Sounds like some fuel somehow got past the carb. Encouraging, but I wouldn't put much faith on a comp reading from an engine thinking about fireing.

I might fire it with a prime and/or fluid and try to get it running, even, gently, "intermittent bursts with starting fluid", on the off chance it might clear out some water or crud.

It sounds like you are one who might know if it's not cranken cuz of a battery or starter. There are some really sharp guys here, just let us know. If we can't help nail this one, well.....that is just not an option!

Well, rebuilt the carb yesterday, I hope I got it all back together the right way Going to clean the engine a little before I stick it back on while I can access the intake with everything removed.

Finally got a new camera so will put up a pic once I figure out how.

I suggest using Photobucket .com as your photo host. They are pretty good. They do jpg and gif.

Sample: wink wink

Curious what the carb looked like. No argument with Ken. No argument with Ken. No argument with Ken. No argument with Ken. No argument with Ken. (I bet besides the "jiggle in the talk", she also has the jiggle in the walk!)

For photos just click on "manage attachments" , then browse. Find your camera. (or I prefer to stick my camera card in this laptop), then double click, Works for me. It won't tell you "loading", just something changes and in "preview post", you can see it's there.

Hope this works





Peeling clearcoat is about the worst thing on it. Body is straight looks great. Not much of a "shop" there to be working on it in lol, but it has plenty of natural sunlight.








Interior looks good too. Did find a wet spot in the drivers floor after a rain this week, not sure if leaking around windshield or somewhere else like the cowl plenum. When I opened the hood yesterday I heard water slosh and it ran out the back of the hood. Must have gotten in at the gap between the hood and cowl.

Looks like a nice solid XJ. The clear coat thing happens, good excuse for custom paint

Success!!!

Finally got it all back together and started today. Dad came to visit and we put it back together and as soon as we started to turn it over he knew what was wrong. After a couple tries he noticed it kick back slightly, he advanced the distributor a little and it fired right up.

First big hurdle crossed on bringing it back to life. Noticed though that it idles quite fast, no tach yet so not sure just how fast, but when you drop it into Reverse or Drive it squats and you better have your foot firmly on the brakes lol. At least the torque converter and transmission seems to be in good shape. Going to get a timing light and put on it soon, might be idling high because of the timing, but not sure. Could be I need to turn the idle jet screw in a little, could be off some after the rebuild.

Running it back and forth in the driveway I pulled it up in 4WD, couldn't tell if disco was engaging or not, but the 4x4 light came on on the dash. Does the switch for the 4x4 light get activated by the vacuum disconnect moving into position on the 85 model?

Work continues, will let you know how it goes, thanks for all the help and encouragement here, it is great.

4X4 light is activated by vacuum, not a slider in the diff.

At least I know I still have vacuum down to the switch, just need to check if the diaphragm is still working. Later on I will probably upgrade it to the cable actuator.

glad to hear you got it running. I went through hell trying to get a friend of mine's 85 2.5 running a few years back. It was running like a top when he parked it and when he went to dtart it a few weeks later, it would hit like it was going to start, but nothing happened. It was getting fuel, "had spark" (more on that in a sec), and compression was 135-150 all the way across... should have run, right?

Negatory. Finally pulled the distributor cap to see if it was corroded or anything. Looked brand new (we had just replaced it a few weeks earlier), rotor was pointing at #1 terminal. had him spin it over and the rotor didnt move. yanked the distributor out and the pin was sheered off just letting the gear turn, but not the shaft. The pickup coil was in the right place the whole time to let #1 fire, but none of the others were ever firing...

Forgot to say that your Jeep brings back sweet memories of my first XJ. same color, same interior, maybe same year, can't remember. mine had the 2.8 and ax5 5 speed.

Mine had 4.10 gears, yours being a 4 cylinder with an automatic, you MIGHT have the super rare 4.56's, but most likely 3.73's or 4.10's