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 Post subject: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:43 am 
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Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 12:39 pm
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2002. 139k. Everything works perfect but the engine is toast.

What do you guys do in this situation?
It isn't worth putting a rebuilt engine in as the the engine costs more than the resale value.

The scrap yard only offers like $500. Hell it has more than $500 in good rubber on it!

Anybody have any other ideas?


.mobile


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:12 am 
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My 2004 with over 209,000 will get a new motor when this one goes, who cares what book value is? I still like it.
Or sell it to me , what color is it :wink:

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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:21 am 
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It is silver - lol.

The book value matters because we don't need the vehicle... so putting money in a vehicle that just sits parked doesn't make sense :(

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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 2:35 pm 
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Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Depends on how good you are at DIY (can you pull and disassemble/reassemble the engine) and why the engine is toast (does block have a hole in it). Assuming the block is intact and you can pull/disassemble/reassemble the engine then you will need to get someone to turn the crank for you and IMHO it's best to get a machine shop to do the valve job rather than try it your self. Checking online, local prices may vary, looks to be ca. $100 for the crank and maybe $200 for the valve job so call it $400 to be generous plus maybe $350 in parts (pistons, rings, gaskets, bearings, etc) so for well under $1,000 you get a complete long block. That's lile what 4 car payments so who cares if it blows up in 12 months by then you will have saved 8 car payments.

IMHO Blue Book is only meaningful if a) you intend to sell and b) the vehicle that's in question of of no value/use to you. I've rebuilt, from various stages of scratch, several vehicles. Never made a profit in the $s received for $s invested sense but in every case I drove the vehicle for several years for way less than it would cost me in lease fees, car payments, or purchase of a running version of the same vehicle.

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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:39 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2014 4:55 pm
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Location: Virginia Beach, VA
It's worth less than book with a blown engine.

You could find a used engine at a junkyard, or Craigslist, or something and swap it out. That'd probably be the cheapest way to go.

If you don't need it and don't want to spend the time to fix it, then part it out or sell it off for parts. You can always just buy another used one that runs relatively cheap and without the work. Not really needing it gives you alot of options.

It all depends on what you want to do with it, really.


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 1:02 am 
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You didn't say how much you expected to pay for a rebuilt engine. Look around as prices can vary a lot. In Arizona you can get a rebuilt 3.7L engine uninstalled for $1800 and installed for $2600.

If my engine died tomorrow I would probably put a remanufactured engine in it, which will cost a LOT more.

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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:57 am 
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Im in the Colorado front range and called 3 places and all of them quoted $5k +.
I would do it for $2600 without hesitation.
Even though it is a great vehicle, we dont need it so a $5k investment makes no sense.

The vehicle starts and runs great up to 2000 rpm. Once you get over 2k there is a clatter.
I drove it over 500 miles like this (just keeping the revs down until i bought my wife a new car) and it hasn't worsened. Unfortunately i dont have the spare time to delve into it.

Anyone nearby want a great deal? Lol


.mobile


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:35 pm 
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TopGeek wrote:
Im in the Colorado front range and called 3 places and all of them quoted $5k +.
I would do it for $2600 without hesitation.
Even though it is a great vehicle, we dont need it so a $5k investment makes no sense.

The vehicle starts and runs great up to 2000 rpm. Once you get over 2k there is a clatter.
I drove it over 500 miles like this (just keeping the revs down until i bought my wife a new car) and it hasn't worsened. Unfortunately i dont have the spare time to delve into it.

Anyone nearby want a great deal? Lol


.mobile
Yeah being a '02 that bumps the price $2000 more then a '03+ KJ because of the different cam/crank tone rings.


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:40 am 
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Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:16 pm
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Location: Middle River, MD
The motor in my 02 blew this past winter. The rod and rocker broke, the piston scorched the cylinder walls. I opted for the the new remaned motor swap! Mine was about the same price. Another option would be a used motor from a junk yard with a guarantee.


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:13 pm 
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Re-manufactured engines (not rebuilt) for 02-03 (like my 03) can be found for $2,700, see for example http://engineguy.com/jeep-dodge-chrysler/3-7l-1.html and http://www.powertrainproducts.net/Dodge-3-7-Rebuilt-Engines-s/806.htm. With installation that would definitely be over $5,000, which makes sense for some of us.

My local shop pushes Jasper engines, which I know cost more still.

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:34 pm 
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Here's another idea...

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=291918


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:33 pm 
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prplppleatr239 wrote:

Anything is better then putting anything made by VW in a Jeep.


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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 12:41 pm 
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I have a new philosophy in life. If I can't pay cash for a new vehicle, then I keep driving what I have. We've been putting $500 a month into a "new vehicle" fund, but occasionally we have to tap into it for parts/repairs/maintenance. But if you really don't need or want the Jeep, then I would sell it. There's no reason to keep something that you don't need or want. I personally like having multiple vehicles. If one goes down, then it's not a big deal.

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 Post subject: Re: What to do with a blown motor KJ?
PostPosted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 2:33 pm 
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Joined: Mon Oct 07, 2013 10:23 pm
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Location: Hills of West By God
I see no reason to sell vehicles. For what you pay get your money's worth from them. Hell I have a couple motorcycles with more than 100K miles on them. When they can no longer be repaired I'll scrap 'em.

My '02 currently awaits me finishing rebuilding the entire front drive/suspension. Almost there. Until then I ride my '04 Aprilia Tuono the 130 miles to work. And it's been a bit chilly of late.


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