Motor mount boss weld

[JeepFamily]

Got bad news from the machinist yesterday. After they cleaned the block we found that two of the 3 motor mount bosses were welded. Looks like new pieces were machined and welded in place. Anyone have any experience here, I'm definitely not liking this. I know it is difficult to weld cast iron although they appeared to have done a decent job. Thoughts????

[GoMopar440]

What year and vehicle is this going into?

I've got plenty of experence (16 years) as a Navy machinist, but know little to nothing about welding. Can't help you with that question unfortunately.

If the block is deemed not worth building I can give you a couple tips for finding alternate parts around here. I'm not too sure about junkyards around Butte, but over here by Anaconda/Opportunity there is S&S and Naziers to pick from for parts. Over at S&S they have plenty of 4.2's (12cw and v belt 4cw) but don't have any serp belt 4.2's or 4.0's. Naziers has quite a few XJ and WJ 4.0's availible. I didn't see any CJs, TJs or YJs but it's been a couple months since I've been there so they may have gotten some in by now.

Naziers quoted me $350 for a complete 4.0 and I've got my eye on one in a white 96 XJ there. I've bought a few throttle bodies ($25 ea) to bore out and other little stuff (T-stat housing, trans cooler, etc...) from them and they are good fair and honest people to deal with IMHO. They take cash or credit cards and run the place like a proper buisness.

The old guy over at S&S charged me $100 for a 4.2 out of a 77 Gremlin. I only took the short block but he still charged me full price for it. He's the older guy living in the trailer with the black dog and is a little shakey to deal with sometimes. He tells you a price for a part and you go out to get it. When you come back to pay for it, he want's to charge you more or says he should have asked for more for it before hand. WTF? I just gave him the price he told me up front and walked out. The two guys that work in the big garage out there are ok to deal with, but they always refer you to the old guy to get prices and pay for stuff. I still need one more 4.2 crank for the WJ build so I don't want to burn my bridges with him just yet. It's cash only with this guy just so you know if you need to go there for anything.

BTW: Where are you getting your machining done? I've got to find somewhere to get the machining done for mine.

[JeepFamily]

I used Advanced Engines in Helena. They have been very helpful and have given me better prices on rebuild parts than I've been able to find locally or online. We can talk more if you use them. In terms of the welding, the machinist felt the welds were done well, however i don't like welds on cast iron period. i could be biased though and am looking for other thoughts. I suspect it is a perfectly good block if I can get over the welds. Thanks for the input on other sources of engine cores. If we don't end up using this one, we will likely remove the engine for my son's 97 ZJ and use that block. It's the better block anyway as it contains the updates Chrysler made post 95. we'll see?

[IH 392]

I've welded mounts back on a lo mileage 4.0 for one of the wrecking yards when I worked at the machine shop, if it was done properly I don't see any reason to not use it?, it was working before wasn't it?

[GoMopar440]

You could always use the Brown Dog engine brackets. They incorporate a bunch of the extra unused holes cast in the block around the stock mounting holes for extra strength. http://browndogindustries.com/

They're a little pricy, but still cheaper than redoing the machine work on another block (in case they already started on it).

[racing89]

Unless your going to repeatedly jump your jeep or crash it hard, u should be good to go. Have seen this break many times before and usually the original broken pieces miged back on seems to hold well. Although, as previously mentioned, there are many unused bosses that can be utilized if you want to bolt on a plate( 3/16, 1/4) and fasten your mount bracket to it. This is the prefered method for those who offroad race.

[JeepFamily]

Thanks for the great ideas, you've made me think twice about starting over with a different block. Here are some pictures of the welding, take a look if you can and let me know what you think

http://montanabackroads.com/tinc?key=IrjFXlzm&preview=1

[GoMopar440]

Well, to my untrained (not a welder) eyes, they look pretty solid. As long as the fixed bosses were all put back in the exact original factory locations I wouldn't have a problem running that block with some of those Brown Dog mounts. Without them I'd probably always be worrying about it in the back of my mind whenever I wanted to take it out on some trail in the boonies.

[JeepFamily]

I'm into it the cost of machining and the salvage yard agreed to replace the welded unit. Anyone interested in a 30 over 4 liter block ready for pistons???? we may go ahead and pull the engine from the 97 ZJ and rebuild it after all. We were trying to rebuild an engine and do a swap but have learned a lot so far. Looks like the 96 and on blocks are better than previous with improved castings. Anyway, although most felt the welded unit would be fine, for my own piece of mind, I need to start over.

[GoMopar440]

Sorry to hear about the step backwards, but like you said, what you're really paying for is peace of mind.

I'm running a XJ so I don't think that block would work for me. The only other guy around here I know who might be interested in building a stroker is running a XJ as well. I'm still a little too new to the area to have many contacts yet. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[JeepFamily]

Thank you for your response. It's one of those things that would probably would be fine as you recommended but it would have not set right with me. I guess I'm a bit perfectionistic here. If you might find someone who is interested it's out of a 94 XJ with 82K miles. Thanks again.