LJ 4.0L engine replacement - Charlotte area

ncgamedog

ncgamedog

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2005
Location
Greensboro, NC
My LJ just rolled 180k had a clogged cat and I think it burnt the exhaust valve on #1. Only 50 psi on a compression test. Getting #1 misfire codes after replacing all cats and oxygen sensors. Checked the injectors and they are good and did a tune up and coil rail.
Any recommendations for a reman engine supplier and/or shop to do the work?

I’m in the Charlotte area
 
ncgamedog said:
My LJ just rolled 180k had a clogged cat and I think it burnt the exhaust valve on #1. Only 50 psi on a compression test. Getting #1 misfire codes after replacing all cats and oxygen sensors. Checked the injectors and they are good and did a tune up and coil rail.
Any recommendations for a reman engine supplier and/or shop to do the work?

I’m in the Charlotte area
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Sounds like it's garbage. I'll give you $5k for it.

You're pretty close to Newcomer if you want to go with a stroker.
 
shawn said:
Sounds like it's garbage. I'll give you $5k for it.

You're pretty close to Newcomer if you want to go with a stroker.
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Haha I’ll have to respectfully decline on the $5k.

Not looking to do a stroker. I had hoped to LS swap it when it died, but I’m not ready to bear that cost. Just need her back rolling for now. It’s my DD. I’ll wait a few years and build it w my son before throwing him the keys.

Shop it’s at wants $6500 for a Jasper engine. Called Jasper directly and walk in cost is only $3700 for their long block. Was hoping I could get a reman swapped in for around $3500-4k
 
Maybe I'm a cheap ass (probably)... but there's no way I'd pay $6500 to have somebody put a shitty Jasper motor in.

I have about half that in a stroker, but I provided almost all the labor.

You could always fix the head, but at 180k the bottom end is questionable.
 
shawn said:
Maybe I'm a cheap ass (probably)... but there's no way I'd pay $6500 to have somebody put a shitty Jasper motor in.

I have about half that in a stroker, but I provided almost all the labor.

You could always fix the head, but at 180k the bottom end is questionable.
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Yeah exactly! That’s why posting. Been out of the game for a while, but that ish is rediculous.

wish I had time to tackle it myself, but just don’t right now.

Hoping there is still some folks around that do good work for reasonable.

what other engine builders would you recommend besides Jasper?

Any experience with ATK?

would rather find something more enthusiast oriented besides the big box reman places, but I’m just not up on what’s out there anymore.
 
Seriously, do the following.
At idle, hold a dollar bill at the tailipe. Does it randomly suck into the pipe? If so, you have a poorly sealing exhaust valve. A valve job will be exponetially less than the replacement engine route.
You could do it yourself for no more than $300 in parts, plus machine work.
Just another option assuming the short block is fine.
 
I went with a promar remanafactured long block. To me the price point wasn't horrible. The best part to me was they don't charge you for the core up front. They will charge you for it if they don't receive it in 30 days. It came in a nice plastic create that you ship the old engine back in. It also came with a full gasket kit.

I also forgot to mention they ship with in 10 days

 
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If your looking to LS swap it down the road why waste money on reman anything? Just my .02 but find someone parting out a compatible 4.0 (there has to be eleventy-million) and just put a running motor in it to get you by. Do some seals/gaskets to “tighten” it up and be done.
 
If you go the rebuild route avoid Poteat's like the plague. Assholes rebuilt the 4.0 in my old XJ...thing blew up on me less than 1500 miles later.

R&M in Mount Holly is a Jasper dealer and does fantastic work. Honest shop with a wonderful owner.
 
Do the test that Jody mentioned and see what you get. After that, I'd pull the head and see how it looks. With the head off you can check the cylinder walls, the valves, etc.

If the issue is just a valve, I'd have the head redone and slap it back on. A 4.0 with 180k miles wouldn't give me a second thought.
 
EugeneTheTJ said:
If you go the rebuild route avoid Poteat's like the plague. Assholes rebuilt the 4.0 in my old XJ...thing blew up on me less than 1500 miles later.

R&M in Mount Holly is a Jasper dealer and does fantastic work. Honest shop with a wonderful owner.
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Thanks for the recommendation! I’m calling R&M this morning.

I’ll likely just get the head reworked right now. I think the bottom end is probably fine.

Hopefully they can do it for a reasonable price.
 
ncgamedog said:
I’d love to! Keith seems like a great guy! I’ll save my pennies and consider a stroker from him down the road.
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He can build a stock replacement is what I was getting at, his quality will be well beyond that of a big name reman.
 
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