New Guy looking for advice

[C4ls7]

Title says it all :dunno:I have a 1984 cj7 stock on 33's and I'm having a lot of trouble with it:mad:. I have a new head on the way and a new valve cover. When the head comes in there both getting put on. The stock valve cover leak and is warped to no end and the head is all carbon'd up. I just replaced the clutch(previous had warnout throwout barring).

I get a very bad antifreeze smell while driving and don't no how to fix that problem and shifting is a pain when i use the clutch any comments or suggestions would be highly appreciated. the clock reads 74000miles and if this should be in another section just let me know i'll delete this.

Thanks

[CR250guy]

What do you mean when you say it is "a pain to shift?"

[Shadly1]

We're gonna need more detail on this.

Usually an antifreeze smell is an actual dripping leak somewhere. Do you get any smoke anywhere? Do you have an antifreeze puddle anywhere?

Why are you replacing the head? Carbon build-up isn't a very good reason to tackle such an intensive project because that can be cleaned by other methods. Is the head cracked? If so, that might explain the antifreeze smell.

[SAR Jeeper]

Bad antifreeze smell I would think as a leak somewhere, most likely the heater core...but you'd have moisture inside of cab.

Hard to shift with the clutch...is it easier without the clutch? Unsure what tranny you have, if manual, you have the T4 or T5 (4 or 5 speed?). In the T5, I run Penzoil syncromesh fluid, which has helped with my shifting. I also have a B&M short throw shifter that is a world of difference over the stock shifter.

[C4ls7]

I appologize for the lack of detail, i have a 4 speed tranny and ever since i been driving stick i rev match my shifts and use no clutch pull out of gear at around 1800rpm put in gear at around 1500rpm. There are no puddles of antifreeze. As far as leaks go oil is the only thing i no and thats from the warped vavle cover. The carbon is what i think to be the biggest issue. When I drive around town and give it some pedal people ask me if my motor is diesel fuel..... black smoke to no end. What are some methods for getting rid of that?

Any other details that could help you help me let me know thanks

[Shadly1]

black smoke to no end. What are some methods for getting rid of that?

Black smoke is fuel. You've got some carb or cylinder issues. Try adjusting the mixture first. It's free

How is the idle? Do you notice a misfire or knock?

[Roger]

I'll only tackle the valve cover leaking. I'm assuming you have a 4.2L six? My ’85 CJ7 had an after market valve cover with a very poor baffle design. It was from 4WD Parts. It was cast aluminum and it had their logo on it. It allowed oil to be sucked up into the PCV so bad that I had to clean the plugs every 170 miles and add a qt. of oil at that time also. I rebuilt the baffle using aircraft aluminum which only helped slightly.
I did literally hundreds of hours of research on the web to find a solution to the problem. I did not want to put a stock cover because of the leaking problems they are known for. I finally located a company in the LA area that manufactures a valve cover. Their unique baffle design solved my problem. I'm now down to 1/2 qt. at 3000 miles, which is when I change my oil anyway.
The company is PML and they sell & ship direct. Here's their website information: http://www.yourcovers.com/vc_8656.shtml
I think the valve cover was $227.00 total with tax & shipping. It was worth every penny.
I highly recommend the PML valve cover to anyone with valve cover problems with the 4.2 L .
BTW, I am not a mechanic but I try to do as much of my own work on my Jeep as I can.

[C4ls7]

Hmm interesting thanks i wish i new about that before i bought my vavle cover if the one i have doesn't work I will deffenitaly take your advice
and as far as a knock or misfire it miss fires more often then it knocks. when its under alot of pressure like going up a steep incline it will knock if the gear is to wide

I'll only tackle the valve cover leaking. I'm assuming you have a 4.2L six? My ’85 CJ7 had an after market valve cover with a very poor baffle design. It was from 4WD Parts. It was cast aluminum and it had their logo on it. It allowed oil to be sucked up into the PCV so bad that I had to clean the plugs every 170 miles and add a qt. of oil at that time also. I rebuilt the baffle using aircraft aluminum which only helped slightly.
I did literally hundreds of hours of research on the web to find a solution to the problem. I did not want to put a stock cover because of the leaking problems they are known for. I finally located a company in the LA area that manufactures a valve cover. Their unique baffle design solved my problem. I'm now down to 1/2 qt. at 3000 miles, which is when I change my oil anyway.
The company is PML and they sell & ship direct. Here's their website information: http://www.yourcovers.com/vc_8656.shtml
I think the valve cover was $227.00 total with tax & shipping. It was worth every penny.
I highly recommend the PML valve cover to anyone with valve cover problems with the 4.2 L .
BTW, I am not a mechanic but I try to do as much of my own work on my Jeep as I can.