88 jeep Cherokee 4.0

I just bought this jeep and i'm going through a few things.

I noticed some black smoke on fast acceleration or just a quick pop to the pedal. To me that is running rich, probably bad fire.... right?

I changed the plugs and they were horrible. Well, I noticed the firing order is correct 153624, but on the distributor the number 1 wire is on the number 3 post. So i changed it to where the number 1 wire is on the bottom right post if you are looking from the passenger fender. Wouldn't start.... Changed it back to how it was... started right up... I guess they jumped timing when whoever rebuilt the motor? I haven't checked TDC yet, but i will tonight... Any suggestions, comments, ideas?

 

It is a distrubtor indexing problem??

 

Picture?

 

Hi Wildman and Welcome to the Forum.

The number one cause of running rich is a bad vacuum line to the MAP sensor.
That's the line running from the base of the throttle body to the squarish thingy on he firewall (MAP sensor). Check that and all other vacuum lines then report back.

 

Dist hold down goes in one way no 1 cyl can be any where as long as wires are in correct spot. Being on no3 post means rotors not in correct spot .

 

I checked vacuum lines.. everything looks good..... explain what you mean by the distb hold down.... the 1 that is marked on the cap is on the bottom right hand corner where it should be... but how can the rotor be in the wrong place? What would have caused that? And what is the fix, or is it fine the way it is as long as it matches up with tdc on cylinder 1???