3.8L Jeep engine rebuilding!

[@jamesdodson9417]

Great video, carbide scrapers are a game changer.

[@fixitman8028]

Great job! Really enjoyed it. Keep making videos because you can always pick things up from others. Really appreciated the tips on the oil pump. You did a nice job cleaning the surfaces but go to harbor freight and buy an angle grinder. The pneumatic one with scotch bright disc. They make cleaning metal surfaces super easy. Don’t doubt yourself. We all have those same concerns when doing timing chains and belts. Hope all goes well. God bless

[@trailbandit_]

I appreciate the feedback!

[@o_leksandr]

Maybe a silly question, but I cannot find a solid answer anywhere online: How do you align the harmonic balancer with the engine's timing (e.g. balancer's markings vs TDC)? This engine's crank doesn't have a key for the balancer and I did not make any marks when taking it off lol... so yeah, now scratching my head. Thanks!

[@trailbandit_]

1:04 there are supposed to be markings on both the camshaft sprocket and crank sprocket as shown in this video at this time stamp.

[@christophermichaelson9050]

Did this myself a few years ago at 140K miles. The carbon build up on the pistons was insane; it took a few days of soaking in chemicals in a home depot bucket to remove all the junk (literally took two weeks for all 6 pistons). I also did the crankshaft bearings just for good measure since so many people had spun theirs over the years. I was surprised the amount of cylinder honing left in place; the walls were not mirror-like at all...they looked almost freshly honed, but then again I have changed the oil every 3k miles since new. The only thing I would have done differently is pulling the whole engine so I could have done the rear main seal. It might have made the rest of the job a lot easier lol. Unfortunately it is leaking coolant again 60K miles later. I am pretty sure this is due to etching on the block (I had the heads machined but didn't do a whole lot the the block because I did not want any contaminants falling into the crankshaft from above). Oh, and the new exhaust headers cracked shortly after. I knew better and should had just purchased aftermarket headers. Thanks for posting.

[@MrArmandoPhotography]

Nice video bro! Great job! Wish it would be a little bit longer..

[@trailbandit_]

@@MrArmandoPhotography yeah I wasn’t planning on filming this so I didn’t get assembling the pistons and more of the internal building which I regret.

[@pennyhelga]

Going to build mine . Dealer dogged it , now it clatters on startup like every other one does . I'll use old school pistons n rings instead

[@trailbandit_]

@@pennyhelga are you sure it’s not an exhaust manifold leak you’re hearing? And if you don’t have a check engine light, consuming a lot of oil in between oil change intervals or having low oil pressure I would just leave it alone for the time being. These engines are dogs in general lol

[@pennyhelga]

@@trailbandit_ yeah , could be a cracked manifold

[@alphaacres1331]

Great video.

[@pennyhelga]

Did you flip the oil pump gears . Look at the wear on them

[@trailbandit_]

@@pennyhelga the oil pump gears don’t have a certain direction you’re supposed to install them as it is just a machined sprocket that’s the same on both sides and it sits in the gear “housing” as it should. I appreciate the note tho 💯

[@trailbandit_]

@@pennyhelga I replaced the internals of the oil pump with new parts, tossed the old parts out

[@Hothellyeah57]

Cool

[@America_took_my_zebra_stripes]

I have a JK 3.8 I'm almost 300k now. I'm replacing head gaskets lower intake manifold gasket and Gasket headers. Unfortunately I have to take pretty much the orange in the park almost. It's 44° outside and I've been doing it off and on but we had rain two times already and my Pistons are exposed although under the hood two questions do I need to worry about moisture in the engine since it rained a couple days? And should I change my timing chain since I have everything apart already?

[@trailbandit_]

Honestly the chain is super simple to replace so you might as well since you’re in there. And at that point, I HIGHLY suggest you replace the oil pump pressure relief valve inside the bottom of the timing cover as well, (watch my engine installation video for further details about that) And I wouldn’t say the rain would cause a problem but of course you really should get that water out and cover the openings in the engine as soon as possible to prevent rusting the cylinder walls

[@America_took_my_zebra_stripes]

@@trailbandit_ ok tyvm for ur reply.

[@spgirard30]

Putting mine together now. Did you replace the litters? I got the melling lifters and the oil hole is on the side instead of the front facing the valley. I am not sure if it matters what direction they face.

[@trailbandit_]

@@spgirard30 it was a while since I built this engine so I can’t remember how the oiling passage hole was facing, but I would match it up with the old lifter and see if the oil hole is located in the same spot. If it is not, I would try sending them back and getting another set either OEM or a better aftermarket option since they were designed that way for a reason.

[@edwinneira1431]

Hola

[@dustincmills]

I hate those stupid water pump bolts