Back from the Brink Build

[Woason]

Hello Everyone, This is my first build thread so bear with me.
so a little background first this it is a 2001 Cherokee it started out in life being towed behind a RV back and forth from Florida then it got handed down from family member to family member and a apparently no one took very good care of it ( 15 - 20 thousand between oil changes) so when it flattened a cam lobe at 76,xxx it got parked for 4 years after, it sat in their garage for so long they where going to junk it so i got it for next to nothing.

So now that you know the history its time to start the build first things frist is to get the engine out and asses the damage,

here it is before i took anything apart:
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/IMAG0394_zps1e1e47d1.jpg

then this is after i took all the wiring and bolts out if anyone needs more indepth how to stuff on any of this let me know:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0019_zpsfad2681f.jpg

Then Finally the time came to pull the beast out:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/IMAG0554_zps27653d79.jpg

I didnt really take any pictures of the dis-assembly because it went pretty quick but here it is all taken apart i forgot the harmonic balancer puller so that why that's still on :

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0028_zpsd9d6a33b.jpg

And the head:
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0029_zps0422bb31.jpg

which left one very empty engine bay:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0042_zpsd2ee5690.jpg

then after i got time to finish the dis-assembly this is what was left:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0038_zpsfd3ac3fc.jpg

Crank:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0040_zps19a3e12b.jpg

Cylinder Wall:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0041_zps327067ba.jpg

Main Bering:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0045_zpsb76ed0c3.jpg

and one big pile of parts:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/_DSC0030_zps18ff712f.jpg


Thats it for now i will hear from the machine shop sometime next week hopefully


also this is a question for you audio people i was thinking i had the infinity sound package because i had a factory amp and tweeters like this one but i dont have one on the passenger side is this normal?

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/IMAG0221_zps7e50fc64.jpg


Thanks,
Ethan

[NW99XJ]

Hi Ethan,
First off welcome to the forum. Looks like you have a great platform to build off of!
That is one clean looking late model XJ you have there.
Second... when posting pics form photobucket, use the "IMG" link instead of the direct link, this will actually embed the pics themselves IN the thread, instead of just the link TO the pics.
OK, now on to the good stuff.... the tweeter location should be there on both sides, why it isn't would be up to speculation. So there SHOULD be another tweeter panel like the one you have here.
http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/IMAG0221_zps7e50fc64.jpg
You'll be hard pressed to find one of these in a junkyard, so you may have to search Ebay, MAYBE rockauto, or something like that.
Either that, or ditch the whole system, find a blank panel to replace the one tweeter one, and start from scratch.
In any case, good luck with the build man, can wait to see whats next.....
So what ARE your plans with the Jeep?

[4.3LXJ]

Welcome Ethan. It is hard to tell, but from the pics the crank and cylinder walls look OK from here. If you want to retain that system, you can always mount a tweeter in the door panel itself. It is done all the time

[SkillsHunte]

First of all,Welcome You've got a really nice looking Beast already haha,No clues for the Tweeter thing, But i will for sure folow whats happening with your jeep

[XJ Wheeler]

Somebody wanted to scrap that beauty?!?! :crazy: Looking good so far, hope the re-assembly goes smoothly.

Sent via messenger pigeon - i talk, he types.

[Woason]

Oh ok i get there was 4 choices so i just picked one, i will make sure to use the picture one from now on.

Thanks, yeah i think im going to scrap the tweeter and put in a blank panel maybe just put in some new speakers, i have no idea why there isnt one on the other side

yeah the machinist said the crank might polish but the cylinder walls might need to be bored .10 or .20 over.


also the machinist said to run a oil additive not only for the break-in, but also every oil change does anyone do this as well?

[4.3LXJ]

The additive would probably be for your flat tappet cam shaft. Not many of those around now and the oil manufacturers have dropped the mineral additives for them. I use Valvoline Racing oil, even though my engine has roller a cam. This oil is made for flat tappet engines that are run hard and has the highest additives available for flat tappets

[Woason]

oh ok that's what i figured i dont mind using a additive or anything just thought id ask

[4.3LXJ]

It is actually a good question to ask

[Woason]

Sorry for the delay but i just hear back from the machine shop, its going to be bored .20 over and the crank ground .10 over it is going to have new exhaust valve guides put in thats about it for now i will post more as i know more.


Here are some carnage pictures of the cam:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0589_zps74d89253.jpg (http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Ethan_woason/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0589_zps74d89253.jpg.html)


as you can see it is very flat compared to the rest



Also i got a little to aggressive while trying to clean my valve cover and broke the gray ccv valve i was wondering if anyone has had to replace this and if they had the part#:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0590_zpsed4fd5b6.jpg (http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Ethan_woason/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0590_zpsed4fd5b6.jpg.html)


Thanks,
Ethan

[Mudderoy]

Sorry for the delay but i just hear back from the machine shop, its going to be bored .20 over and the crank ground .10 over it is going to have new exhaust valve guides put in thats about it for now i will post more as i know more.


Here are some carnage pictures of the cam:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0589_zps74d89253.jpg (http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Ethan_woason/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0589_zps74d89253.jpg.html)


as you can see it is very flat compared to the rest



Also i got a little to aggressive while trying to clean my valve cover and broke the gray ccv valve i was wondering if anyone has had to replace this and if they had the part#:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0590_zpsed4fd5b6.jpg (http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Ethan_woason/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0590_zpsed4fd5b6.jpg.html)


Thanks,
Ethan

We broke mine. It was brittle from years of heat cycles. Got my replacement from the dealer.

[Woason]

oh ok thanks i will give them a call.

[Woason]

I found that standard motor products from rock auto makes both ccv elbows
Part #V432 {#53030495}
And Part # BF37

[Woason]

ok guys another quick update got the shortblock back today and everything looks good, but... the infamous 0331 head crack strikes again, the machinist didnt see it right away but once he magna fluxed it he saw it. so over the next couple days i will find a suitable replacement,

That's all for now
Thanks,
Ethan

[Woason]

heres a quick Picture of the crack:

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj546/Ethan_woason/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0602_zpsa13d6f87.jpg (http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/Ethan_woason/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0602_zpsa13d6f87.jpg.html)

[Brasscatz]

Ugh, I can't stand crack heads....

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 because my microwave couldn't do it

[XJ Wheeler]

Dealt with that on my Bronco II (the 2.9l is also notorious for cracking) and got a used one and rebuilt from a local shop pretty reasonable. Might try some machine shops and see if they've got one sitting around.

[Woason]

Ok so after some debating I decided on the replacement head from Odessa cylinder head ( or Alabama ) I've heard good things about them.

Also I'm deciding on a camshaft and thought I would get some input from you guys, I was thinking something more for mpgs and power but mpgs more.

Thanks,
Ethan

[Woason]

Hey Guys, sorry for the long wait between posts, upon closer inspection i found that the intake manifold was cracked so i whent to the local u pull it and found a used one and a rear drivers side door. I also decided to go with the 505performance camshaft. thats all for now i hope to order the head and camshaft later this week.


Thanks,
Ethan

[Woason]

Hey sorry for the time in between posts, time and money have not been on my side.
i just finished putting the crank and pistons in i have the rest of the parts so hopefully it will go a lot faster now,

Thanks,
Ethan

[Woason]

Hey guy's I finally finished up the rebuild and have been enjoying a awesome XJ for the past few months and 1000 miles!

A few things I need to adress though safety is my number one concern and the stock headlights are pretty bad plus one of them is out. So I'm thinking about the hella H4 conversion with a putco harness but I see a lot of complaints about the relays that are included and was wandering what relays to replace them with?

Thanks,
Ethan

[XJ Wheeler]

Both my brother and myself have run the putco harness for a couple years and the only problem either of us has had is the connector near the end of the positive wire on his.

[4.3LXJ]

I think the flack on the Putco harness comes from using it on late XJs with a daylight running module. Then, due to the Jeep wiring being mixed with this harness, the brights can be switched on and will not go back to dim lights. Can't remember what the fix is for this, IIRC it is something simple

[Woason]

Ok thanks for the replies I know my jeep has factory fog lights and I need to add a wire to one of the pins on the relays not sure what one but I will look into it.

Thanks,
Ethan

[autotech98]

I had to remove the fog lamp relay in mine steve. Dont use the factory ones anyway. Got tired of the grounds rusting off

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547

[Woason]

I decided on the rampage products h4 conversion and I must say the difference is night and day.
I didn't use a putco harness because I'm satisfied with the light output for now.

[NW99XJ]

I decided on the rampage products h4 conversion and I must say the difference is night and day.
I didn't use a putco harness because I'm satisfied with the light output for now.

I hear nothing but good things about the Rampage H4 conversions.
The harness will give you an increase in performance similar to what you saw going from sealed beam to H4... But if you;re happy with what you got now... then that falls into the whole "if it aint broke dont fix it" category.

[bluedragon436]

Glad to hear that you got it back up and going and are able to enjoy it.. Like Josh said.. if you do the harness upgrade on top of the H4 upgrade it'll definitely give you even more gain in light output.. but if what you have now (which is obviously far better then the craptacular stock setup) is more then ample for what you want.. then no point in messing with it at this time.. Just gives you more money to put into other items/upgrades you really want!!