Top End Rebuild 250k

Luke Markham

Luke Markham

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Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2018
Messages
34
Location
Belton, TX.
Just popped the hood on the '98 and found a head gasket leak right above the distributor. Planning on doing a top end rebuild on it as soon as possible, but that might not be before Christmas (it's my daily).

My question is, I've got 255k on it now. Do I go farther than a top end rebuild? Do I drop the pan and check main and rod bearings? Just looking for opinions and recommendations. It runs fine other than coolant leak at the head gasket.

1998 sahara 4.0L 5-speed 33" w 4.10 gears.
 
This goes back to old school motors; which the 4.0 certainly qualifies. I was always told that with that many miles, expect the “tighter/freshly rebuilt” top end to cause problems with the bottom end. That’s what I was told by old school mechanics. I would either slap a HG on it and leave it alone, or go for a full rebuild.

Jack
 
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