I got an 89 with 4.0. I bought this jeep a few days ago. The guy I got it from said he pulled dist to change cap, rotor,plus, and wires.Hput it back in and said it wouldnt start.He called a friend and was told to pull dist and turn 180 and put it back.Now it starts and runs but now it pops and bangs. Idles great and runs smooth when hard on the throttle.Let off and cruise and it starts to poppin and bangin. I know these are controlled by computer. Does the dist have to be directly on 0 and how much will the computer compensate for in degrees or timing? This is my first cherokee and been lookin for one for a while with this engine.One more thing, the dist is loose as in in moves side to side and has lots of play,is this normal?

 

anybody?????

 

No, it shouldn't be loose. I'd pull the dizzy and see what's up(or just tighten the hold down bolt)

 

Ther lies the prob. The hold down bolt was tight but the crow foot on dist has room to move back and forth. I can put a shorter bolt in and washer and stop that. There is a gasket on dist but none of the parts stores here have one or even show a part number for it so figured it was an o-ring since dist body had side to side play but after pulling it found no groove.Bought some gasket material to make a gasket and try that.

 

it's just a flat gasket. My bet is that the distributor is either off a hole or the PO rewired wrong. Check firing order from TDC and make sure wires are on correctly. If so then go back to TDC and make sure the dizzy is pointing to number 1 hole.

 

Im guessing that once I get it on TDC that I can turn the oil pump shaft if need be to align the rotor w/#1 on the cap just like a SBC. Also what are the best plugs and oil filter to use on the 4.0? I am not a fan of fram plugs or filters and this jeep has both. Was leaning toward NGK plugs but would like to hear from guys that have owned jeeps for a while.

 

top dead center on compression stroke

 

Yeah I got that part just curious about turnin the oil pump shaft to align w/#1 and what plugs and oil filter to use. The pointer on the rotor seemed to be a little past #1 on the cap.