I am going back and forth on whether or not to go ahead and just yank my motor for a full rebuild, or fix a couple issues it has and keep right along trucking.

My ram has 180k on it, and it's something I plan on keeping a very long time. Getting ready to order replacement body panels so I can start the process of cutting out the rust and repainting it.

It's got a lifter issue at the moment, and I've been wanting to port the heads/intake and give it a little healthier camshaft for quite some time. With the kinda mileage on it my instinct was why not just yank the thing out and give it a basic overhaul since I want to keep it a while. However, the more I think about it the harder it is to justify. I had the heads off a couple years ago doing a head gasket/valve job and could still see crosshatch in the cylinders. It doesn't burn any oil, and it has very healthy compression. So I'm not honestly sure it's worth pulling and rebuilding yet. I start thinking maybe I should just throw this set of lifters in there are call it a day. It might have another 100k+ worth of life left it in, which would take me decades to accumulate no more than I drive the thing. It would be cool to rebuild the thing, but frankly I could use the money for more important projects.

What do you guys think?

 

It's kinda your call, as its your money. Depending on how bad the lifter issue is, you might just consider driving it a while longer and find a second 5.9 engine to rebuild as you have time and resources, then swap in the new 5.9 motor when its ready.

 

No need, I've got a daily.

 

I would pull it and just replace the main and connecting rod bearings, and rings (depends since it doesn't burn oil and you seen cross hatching). Then I would mostly focus on the top end. I'm building a 408 and I did the whole thing but when I went to put the cam in I noticed a bad bearing that would be impossible to replace while in the truck.

You just never know so a lot is easier when it is out. You can check the freeze plugs and all that jazz

 

I would replace the steel fellers with brass...... That is MUCH easier to do with the engine out.

Of course, doing pretty much anything to the engine is easier on a stand, rather than in the engine bay of the truck. Even if you just pull the heads, and do a bit of work, having the engine on the stand will make life easier.

What year is your truck? If you make significant changes, gonna need a tune for it as well.

 

2001 I actually have 3 tuners for the 3 engines I plan to build for it. The 408 was just suppose to be a cam and head from Hughes but me like an idiot didn't mark the pistons so they were in the wrong spots and was locking the crank up so I said screw it and went 408. The Hemi in building for it (almost done!) Will go in it to lol. I will have the factory engine with a cam, 408, and a "hellcat" Hemi (just a built Hemi with a supercharger) for it.

 

Doesn't burn oil??? Heck, run it for another 200k.

Mine has used 2 qts it's whole life.

 

Have you done a compression check? You have decent oil pressure? I would just put on a new timing chain and let her buck for another 200k.

My kid messed up my 01 dodge transmission, but the engine runs strong.