So today is the first day of Project ''BLACK HAWK''. As most of you know my xj (1988 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4x4, 4.0 inline 6) is in my auto tech shop gettin the timing chain replaced, becuase i bought the xj none running due to the timing chain slipped. Alot of things needs to be done to it, and i have alot of stuff planned for it also. For some of you guys that are interested in my project i will keep you updated on this thread with everything i do to the jeep, and when i mean everything I mean EVERYTHING! Yes most of you guys know that i will be doing a turbo project on my xj also lator on when i get some money going. Anyways First thing is that i got back from the shop today with the old Timing Gears (SPROCKETS) so we can look and compare them with the new ones i have gotten. I will post pictures up of coarse, and that will be the first thing for now.
Here are some pics of the old gunked up gears.

Thats better.

there aint really any thing wrong with those gears, in the older days gears used to have i guess you would call it nylon or plastic covers over the timing gear on the cam, they would use that to make then quiet after a while that would wear down causing the chain to jump out of time. those days are long gone dont freak out when you put the new timing chain on and there is still some play in the new chain and gears, the only way to get a timing set that wont have play is a set with gears in stead of the chain to tie can and crank together. they call them gear drive timing sets.

they would look like this dont now if they make them for 4.0s if they do when i go thru mine im using it

Well thats true, all new chains and gears will have some play when you put em on, not as much as it did before, but when you put on the timing cover, it has a tension in it, that pushed up on the chain and gives it some tightness, puts thats when you put the cover on.

~*UPDATE*~
Here are the new gears i took off of a 1991 cherokee laredo.
Same engine so it dosent matter, Also i bought the new chain.

those, are loud.


also sound like a blower

here they are though for the 4.0
http://www.shop.505performance.com/p...9&categoryId=4

Dang dude there like $500 thats crazy

Actually, I would want to use gears from the same year engine.
Manufactors tend to play with cam timing with different years.
If you want the best running engine, you will get an multi-positon
timing set and time the cam to TDC, due to emissions regulations
its very common that the factory timing set is actually set 4 to 6 degrees
retarded.
Then for the best in timing chains get a double roller. It will last the life
of the engine typically. but the 4.0 is rare to have a timing chain issue
anyway due to the low rpm nature of the 4.0.

If you plan on rough duty of the XJ. I would suggest.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CLO-9-3127/

Its adjustable timing chain, can be set to 4 degrees retard, non and 4 degrees advanced.
Its not cheap but its the best your going to get.
Gear drive timing sets have their own issues, starting with noise, then there is extra shock transferred the camshaft by the crank because of the hard connection.

Good Luck with it.

Yeah, I would tend to agree. Visually, there doesn't seem to be much wear on those. Dirty as heck, but seem usable.

~*UPDATE*~
Well tommarow is the big day, i get my XJ running.
Been threw alot of Work, Pain, Sweat and Waits Just to get to tommarow.
I have lots of hope, that it will start up, And that everything turns out well.
Wish my XJ good Luck!

~*UPDATE*~
Bringing my xj home tommarow, to get it started since my auto tech teacher dident let me work on it in the shop, Any ways am planning for sure to get it running tommarow. So thats all for now,also ill be posting up new pic of it tommarow.

will be watching this as with my cam swap im doing new gears and chain so nice to see what im getting into.....and yes having gears instead of chain sounds very badass and everyone will ask if your running a super charger, if it wasnt so pricey i would run them

well???????? opcorn:opcor n:

~*UPDATE*~
Well i brought the xj home yesterday, Me and my uncle started to work on it, We had slipped on the new chain and gears, went to go crank and it wouldent start. we checked that the engine was in time and it was, we also checked the distiputor cap and components. still nothing. after 3 hours of attempting to start, we had gave my uncles friend a call, he is a master tech at FORD. and we told him what was wrong, the first thing he said that once an engine is out of time, and you put it back in time with new chains and gears the CPS goes out and doesnt work any more. so now we have to by a new CPS and it should start righht up. So i will be working on iy again proubly today or this up coming weekend.