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5.9 Rebuild on the cheap: Now Just Empty Every Pocket build.
2nd Gen Ram Tech1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.
I set the engine and transmission back into the frame today so I could do some checking for clearance of the front suspension.
As you can see the front axle is close to the engine but with the way I am going to setup the suspension it should be okay. I'll have some good up travel with the way I have it planned right now. Once I finish with the front suspension then I'll start on the engine build.
It's been several years since I've been on here. Cool to see your still working on this, sucks that its been such a pain though.
Yes I'm glad to finally be able to be working on this thing again. It's been a LONG project but I'm stoked to finally be coming to an end with it. If I had not decided to redo my Jeep in the process I might be driving it soon.
Originally Posted by MoparFanatic21
Hey Wildman can you answer some questions?
Ask away my friend.... I'll try to answer your questions.
On a side note if anyone remembers what started this WHOLE thing was that the 5.2 I had in my Jeep was overheating and it would blow coolant out of the radiator if I left the cap off when it was warming up. I had done compression checks both cold & hot and it always came back with good numbers. I didn't have oil in my coolant or coolant in my oil. I tried to do the exhaust gas test on my radiator and it blew the tester out of the radiator neck. So I had gotten a 5.9 core to rebuild to drop into my Jeep becasue I was never REALLY impressed with the power of my 5.2.
So a fellow Jeeper from Montana has a 1998 TJ with a 4 cyl engine and was looking for a Magnum V-8 to swap into his. Since I had pulled my 5.2 and really just wanted it out of the garage I told him to come get it and he could have it for free since I wasn't sure what was wrong with it and why it was overheating. Back when it first started acting up I hadn't found that much information about the heads cracking so did know to look there. But after I had started the rebuild on the 5.9 core I'd bought I found it had cracked heads. I'd already ordered my Monster head for the 5.9 so the idea of swapping them onto the 5.2 really never crossed my mind.
So the new owner of my old 5.2 sent me some pictures of the heads that were on it.
I think we now know why it was overheating and blowing coolant out of the radiator.