jeep 4.0 rebuild

[clint282cc]

looking for opinions. my jeep motor has always been the strongest 4.0 ive owned. (ive had about 23 jeeps). always ran PERFECT w/out a problem. never burnt oil and the oil always stayed perfectly clean. it was the only thing on my jeep i never had to worry about...

well after a few 300 degree over heats and replacing the head gasket, to find it was cracked on 2,3,and 4, i got a new head, replaced it and the jeep ran fine. seems like it has a bit less power (like low compression) and now ive aquired a lifter tick. finally today it started dropping to almost 0 oil pressure at idle.

ive had 4.2L rods and crank (with bearings) and ready to install, sitting in my garage for YEARS. all i need is a rebuild kit. now im pricing one out.

i never wanted to build a 4.7 stroker till i could build it 100% awesome with an aluminum head, forged pistons, custom cam, etc etc. and since ive been building the truck for years, the stock 4.0 always worked GREAT.... but now im in a pickle. trying to do this for cheap.

i could always get a junk yard motor (i have great luck with those, since i go through my buddys shop and they give us good deals) but for around the same price, it seems i could get a rebuild kit off ebay. what do you guys think???

Jeep Premium Master Engine Rebuild Kit 242 4 0 1996 98 | eBay

im finding out that my 96 has a different cam and pistons and makes the damn price shoot up. you can get a kit for a 95 and earlier for $400!!! wtf!

anyway, whats everyones opinion on this? figure i can have a stroker motor built and brand new for well under $1000. anyone have any experience with these kits? anyone know where i can get one cheaper?

Click to read more...

 

[clint282cc]

here is an even cheaper one... seems like all the same stuff right?

Jeep 242 4 0 Master Engine Rebuild Kit 1996 1998 | eBay

 

[G_T_O]

Is the oil pressure sending unit just going bad? Noticed on numerous 4.0 replacing the sender fixed the 0psi at idle

 

[clint282cc]

Bad lifter tick and getting worse. They do go bad a lot but the symptoms show it's probably correct.

 

[Outlaw]

Replace the oil pump and call it a day. Get the OEM mopar high flow pump and never look back. My jeep has had a small lower end noise and lifter tick for YEARS and its never gotten worse. I also run half a bottle of Lucas in each oil change (My jeep can sit for a month or so between driving and it helps coat parts against dry start a ton, also quiets down the noise significantly). The Lucas with the 15-40 Rotella has never let me down. Just do the pump and keep going until it totally grenades. That's my advice.

 

[clint282cc]

I plan on driving it till it grenades. I've ran jeep motors a few thousand miles with almost 0psi. I know its not ganna blow. And I know the classic jeep engine tick you are talking about. I've had a few, my buddy has one, and they never get worse. But in the matter of 20miles my jeep has went from running perfect to having a number of problems. Another reason I want to rebuild is because of the lack of power. It feels like the compression is lost. Motor sounds good but when I floor it, it just doesn't wanna go.

I beat the Fuck out of this thing. Only sees the trail and hits high rpms and revlimiter on a regular basis. there is not "taking it easy" to make it last. I'm just trying to figure out what I wanna do when I rebuild it.

I'm trying to see if you guys have experience with these eBay kits. They seem to be at a decent price and seem to have name brand stuff. Just trying to find out the cons of them.