Rebuilding A 225

Mine finally has let go and developed a knock.

Wondering if anyone in the greater southern Nevada [EDIT] has advice on where to get one rebuilt?

I would love to take a crack at the rebuild but the reality is I really don't have the time.

thx

ben

 

You have a couple of options, assuming you want to do the R&R yourself.

You can buy a factory built long block from one of the usual suppliers like S&J or Jasper. The main issue will be whether they have a core that they can rebuild and exchange for your engine.

The other option is to find a local machine shop that will rebuild your core. This will require some leg work. I suggest you ask on your local 4x4/Jeep boards to recommend a shop.

1st post - welcome from Boston!

 

There is a rebuilt v6 on the Sacramento CA Craigslist

 

I'll give VERY HIGH marks to my S&J 225 long block. I had it shipped from Spokane, WA. I then returned my core to them via truck; they did all the paper work. The price has gone up since since I bought mine, but you can't beat the warranty! I've had it running for over a year now. It's one of the best investments I've made in the old CJ!
rebuilt auto engines 1971 Jeep

 

Going to be really hard to beat the above from S and J unless you want a bubba rebuild.

 

I do bubba rebuilds for myself. Runs just fine for me, but its still several hundred bucks for all the parts. This is a good deal.

 

i think the boy has close to that much into his 225. and we bubbaed it here at home...

 

I had a machine shop rebuild my engine, was expensive, but the engine was wore out. I wish I had gone with one of these companies.

 

I rebuilt mine for around $1000.00, I had hardened valve seats installed and a 3 angle valve job while I was at it. I also polished the chambers and port matched the intake and exhaust while I was at it. I had the machine work done and assembled the engine myself. Used a sealed power kit from Auto zone and new valves and springs, back in 2005-06.

 

Since 2005 at least half if not 2/3 of the machine shops have closed. Probably many places where doing it yourself isn't even a viable option anymore.

 

The machine shop I used is still in business after 45 years. There are actually about 5 more shops that opened around here since around 2008-09. Your area may differ. There are 3 shops within 10-15 minutes (8 miles) of my house and 5 more within 40 minutes.

 

I haven't seen a machine shop open in my lifetime. Seattle isnt the biggest metro area but we arent really backwoods either. Hard to even find somewhere to even get a flywheel turned or a brake drum turned. Everyone just sells replacements now.

 

Daryl, I don’t even live in a metro area, you could stick 25 or 30 of my town inside Seattle with a lot of room leftover. I live in a town with a population of around 25,000 people, we have 2 auto machine shops here. One of them is about 35 years old the other about 45 years old.
There are several shops around that are actually out in the county property in the middle of nowhere. Several are speed shops.

 

Contact Backcountry off spring mountain and see what they suggest. There are a few long blocks on craigslist too here in the valley and in Bullhead.

 

Wow............There is at least a 1/2 dozen shops within 20 minutes of me here in the Bay Area that still grind & fix crankshafts , re-size rods , grind cams, surface , bore and line bore, valve , lifter bore & head work........and if I reached out to the South or North Bay the list would increase.........one of the largest shops nearby that can do anything makes it's bread & butter mostly doing industrial motors , like fork lifts and such.

 

The last machine shop anywhere near me closed down about 5 years ago. The last time I went there, the owner was the last one left with 2 ancient crank grinding/welding machines and pretty much nothing else. Used to be able to grind/weld giant Cat cranks and whatever else, now he is just one room one man operations and he's probably out of business now too.

When I lived in Olympia Wa, in 1999, there were 2 shops to rebuild engines. They couldn't get the job done for me then, so I did a bubba rebuild on my 1.8 GTI VW engine in my front yard.

I seriously can't get anything done here unless I do it myself.

People just buy new here.

 

I think it has a lot to do with the replacement vs the rebuild mentality out there. We also saw many shops close when the EPA shut down all of the hot tank chemicals making the investment in large parts washers a high hurdle. There are still shops out there, most of them have been in business forever and no one seems to want to invest in yesterday's technology.

 

Yes..........and I would agree only on the crate motor program as a viable replacement option........especially GM........where you can buy Horsepower for 1/2 of what it costs to build...........Personally I still go the old school method and rebuild my own , liking the hands on approach where every part is measured and inspected and assembled in house.....................

And when it does come to generic replacement / rebuilt motor services.........do your homework as they are all not created equal........some are off shore and some even Mexico as the QC on the parts based on go-no-go measuring tolerances to either rebuild all parts or run leaves allot to be desired as I have seen many that shortly after the warranty expired took a dump!