Thanks to a certain member pointing me towards the Plenum Gasket thread yesterday ( you know who you are ), I have decided to do a rebuild of the engine. I don't want to go crazy and stroker it out. I want to go out fairly cheap and stay as original as I can unless there is something that you Mopar and Dodge fanatics aggressively suggest that I should put on the engine to increase performance and possibly decrease maintenance on the engine for the longterm.

I do not have pictures of the motor as of yet, but will have soon, It has not been pulled yet.

But when I do pull the motor, I want to have all of the parts and kits on hand, so that I may pull the motor, take it apart, and rebuild it, within around a two day period. It will be me and a friend of mine doing the rebuild together, simultaneously.

I am not a motorhead, I am not very familiar with the process of rebuilding it, so far I have researched this forum and I have found the links to Amazon.com to the books on how to rebuild a 5.9L engine, which I will be buying.

So please folks, enlighten me on what I should replace, repair, and do to this 5.9L 360 Engine, it has 134K on it.



Money wise: I am not poor, but I am not rich, but I do have money to play with here and there.

 

Why do you need a rebuild at 134k? I'm genuinely curious, not being a turd.

 

Honestly, I don't need the rebuild. I kind of WANT it. I am new here, don't critique me too much.

In this point in time I am actually beginning to have leisure money set to the side, and I would like to have something nice for myself.

134K miles considered still new for a Chrysler 5.9L?

 

Ok here is the low down. Read my thread that has a link in my sig. The first part of the thread was me rebuilding my 5.9 on the cheap. Then I ended up getting a stroker engine so I started all over again.

You can find a rebuild kit on Ebay or go to your local NAPA it is up to you. Just get a kit that is name brand stuff not some Chinese junk. FelPro for gaskets and what ever for bearings.(Clevite bearings) I'll remember the names here in a minute. For your piston rings there are many good brands, ask your machine shop what he recommends.
Forget your stock heads and buy a set of the EQ heads from Odessa or whoever. Get the stock size heads not the large valve heads. Then think about replacing your Keg intake with a M1 or Air Gap to do away with the plenum gasket issue. Replace you timing chain with a double row type, new water pump and oil pump just because.
You don't say which you have but if you have a manual tranny then put in a new clutch kit too.

When you get the engine out you are going to want to take the block and the crank to a machine shop to have them check it out for sizing and to clean them. Once you get the block and crank back from the machine shop you're ready to rebuild your engine. Don't forget to check the end gap on all your rings in the cylinder they are going into.
That should get you going and others will put in their $.02 as this goes along. You also might want to think about getting a R/T style cam to help your engine breath just a little more and also install some roller rockers while you are at it.

 

You cannot do a proper rebuild, even a budget one, in two days. If you don't want the truck down for very long, pick up another good 'core', rebuild that one, then, when the time comes, its just a motor swap. (which can be done in an afternoon.) You won't be rushed building the motor either. Rushing leads to mistakes, which leads to doing the job again...... Don't even try it.

What kind of budget did you have in mind?

 

Wildman; I actually did read your thread, and it was what motivated me to commit myself to this rebuild as of yesterday evening. It took me hours to read that damnded thread by the way lol. Can you give me an estimate on how much your block cost to get cleaned out?
I am also not familiar with "the end gap" on my rings, sorry. Please explain if you would or I can investigate myself.

I am also considering putting in the Mopar Performance PCM, suggestions on that?

And it is a automatic transmission. I don't favor standards

 

Skip the mopar performance PCM, and get a tune from hemifever instead. (hemifevertuning.com)

 

I have around two thousand dollars that I am willing to spend on rebuilding this motor. THE reason as to why I don't just go buy a new motor and not have to deal with the hassle is because I want to KNOW what I have. I am that type of guy.

I figured two days, for two days, with ten to twelve hours a day for each man, wouldn't be too bad. But hey, if it takes longer then no worries, I have multiple vehicles. I just highly believe that when it comes to taking a apart and putting together an engine, it is best to continue working on it, from start to finish, day in, and day out, until the project is complete. That way the brain stays sharp and you are conscious of what you are doing.

 

Hey do yourself a favor check out this site I've used them for many things good place to shop for all your dodge and mopar parts www.hughsengines.com lots of upgrade parts along with stock parts have fun

 

Can you point me at exactly what you have in mind? Thanks!