Engine, fix or rebuild?

[SoCalCruiser]

I have a 1990 GW that I bought cheap on Ebay. The odometer shows 165,xxx. The crankshaft has about a 1/8" groove in it, there is a ticking in the engine, but only in a gear other than Park, louder under load (maybe exhaust manifold gasket?) Oil pressure was good but will drop to 30 at highway speeds, near 0 at idle after about 15 minutes. Let it rest turned off for 15 minutes, and it will operate normally again for 30 minutes (confirmed by mechanical gauge).

What should I do? Crank, $400, Oil pump, $300, Exhaust manifold gasket, $? Rebuilt engine, $ ATK 1500?

Craig

[rangerkh]

I had mine rebuilt after burning my engine up about a month and a half after I got my cherokee from low oil pressure and some other unknowns at the time. I pulled the engine and had a machine shop rebuild it for a little over $800. Course I have been plauged with those darn pesky gremlins so I have spent a few more bucks on those items that they have broke. If your crankshaft has alot of endplay, like the replacement motor I got, you will need to have it replaced. Might be worth it to go ahaead and get the rebuild if it hasn't had one. Other guys may have a better solution for you than mine, just my $.02.

[Bob Barry]

That ticking sounds like an exhaust leak; any number of possible causes there.

You're at the usual mileage for a full rebuild; I certainly wouldn't just do part of the engine.

[SoCalCruiser]

That's kinda what I'm thinking.

The Jeep passed CA smog so it makes me think that there might have been some work done on it.

Maybe a compression test?

ATK said $1599 for a long block.

[ December 20, 2002, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: SoCalCruiser ]