CJ 5 motor grenaded

Blackegg

Blackegg

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Joined
May 18, 2020
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Colorado
Our 1980 CJ 5 motor bit the dust today. Don't know what the issue was, my son was driving it.
Any good ideas on the best place to find a replacement? All the ones I'm finding are so expensive....over 2000.00!
Has a 4.2 L inline 6

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Blackegg said:
Yeah, there's even a fist size hole in the top side of the block too!
It was running great prior to this too. Just put in a new radiator 30 minutes before this happened.
Click to expand...
Kids=lead foot. That won’t even qualify for a core.
 
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Blackegg said:
Our 1980 CJ 5 motor bit the dust today. Don't know what the issue was, my son was driving it.
Any good ideas on the best place to find a replacement? All the ones I'm finding are so expensive....over 2000.00!
Has a 4.2 L inline 6

View attachment 165076

View attachment 165077
Click to expand...
Could be time to explore other engine options... AMC 304 and 360 engines are as near a drop in swap as you can get. AMC cars (besides the Eagle) with V-8s are almost a dime a dozen. Think Matadors and Concords... If that's a direction you want to go in..

Otherwise here's one with a 7 year 100k mile warranty... Edit: $1644.00 and only has a $400.00 core charge.
https://www.sandjengines.com/searchproducts/rebuilt-truck-engines/1980~Jeep~CJ-5~~~4.2~~~~~
1590693281063.png

https://www.sandjengines.com/warranty/warrantydesc
 
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reddvltj said:
Could be time to explore other engine options... AMC 304 and 360 engines are as near a drop in swap as you can get. AMC cars (besides the Eagle) with V-8s are almost a dime a dozen. Think Matadors and Concords... If that's a direction you want to go in..

Otherwise here's one with a 7 year 100k mile warranty... Edit: $1644.00 and only has a $400.00 core charge.
https://www.sandjengines.com/searchproducts/rebuilt-truck-engines/1980~Jeep~CJ-5~~~4.2~~~~~View attachment 165204
https://www.sandjengines.com/warranty/warrantydesc
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info.....that's the best deal yet. I'll be looking into it for sure.
 
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I don't know what happened dad, I was barely even giving it any gas.....it just shut off!


Meanwhile the valves had enough float to unsink the Titanic before the connecting rod said peace out like Joe Biden at a bone thugs n harmony concert.
 
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When I had my 83 CJ5 I swapped a brand new 350 chevy into it, pretty inexpensive considering the boost in MPG and power. Bought the radiator from NOVAK along with the parts to convert a Ford T-18 4 speed (had a killer granny low 1st gear)to mate to the SBC and the Dana 300 TC. Got 22 mpg with that thing, it did not matter if you drove like a banshee or grandma Moses,........ Man, that thing was fun to drive.....
 
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