Expensive sounding engine noises

The last few months of driving my good old Cherokee with a 4.0 engine
and about 300,000 miles has been making a bit of a clicking sound when
the engine is cold. Tonight as I was driving along the clicking sound
got a lot worse, and the engine was hot.

As this engine has a BUNCH of miles on it I'm really afraid it might be
a rod bearing letting go, but I'm hoping it might actually be a lifter.
The noise is now always there, and it seemed to be getting worse as I
drove, it is somewhere between a click and a clatter. The oil pressure
is at least good enough the idiot light stays off, and of course the
crankcase is full. Under moderate to heavy acceleration the noise goes
away, it's always there under light acceleration and when cruising or
idling.

Is there a quick and dirty check? I seem to recall if you pull the
spark plug wires off one by one and the problem really is a bad rod
bearing it will quiet down when that cylinders wire is pulled, but if
it's a lifter pulling wires won't make any difference.

If it is the rod bearings what kind of luck have you guys had with used
engines vs rebuilt. I have neither the money or the inclination to buy
a new Jeep and plan to keep this one for as long as I can. (Well, a new
Wrangler Unlimited with a hardtop would be really cool, but that's only
going to happen if the Prize Patrol shows up!).

Jeff DeWitt

There wasn't a reason for the engine to be hot? Preignition sound
and overheating is a head gasket.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Jeff debit wrote:
>
> The last few months of driving my good old Cherokee with a 4.0 engine
> and about 300,000 miles has been making a bit of a clicking sound when
> the engine is cold. Tonight as I was driving along the clicking sound
> got a lot worse, and the engine was hot.
>
> As this engine has a BUNCH of miles on it I'm really afraid it might be
> a rod bearing letting go, but I'm hoping it might actually be a lifter.
> The noise is now always there, and it seemed to be getting worse as I
> drove, it is somewhere between a click and a clatter. The oil pressure
> is at least good enough the idiot light stays off, and of course the
> crankcase is full. Under moderate to heavy acceleration the noise goes
> away, it's always there under light acceleration and when cruising or
> idling.
>
> Is there a quick and dirty check? I seem to recall if you pull the
> spark plug wires off one by one and the problem really is a bad rod
> bearing it will quiet down when that cylinders wire is pulled, but if
> it's a lifter pulling wires won't make any difference.
>
> If it is the rod bearings what kind of luck have you guys had with used
> engines vs rebuilt. I have neither the money or the inclination to buy
> a new Jeep and plan to keep this one for as long as I can. (Well, a new
> Wrangler Unlimited with a hardtop would be really cool, but that's only
> going to happen if the Prize Patrol shows up!).
>
> Jeff DeWitt

No, the engine was hot as in througly warmed up, not overheating.

Robb, I belive your right about valve noise vs lower engine noises...
and I've got a really bad feeling about this.

I'm going to do the stethiscope thing and see what I can hear, but I
think I'm going to be buying an engine.

Anybody know anything about these guys?

http://www.hiperformer.com/jeep-cher...c_242lb_2.html

Jeff DeWitt

I don't know anything about this site, but the prices look great. Perhaps
they would be willing to give you the phone numbers/email addresses of some
owners/mechanics that have purchased from them so you call and ask their
opinion of their rebuilds.

cal

"JeffDeWitt" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> No, the engine was hot as in througly warmed up, not overheating.
>
> Robb, I belive your right about valve noise vs lower engine noises...
> and I've got a really bad feeling about this.
>
> I'm going to do the stethiscope thing and see what I can hear, but I
> think I'm going to be buying an engine.
>
> Anybody know anything about these guys?
>
> http://www.hiperformer.com/jeep-cher...c_242lb_2.html
>
> Jeff DeWitt
>