I've previously posted questions regarding my 3.9L to 5.2L swap, and decided to post a little update on it. I'll try to keep this short for now.


Got the engine from B&R Auto Wrecking, out of a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee.


Cleaned it up and got it up on a harbor freight engine stand.

Pulled the valve covers and intake manifold. Everything looks like it's in great condition.

High volume oil pump from Melling. I put it on before I realized I needed a new pickup tube to fit the Dakota oil pan.

Pulled the balancer with a door hinge and the exhaust manifold bolts.

Cylinder walls look great.


Removed the lifters and camshaft.

Replaced the stock valve springs with Hughes Engines performance springs. (Hughes Engines 1199)


Replacing the camshaft bearings. I messed them up while removing the camshaft...

Soaking my new Melling lifters.

Installed a new Comp Cams camshaft. (20-744-9) (Comp Cams 20-744-9 Summit Racing)
And primed the oil system by spinning the camshaft with a drill, before installing the timing chain.

Heavy duty Fel-Pro headgaskets.

Timing set is billet steel true roller, from Cloyes.

Pacesetter shorty headers, from Rockauto.


New plenum gasket, and I coated the gasket with black RTV as well. Hopefully it doesn't blow out.

Beginning the process of pulling my old V6.



There's the inside of my cat, it blew out last year.

Stripped down the old engine.



I still need a new oil pan that'll work in my Dakota, luckily Rockauto has them.


Hopefully this was interesting to see for some people. I'll post another update once I have the V8 in.


Here's a list of everything I replaced or am going to replace.

Cam bearings
Timing set
Camshaft
Lifters
Valve springs, retainers, locks
Head gaskets
Head bolts
Intake plenum gasket
Intake manifold gasket(s)
Intake manifold bolts
Distributor seal
Timing cover gasket
Water pump gasket
Water pump
Oil pan gasket
Oil pan
Oil pickup tube
Oil pump
Intake temp. sensor
Coolant temp. sender and sensor
Injector o-rings
Throttle body (52mm)
Throttle body gasket
Upper and lower rad. hose
Bypass hose
Cap and rotor
Plug wires
Spark plugs
Valve cover seals
Valve cover grommets
Thermostat housing + gasket
Thermostat
Headers
Flywheel
Clutch

 

I look forward to watching your progress. FWIW I am doing something similar but with a 5.9.....
If you dont mind, could I ask some questions.
1. are you doing anything to the short block? ie, brgs. or rings?
2. Did you have the heads checked at a machine shop?
3. Are you using the orig. computer and tune?
4. Other then headers, any other exhaust change?
And thanks for the additional info.!!
Good luck!!

 

Thanks!

1) I'm not changing the crankshaft or rod bearings, or piston rings, they appear to be in great condition. This engine made 180 PSI compression on all 8 before it was removed from the original vehicle as well. This is my first engine "rebuild" so if I had the tools and the experience, maybe I would. I did change the camshaft bearings though, but I sort of had to after I messed them up.
2) I did not get the heads checked. Maybe if I was going for an extreme performance build I would, but I checked them over when I had the valves out, and didn't see any cracks or anything.
3) I will be buying a stock computer, and I'll run the original tune for now. It looks like this cam will run fine with the stock tune, but I might not be getting the most out of it. I'll probably get it tuned in the future, likely by UTAwesomePerformance.
4) I pulled out the entire stock exhaust and I'm putting in my own custom system. 3" all the way back, with Flowmaster FlowFX straight-through mufflers.

I hope this answered your questions, and if you have any more, let me know!