import cars though never a XJ. I want to replace the rear main seal thats leaking, replace the headgasket, and its not leaking bad, but also re seal the oil pan. So the question is, at what point is this all easier/faster if I just pull the motor out?

Thanks for any advice!
Brian

 

With your shopping list I would just yank it, you can paint it & make it pretty while your there.

 

its about same amount of work either way ...jm2cw

 

also late 99s maybe have the 0331 head might wanna check into this.

 

There is a few different headgaskets to choose from. I really like to use Felpro, but even they have a few different headgaskets, cheap one and more expensive one looks like its MSL. Anyone ever upgrade to the MLS one with good results?

 

I'm willing to bet it's not the rear main leaking, I could almost be certain it's the oil filter adaptor leaking and the oil is blowing back.

 

nope, steam cleaned the entire engine when i bought it been driving it for about 3 months now, oil filter block is 100% clean, not one drop, upper head is 100% clean, so its not valve cover gasket, and block right under the head has oil seeping out, so i know the head gasket is leaking, and under the car right where there tranny and engine meet its dripping

 

Pulling the engine to do the head gasket and rear main would make it a little easier to work on the engine and do it right the first time.