Head gasket leak

[AK47]

The rotor is supposed to be pointing towards the 6 o'clock position.

[AK47]

So I pulled the distributor out again and lined up the oil pump to the 3 o'clock position. This is also the #1 plug position for this xj. Then I lined up the brass end of the distributor to the #1 position and backed off 1/8 turn counterclockwise per the FSM.  When I reinstalled the distributor this made the rotor point to the #1 plug when dully installed.

Now the Jeep cranks better than previously and doesn't sound like a misfire. But still no start.  Maybe my timing is off by 180*.  I'll try again tomorrow and see if I could correct it.

[Ab]

To my knowledge, it's fist determine compression stroke on #1 cilinder, then put piston #1 on top dead center. Rotor is now in position of #1 spark plug. Then startup and refine timing with stroboscope.

I take out the spark plugs for easy turning the engine around. Then turn the engine around with a wrench on the crankshaft. With my finger in place of the #1 spark plug I can feel when there's compression. Carefully lowering a screwdriver in the #1 cilinder gives a reading of the top dead center. 

When the rotor is way off, take out the distributor and re-allign.

Good luck!

 

[AK47]

@Ab, thanks for your insight. I made the mistake initially when I set TDC but did not determine if it was combustion or exhaust at cylinder #1. This is the reason why I was chasing the rabbit with the distributor. The engine didn't start because I was 180* out of sync - I had erroneously set TDC at the combustion stroke.

This morning, I set the timing to 0 then pulled the distributor out and then turned the crank one complete revolution back to TDC at 0*. This reset cylinder #1 to the combustion stroke.

And it runs!!! No leaks! I kept it running at >2000 rpms for 20 minutes to set the new lifters to the camshaft.  I will drain the oil and change the filter.  Then do this again after 500 miles (800 km).

Thanks for all your help. I hope this can be a reference for others with similar problems.

///End

[Ab]

Congrats! 👍

[AK47]

Errata -  1) I had cylinder #1 at TDC on the exhaust stroke.  I reset to TDC on the combustion stroke to make the correction.  2) I positioned the rotor with the brass end pointing towards the #1 spark plug wire terminal, and disregarded the drawings on the FSM to point the rotor towards 6 o'clock.  This seems to work for me.  Changed oil and oil filter.  Engine idles quietly at about 900 rpm.  No noisy lifters.  See you guys on the next project!

[Arjanw]

Congratulations AK47!! Good Job!