Recommendations for new short blocks ?
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Well, any option will probably cost me more than the car is worth but I've had it for 16 years and I (and my kids) love my jeep.
I figure shipping a short block down from Dallas to Austin and doing the swap myself will be a lot cheaper and about the same work as pulling the motor and hauling it to a local rebuilder, but I haven't checked. I should do.
At this point I'm just curious about Mabbco's reputation and whether there are any other local to Texas short block options.
I figure shipping a short block down from Dallas to Austin and doing the swap myself will be a lot cheaper and about the same work as pulling the motor and hauling it to a local rebuilder, but I haven't checked. I should do.
At this point I'm just curious about Mabbco's reputation and whether there are any other local to Texas short block options.
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It has about 160K. The problem is that the missus ran it dry one summer and cracked the head. I put on a clearwater head and have been driving it on and off for a couple of years but it still wants to overheat in the Texas summer if stuck in traffic for more than 5 minutes. I'm guessing when the head cracked it got some water in the oil and … before I got a chance to change it.
How much should I expect to pay for a used engine ?
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After the overheating/head crack I had some symptoms of water in the oil but I changed the oil and flushed the system when I installed the clearwater head a couple of years ago. No signs of water in oil or oil in antifreeze since then. System holds pressure, till the cap blows.
With oil pressure around 10-15 when warm, I'm guessing the bearings are worn or rough, hence the overheating in traffic on warm days. Its acting like there is higher than normal friction in one or more bearings.
With oil pressure around 10-15 when warm, I'm guessing the bearings are worn or rough, hence the overheating in traffic on warm days. Its acting like there is higher than normal friction in one or more bearings.
Last edited by wmking; 08-17-2016 at 02:47 PM.
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No worries. I'm interested in understanding all my options.
It has about 160K. The problem is that the missus ran it dry one summer and cracked the head. I put on a clearwater head and have been driving it on and off for a couple of years but it still wants to overheat in the Texas summer if stuck in traffic for more than 5 minutes. I'm guessing when the head cracked it got some water in the oil and before I got a chance to change it.
How much should I expect to pay for a used engine ?
As far as overheating goes:
Is your fan shroud still in one piece?
Have you tried a ZJ HD fan clutch?
Is your efan wired to an override switch so you can leave it on in traffic?
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Fan shroud is still in one piece.
No, haven't tried a ZJ clutch.
No override switch, but I can hear the fan turn on and run minutes before the temps get high.
I ran a bottle of stop-leak thru the system after the incident before I realized that the old head was cracked. I also replaced the radiator with a aftermarket (O'Reilleys) piece and back flushed the system with a garden hose using one of those T junctions that you insert into your heater hose so I'm pretty sure my cooling system is operating correctly. Thermostat opens correctly, waterpump was replaced, etc.
I'm convinced I have high internal friction somewhere in one or more bearings due to the original incident and brief exposure to water in the oil.