Just a little history to start this worklog. Purchased my 02 Liberty Limited in December of 2013 @ auction for $1700.00. Jeep needed some tlc, but the body/undercarriage and interior are in great condition. Parts replaced after purchase were front pads and rotors and rear pads, radiator and thermostat and complete exhaust. What seemed to be a rather great deal soon started to take the opposite direction. A couple weeks later the old girl needed a heater core cause it stopped blowing heat. Meanwhile, still telling myself it was a great deal cause most of this is just maintenance I started to develop a misfire on #2 cylinder same week I replaced the heater core. Misfire was intermittent at first only on cold start up, but one afternoon the misfire would not correct it's self. Short story, no compression on #2 and dropped valve seat was the culprit...Uh!! Mind you I only put about 1000 miles or so on it. So, after purchase and roughly $1000.00 in parts and labor I had $2700.00 into a dead horse. Decided I wouldn't stop know... Had both heads rebuilt with better parts by Southeast Cylinder Head and had one head crack on me during torquing sequence which was determined it was a dowel locating problem. Another short story, found another right side core head for cheap and am currently having it reconditioned free of charge by John @ Southeast Cylinder. Was planning on pulling and rebuilding bottom end as well, but changed my mind and I am know going to sell my 2 rebuilt cylinder heads w/cams which will pay for half the cost of my new engine. The money I save rebuilding my current 02 block will pay for the other half. As soon as I sell my set of heads, I will be pulling the trigger on an 08 or newer engine and updating this log. Jeep is still in need of a suspension overhaul as well and have plans for an Ironman or OME setup. Stay tuned!!
Last edited:
