Need help! No start on cam swap (pics included)

[jeep7081]

I have a 1997 Cherokee 4.0

Did a comp cam swap (231) and new head. New springs, etc. No start. Trouble code showed crank position sensor. Which was odd. I had just replaced it 6 months ago, and it drove before cam swap.

I did replace it today. I can get a very hard start to start with some work. Once started, it will idle. But, it you put it into drive, or rev it, it will back fire and hesitate. I have someone helping me as I don't know a lot.

After scratching out head for HOURS! We pulled the timing cover off and notice (pic included) the mark was off? Looks like it was off a tooth? You can see the before and after. We will attempt to start it tomorrow. It got late. Anything we should check?

Footnote: Jeep ran 100% fine before swap.

We replaced:

New Head (new springs for cam)
Distributor (replaced O-rings)
pan gasket
Rear main seal
New Comp Cam
New crank position sensor
New Radiator
New hoses
New header

[jeep7081]

Let me add....

Timing was 4* BTDC

Fuel pressure at fuel rail was 49psi

[Cheromaniac]

The picture on the right is definitely off one tooth.

[jeep7081]

Ok. Thanks.

The pic on right is old setting and one on left is new.

[Muad'Dib]

If your putting in a new cam you shouldn't let it idle. You need to do a cam break in. I understand that if you cant rev it.. you cant really do a cam break in. But if you have a problem like that with a new cam don't idle the thing.

Sounds like lining up the timing marks is a good start. Additionally since you messed with the distributor make 100000000% sure that its indexed correctly.

I also don't see anything about new lifters??? You can put new lifters on an old cam.. but not a new cam with old lifters!

[jeep7081]

Sorry, I got new lifters, cam, timing set from comp cam direct.

Indexing? The cap, rotor and dis are set right. The rotor points to cyl #1 at tdc.

CEL shows CPS is bad. Tested it, its bad. Just put a new one in yesterday (from O'rilley). This one today is mopar.

[jeep7081]

Replaced the CPS, and index the dizzy.

Broke in cam. 30min @ 2,000 rpm.

Fixed and running.

Feedback once broken in (500 miles).