Re: Jeeps are worse than Heroin...

From: Michael Maskalans (dml@tepidcola.com)
Date: Fri Mar 31 2006 - 09:48:23 EST


On Thu, 30 Mar 2006, Barry Oliver wrote:

> It is a 93 Cherokee, 4.0L, auto, 4wd, 100k miles.

if a '93 XJ around there looks anything lkike a '93 XJ around here, isn't
there about 2 years left before body panels start falling off?

> Supposedly she had
> a mechanic charge her $500 to swap the timing chain, but he "stopped"
> because he found it needed a head gasket and had bent valves.
> Supposedly it runs, just poorly, as in 4 out of 6 cylinders poorly.

probably worth pulling the head to see what-is, but probably not worth
fixing when a boneyard head can be had for cheap. not much room to work
under the hood though, rthose 4.0s are shoehorned in the XJs.

> #1 if this thing really did shuck a timing chain, is it an interference
> motor?

don't think so.

> #2 if the head gasket is out of it, I should see water/froth in the oil,
> right?

not always, no.

> #3 It seems I can get a junkyard motor dropped in for less than a
> grand, total [$300 labor, $600 motor.].

I've got a '97 4.0L, swap parts out of that motor to get it to run on the
old computer. I don't have a computer or harness for it, but at worst it
would take swapping the injectors and TPS. 75,000 miles on this motor,
has all accessories inc a/c. $450.

> #4 What are the odds that I just put a head gasket in it, and have that
> work?

if the mechanic thought there were bent valves or lifters, there probably
are bent or burned valves/lifters... I'd be against if the mechanic knows
anything.

> #5 If it runs, my gut feeling is that it can't be that forked up, can
> it? Supposedly it is driveable, just not well..

dude, it's a four litre. they'll run with a broken rod. I've heard of
them running with a sheared crankshaft. they'll run through ANYTHING.
all bets are off.

> #6 If I do have bent valves and stuff, is it likely that I could get
> away with putting a head on it, or should I skip directly to the
> junkyard motor?

depends on how good your junkyards are, might be more $ than it's worth to
get just a head.

--
  +-- Mike Maskalans ---------------- Rochester, NY ----------+
  | '98 Dakota CC, SAS on 40s  '84 RamCharger 4x4, plow truck |
  | '02 Jetta TDI 5sp, daily   '97 Intrepid, not on the road  |
  +-------------------- <http://mike.tepidcola.com/trucks/> --+

. . .------------------------------------------------------------------. | Make your plans NOW to attend the National DML Meet in Colorado! | | Date: July 15-23, 2006 - More info: http://meet.dakota-truck.net | `------------------------------------------------------------------'



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