Looking for Advice - Blown Engine
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 221
From: SE Michigan
Not that it's any help, but prior to owning my JK I owned a 2003 Jeep Liberty which had a 3.7L V6 and ironically, also used the 42RLE trans. The liberty was much quicker than my JK, but it also weighed a lot less and I'm sure it was geared differently as well.
JK Jedi
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 486
From: Knoxville
I'm staying tuned to see what you come up with. FWIW- don't open up the exhaust too much. Driving without a muffler will allow you to freely rev to redline but it lacks all torque to take off from a stop. The 3.8 was fun to drive that week but gutless at the line.
JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,998
Likes: 4
From: Oregon
TOTL, shop I took it to was quoting me a rebuilt engine, they would not do anything outside of a factory swapout. That option, of a $1200 used engine is becoming more and more appealing. With a set of headers while I am at it and possibly a couple of other simple mods, I might get close to what I want at the same time. Then I can take my time and plan my next move, either sell it or start buying parts slowly for the proper upgrade so it does not hurt all at once.
I would go that route myself.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: San Marcos, TX
So I have not updated this and quite frankly forgot about this post as time went by. Figured I would give a brief update. Engine was not blown, valve was not bent, nothing touched the top of the piston.
I pulled the head on the passenger side off and checked the top of the cylinder. Aside from some carbon whatever, everything was pristine. Valve was in fine shape too. Only problem was a broken valve spring which I could see with the valve cover removed.
Mechanic said they scoped the cylinder and saw where the valve contacted the piston, but apparently they didn't and fed me a line based on assumption or they really wanted to sell me an engine. In either case it was completely unacceptable behavior on the part of the shop.
New valve spring, head gasket, valve seals (might as well while it was apart), lap the valves, few other misc parts, and put a set of headers on it to solve a cracked drivers side exhaust manifold and the thing was running like a champ.
Still looking into another engine swap, but not in a rush, time is on my side atm and the vehicle is available for use.
Lesson here, question everything. I had a scope at the house and had I scoped the cylinder myself before I pulled the head I could have save myself a lot of trouble with a $6 valve spring and a compressor.
I pulled the head on the passenger side off and checked the top of the cylinder. Aside from some carbon whatever, everything was pristine. Valve was in fine shape too. Only problem was a broken valve spring which I could see with the valve cover removed.
Mechanic said they scoped the cylinder and saw where the valve contacted the piston, but apparently they didn't and fed me a line based on assumption or they really wanted to sell me an engine. In either case it was completely unacceptable behavior on the part of the shop.
New valve spring, head gasket, valve seals (might as well while it was apart), lap the valves, few other misc parts, and put a set of headers on it to solve a cracked drivers side exhaust manifold and the thing was running like a champ.
Still looking into another engine swap, but not in a rush, time is on my side atm and the vehicle is available for use.
Lesson here, question everything. I had a scope at the house and had I scoped the cylinder myself before I pulled the head I could have save myself a lot of trouble with a $6 valve spring and a compressor.