I can smell gas so assume that spark is the problem. All existing part worked before the swap. So maybe the distributor is in wrong?? I really dont know...any help would be great.

 

Getting trouble code 54 distributor sync pick up.

What's that?

 

did you time it up right when you put it all back together

 

That's the cam sensor inside the distributor, under the rotor. Recheck the connector.

 

I dont know..

 

I put in the one from the 95 donor to see and still nothing.

 

you have to put the distributor in the correct position, or you jeep will not start. it may start if you get it close, but it will misfire.

here is the correct procedure

By hand, turn the engine to top dead center on #1 cylinder
Remove spark plug wires (or just remove distributor cap and move it out of the way)
Make a mark with a sharpie, or a scribe, at the point on the base of the distributor where the rotor is pointing.
Remove the bolt and hold-down from the base of the distributor.
Carefully, without rotating the distributor, remove it from the engine block.
Rotate the shaft on the new distributor until it is aligned the same as the old one.
Insert new distributor, make sure it's seated completely in the block, visually check to make sure the rotor is still pointing in the same direction as the old one.
Add a new distributor cap and wires, and you're done.

 

if you have a buddy with a cherokee, try and have them let you do the first part to see where the rototr should be pointing. that should get you a good starting point now that you already uninstalled the old one without marking it.

 

Post #15 of the following thread:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/col...e-4-0-a-23233/

 

ok thanks guys. battery died so i gotta wait till tomorrow to play more.

heres what i did, I lined up the mark on the balancer with the 0 on the gauge on timing cover. For some reason I thought the rotor should be pointing at at 1 oclock but im reading it shoulda been 5 oclock. so ill try that. but its not like it started and ran like crap. it didnt start at all. i thought maybe one time i heard a backfire tho.

 

is it completely necessery to pull spark plug #1 and feel for pressure to find tdc? lineing up the balancer isnt good enough?

 

Yes it is.

 

ok. after reading again it needs to be tbc on compression stroke so if i rotate the engine 360 will that be right? cause i have it tdc but must not be compresson stroke.

 

I always put my finger over the hole until I feel air being forced past it, then manually turn the crank. It's the only way to be 100% sure.

 

alright sounds good thnks alot. ill post how it goes.