poesdad

rod started knocking like crazy while We were going up a pass. Engine shot at 128k miles :(

anyone know what it cost to replace the 3.8L?

MrChuckles

I had mine replaced with another 3.8 after it went out at 85k. It was about 7k installed, but I had it done at the dealership for the warranty.

poesdad

Wish I could be so lucky.

So much for the new lift/wheels/tires/ tie rod I’ve been talking about.

I dont even have $7k for a new engine.

poesdad

I guess I don’t understand how this just happened out of blue. People said the 3.8 was a good engine, just not powerful. Now i am finding all sorts of stories. Unfortunately i don’t know what other owners did or did not do with it.

The oil looked fine, it wasn’t heating up, no smoke, smell, nothing.

Rednroll

Wow....that sucks!

This thread may be of interest to you at this point. Post #34, seems like it may be relevant to your failure.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...y-pics-343308/

Also there's this great step-by-step 3.8L breakdown and rebuild video.

Sorry about the bad luck with the engine. Many of us have the 3.8L with high miles, but we have been original owners. I have 168K miles on mine currently. If you can do all the work yourself, an already rebuilt JK 3.8L can be found for around $2K.

Dinky Dau

Does Jasper Engines have a unit? They have a great 3 year 100k warranty...Just a thought

poesdad

Thanks for the help, as always. Been a really rough nine months.

I am wondering if it would be better to replace it with the newer engine (2012+ if possible)

I called jaspers and they closed early.

i would love to put a 350 in it, but I am pretty sure that would cost a bunch more, since I would need new running gear and tranny.


if if the price for the swap was within a thousand bucks or so, I may consider doing that. Gonna have to charge it on a credit card for now, until I start making money at my new job. I have about $1200 that I was saving toward the new lift and tires.

poesdad

Looks like Jasper has a 3.8 for around $4000. Then, whatever cost for labor.

Anyone have a write up of the total cost to just get a rebuild installed?

MrChuckles

I priced swapping a 3.6 with the Jeep dealership, and it was going to be around $9k-$10k.

poesdad

This is crazy. I wish I could do a 350 swap for $4k

I’m reading posts with Hemi swaps over $20k