-Deathrow Update Log-

[DemonMudder]

Nice! I'm calling it now, though - gonna encounter one other wacky small annoyance before she's out. Don't know what it's going to be, but it will introduce itself soon!

Oh I bet too, missed a hose or something somewhere I'm sure!

 

[DintDobbs]

Once the engine is halfway out, you will find your problem!

OK, jokes aside, taking it slow and steady with this type of project is the best way to get it done right, particularly when working alone. Label EVERY THING. I had my Durango torn apart for almost a year, every part that came off went into a plastic bag with a label. Once I finally had all the replacement stuff in a pile, putting it all back together was like following LEGO instructions. I didn't have to remember a thing.

 

[DemonMudder]

Once the engine is halfway out, you will find your problem!

OK, jokes aside, taking it slow and steady with this type of project is the best way to get it done right, particularly when working alone. Label EVERY THING. I had my Durango torn apart for almost a year, every part that came off went into a plastic bag with a label. Once I finally had all the replacement stuff in a pile, putting it all back together was like following LEGO instructions. I didn't have to remember a thing.

Yep, that's what I'm hoping! I was going to try and be more organized, still ended up with several piles of bolts, I'll figure it out, just a matter of matching in the end! Least I know where they all are!! I've gotten smart and put some less important bolts back into the block so that I can't lose them and guarantee where they went. So mine won't be as easy as yours was, but it won't be the worst!

 

[DemonMudder]

Anyone know what this connection is? The ends right into the connector are stripped and all, just trying to replace it. Finally got all the wiring off, that'll be fun to set back up..! And dang does my drivers side valve cover need cleaning..

 

[DemonMudder]

Much better already

 

[Fire]

I could be wrong, but there are bolts holding the TC to the flywheel. You have to rotate it and get to all the bolts from below.

 

[DemonMudder]

I could be wrong, but there are bolts holding the TC to the flywheel. You have to rotate it and get to all the bolts from below.

So I'm seeing now, how the heck I'm getting them I'm not sure, hardly enough room down there

 

[DemonMudder]

Engine finally freaking out, now begins the easier part. So I'm going to do most of the disassembling, and teaching my girlfriend some stuff, but she's really enjoying cleaning it up, so by the time we're done, she should be all rebuilt and mostly cleaned up! I mean hell, that valve cover was solid black we I first started this project lol
Hopefully wont be too long now, putting it back sure will be fun..

 

[DemonMudder]

Still a lot of cleaning up to do, but made a lot of progress, and yeah...chains needed being done, pretty much all of them besides the 4wd balancer one had something broken. But so far looking good, doesn't seem to have whacked the pistons at all

 

[DemonMudder]

Definitely needs some cleaning lol
Middle being a clear example of why

 

[DemonMudder]

Down to literal bare block, bunch a chunks in the upper oil pan, glad I pulled it now, not to mention everything broken I've pulled through the front or top. But everything looks fantastic besides that! Even for the coolant being water before she was parked, everything looks dang good!

 

[DemonMudder]

Whoever invented the torx bit, can go frick themselves, haha. Everything was going so well till I get to the balancer shaft chain guide.

 

[DemonMudder]

Any suggestions besides an extraction socket set? I've even tried putting a drill on it without much luck. Why on earth does it seem like they're seriously over torqued? I've even tried heat and pb blaster with zero movement

 

[CDW6212R]

Yeah, tiny bolts with a lot of torque for the given size, they either seize or break often.

Have you got air, and an air chisel? I think I'd cut them off and ditch the balance shaft chain.

 

[DemonMudder]

Sadly I got neither, nope, decided to try something else. So the bracket itself is in good shape the old plastic just broke off. So, put the new plastic on the old bracket, so we'll try that instead. Even an extractor socket couldn't get it off, just shredded it more.
Someday I'll rebuild this thing and replace every torx bit on this thing with hex bolts, or just V8 swap it and still do that. Hate torx bits lol

 

[DemonMudder]

Almost everything is cleaned and ready to go back on! Heads are good, still need to clean under the cam in one of them, but thenwater pump is good, timing cover is good, oil pans are just about good. Almost there! After the engine goes back in, all I got left is doing the transmission fluid, filter, and the transfer case fluid; which shouldn't take long at all!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Good work!

 

[DintDobbs]

What Fix4Dirt said.

 

[DemonMudder]

Also, this was an issue a couple years ago just before she was parked, but anytime I cranked up, she wouldn't stay cranked unless I even just barely tapped the gas pedal, then it would idle just fine. If I didn't hit the gas any, then she'd stall right back out after a moment, but long as that gas pedal was tapped just once, it ran like nothing was wrong and would drive fine all day till I had to crank back up. Any idea where to start on that if none of this stuff happens to fix that?

Also, coming back together slowly, flushed some distilled water through today. Driver head on, upper oil pan held in but not fully mounted yet

 

[Fix4Dirt]

IAC? Did it ever stall any other time or just at startup?