Complete rebuild (sort of) or a new vehicle?

WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:34 pm

Within the next 8 to 12 months or so I've been considering buying a new 2015/2016 vehicle.
Probably a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or something more fuel efficient between $35/$40,000.

My 2006 KJ is a good candidate for an overhaul if I decide to dump some cash into her.
I'd use a budget of approximately $6-$8K to rebuild her.

If you had a budget of $6-$8K to essentially get a new vehicle by rebuilding certain areas of your current KJ, where would you spend that money? I have the lift I'd like (OME 2.75" in front and 2.5" in the rear with 31x10.5"s) and am not looking for new axles and all that jazz.

I'm thinking a new 3.7L crate engine, full exhaust, regear to 4.10's, full underbody rust removal and bedliner and the driveshaft. What else could I stuff into that budget? The transmission perhaps?

Here's my old girl, an 06 with 81,XXX on the clock. There's a nasty multiple cylinder misfire I cannot fix, over $1K into that dilemma and nothing has changed.

I can weld so I'll build front, rear, new rock rails and a near full length roof rack for a roof top tent for touring here in Alaska. Also thinking about soundproofing the four doors with dynamat and maybe katzkin front seats with left over budget.

Potential build costs: ( to be updated )
Still need to scour for the best deals but I'll probably be saving several hundred off this list if I source correctly.

Full exhaust $200.00
3.7L crate motor $1,500-$2,000
Transmission (not sure which one) but approx $7-800?
Transfer case $400
Molar Radiator $200
Regear to 4.10's (might add an ARB locker in place of my Aussie) $1,500
Consumables for grinder/sander and rust proof $250?
New fuel tank and or a skids or two perhaps? $ ?
Removal of the backseat and a drawer system installed full length behind the passenger seat?

WhitbyKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:38 pm

Solid front axle swap!!

WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 7:43 pm

WhitbyKJ wrote:

Solid front axle swap!!

I have mechanical issues that need to be fixed and I don't need a crawler. It's just for touring!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:27 pm

I'm looking at the same thing for mine with 215,000 miles on her
Thinking
new:
motor, with all new accessories / AC/ PS, R&P etc
transmission
transfer case
full exhaust
front lower control arms
Mopar radiator
tires
redo bumpers/ rockrails/skids............

Lift is fine,
front and rear diffs are good
Interior is good

NO SFA, like the way it rides/ handles/ etc and will still be my DD if I do the above

WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:41 pm

tommudd wrote:

I'm looking at the same thing for mine with 215,000 miles on her
Thinking
new:
motor, with all new accessories / AC/ PS, R&P etc
transmission
transfer case
full exhaust
front lower control arms
Mopar radiator
tires
redo bumpers/ rockrails/skids............

Lift is fine,
front and rear diffs are good
Interior is good

NO SFA, like the way it rides/ handles/ etc and will still be my DD if I do the above

Good list Tom, by AC did you mean air conditioning ? What are PS and is r&p ring and pinion?
Also, do you have a total budget you're working off of?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:16 pm

WHITE the civilian wrote:

tommudd wrote:

I'm looking at the same thing for mine with 215,000 miles on her
Thinking
new:
motor, with all new accessories / AC/ PS, R&P etc
transmission
transfer case
full exhaust
front lower control arms
Mopar radiator
tires
redo bumpers/ rockrails/skids............

Lift is fine,
front and rear diffs are good
Interior is good

NO SFA, like the way it rides/ handles/ etc and will still be my DD if I do the above

Good list Tom, by AC did you mean air conditioning ? What are PS and is r&p ring and pinion?
Also, do you have a total budget you're working off of?

Yes rebuild AC= Air Conditioner, PS = power steering pump / lines, R&P = power steering rack and pinion

No total yet, or budget, just looking at alternatives, manufacturers etc
Have a buddy that works at a shop that builds engines, he wants to rebuild mine, balance and blue print it

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2015 6:59 pm

New Crate Engine might not cure your problem if the ECU is faulty. 81,000 miles is not much on the 3.7L...but they do build up sludgy gunk on the top side I would check for sure. I would have the ECU checked and go from there...

I kinda was going thru the same dilemma with my 2006 CRD @ ~175,000 miles. The price of the new vehicles I was interested in were just ridic! I decided to do an Arctic/Urban Camo design I have been pondering for about a year and also some vinyl on the wheels to change the look. Engine/Tranny/Transfercase/Diffs were all in good shape...so I put $$$ into the underside suspension/brakes and added .75" of lift to my OMEs with some cheap tricks. Turned out great...all in all spent under $2K and enjoy the Goat II again...

WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:31 pm

Guess I'll be using parts off my new jeep for a budget rebuild of a lot of the major parts!

Arkie · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2015 10:02 am

White, the crate engine at 1.5-2 K seems really low compared to prices I found when I replaced mine. Best I could do was $2,800. At OReillys.

Bob

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WHITE the civilian · **Posted:** Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:06 pm

Arkie wrote:

White, the crate engine at 1.5-2 K seems really low compared to prices I found when I replaced mine. Best I could do was $2,800. At OReillys.

Bob

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have a few more parts to swap between the two KJ's and then the buyer I have lined up is OVERLY interested in it.

Complete rebuild (sort of) or a new vehicle?

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