B-Dick

Guys,
I am attempting to bring back to life my 92 XJ that has been parked for about 1.5 years now that I have a daily driver and some excess income!!

Here's what I've done so far:
Once it was towed to my garage, I tried to crank and nothing at all, not even a click from the battery.
So replaced with a Red Top Optima - tried again, it cranks but it wont run.
I then did the following:
Drain and replace engine oil + filter
Drain and replace coolant
Replace distributor cap w/OEM
Replaced spark plugs w/E3 (used these in the past with success)
Replaced spark plug wires w/Accel 8MM Super Stock (red)
Replaced ignition coil w/Accel coil (yellow)
Added 5 gallons of gasoline (87 octane)
Added 1 bottle of Heet
Added 1 bottle of Octane booster (thought it might help on startup)
Replaced fuel filter
Replaced valve cover gasket

Tried to crank again and it just wont run!
There is a small amount of smoke that comes from the area near the fuel rail when I try to start the jeep, and when I depress the gas pedal the engine sounds like it WANTS to start, but never fully runs.
I tried about 6 times this morning, a couple times with starting fluid in the intake (that made no difference), no action except for a single loud backfire.

Do you guys have any ideas what I should try next? I'm very eager to get this running so I can start my build now that I've got a house w/garage, DD and job!!
Thanks,

Smokey_bearme

did you check if you getting spark after all the new parts

B-Dick

I did not, but I'll check that today. I guess the easiest way is to hold a plug against the block while cranking?

hillbilly slim

Yep on spark test. Check fuel pressure. Double check new spark plug wires to cap 4 order. How jeep run before setting? Might as well go through all the grounds too(take off and clean).

B-Dick

Okay, so I found a thread on here with multiple diagrams of spark plug to cap order, so I moved around 4 of the 6 wires and it started up!!!!
Took about 3 seconds but it cranked and ran!!

There was a long and loud squeal, sounded like a belt, which softened after about 20 seconds, at which point I saw some white smoke coming from the front and back of the engine again, so I turned it off.

Now to diagnose the sources of smoke - I'm hoping it's just the exhaust manifold burning off accumulation????

B-Dick

Update:. The Jeep starts easily now, very exciting stuff.
However there is a VERY loud squeal for about 30 seconds on startup, then it quiets down a bit, and there is white smoke coming from the front of the engine.
It smells very bad, so my initial guess is that one of the pulleys is locked up, maybe alternator, tensioner, etc. So I'll have to get a new belt and go down the line to diagnose. :/