Would you fix the camshaft on this TJ?

[Greenmachine]

Would you fix a cam shaft on this?

My mechanic said that I’m looking at about 1200 just in labor, and, while they have it all open I’d probably want to send the head out to make sure it isn’t warped from any overheating at any point in its past (I’m not the original owner by a long shot), so all in with the head, cam shaft, plus other what have you not associated with the major issue (cam shaft gear is basically gone), the out the door cost will be close to $3000.

Rust overall on the Jeep isn’t bad, it’s a 2005 Willys edition with about 140,000 on the clock.

I’m at the point where I either have to fix it, or sell it (to a private party with full disclosure), or just trade it into a dealer as is.

What would you do?

 

[bromel]

Send more pics of the frame. You don't want to be investing in a Jeep with a rotten frame. Are you sure it's OK?

 

[Greenmachine]

Send more pics of the frame. You don't want to be investing in a Jeep with a rotten frame. Are you sure it's OK?

I will when I can, it’s in the shop and I don’t have any recent pics of the frame, but it’s a pretty good frame overall, not a museum piece but also not all rotted, especially for a NY Jeep. I didn’t use it in winter, neither did the previous owner, and it’s original owner was in Florida, so all in all it hasn’t seen too much salt.

if I keep it for the long haul though Inwoukd probably do safe T caps in 4-5 years I’d say, but my mechanic (and other trusted people that know more than me) say the frame ain’t bad right now.

 

[Rubicon88]

Did you have any issues with anything prior to?

I'm in the business and try to keep other colleagues fed if I can't do it...
That said ...
If you had no other issues I wouldn't worry about it. ..put a new comp cams unit in and fuhgetaboutit.

163-201-5 is the part number.

 

[deadbeat son]

If you like the Jeep and want to keep it, I recommend finding a used low mileage engine for a swap. Likely less expensive, even if you pay for the swap labor.

 

[Fishtaco]

If you sell it to buy another TJ then you wont know what you are getting so I would just have what you have fixed right.
If you are already pondering a different vehicle I would cut my loses and trade it in.

What happened to the cam gear and what caused it?

Cheers.

 

[bromel]

If you sell it to buy another TJ then you wont know what you are getting so I would just have what you have fixed right.
If you are already pondering a different vehicle I would cut my loses and trade it in.

What happened to the cam gear and what caused it?

Cheers.

My bet's on the OPDA since he has an 05.

 

[Fishtaco]

My bet's on the OPDA since he has an 05.

Thats why I was asking I wanted to know at which stage the OPDA was changed, before squeal after squeal, after continuous squeal, changed with OEM Crown or Doorman or never changed.
Just thinking of what I may be up for with my 06 as I only changed mine when I got a cold start up squeal one morning but the problem could have been there before I bought it .

 

[Greenmachine]

Not sure what caused the cam gear to become like it is, my mechanic says the gear looks like it’s been worn down.

But mine is the manual, I thought the OPDA problem was with automatics? I could be wrong...

 

[Fishtaco]

Not sure what caused the cam gear to become like it is, my mechanic says the gear looks like it’s been worn down.

But mine is the manual, I thought the OPDA problem was with automatics? I could be wrong...

No mine is manual and the OPDA I am pretty sure is the same as for the Auto because when I bought mine from Rockauto there was no list for Manual-Auto part difference.
I have an April built 06 so I think it had the fixer upper OPDA the 05 didn't get.
Did you or P/O change the OEM OPDA at any stage?
Was your engine ever squealing like a slipping wet belt?
Have you lost oil pressure?

Cheers
PS that TJ looks too good to let go.

 

[Greenmachine]

No mine is manual and the OPDA I am pretty sure is the same as for the Auto because when I bought mine from Rockauto there was no list for Manual-Auto part difference.
I have an April built 06 so I think it had the fixer upper OPDA the 05 didn't get.
Did you or P/O change the OEM OPDA at any stage?
Was your engine ever squealing like a slipping wet belt?
Have you lost oil pressure?

Cheers
PS that TJ looks too good to let go.

I haven’t had any of those issues you described. I know the owner prior to me didn’t change the OPDA, but prior to that owner possibly.

And thanks, I like the way it looks too

 

[Fishtaco]

I haven’t had any of those issues you described. I know the owner prior to me didn’t change the OPDA, but prior to that owner possibly.

And thanks, I like the way it looks too

Why was it taken to the mechanic? low oil pressure engine noises CEL?

Cheers

 

[TWiG01]

If you’re happy with your TJ and the underside is as clean as the body, I’d have no issue spending $3k to fix it right. An engine swap is a possibility, but that’s a gamble also.

 

[L J]

What would you do?

If I was going to keep it for an extended period of time, I'd drop a reman'd engine in it. If not, I'd sell it.

... the frame ain’t bad right now.

Ain't bad for a NY TJ or ain't bad?

 

[Fishtaco]

If I was going to keep it for an extended period of time, I'd drop a reman'd engine in it. If not, I'd sell it.


Ain't bad for a NY TJ or ain't bad?

T caps in 4- 5 years type of aint bad.

 

[L J]

T caps in 4- 5 years type of aint bad.

That's what he would do not what his trusted mechanic and other trusted people that know more than him have said.

 

[Greenmachine]

Lol guys! Yea with the rust, I personally don’t like the way it looks although my mechanic and this other place I brought it to that does fluid film, detailing, etc said it’s solid. I was gonna do safe t caps just to cleans it up visually but also because I figured in 4-5 years it may not be as solid as it is now.

 

[Greenmachine]

It’s at the shop all weekend, otherwise I would have posted pics of the underside, although it’s a NY Jeep so by this forum’s rules it’s already a junkyard Jeep no matter how it looks lol

 

[Fishtaco]

That's what he would do not what his trusted mechanic and other trusted people that know more than him have said.

I wouldnt really know we dont get rust where we are lol closest thing would be Safe T Cup is on a saucer

 

[bromel]

It’s at the shop all weekend, otherwise I would have posted pics of the underside, although it’s a NY Jeep so by this forum’s rules it’s already a junkyard Jeep no matter how it looks lol

One thing you can do to prolong the frame's life is drill drain holes.