I've got a 2000 Cherokee, 4.0L with auto trans & 206,000 on the clock. Had oil pressure problems found coming from worn bearings. Due to some physical (medical) issues, we're not going to rebuild, but replace the long block. I'd like to get it done before it gets really cold or the snow flies. So my question is this, has anybody purchased an aftermarket long block? Such as from O'reilly, Auto Zone or any other places? If so, where did you get it, has it given good service? The Cherokee is in excellent shape all around, just a couple minor issues. Going to keep it as a daily driver. I do have other vehicles, some projects, some fair weather, but I'll get around better in this one than the others. Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

i personally have no experience with long blocks, my cousin bought one from jasper rebuilds for $2000, and it lasted 30 thousand miles and the rings and cylinder walls were shot. he was only 800 miles over his warranty period, but if you are going to go crate motor, dont go cheap ebay, you will regret it, you are better off having it done at a machine shop and having them rebuild it and spend the few extra bucks. then you know exactly what brands they are putting in your jeep. thats my only complaint with crate engines, most of the time you dont know what they use. but personally thats what i would do, i plan on rebuild mine and buying all the parts myself and having the machine shop do the labor. hope this helps

 

I've heard too much negative about Jasper. The ones I've seen are $1600 & up, 3 yr 100,000 mile warranty. Unfortunately due to physical/medical limitations & time frame, I'll need to get a long block. Take out, install, drive in 1 days work. If I were younger & not hurt I would do the rebuild but that would take more time than I can spare right now. Appreciate the response.

 

Any local salvage yards?? Going price for a ~40K 4.0L with verified oil pressure is about 500-700ish.

Might be a cheaper route plus you may get some extra parts on the new engine.

Sell your old one as scrap on Craigslist. Make some $ to offset the cost of the used one.

 

Discman has a point. These 4.0's are about legendary for high miles. Count on 250K. Over 3K and up past 350 is not so rare. I have one running fine and getten over 20 on the highway, @ 280K

Maybe a local mobile mechanic could pull a JY engine and deliver it, if you are not up to it.

 

That's a long days work to swap a longblock. Pulling your current engine takes a few hours at least, then swapping in the new one and installing all the accessories, radiator, exhaust, fluids?

 

Im looking at Mabbco for a long block around tax time. My 96 has 268k and the oil pressure is good, 40ish at idle, but it sounds like garbage, sounds like l feel when l get up in the morning to go to work. Pricy for a long block $1700 delivered. Our fleet mechanic has used a couple of them in work trucks and he thinks they are decent so.....

 

Have you seen this Bill? Flex-Plate bolts> https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/how...ocking-125547/

 

Done when i did a head gasket @ 218k when l got the jeep. It was my mom's bosses. Both her teenage sons had it, whooped the bejeezus outta it and i got it for a song with exhaust in the water,

The plan is to build it into a stout wheeler for trips, and a backup for me and the wife.

 

Without going into in depth details, we checked and decided to put bearings in it, at least for now. It is now carrying 40 psi at idle & 50 psi oil pressure under acceleration. Still making a little noise, but not near what it was, which wasn't really all that bad anyway.

 

Curious, did you do the bearings from underneath or pull it?

 

We did it from underneath. Put it on a lift and pulled the pan. I helped my dad rebuild an inline 6 that way years ago, but we didn't have a lift back then.

 

I have done that once in the past when I was very young on a Chy V-8 and an International 6 cyd. neither of those ran very many miles total. The crank needs to be turned for one and other issues will follow.


The problem with many rebuilt engines are the quality of work and use of old parts that really should have been replaced. Again the old adage you get what you pay for or pay me now or pay me later both really apply here.

 

UPDATE:
I decided to do an early oil change to see if there was any metal or other objects in the oil. I must report that after 2,000 miles of town & hi-way driving, the oil looks like it was just put in, no abnormal engine noises. While I really would not recommend doing this, it has worked so far. Sometimes you just got to do some things differently. If my limitations (physical) were normal I really would have done a complete rebuild. But, this has worked and I'm satisfied with how it has turned out. I will keep an eye on things though.