Super cheap 2.5 rebuild

[Bbrayden85]

Im getting ready to pull and rebuild my ‘97 jeep 2.5. But im on a tight budget and just want to do it as cheap as possible. I see a $400 rebuild kit from proenginerebuilders with pistons, rings, bearings, cam, timing set, lifters, oil pump etc. is this a good kit? If not what kit is good and what are all your recommendations for a cheap stock rebuild

 

[Bbrayden85]

Im getting ready to pull and rebuild my ‘97 jeep 2.5. But im on a tight budget and just want to do it as cheap as possible. I see a $400 rebuild kit from proenginerebuilders with pistons, rings, bearings, cam, timing set, lifters, oil pump etc. is this a good kit? If not what kit is good and what are all your recommendations for a cheap stock rebuild

Any tips and or tricks are appreciated too

 

[matkal]

I would ask the machine shop you're using for their recommendation.

 

[Bbrayden85]

I would ask the machine shop you're using for their recommendation.

I was planning on doing this but I didn’t know if I should take my block and head and crank down to have my valves redone and my crank polished or just lap my valves myself and leave the crank alone if it isnt too bad

 

[Bbrayden85]

I was planning on doing this but I didn’t know if I should take my block and head and crank down to have my valves redone and my crank polished or just lap my valves myself and leave the crank alone if it isnt too bad

Along with doing the surfaces where the head and block meet

 

[matkal]

When I did mine I took the assembled head, the block, crank, pistons, rods and cam. It turned out that the head needed work(I don't remember exactly what) beyond valve lapping. I would take the whole pile to them and let them inspect and clean it then determine, on their recommendations, what you can do yourself. I was on a limited budget and they where very honest and up front with me and helped me decide what I wanted them to do and what I was comfortable doing. They ended up doing the head work, assembled the pistons and rods and installed the cam bearings. I had spun a rod bearing so that had to be sent to a crank specialist(?). I'll try to find the videos I used as a guide.

 

[Chris]

Post a link to the kit please.

 

[matkal]

This guy was the most professional of the videos I found, he explains what he does and why and doesn't get carried away with rediculous BS, he gets to the point.

 

[matkal]

Post a link to the kit please.

I just had the machine shop source the parts/kit, I trusted their recommendations. When I was looking for a shop I asked motor heads and my mechanics and a couple other local mechanics, one guy was a Jeep guy and a old family friend had a shop(there aren't many left) so I ended up using him. There was one other place I was going to use, I talked to both of them and I could have used either. I would as around to find a good honest shop if you haven't found one already.

 

[Bbrayden85]

Post a link to the kit please.

https://proenginerebuilders.com/199...W3s7DDxCr3NOUsxcq8ZXkLUoWYZqZooxoCJpQQAvD_BwE

 

[Goatman]

That seems awful cheap to include new pistons and a cam. I've had just a complete gasket set cost over $200. That was for a tractor engine, but still...
If it does include all that you list I would look into the brands of the components. Better to spend a bit more and get good quality parts and not Chinezium.

 

[Chris]

I just had the machine shop source the parts/kit, I trusted their recommendations. When I was looking for a shop I asked motor heads and my mechanics and a couple other local mechanics, one guy was a Jeep guy and a old family friend had a shop(there aren't many left) so I ended up using him. There was one other place I was going to use, I talked to both of them and I could have used either. I would as around to find a good honest shop if you haven't found one already.

Yep, this is what I would do.

After looking at this kit, I am not familiar with any of the brands of parts it's using.

 

[Paparock1]

There is not much if any love for the 4 angry squirrels. I hate this saying but most say "it is what it is" and when it breaks I will do a complete engine swap. If anyone has done any engine work or rebuild I have not seen any posts on this forum for it. So you may be the first person to do a detailed rebuild and post all your steps and success. That would help start and source a thread for the engine rebuild.

Me personally would like to rebuild my 2.5 and stroke it. The problem is always the cost just doesn't justify the small gains in the end. However 200 horse would be awesome to have but is it worth the cost? I know you are talking cheap side and keeping it stock but in all builds put in an initial budget but be prepared for the unexpected costs.

Please post pics and I hope the best for you.

 

[matkal]

This guy was the most professional of the videos I found, he explains what he does and why and doesn't get carried away with rediculous BS, he gets to the point.

Oops, sorry, I forgot this was a 2.5L rebuild

 

[Bbrayden85]

Oops, sorry, I forgot this was a 2.5L rebuild

I really like this video. It is for the 4.0 but i assume they are the same principle. They are very similar engine. I am doing the teardown and build myself. So i will take my block, head, crank, rods, and cam to the machine shop and ask for a good inspection, and also ask them to source all the parts i need? Also i have a couple options for a machine shop. I hear one id cheaper but i know someone who had a bad experience where they messed up on grinding the valves. And rebuilt the engine all the way anyways and never ran right until tore back down. Or a very trusted machine shop but its not on the cheap side. My area is the yakima area if anyone knows the area or just tell me which one i should go with. Thanks for all the help! I will definitely post an in depth thread on my rebuild

 

[Bbrayden85]

There is not much if any love for the 4 angry squirrels. I hate this saying but most say "it is what it is" and when it breaks I will do a complete engine swap. If anyone has done any engine work or rebuild I have not seen any posts on this forum for it. So you may be the first person to do a detailed rebuild and post all your steps and success. That would help start and source a thread for the engine rebuild.

Me personally would like to rebuild my 2.5 and stroke it. The problem is always the cost just doesn't justify the small gains in the end. However 200 horse would be awesome to have but is it worth the cost? I know you are talking cheap side and keeping it stock but in all builds put in an initial budget but be prepared for the unexpected costs.

Please post pics and I hope the best for you.

This is true. The stroker isnt cheap. As well, 505 performance is really the only one to make a stroker kit, and the company, from my experience is very bad with support and communication. Or else i would have put a stroker in mine. If you do do this make sure to post about it! I would love to read about it

 

[Goatman]

Pay the money and go to the shop that does the best work. A shitty valve grind or cylinder bore job is a hell of a lot more expensive in the end. Always try and do the absolute best work possible. It often is the difference between a great, long lasting vehicle and a money pit. Engine, steering, brakes. Always try and get the absolute best parts and install you possibly can.

 

[Bbrayden85]

Pay the money and go to the shop that does the best work. A shitty valve grind or cylinder bore job is a hell of a lot more expensive in the end. Always try and do the absolute best work possible. It often is the difference between a great, long lasting vehicle and a money pit. Engine, steering, brakes. Always try and get the absolute best parts and install you possibly can.

I agree 100%. There’s another machine shop near me i hear good things about and its kind of in the middle. Ill call around and ask around some and base my decision on that

 

[bcdawson27]

https://proenginerebuilders.com/199...W3s7DDxCr3NOUsxcq8ZXkLUoWYZqZooxoCJpQQAvD_BwE

is that pro engine builder site pretty reliable?

 

[Bbrayden85]

is that pro engine builder site pretty reliable?

I did not use them. As others said it seems really cheap for a complete rebuild kit. I went with a reman engine and fel-pro gaskets