Well, here is my 258 out of my Jeep. Just thought I would share the experience. And if anyone has any thoughts don't hesitate to share them.

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cylinders 1 & 2

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cylinders 3 & 4

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cylinders 5 & 6

[img][image]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/53/553/0/28/36/2366028360098300709TUbKby_th.jpg[/img][/image]
A few friends and I got the motor out at 3 in the morning.



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That oily bolt is a head bolt. Any info on why it is covered in oil would be helpful. It came out from between the 5th and 6th cyls. And I know the head is really dirty. I pulled the motor originally to change the rear main seal, but after seeing the condition of things I decided to tear her down and do some cleaning, and fixing.

Brandon

Looks like youve been burning some oil outta that old gal. It could be a worn out head or bad rings. Terms of the head bolt the head gasket could have been on its way out for it to be that oily around the head. This could turn into a whole engine rebuild. One thing i learned when i did mine is if you have it all out and down might as well do it all so you dont put it back together only to find something goes out on it that you didnt replace shortly after you get it all back together. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

That is one nasty mutha! I like my women thataway but not my engines.
If you run castrol in her she won't get that ugly. It don't mean anything except the oil did not hold up under the cooking the head does to it.
I think you are about to learn quite a bit about pulling engines.
Rule No.1.. Leave it alone till it needs something. If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Now that you have it out what are you going to do? I never pull em unless there is going to be a fresh new one going back in.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Now guys remember that is an 25 year old engine,and quite possibly never been touched as far as a rebuild.I have seen far worse in far newer engines. Now that has been said Deranged is onto something,you have it out you might as well rebuild it,and possibly even do a head conversion if you want.
web page
web page

If you go for the head conversion make sure you use a head from a 96-98 4.0.the newer ones are weaker and the flow is not as good.also make sure to take the full advantage and get the thingamabob in the dist hole,and the rail that goes on the spark plugs from the 4.0.as well as the wiring and computer.

BJ mentioned using castrol,personally i like valvoline,but whatever you do avoid quaker state.Also make sure to use the right grade of oil,personally i would go with 10/40 unless you plan on actually boring it over a bit,then i would ask the machinist what they recommend.

Dang i need to talk dad out of one of his 4.2's.the bug bit me good BJ <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the link. That is a pretty interesting idea.

My motor is out of an '81, and I'm real sure the people I bought it from did not do much maintenance on it at all...the damn thing is so dirty! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'm not sure what exaclty I want to do with the motor yet, but it will be awhile before it goes back in. Right now I am just trying to get it cleaned up a bit, and replace what needs to be: timing chain and cover, thermostat, etc. I haven't checked the valves yet, but before it came out I had good compression.

If the power gains are true about that head conversion, I just might do it, but I will have to research it for my self a little.

Also, I use Valvoline too. But remember BJ, I took it out to replace the rear main seal in the first place. So it was broke, and it does need some fixin. It would not hold an idle very well after warming up, and it would not hold an idle at all before we cleaned the carb.

It will be a slow process, as I am not a mechanical genius, but I think between my friends and I we can get the job done.

I was in your shoes about 3 years ago now. Except that my engine did have a problem. The compression was low on one of the cylinders. So i pulled the head cleaned it up got a new head checked compression and it was all under factory tolerances. Also my head looked a heck of alot cleaner than yours did. It looks to me like there is alot more fouling around your block than there should be. Maybe thats just me though. Check back less than three months later my 6 cylinder had become a 4 cylinder. Two of the cylinders would flood with oil. When it was hot after running for 5 or so minutes and you checked the oil it barely showed on the stick but if ya waited it would show full in like 3 minutes. I had also just done it for a rear main. Well looking back on it now i wished i had just pulled the rings new seals+gaskets. If it had required work then i would have done it. I would have come out a lot cheaper and more pleased with myself. Also your in a key spot for a head conversion right now. They really arent that hard. If i wasnt as far into my new engine as i was now id have done it. Still looken at it though. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />