2.9 engine

[iceman2114]

ok, i have a blown head gasket, i was thinking id just rather buy a used engine and swap it in, it seems alot easier then doing the gasket. what do you guys think?

 

[Big Jim M]

If you replace both gaskets you will KNOW what you have.. Buying a used engine will be an unknown risk..
Big JIm

 

[iceman2114]

well i just bought this vehicle and fixed it up and now ive found a bad head gasket? thats why im asking, so i dont no much about how this engine acted before

 

[chazzone]

I know I'd rather do a head gasket set, than an engine swap.
Like Big Jim said, at least you'd know what you've got.
Of course, you'll need to have the heads checked to make sure they aren't cracked, but that's a lot easier than swapping in a used motor that might decide to blow up on you the week after you go to all the trouble of putting it in.
Pull the heads, and have them checked, then decide if you want to do a swap.

 

[cody93]

gota agree with pulling the heads, IMO its better to spend the money on rebuilding an engine than buying a cheap used car or motor, its like those discount cans at the super market missing the labels, never know what you'll get. if u do decide an engine swap and wana go with another 2.9, ud still wana check the heads. if u swap with a dif engine, such as a 4.0, ud better be prepare to make the modifacations to the electrical system too. good luck

 

[holyford86]

unicorn? It is likely that one or both heads are cracked. I have never seen a 2.9 blow a head gasket.

 

[IMenriched]

unicorn? It is likely that one or both heads are cracked. I have never seen a 2.9 blow a head gasket.

agreed with Holyford here....sorry but just a bad gasket is very very unlikely

the process to checking it is the same...gonna have to remove those heads and get them checked....the process of doing that will mandate new gaskets

 

[88_Eddie]

the heads arent that difficult to remove, i just pulled my 2.9 about a month ago. replacing the entire engine would be way more work IMO.

 

[iceman2114]

ok so i did a compression check, i have 5 cylinders at 125 psi and one went up to 10 then dropped to 0 immediately. how much would it cost to take the heads to a machine shop to have them refinished or fixed?

 

[iceman2114]

also it does have oil leaking out the valve cover above the bad cylinder now

 

[chazzone]

ok so i did a compression check, i have 5 cylinders at 125 psi and one went up to 10 then dropped to 0 immediately. how much would it cost to take the heads to a machine shop to have them refinished or fixed?

You're not likely going to be able to fix the old heads. Aluminum can be welded, but I've never heard of anyone successfully welding these back up.

Besides, the labor would be more than a new set of heads. then you'd have an expensive set of heads that you;re just waiting to blow apart again.

look for a set of the World Products heads. they fixed the problem that 2.9's have, and are the best available. I've read that they aren't making any more, so I'd start prowling ebay asap.

The other option is to find a good set of used heads.