Jeep Strokers

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

Let me add....

Timing was 4* BTDC

Fuel pressure at fuel rail was 49psi

The picture on the right is definitely off one tooth.

Ok. Thanks.

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

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!

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.

Replaced the CPS, and index the dizzy.

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

Fixed and running.

Feedback once broken in (500 miles).