97 xj limited x roads

[97xjlimited]

Hi everyone i am new to the forum around 3 mnths and find this place a sea of information. You crew rock !!. Any way i aquired a 97 xj (bone white ) for $2000 body in great nick been carting horses around i believe? So i have done the rear axle bearings and uni joints as there was a little noise out of the rear that i couldn't pinpoint.Now the 242 has done a few miles -around 225,000 But it has a emer gas injection system on it that is 7 yrs old and works great. the rear main seal needs doing,i can do that, it also has a split in the header.(carnt do that) ,and has a little chug about it that i am not sure whether it is the header or a valve thing. Has anyone out there got any advice as to do the header,or do i reco the head ,or do i look around for a possible head upgrade. Has anyone been at this x road. im interested in getting a cost effective solution (say $2000.00) for a good reliable engine. that i could travel with eventually. or am i up for a lot more pain than this. i t seems to run a little hot too in hot weather with air con on, have to turn it off. any help please, thank you.

[junglejuice]

Where are you located? The header replacement is not a hard job, just takes a little while....

[rusty577]

What temps is it running at? Also if it has a cracked exhaust manifold you can do it yourself without removing the head.

Rear mains are known to weep I wouldnt bother unless its accually leaking badly.

[xjjeepster]

you need to give the sticky on xj cooling a real good read go to the last page http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...d.php?t=103975 theres a really good sumary by rodgebone that covers everything don't know about your head but my headers were cracked so i just took them off and welded up the cracks carefully and they have been good for two years. with the cooling on mine I had to super flush out the system for gunk (heater on) change the thermostat for the proper one 95deg, new radiator (ebay) and fit a air bleeder to the top radiator hose as mine kettp getting vapour lock which made the cooloing system underfill by 3 liters

[97xjlimited]

the jeep runs fine onroad just suffers incity getting up close to red never quite got there yet as i take steps to reduce heat by turning off a/c ,also off road at low speed . I am located in anglesea victoria
Do you think the gas injection system is making it run hotter. To me it seems to be a hell of a lot of water pipe running all over the place. Not a easy engine bay to work in. Every thing looks really well placed and neat work, just wondering if anyone is running a similar system on there 4.0 ltr ,I have seen threads on here about engine bay heat with the cracked header being mentioned a few times. Can the header be taken off from the underside of the engine bay ?

[junglejuice]

No the intake needs to come off to get to the headers, it really isn't a hard job plus it gives you a chance to change the passenger side engine mount easily while everything is outta the way.

Follow Rodgebones write up on the cooling system, it will get you in the right direction....