Pepe V2.1

[vangremlin]

Pepe V1.0 was when he first left the factory, and got sold to someone here in Denver from Jerry Morse AMC Jeep Eagle on Broadway.  I'd like to think that first owner truly enjoyed the little Kammback, but it ended up being parked from 1992 until I found it in 2008.  V1.5 was when I got Pepe back up and running, licensed, and back on the road.  V1.6 was the rebuilt transmission, V1.7 was the rebuilt transfer case, and V1.8 was when I transplanted a used 258 engine into Pepe after we discovered the block was cracked.

V2.0  was when Pepe got repainted.  There have been a few intermmediate versions since then, like V2.0.1 when I had the new headliner installed along with the overhead console.  V2.0.2 was the new tach installation.

I'm here to announce (not quite as big as a Steve Jobs Apple type announcement) that V2.1 is now under development.  There were a few spots on Pepe that needed repainting like the fender flares and also a couple spots where the clear coat is flaking off.  So while I was finding somebody to do the painting, I thought I might as well do the 4.0 head upgrade.  The engine runs pretty good, but I'll always take a little peppier Pepe.  Plus the engine sprays oil all over the engine compartment (bad valve cover gasket?  Poor PVC seal?) and so I want to take care of that too.  I'm also having a new camshaft installed.

Here is a picture of the 4.0l head that Eaglefreek gave me (he is one heck of a nice guy) along with the exhaust manifold and valve cover I picked up from the junkyard.





When I replaced the engine, I left some of the emissions equipment in there but unattached.  Since it won't even attach to the new exhaust manifold, I decided to take out the smog pump and related equipment to make it easier for the shop to get to the engine.  Before and after pictures - what a difference!





While its in the body shop, I'm having a rear window air deflector installed.  I had it powder coated black to match the other black pieces of the car.



I'll keep you posted on the progress!!

[eaglefreek]

Heck yeah!

[eagleman]

Way to go! That should light its candle!

[rollguy]

I can't wait to see the "peppier" Pepe!

[vangremlin]

Talked to the guy at the head shop today - that's all he does is work on heads.  He is going to freshen up the 4.0L head in preparation for the transplant!  I guess its really going to happen now!

[rollguy]

Talked to the guy at the head shop today - that's all he does is work on heads. 

Does that make him the "head guy"?

[eaglebeek]

Talked to the guy at the head shop today - that's all he does is work on heads. 

Does that make him the "head guy"?

This is going to become a heady discussion...

@vangremlin, does the head guy also seal off the unused coolant passages in the 4.0 head?

[vangremlin]

Does that make him the "head guy"?

I believe he is the head guy!  His real name is Drew, seems like a really nice guy.

This is going to become a heady discussion...

@vangremlin, does the head guy also seal off the unused coolant passages in the 4.0 head?

Eaglebeek, the head that Eaglefreek gave me already had the passages sealed.  I believe he said he took it off a 4.0 L engine and was surprised to find the passages already sealed.

[vangremlin]

The head guy finished rebuilding the head, and the mechanic is up to his elbows in the head transplant.  Thought I'd share a few pictures.  I'm still trying to figure out how to seal off the hole where the tube went from the intake to the exhaust manifold, controlled by the EGR.  If anyone has done the 4.0 head swap before, please let me know how you handled it.  It seems like there are fittings (or a combination of fittings) to seal the hole off, but nothing available locally.

Rebuilt head and new cam:





The headless 258



Closeup of pistons and cylinders

[eaglefreek]

Which cam did you go with? It's been so long, I don't remember which pushrods I went with. But I've heard checking lifter preload on these engines is important. I never did it. I think I just got lucky.

[Amc1320]

Looks pretty good in there!

[1985amceagle]

over the few years that I have seen this car, I have always liked how it looks. you did a great job with it!

[vangremlin]

Which cam did you go with? It's been so long, I don't remember which pushrods I went with. But I've heard checking lifter preload on these engines is important. I never did it. I think I just got lucky.

I went with the Comp Cam CL68-115-4, one of the ones you suggested.  Sounds like its just right for my needs.

Looks pretty good in there!

over the few years that I have seen this car, I have always liked how it looks. you did a great job with it!

Thanks and thanks.  I'm eager to get it back.  I talked with the mechanic today and he is having some trouble getting the intake and exhaust manifolds to both fit on the head.  I'm going to take over some of the info available on the net which shows some of the tips to make them fit, like grinding off some of the tabs on the intake manifold so it sits on top of the pegs, and doing a little banging on the exhaust manifold.

[Jurjen]

Keep up the good work, I'm a big fan of little Pepe (now Peppy Pepe?).

[vangremlin]

Keep up the good work, I'm a big fan of little Pepe (now Peppy Pepe?).

Thanks Jurjen!

Stopped by the mechanic's today, he's making great progress.  New cam is installed and the front end is buttoned up.  Head and valve cover are installed.  Exhaust header installed.  There are often issues with interference between the 4.0 header and the engine mount and bracket for the front drive train.  He said they heated up the header and bent it to make it fit.  I think it came out really nice, it looks like the exhaust will be more accessable than with the original Eagle exhaust manifold!

He needs to modify the intake manifold slightly (trim the tabs for the pin mounting holes so the intake sits on top of the pins rather than them going through the hole) and adapt the power steering bracket a little so it bolts up to the intake, which is now higher.  Hopefully its clear sailing from here.

Some pictures of the progress:







You can see in the last picture how the header now easily clears the brackets, etc.