[paroxysym]

im wondering if anyone on here with a 2000-2001 has had issues with their head cracking? ive been doing my research on rigs and would like to get the newest possible and have found many post on other forums with the 0331 heads cracking on the 2000-2001 XJ. i know aside from the heads cracking it has much more emissions junk on it that kind of chokes the HP back a tad, but im just looking for the most options and the newest upgrades in an XJ so im looking at 1999-2000. 2001 is a possibility but im not looking too much.

so any feedback?

 

[4.whoa]

mine are older, but here's a thread about them:

Jeep Strokers • the 0331 head thread (help out if you have one!)

I know you want to see this "tupy" in between the #3 & #4 cyl's - its the revised casting

 

[THAT_XJ_GUY]

Get a 99. Skip the 00-01.

99s have more power and get better mpg. Don't crack heads, have better front diffs.

My second choice 98
3rd 97
Then a 00-01.


If you want to get crazy like supercharger/turbo/stroker, I would do a 97-98 as the PCM is a little dumber.

Head cracking
The issue isn't just that the head cracks, it's that it lunches the whole engine. For the most part they barely seep fluid, not really leak, so most people won't notice the loss of coolant. The quick lube place tops it off every 3k which doesn't help.
Most of the time what I see Is customers bring it in for little or no oil pressure. One look under the oil cap reveals a sludged up mess of coolant/oil mix. Coolant doesn't make a good lubricant for bearings.
If you find a good deal on a 00-01 that you can't pass on, check under the oil cap for sludge, then if it looks good and you buy it, shop around for an 03 and newer head to swap on.

 

[Baalic]

i had over 160k on my grand cherokee, no engine issues, i would have trusted that truck driving to russia. probably dosen't help much but mine was an 01

 

[jeepinAl]

Don't know of this helps.

'01 4X4 Limited, Build date Oct-ish 2000. 132,000 miles. No problems what-so-ever. Seems the engine is just as strong as day one. Change the oil every 3000-4000 miles and the oil looks great...no sludge.

If you need exact info PM me, since I'm always on the WK2 site...enjoying that new beast as well.

Al

p.s. Someone drove up to me a couple of months ago to ask if I was selling the XJ anytime soon. Told them I had a new Grand on the way but will not ever sell the XJ...it's getting to be about that time where a good XJ is great and the others just fade away...happy hunting.

 

[chucksc]

I've got 145k on my 2001 60th anniv. no problems with the engine other than cheap power steering pumps (now on number 3) and both front power window regulators....

Oops don't know how I got over here - was browsing the GC threads - sorry guys :slapfight:

 

[cpttuna]

Most say if you watch and don't let it overheat, you will be OK. I have two 01's. One has 101,000 and the other 137,000. I have no problems. I replaced the water pumps on both last year as part of routine maintenance. I make sure both get a bounch of TLC.

 

[Trav1s]

My bro-in-law lost the engine in his 2001 - It overheated and cracked the head. I would not be afraid to get a 2001 and do the head swap.

 

[70AnvKK]

Most of the issues happen due to overheating the engine. If you do the regular maintainence and watch the temp gauge, should be fine. Mine has 180k on it with no issues.

 

[70AnvKK]

I have 180K on my 00 and no issues with the head. As long as you don't overheat it, it will be fine. They tend to crack around 75K miles from what I've seen unless you get them hot.

 

[frenchdragon]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I own a 2000 WJ and just replaced the 0331 head in it at 170K because it started dripping coolant out the exhaust pipe when idling for long periods. Not water, Coolant! I tasted it! There are 2 different types of cracks, one crack is between #3 and #4 intake valve, and the other is into the intake valve passage. Luckily I had the latter. I was loosing coolant at the rate of about 1 qt/week which got worse.

Here's the story on the head. Chrysler redesigned the head in '99 to make the valve passages larger for better performance creating thin walls which crack. Chrysler denies they have a problem with these heads stating the cracks must result from poor maintenance or overheating, HOWEVER in 2003, they recast them with different metal compounds. These heads are stamped "TUPY" in the valve cover gasket area on the intake side.

I opted for a Clearwater cylinder head from Odessa. It was $455 complete with valves and free shipping BOTH ways (core return). This head weighs 85 lbs and the original head weighs 78 lbs. This is Part Number CHR238ZN designed for 99-07 4.0s. Just Google Clearwater Cylinder Heads.