4.0 Rebuild or Scrapyard?

[BathiasRei]

This is the best advice for you. You're not at the point in your life that others on this forum are where you can take on this project.

Do not scrap!

Many would buy the shell of a decent Jeep. (Pics would help confirm this advice).

Though I don’t necessarily have the time, money, or seat time, part of me still longs to save her and continue driving her to a million miles, just don't want to see it go...

Edit: Not sure if I'm getting hope but I wanted to try and crank it one more time (despite prior advice) and it was sputtering to start but just couldnt quite catch... Am I over exaggerating my issues and maybe a crank sensor issue but unsure due to bad clicking when it was running? I guess I'll check compression soon and maybe go to local trusted mechanic, but overall I apologize for my green-ness I'm not wise enough to be certain and likely asking some redundant questions

 

[Pascal25]

Am I over exaggerating my issues and maybe a crank sensor issue but unsure due to bad clicking when it was running? I guess I'll check compression soon and maybe go to local trusted mechanic, but overall I apologize for my green-ness I'm not wise enough to be certain and likely asking some redundant questions

Best for that is to get someone with more experience to check it out with you and teach you how they check it out, what sounds normal and what doesn't, etc. You don't know what you don't know

 

[Ctdriver86]

He paid ZERO dollars for this rig.. it’s super clean. I’d wait to find a deal on FB marketplace for trans and motor. Or maybe someone local will chime in and could help you assess.

 

[macleanflood]

I'm headed to the bay area for Thanksgiving. I could spend a day swapping a motor...I actually have a complete AX-15 except the back half of the case is cracked so it leaks...so we take the back half of yours.

Need a place, more folks and a 4.0.

I probably could find something between Eugene/Springfield and Santa Cruz.

-Mac

 

[BathiasRei]

I'm headed to the bay area for Thanksgiving. I could spend a day swapping a motor...I actually have a complete AX-15 except the back half of the case is cracked so it leaks...so we take the back half of yours.

Need a place, more folks and a 4.0.

I probably could find something between Eugene/Springfield and Santa Cruz.

-Mac

Oh man that seems like a hefty task and a long way of traveling! I feel incredibly honored you'd make the trip to help me out, but I'd also feel really guilty putting such a task on you... Between my independence as a undergraduate college student, sourcing a 4.0L fast/ having your ax-15, and paying for a hotel for you, I'd feel I'm cheating you on labor and travel since I'm not quite in the financial state at the current moment to make it fair or worthwhile

 

[g.hayduke]

Looks like a probable radiator leak as well. Otherwise, looks clean!

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Oh man that seems like a heft task and a long way of traveling! I feel incredibly honored you'd make the trip to help me out, but I'd also feel really guilty putting such a task on you... Between my independence as a undergraduate college student, sourcing a 4.0L fast/ having your ax-15, and paying for a hotel for you, I'd feel I'm cheating you on labor and travel since I'm not quite in the financial state at the current moment to make it fair or worthwhile

Ahhhhh, have you seen Mac’s videos??? He just wants to throw a tow strap on your rig and drag it to the junk yard…

 

[Ashim]

In northeast Ohio you could easily sell it for $3500 with a bad engine and transmission.

 

[bucky]

There are guys in the Rust Belt who would love to have it. Most there scrap because of rusted frames. Road trip anyone?

 

[macleanflood]

Oh man that seems like a hefty task and a long way of traveling! I feel incredibly honored you'd make the trip to help me out, but I'd also feel really guilty putting such a task on you... Between my independence as a undergraduate college student, sourcing a 4.0L fast/ having your ax-15, and paying for a hotel for you, I'd feel I'm cheating you on labor and travel since I'm not quite in the financial state at the current moment to make it fair or worthwhile

My folks live in Foster City... already heading that way for turkey...

-Mac

 

[macleanflood]

Ahhhhh, have you seen Mac’s videos??? He just wants to throw a tow strap on your rig and drag it to the junk yard…

Note I don't have a single video of doing that to a Jeep! =)

-Mac

 

[BathiasRei]

My folks live in Foster City... already heading that way for turkey...

-Mac

If it ends up happening, the car is currently in Saratoga rather than Santa Cruz, being quite a bit closer... I'll keep an eye out online for some 4.0s but also need to figure out a way to pick it up, maybe renting a Uhaul van? If it fall through or it seems like too much work it's no worries and maybe I'll let her sit until I have the time to try a motor swap or safely be able to afford a shop to do it. I feel that I can get by using the bus system in Santa Cruz for now after talking with some friends/classmates, allowing me to eventually save up

 

[BathiasRei]

Ahhhhh, have you seen Mac’s videos??? He just wants to throw a tow strap on your rig and drag it to the junk yard…

If he helped me with a motor swap he's more than welcome to thrash her all he wants

 

[BathiasRei]

one more picture I forgot to add previously

 

[macleanflood]

I'm down in Foster City at least 2-3 times a year visiting my folks so yeah if turkey weekend doesn't work out it's a good excuse to visit with my folks.

There's a complete 99 4.0 up in Washougal WA on FB marketplace for $400. If it wasn't six hours in the wrong direction it would be perfect.

-Mac

 

[BathiasRei]

I'm down in Foster City at least 2-3 times a year visiting my folks so yeah if turkey weekend doesn't work out it's a good excuse to visit with my folks.

There's a complete 99 4.0 up in Washougal WA on FB marketplace for $400. If it wasn't six hours in the wrong direction it would be perfect.

-Mac

Man that would be a lifesaver and a great learning opportunity, you would forever have my gratitude.... maybe we could exchange contact information and keep in touch as I scout out 4.0L's up till thanksgiving or after?

Honestly I would be more than happy to take a roadtrip in a rental car for a day or 2 to pick up a promising 4.0L after my midterms this week. From my understanding by reading other threads is that 4.0Ls from 1999 onward would require a different harness and PCM due to a switch to coil packs and 4.0Ls from different models like the XJ and ZJ would require different mounting points?

Is it worth looking into these other 4.0Ls as an alternative for more options and potentially saving some money or are they not worth the headache in my situation?

 

[macleanflood]

I'm pretty sure that 99 still used the distributor and would have been perfect.

Worst case we take the head off and swap them... assuming your head is salvageable.

Anyone up Washougal way want to run an engine to Portland? I'd go halfway.

-Mac

 

[GregBelleville]

I'm pretty sure that 99 still used the distributor and would have been perfect.

Worst case we take the head off and swap them... assuming your head is salvageable.

Anyone up Washougal way want to run an engine to Portland? I'd go halfway.

-Mac

99s do indeed run a distributor.

 

[BathiasRei]

Wonder if I should just rent a pick up truck for $40 a day and give it a look, or if the combined total of gas and renting fees wouldn’t make it worth it?

 

[macleanflood]

Looked for the FB ad and it's gone already.

Gotta move fast on used, running 4.0s.

Ought to be able to find something closer.

-Mac