Getting back to engine disassembly, my goal today was to get the crankshaft, pistons, camshaft, and lifters out of the block so that it is essentially completely stripped and ready for a machinist to assess the damage.

I now have a better understanding of why the engine was so locked up and would not move even when the Jeep was towed in gear. It took me 4 hours to remove the main bearing caps and connecting rod caps so I could finagle the crankshaft out of the bottom end. The connecting rods would not swivel on the wrist pins unless using considerable force, and the camshaft is still stuck in the block, as I could not move it one millimeter.

Connecting rods lined up with main bearings.

Main bearings actually look really good.

Knocked all the pistons out - yeah! Oh wait, wrong way. So I had to remove the compression rings from each piston and push them out through the top. Lesson learned!