Hey everybody, I just installed a new (new to me) motor in my 95 cherokee due to the number 5 and 6 cylinder and pistons being toast on my previous motor. My guess is the PO got it extremely hot seeing that it has new radiator, hoses, and water pump. Anyways, I got an engine from a wrecking yard that was already pulled and on a shelf. I was told it was from a 95 or 94 but there was no exact date. Got it home pulled valve covers and oil pan. Everything looked great, but I found out the motor must be out of a 96 because the valve cover was different. So, I got the engine in and had no spark. Put in a new CPS and got it running. However, I still believe something is not right. It idles decent but does not have much power and sputters and back fires some throughout the rpm range. I did take it for a drive down the road but like I mentioned, it really lacks power. My uncle put the distributor in and said it should be right but I've read that sometimes the mark on the pulley may be slightly off so I'm curious if its off a tooth would it be running at all? I took a drive through the pasture and hit a mud hole by accident. When I put it in 4 wheel drive I could barley get it over 2,000 rpms so something is definitely not right.

Also, I'm sure somebody has run into this problem before, but being that the new engine is out of a 96, it does not have the sensor at the rear of the head for the temp gauge. I was curious if anybody any advice on that also so I can get my gauge working.

It was nice not having a knock when I cranked it just need to get these issues worked out so I can start focusing on other things!

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

 

Sounds like you have the base timing a little retarded.

 

Sounds like dist a tooth off computer controlled motors don't go in rotors pointing directly at no 1 cyl like older motors did .

 

Thanks for the replies. So what position should the rotor be in? Right now its pointing at 5 o'clock on TDC.

 

Post 12 and 13 what you wanna read......https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/cr...x-tips-153657/

 

12 for sure, and then this link:



http://www.angelfire.com/my/fan/dist_index.html

 

Thanks for all the help! Moved the distributor to the next tooth and now she runs great! I think I figured out a solution for the temp gauge as well.