Looking for opinions. My 03 has 279,000 the tranny was rebuild about 4 years ago or less. My motor is burning oil but runs good. Never had a problem with it other then basic water pump, and alternator. Should I look in to getting new rings?

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Benny Migs
03 Black Sport
Front OME HD Coils Struts 1/2inch clevis lift, Rear OME 132L OME HD Coils 2 ISO upper pads
30x9.5x15 General Grabbers AT2 on Craiger Soft 8's 15x7 4" BS
safari rack, super nerfs, Rear Hitch, Front ARB Bumper , JBA A-Arms




http://www.BennyMigsPhoto.com

When shop repairs exceed the value of the vehicle, it's time to abandon sentimentality. The book value of an '03 w/ 279k miles versus the cost of having a shop install new rings (& while they have everything apart, &, &, &, etc) is probably a strong argument to just "drive 'till dead" instead.
If you're going to do the work yourself... big job; you may consider investing those many skilled wrenching-hours into a needy vehicle with a greater resale payback. Think of it as spec'd labor, with an eventual paycheck for your hours of labor; how much will your hard work increase the market-value of the vehicle? On a high-miles '03 gas Libby probably not so much (assuming stock, no lockers/lift etc).
If you're 'attached' to your 4 y.o. tranny then keep it, part-out the rest of your jeep, and look for a low-miles replacement with a failing/failed trans.
Or sell cheap As-Is, ("burns a quart a month", etc) and buy a younger replacement. You're in NY; search southern and western clist ads (etc) for a rust-free low-miler and plan a return road-trip.

Two-cents deposited.
Suerte

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'15: bought '05 w/138k.
'16: HG/Rockers/ARPs/Thermo/H20pump/TbeltKit/ Seals/ Mounts/Kennedy fuel pump.
'17: bought manual Gas donor for its' ARB F/R Airlockers, OME 2.5" lift (gas-rated), JBA UCAs, ARB bumper.
'19: Trans w/Suncoast/Transgo/HDdiscs, new OME CRD-rated lift, electric tri-fan setup, BlackMagics/Centric Premiums, Airbags.