Well looks like Bird sits again
I ended up with one of Calvins projects an 07 Jeep Hemi Commander Overland 4x4 with a Blown head gasket.
He bought it and drove it home about 6-8 months ago its been siting ever since, we made a deal and its now mine, so I started tearing it apart yesterday its too nice of a rig to just let sit and rot in the sun.
I started it up and drove it into the shop pulled plugs found #7 was wet with coolant, Got intake off yesterday b4 I had to start Grilling after words we went to Town Fire works show.
Today I have to get it in the air Start work on exhaust.

Debating whether to tear whole thing down for a full over haul or just patch it up?

It has a Brand New water pump on it, I am Guessing when Pump let go they over heated it. Took it to the shop got the water pump put on it and very shortly after the head let go OR They discovered the Head gasket was blown after installing the the new water pump which is my guess.

Are you planning on keeping it or just fix it and sell it? Hope it's not too much of a nightmare job, newer motors always seem to be twice as bad to work on then the old ones.

No I am keeping it.
Yes Twice as Hard and trice as expensive still not done doing my research engine is out and Torn down. Dropped #7 intake seat wiped out head and Piston. Gets ugly from there!

Poor designed Valve train, Poorly designed Block for oil return, Parts are so expensive you cant talk about it without Puking! and the aftermarket has failed to come up with any of the short comings. so much so that most builders are avoiding the platform. There is no doubt that it makes power But its a ticking time bomb before it grenades.
I am very disappointed thus far, I will be digging into all my Bag of tricks to try and find my own way to make this one live. and i still may throw in the towel sell the parts and just go with a crate engine! for the warranty and let it grenade itself. Chrysler really dropped the Ball this time.

I will give it this:
After 194K miles the engine bearings in all 8 rods and all 5 Mains Look New Brand New top and bottom I have never seen bearings look so good out of any engine that had any run time totally impressed!
Its the Valve train Total looser! Valve seat issues Lifter issues cam issues rocker arm issues. and its a Total pain in the Ars to work on very difficult! every thing is tight they put 20Lbs of crap in a 5 lb bag No fun!

Well that doesn't sound very good. You would think that they would have resolved most of those issues by now. They've been making that motor for quite a long time.
A crate Hemi must be pricey but then you should be good to go for a long while.
Hopefully you can just fix it without dropping a fortune for parts.

Nope its gonna cost a Bloody fortune to fix it.
I been putting some time and research and parts searches Thank god for credit cards!
I still researching best affordable parts so far IF I can get the block to handle a .100 over bore. It looks like factory 6.1 Rod, piston, rings and rod bearing set may be my cheapest bet for new rods and pistons, at $122 each, not a bad deal when you start adding it all up. Crower cam MDS deleat $480 and lifters $500 and a set of Cometic head gaskets $122-$130 each will be the most expensive stuff. other gaskets drop in bucket couple hundred bucks maybe .MDS system deleat plugs $100 and new Lifter yokes I have seen prices every where but I have to get the MDS deleat ones there special.

Machine work I dunno yet Should just be cleaning Torque plate bore and hone might deck it don't know yet? I mean hell might as well lol
Heads are done, Butt load spent on those already. close too $2K All new seats Valves guids springs.
The Crank is good just needs cleaned and polished.

If Calvin hadn't already started this project spending all the money on the heads, I would have gotten a Nice set of Edlbrocks instead for the kind of money that's been spent on this set.

My VW Diesel head needed all new Guides they were shot I kinda figured that though and it needs all New Valves to boot plus springs plus a surface job.
I should get at least another 200K miles out of it though hoping I see another 300K though. still need to send the injectors out for cleaning those are gonna be expensive.

That does sound pricey, probably close to the price of a crate motor when it's all done. Hopefully it will end up being a better bang for the buck.
That vw must be racking up the miles. Seems like you've had it forever.
We're still off camping for a few more days then back to work on the Stang.

Crate motors:
I have found a couple good deals even a Low mileage 6.1 but in the end what I build I think will be more of what I want.

OMG! its HOT!!!! even after 5pm its HOT!

I just cant get into workin at this point its too HOT!
Lots of family BS going on right now as well, I have no control over anything and its sad.

I just checked it is 105 degrees F at 5:45 there that's hot!!!!!!!!! Is the shop cooler working? I think now is the time for AC , Couch and TV. Me no car project update other than it made it 30 + miles at 98 degrees with AC on and it stayed at 185 degrees. Now just working on house stuff and weeds on the hill (hire guys)

Hey Doug long time no Hear where you been hiding?

I have the Swamp cooler on the shop so its not so bad but its still HOT!

I got the Roof on the Bird Sanded and put down another coat of Epoxy today more tomorrow.
Hoping to get it into hibuild this week maybe next week.
Just couldn't get excited about it today, just more work.