Miles Before Rebuild

Don't need a internal work on my 225 yet but I was curious how many miles members were getting on their engines before needing a rebuild. 100k? 150k? 200k? Talked with a '69 CJ5 owner a few days ago that bored out his 225 three times already and according to him, the block had a few more borings left in it.

 

I also did a timing chain and gears at 65k and a full rebuild at 225k when the bottom end started to rattle.

 

Timing chain and some gaskets about 75,000. Still going at 92,000

 

Mine was rebuilt after 166,000 miles. Mainly due to head gaskets and being used very hard by the previous owner.

 

my '57 f-head is at 352,288 right now and still running strong. it's sludged up like no tomorrow, and burns about a case of oil a week as my daily driver..

i know it's in need of a rebuild, but i just don't have the time or money right now. hopefully it will be a spring project, but until then, that darn motor just won't quit...

 

A guy I know that works on these things for a living (or at least he used to, maybe he's branched out now) told me that a lot of 225s break a rod bolt at about 120K and often tear up the block. I had about 115K on my engine at the time. I ended up buying a crate engine for my Jeep. I like the new (?, about 20 years old now) better as it oils the timing chain much better than the original engine.

The original engine would have a rattling timing chain at 20K. This engine is still quiet at 60K.

John

 

Seems that a timing chain is the first to go wrong on these engines. What are the signs for it, erratic timing, noise?

 

its been my experience that they dont give a warning they used a fiber cam sprocket to keep down noise,lining wears out and it jumps time,most replacements are cast iron and last a long time,and personaly i have noticed their is no noise issue with the cast sprocket,maybe i dont hear good