[MarineOpLaw]

As reported last week, I puked my engine in my Scrambler... or so I thought.

(Background: Motor had a cracked water jacket before. B/c it lost about a gallon of water/week [and I am cheap], I have been running straight water vice spending $$$ on antifreeze. Last week's cold spell arrives and widens the pre-existing crack to allow all water to run out - like a sieve, then I drive it until it overheats.) Apparent result: engine is history.

After wasting two days of leave getting a supposedly good recently-purchased one ready to swap in, I finally figure out the replacement is not worth the effort. (Should have checked bearings first, not last!

) Then the snow and single digit temps arrive as a second replacement appears to be a no-go.

Joy. What to do now?

Bars Leak to the rescue! Dumped a HD dose in the cracked engine and idled for an hour. Leakage seems to be even less than before; in fact, almost nil. Hallelujah!! God has blessed me by His grace and shown mercy on this poor wretch yet again! No way did I think that old tired 258 had another mile in it.

I know this 'miracle cure' is just a temp fix. But, at least it gives me some breathing room to quickly (but not panic-strickenly) have a decent engine rebuilt. (Maybe I can even find a 4.0L head to put on it!

)

Just wanted to let you guys know the current state of last week's crisis. Many thanks to all who provided advice and counsel.

Not to be sappy on you men of iron, but fervent prayer has bumped big hammers, baling wire, duct tape and torches from the top of my list of tools for fixing the unfixable.

With God, all things are possible!

R/

 

[Dirt Dog]

Glad it's got a temp reprieve on life.
AND....
your right!

 

[468]

Bars has been good in my radiator for about 18 years and running. No overheating or leaking problems. Don't sell that stuff short. Glad to hear it has some more life to give.

 

[Guest]

GOOD To hear about your engine making it through!! where's that 360 you said you picked up earlier (in the post about waggy axles) throw that in there!

 

[webjeep]

woohoo, glad to hear it

 

[MarineOpLaw]

The 360 is in Ohio... I am in VA. That said, I believe I will reserve that particular engine for my '86 J-20. Unfortunately, I have my various parts, Jeeps (projects & parts) and myself in more than one geographic location... and little time to spend on any of them.

One of these days.... (Retirement looks more and more attractive every time I want to work on the Jeep but a higher priority task [

] interferes - which is most of the time.)

FWIW: No V-8's in my SWB Jeeps: I do not want my boys in a overpowered CJ (for new driver) once they get driving, and I am generally satisfied w/ the power of the 6 cyl. in a CJ (though I do want to monkey around w/ stroking a 4.0L when I find the time ). While it will be a few years 'til the boys are of driving age, I am trying to apply some long-range vision to current activities.

Further update on BARS cure : Colder last nite, and block trickled water (out) once engine warmed up to operating temp. Blessfully, I was able to get kids to daycare, and me to work w/o losing enough to overheat. I'll check at lunchtime how much coolant was actually lost .[Update: Not as much as I thought - between a cup and a pint maybe.] Hopefully this bandaid 'cure' holds good enough for long enough. I am checking out the price of a complete rebuild at a recommended local shop ASAP. Any suggestions/recommendations/advice on how to do this right... the first time? (I've got Jaffer's write-ups on 258 rebuild and 4.0 head conversion.) Any other advice is aslo wanted... Pls fire away!

And, many thanks from all of you who've provided advice and encouragement! It's ALL helpful in making a well-reasoned decision.

R/

 

[1816]

I just went through this on one of our cars(2.5 Chrysler) I bought cheap without a head and after I got it back together it was fine for about a month then started loosing coolant. Then I discovered a crack between 2 freeze plugs.

I cleaned up the block and JB welded it and put in some Bars leak and got about 1 1/2 months more use out of it till it started leaking real bad again. By then I had another engine ready anyway and now all is fine.

A cracked block is hard to seal up because of all the expansion, the best you can do is slow it down. Just carry a couple of gals of premixed antifreeze with you and keep a eye on the level (Wal-Mart has the best price around here

). And remember it's only a temp. fix!

I have a garage with a wood burner to work in

so I hope warm weather moves your way and you get your replacement together with some nice days to get it in.

 

[Caver Dave]

Glad you got it revived. You never know, might go bad tomorrow or it could run so long you forget it ever had a problem.

Dang! Your the second jarhead today I've heard complaining about how cold it was outside... 3 words... BASE HOBBY SHOP

From what I can tell, it doesn't matter WHAT branch base it is either...flash your ID and drive right in. For the pitance they want to use a bay and any tool known to man, working off the ground in the driveway would be a thing of the past. Don't forget the earlier suggestion of ducktape on that blue DOD sticker though...

 

[MarineOpLaw]

Have you never heard the adage that "a whining Marine = a happy Marine"?

Base hobby shop... seems a coworker thoughtfully suggested that last week. Problem is that I live 25 miles from base and my Scrambler is also my daily driver. I cannot take a chance of not being able to 'get it back together again'. And, if I need something (part) I did not bring along, I am stuck in the boondocks w/ no way to go get it. Believe me, I would love to have that facility closer and thus more convenient. And, last I heard, our hobby shop here at Quantico got completely taken out by last fall's hurricane (nothing taken to higher ground as a precaution, and tidal surge gave everything a good saltwater soaking). Knowing MWR - or whatever it's called now - the hobby shop is probably still looking for the funds to replace most of what was lost (word I got was that they trashed - as in threw away - everything!). Go figure.

However, I will go visit tomorrow and see what they have to offer these days.

Thanks for the duct tape for blue sticker idea... sounds like a good one. Especially here at Quantico. I feel bad for the enlisted side of the house stationed here - there's so many officers here, you cannot take two steps without running into a shiny rank device. (Ooohhh! To be in the fleet again!)

Any thoughts, suggestions or sources for a good 258 rebuild kit? Or, is that something I need to source through the machine shop that does the work?

Thanks again!

R/

 

[Caver Dave]

Oh yeah, heard that one "somewhere"

I'm not positive (I NEVER left the fleet

& was fortunate to stay out of that [email protected]#$), but with the base density up there (VA/DC/Maryland), you ought to be close(r) to one. I realize some of these are shoebox bases with only the bottomline facilities... Maybe a weekend roadtrip (w/ supporting buddy/vehicle?
VA Bases

Or..
DC area bases

Or...

Maryland Bases

Back in the day, I *always* shot for the AF bases... Those flyboys had the life! Civillians working the chowhall, slept in Holday Inns, & had 3 times the amount/10 times the quality of everything we had. OTOH, I guess that's why they're "soft"

 

[MarineOpLaw]

Caver,

Alright, alright!

I'll be checking out the hobby shop here @ Quantico today. (It is the closest base to me... I live in the boondocks - well, as boondocks as Stafford County can be these days of uncontrolled development. DC-area housing costs have driven the military man far from where he works; I really feel bad for the guys working in the 5-sided vacuum inside the beltway and having to commute over an hour to/from work. My greatest fear right now is to be x-ferred to a DC job. Argh! Not for this ******* wannabe.)

I am in the active process of getting my J-20 registered and on the road. THat'll give me many more options: 1) alternate wheels when Scrambler is down, 2) a go-fer vehicle when working on aforesaid, 3) a tow vehicle for aforesaid, and finally, 4) a 'big parts' hauler (i.e. engines, etc.). I've waited to register it b/c I did not need it and did not want to pay full registration fee for a partial year. Now, neither excuse is applicable anymore. (My boys want me to register it in Wyoming so they can have the bucking bronc rider on the plate... so it's taking a little longer than running down to the DMV office. Nice perk of being active duty - register vehicles almost anywhere.)

Couple of questions for ya:
1) Where's the best (or some good) source(s) for a 4.0L H.O. head? What's a reasonable price to pay for a) a new one ready to bolt on; and b) a used one needing some amount of attention/refurbishment before using?
2) How are the following prices for a lift for the Scrambler: a) Rubicon Express 5525 CJ 4.5" EXTREME DUTY KIT $675.00 and, b) RE5535 CJ 2.5" EXTREME DUTY KIT $640.00
(shipping additional)? I intend to go w/ 33" tires and a 1" Daystar Bodymount kit. Is the 2.5" enough, or do I need to go 4.5? (Additional weight considerations include a full-length hardtop w/ 2 bench seats in back, a T-18 tranny, winch and a heavy front bumper.) I do not want to go any higher than necessary.

Oh, by the way: Agreed on description and assessment of our 'junior' sister service... but then in the relative world of military organizations, they're not even out of puberty yet

!!

Maybe they need a few more years to develop their military character!

I look forward to getting down to North Kackilacky and getting together w/ ya one of these days. Many thanks!

R/ Jerry