Storydude1

Check your battery cables. A loose connection can cause symptoms like yours. But Legacy is right...new car, let the dealer deal with it.

cutoff wheel in a 4.25" grinder works great....Just don't cut aluminum with it.

I would LOVE to get the specs for that......Plasma cutter, and 20 min later, BOOM, skid plate.

Line up #1 Piston at TDC REGARDLESS of crank pulley position.(verify with removed head) THEN, set up cam pulleys to the timing marks. as long as the piston is at TDC, If you set up the cam pulleys to the marks, the engine will run. Working with SBC's, I usually verify the piston is at TDC visually, before lining up cam marks. I've seen timing chains have the marks machined wrong, and setting them up to those marks opens a world of problems. REMEMBER...TDC happens 2X EVERY cam rotation. TDC on Compression, and TDC on exhaust. IF you set up TDC on the exhaust stroke, THEN turn cams 1/2 turn,WITHOUT turning Crank, you will be at TDC on Compression. as for how your problem happened, I have no clue..

There is no "89 octane" Specific tank at ANY gas station. 89 is a mix of 87, and 91. 50/50 mixed at the pump. The only place with any more than 2 tanks is sunoco..87, 91, 94 Gas comes from the SAME rack..no matter WHO the final carrier is. Only difference between shell, Exxon, ad citgo, are the additives added AT the truck. The base gas is the same as you get anywhere else.

Usually, 500-1500 miles. I put a 1/2 quart in EVERYTHING I own, once every 3rd oil change. No worries about loud valvetrains, or sludge buildup. MMO is a GREAT substance..Air tool oil, Bar and Chain oil, penetrant, works like Seafoam too if you are VERY careful about pulling it in.

Throw 1/2 a quart of Lucas Oil Stabilizer in at the next oil change. If that does not cure the noise, NEXT oil change, put in 1 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil(ask for it by name). If it's slap, the Lucas will quiet it down...if it's a stuck, noisy lifter, the MMO will free it up.

90% of Jeep 4.0 engines (one of the longest lifespan motors available) have piston slap. Those engines run for 200K miles + with NO oil changes...Maintain them well, and 500K miles are not unheard of. If it IS piston slap, the cure is more trouble than it's worth. Piston slap WILL NOT hurt your motor. And as for the engineers designing a motor WITH noises...well, EPA regs, and the ever constant search for better MPG, and Easier production, will ensure that motors will get tighter, and parts lighter.

Second post here, but over from a jeep background. The Weight ratings on a recovery winch need to be at LEAST 1.5X vehicle weight. The reason being is, that whe you are stuck, you not only have to drag the dead weight of the vehicle, but any additional drag encountered. Sink up to the floor in mud, you'll need a lot more power to get out. The HF winches are a Milemarker china knock-off, and if a SLOOOOOWWWWWW Line speed is no factor, are the best bang for the buck when on sale. They are NOT fast, but a slow winch is MUCH better than NO winch. Upgrade power cables from Alternator, to battery if tou install ANY winch...Your battery, and winch will thank you.