I have a 99 XJ with quite a few mods.I'm wondering what you all think about rebuilding the original engine in this rig?
DPG lift ~3.5" short arm with OME springs front and rear along with ACOS.
I have a Dana 30 front end with cromo shafts and ARB locker.
Back axle is a Dana 44 also with cromo axles and ARB locker.
Advanced adapter's SYE and Tom Wood's CV drive shaft.
As I said, the engine is original, there's currently 424,000 miles on her. It still runs well but it makes some clatter, piston wrist pin I think.
My options are getting the engine rebuilt or buying something with fewer miles a swapping my axles and suspension over to the new to me rig.
Let me know what you think

 

The rebuild cost on these motors is reasonable. 1800-2200 bucks. Buying a new or reman motor will put you back at least 3k and getting a stroker will cost you in the 4-8k range depending on how much work you want done. I’d say, get it rebuilt, keep it stock, it’ll be cheaper and you’ve already got a lot invested in it. Good luck with it!

 

just a thought. if it's running well and you get slight chatter, it might be your oil. I changed to Shell Rotella T6 and it quieted my chatter altogether. I will not use a different oil in mine. I have nearly 300k on mine and running strong.

 

SirCyber, I'm sure I tweeked a wrist pin driving home with 1 dirty injector. Should have used AAA...
Patman, I'm going to see if I can find a good rebuild shop. I have a friend that may be able to recommend someone.
We went up to the Lost Coast north of San Francisco recently, I wish I would have had the XJ, would have been no problem to make the whole run.
Thanks everyone for your input. I'll post up when I've made progress.

 

it depends on how much you love it ! even with rebuild keep in mind you gonna face some obstacles too

 

You can also get a used motor with lower miles and just go though it like new rings bearing oil pump and a valve job . or maybe a stroker ?

 

For me as long as I'm not throwing good money after bad, a rebuild would be worth it.

I don't know the condition of the rest of the vehicle, but if it is overall in good shape, then I would do a full rebuild on the engine. Or once it's torn down, if the block is too far worn, then get a used one from the junk yard. But I'm getting "soured" on JY parts. Seems that most of what I find is just that; junk!

I now buy from the JY with the expectation that I will need to rebuild whatever it is I get.

 

I bought the rig new in 99. Paint is pretty thrashed but there's little to no rust. It has a fairly fresh head from Clearwater Cylinder Heads inc. The engine bottom end still looks good.
I thought about an engine swap but it's hard to know the history of a junk yard rig. tech, I like the stroker idea

 

In that case, I would definitely try to rebuild what you have. Unless you want a stroker.