What year is the engine you installed? Did it come with a flex plate already installed?

 

I don't know what year the engine is, I gave Advanced Auto Parts my vin and they got me a motor. The flex plate was not installed, my friend put it on.

 

dont no if it would matter did he put in on backwards maybe

 

It's the original flexplate though, right? It will only go on one way, unless your buddy "made" it fit.

 

when you say firing do you mean sparking with spark plug wire grounded or running on three cyls

 

When we crank it, only three spark plugs spark and it does not start.

 

Is it the same distributor that was in the old engine?

 

Yes, it is the same distributor.

 

Are the three that fire in firing order or random?

 

Got it in time? Reason i ask, my XJ's previous owner built the motor, didnt have it in right time, couldnt get it to start so got pissed and sold it. Pulled the distributor out, dropped it back in 1 tooth over and it fired right off.

 

The cylinders that fire are 3, 4 and 5. Hopefully tonight we can pull the distributor out and fiddle around.

 

UPDATE:

We took it to a shop and they fixed it in a day. It was the crankshaft position sensor. Really sucks, we replaced that but apparently the one we bought brand new was bad also.

 

Aftermarket crankshaft position sensors are very hit and miss.

I buy ALL my crank sensors directly from Jeep. I have replaced a bunch of them and never had a problem.

I cannot say that for aftermarket crank sensors.

It is worth the extra money here...............