Jeep Strokers

Hi everyone, kinda new to the forum but have had jeeps for 30 plus years. Latest is an 88 Cherokee thta I bought 10 years ago. I built a 94 4.0 into a stroker for it 5 years ago. Well the short rod stoker I built ate the piston skirts so I'm building it again with help from Russ this time. Anyway back to my stupid question. Why does this engine have timing marks graduated from 0 to 24 degrees on the timing chain cover when the distributor is fixed?

Wes,
Just because you drop the distributor in a fixed location doesn't mean it doesn't have a timing curve.

The positioning of the distributor has no effect on the ignition timing but it's critical for proper synchronization of fuel injector firing with the spark, and that's determined by the signal the ECU receives from the cam position sensor that's housed inside the distributor.

I guess my point is why have the timing marks when it can't be adjusted.

To enable you to verify the base timing when you attach a strobe light to the no.1 spark plug lead.
There IS a way to advance the base timing, and that's to slot the crank position sensor bolt holes and move the sensor counterclockwise relative to the flywheel/flexplate as viewed from the front.

One answer is that the timing cover is an old left over part that is pre fuel injection.

A carry over part if you wish. Tooling was paid for years ago.