Well I had a nice intro typed up last night but then my computer restarted and I have to start over.

So a little history, This engine is going to be installed in my 97 Jeep Wrangler TJ. I was deployed to Iraq in 2004 and was wounded in the leg. So when I got back and was phyisically able I built this Jeep into what I thought would be a great trail rig. I made me get up each day and helped me to strengthen my leg. I installed a 5.2 out of a 98 Dakota & a 44RE tranny.

When I was all done with my Jeep build I had a pretty killer rig. Except for one thing..................That Dang Nab Engine I had installed wouldn't run right. I tried 3 different ECM's and still nothing. The thing was a dog and couldn't hold 60 MPH going up a hill. So I ran it like this for 3 years trying different things to boost the power. First thing I did was fix a plenum gasket leak. Not long after that an engine that use to run at 210* all day long no matter what I was doing started to overheat. I tried everything I could think of to get it to not overheat. And to start with it didn't do it everytime. I installed a FlowKooler water pump, pulled the intake off twice to make sure I hadn't screwed something up. My last try was a aluminum radiator that helped some but the engine was still running hot. Now I have tried to do compression tests and pressurized the radiator but could never find a true problem. So this brings us to where we are now.

I had bought a 5.9 from a shop on the other side of the state. When I asked the guy I bought the engine from what was the reason they pulled the engine he couldn't really remember. I was buying the engine to make a 408 stroker out of. But as we all know there are times family gets in the way of our wants. I have already bought EQ heads with large valves (2.02 & 1.62), a Hughs Air Gap intake manifold & Harland Sharp roller rocks in a 1.7 ratio. So I do have some bling parts.
When I bought the engine I had planned on bringing it home tearing it apart and sending it out to get cleaned up and any machine work needed done. This never happened and I just figured it was better to sit there together than having a bare block which could then rust. But this weekend I had figured out that the 5.2 in the Jeep really was shot so I started taking the 5.9 apart. I wasn't real happy about what I found as it came apart. First off the shop had left oil in the engine and it was now a milky mess from water contamination.



The next thing was that the plenum gasket was blown on the intake. Now not a big deal but other than that issue I haven't found a reason for them to of pulled this engine.



The heads look like crap but I am not going to be using them anyhow so don't really care.





and then the last thing is the cylinders themself. I had rust in two of them that had the engine locked up until I started rocking the crank back and forth.







So the plan at this point is to get the block tanked or cleaned somehow. Then I am going to install new rings, rad & main bearings. After that I will bolt on all the fun parts I already have. Then in the next year or two hopefully I can gather all the funds I need to rebuild this engine and make it that 408 I have been wanting.

Here in the next few months I will have a stock intake, a stock intake with a Hugs plenum plate & some truck exhaust manifolds to get rid of. Everything will be priced on the budget side so be watching if you need any of that stuff.

 

Subscribed, I will likely be pulling my 5.9 in a few weeks, keep up with the good pictures!

 

OOoooo, This is gonna be an interesting one. Looking forward to watching this.

Any machine shops nearby? Strip the block, have it hot tanked, cleaned, and checked out. They will let you know what it needs beyond that, and having them do it, is cheaper than buying the tools to do it yourself. Unless you plan on doing this kind of thing regularly.....

 

Moochoff,
No worries about the pictures, I am a photo *****. I like to take tons of pictures

HeyYou,
I am looking right now for a place to get it tanked at. If not I will have to drive over to Seattle (about 100 miles) as I know a few places in that area. I do want it tanked before I try to put the darn thing back together.

Just to show what this engine is going into.



This was the engine bay right after the swap was done.

 

Looks sweet man! Good luck with the 408 build, please post parts list, prices, and sources as you go...

 

1972,
I wish I was doing the 408 build right now. Funds aren't there but I need an engine for my Jeep. So I am going to rebuild (if you want to call it that) the 5.9 for right now on the cheap. All I am going to do is install new rings, rod & main bearings.

 

Well I got bored tonight and went out to the garage and played for a while. I have the block tore down now to the point where I will hook up the engine hoist tomorrow and take it off the stand. Then I can pull the crank and tak the flex plate off.



Crank journals all look good.







Rod bearings all looked good too.



This bearing came off #2 hole and is the worst looking one.



Main bearings look good too.



My improvised valve train holder.



Parts all lind up and ready to be cleaned.





I have new EQ heads with 2.02 & 1.62 valves, Harland Sharp roller rockers with 1.7 ratio and a Hughes Air Gap intake waiting to go back on. Also just picked up some 22lb injectors to go back in instead of stock.

Question- If I can find a place to get the block tanked to I also take them the pistons and crank? Do I put the main caps back on when I take the block to be cleaned?

 

Bring everything with you. Have the main caps in the correct position on the block. Make sure everything is numbered, so you know where it all goes. You want the caps on the block so they can check the alignment of the crank bore.

 

Good nes is I found a machine shop that is closer than Seattle. It is only 50 miles away so I will be taking them block real soon. Then the build will be on. Figure sometime next week I'll have it back from the shop.

Keep throwing ideas, suggestions and helpful tips my way so when I do get the block back I'll be ready to Rock & Roll.

 

Heres my idea: Do the 408 while you are in there! You can get the whole rotating assembly for about a grand, and then you can upgrade more later when you have the cash.

http://www.rpmmachine.com/shop/index...uct_list&c=156