Wow. That's crusty..... You could try running vinegar thru the engine to clean it up......... it will help, but, it won't get it perfectly clean, and it is an exercise that requires a fair bit of patience. I remember the good old days, when you could get engine flush that actually WORKED. I have used CLR on the cooling system before, for those that have been REALLY neglected.....

 

This is how much rust I had in my Durango when I bought it in 2011. I flushed it couple times, no big deal.

 

And the hits just keep on coming. this was the cam from the supposedly "good" donor motor...really glad we pulled it all the way down...new cam, cam bearings, roller lifters and timing set on order.



If you look close enough, the coating on the cam is just gone on a couple lobes...

 

Yeah, it's pretty pitted in some places. I think it's safe to say that donor motor was run low on oil.

 

Yeah, also possible head gasket issue as well. New cam will be here tomorrow hopefully.

 

Progress report: After having to replace my tensioners on my '00 4.7 Duragno, we switched focus back to the '00 5.9l Durango....now before y'all judge on the colors...there is a bit of a story behind this...This rig will be going to my 25 yr old son, who just recently moved to Colorado Springs Co. with his girlfriend and her family...he hasn't been wrenching on this project, just his grandfather and I have been...so we decided he doesn't get a say in what we do (/cue evil laughter and music) so dad and I decided that we were going to paint the engine...something outrageous:




Dad actually wanted (in his words) "t*tty pink" for the valve covers and oil pan...couldn't get it so its harvester yellow and lime green I think its turning out pretty darn good...going to be a shock to the boy when he pops the hood and sees it

 

LOLOL. Now THAT is FUNNY.

Point out to him that finding any oil leaks will be REALLY easy.

 

Too funny. When he goes to sell it one day, he can just slap the John Deere logo on it and raise the value. LOL

 

OK, for all those that have been following this little adventure, we FINALLY have the old motor out and the "new" rebuilt motor from the donor 2wd Durango in...as promised, here are the pictures of the aftermath of damage found in the lower end of the 5.9L engine that came with the 2000 Duragno:


Cylinder #4








I sent some of these to my son in Colorado...after asking if he liked jigsaw puzzles...told him some assembly would be required...he doesn't know the donor motor is completed and installed...just ran out of steam yesterday...taking the day (or maybe 2 days) off and then buttoning her up.

Thanks for everyone who has helped us get this far...

Steve

 

Wow, that's pretty thrashed....... How many miles were on it?