Converted my engine from a 4.0 to a 4.6. Saw a massive oil leak out the back of the engine. I didn’t properly seat the cam plug and hoped RTV would hold it enough. Dumb me. Also heard a tapping on the bottom of the engine which I feared I messed up a rod bearing. Then I saw this: the crankshaft was contacting the oil pickup tube. I’m hoping this was the source of the tapping.


See the gouging where the crankshaft made contact

 

yikes, did you forget to reinstall the spacer on the pickup tube or was it bent?

 

The spacer was placed in there. But I noticed that the nut holding the pickup tube was brand new with the washer being in the wrong spot. I definitely had another nut there. I found the original one in the bottom of the oil pan...so the shop I had it at to ensure proper oil pressure on the initial start up messed it up. I’m gonna have to go talk to them.

 

Replaced both engine mounts that were ripped apart and also replaced the rotoflex coupler. I always thought besides the steel inserts that they were solid rubber. She was torn enough to have cords showing 😂

 

I'm spending only changing the necessary items like inside the engine and other things that can get me stuck in trails and won't be able to rig it to get out...

Spark plugs, wires, coils, etc. Once this all comes back to normal, I'll be buying a roof rack like front runner. Currently running thule high gutter flat bars.

 

I’m doing this next. Any pointers that you can share? Cheers.

 

it's pretty simple. All four nuts are 18mm. Bottom ones are wide open. An impact can fit to take em off. The top two are a bit tricky. Gear wrench fits nicely on passenger side. For the driver side I used a stubby gear wrench with a bolt with two nuts and another wrench to get enough leverage to break it free. Jacked up engine and finagled em out. I removed the studs from the new mounts and installed the top nuts completely. Leaving them loose doesn't help much since they have no adjustment. Using a long pry bar I was able to line up the holes and install the studs and nuts. Job done

 

A good practice to follow, while assembling engine is...rotate crank after every process.

Install main bearings and crank, rotate, install cam/timing chain/gears, rotate, install pistons and rod bearings, rotate after each one, install heads and rocker arms, rotate, install oil pump, rotate, install pickup tube and pan, rotate, etc. If you do this, you'll find any issues as soon as they develop. Instead of getting to the end (engine in vehicle)...and finding an issue and not being certain what is causing it. When you do it in steps, you'll be sure to find issues immediately.

Brian.

 

First cleanup for summer haven’t driven it more than 300 miles in the past year

 

Thanks for the info.
As for jacking up the engine, how did you do it? I've heard people put a piece of wood under the engine and jack it from there.
I have 14" 4x4 piece of wood and a jack to use but where do I specifically place the wood under the engine? Should the block of wood be at the low part of the oil pan at the drain or at the higher part of the oil pan? Should it lay lengthwise to the Disco or crossways like the diffs for better support when jacking ?
I apologize for the multiple questions. Maybe I'm just over thinking it too much but I'm making sure I don't bust a hole in the oil pan. lol