Big_Mark

Thanks @Ωhm Since I know there is a deficiency I am going to correct it otherwise it will eat at me. To make sure I'm on the correct stroke at TDC I am going to pull of the valve cover so I can make sure #1 is compressing by visually inspecting the valve/rocker positions. Oh the joys of being a Shadetree mechanic!.

My timing gearset needs changing so I started working on it and discovered some weirdness, want to fix it but need to make sure I understand what is wrong and how to fix it. I would appreciate the input of the forum to back check me before I try to "fix" anything. Before starting this project, aside from the clacking from the stretched timing chain, my engine has been running great. Mileage is normal and power is great. I have replaced a few timing chains in my day, and my procedure has always been to “pop” off the timing cover (because it just pops right off easy, right?), turn the crankshaft until the timing gear dots align next to each other, pull gear and chain, replace them making sure the dots align. The weird thing is, on my Jeep when I align the timing gear dots, my dizzy is off 180° (rotor sits at #6 position) In this alignment, looking at the position of the Crankshaft from below, the #1 cylinder (front of Jeep) it appears to be Top Dead Center (TDC). Since it runs fine in this condition, I am trying to decide if I want to fix, or just run it. I am leaning toward "fixing" as this has caused confusion in the past. When I swapped out my distributor and started indexing it last year, I discovered I had to rotate the distributor 180° to get the engine running but didn’t exactly know why and since it ran fine, I just shrugged my shoulders and ran with it. Here is how it is currently timed Turning the crank so the distributor is in the #1 position, the #1 cylinder is at Bottom Dead Center (BDC) and the crank timing gear dot is on the opposite side of the gear, but in alignment (180° off) Dizzy Position Crank Position From what I can surmise, I think I have two things 180° out of rotation. 1. Crank Shaft 2. Distributor (to compensate for the Crank being out of timing) Mystery questions: How did/does my engine even run with the existing timing condition? Is it firing in reverse order? Does it matter? I think the double 180° reversals are like a double negative, they cancel each other out and get it into correct timing. But it makes my head spin trying to figure it out. DISCLAIMER: This is how I got the Jeep. There was one bolt missing from the timing cover, so I suspect somebody in the past screwed this thing up when they replaced the timing ger set (?). Since this is still all pulled apart, I’d like to fix it, BUT it is working, so I am trying to decide if I want to risk making matter worse or get it straightened out while its accessible, so here is where I need your help. I am pretty sure I can fix this by: From it's current condition, rotate the crank, so the dots align (to get the cam gear in correct position) this will put the crankshaft into BDC. Next step would be removing the timing gearset, rotate the crank so it sits at TDC, replace the timing gearset, ensuring the dots align next to each other. At this point the distributor should still be at #6 position so I will need to pull it out, rotate it 180° then make sure it is indexed properly. (I still have my cut cap from when I did this before). Does this seem like the correct sequence to y’all? Before I try to “fix” anything I ask the forum to back check my understanding of timing. Please confirm that if these conditions are met that my timing should be sound (or at least set to zero) 1. Both timing gear dots are next to each other 2. Distributor is in #1 rotation/position 3. #1 (front) cylinder is set at TDC Final question: Does it matter if TDC is in the compression stroke, or exhaust stroke when I set the timing? I think it doesn't matter since anytime the dots align, the distributor will be at #1 index. Since one stroke of each cylinder is firing (compression) and the other is exhaust (non compressing) the ignition should sort this out on it’s own but I want to be sure before proceeding. I know it’s early in the day and there are lots of 180°s here, so I appreciate your help. I do want to make this right before I button it up because hate leaving issues unresolved, especially since I can easily fix this now while I have it all apart! Thanks in advance I look forward to your answers!

Well sheeit! I seem to remember having a problem like this in the 90’s but is was an old azz Mac running Yellow Dog Linux. I have a guru I could call on but he’d need the laptop in hand to un flawk it. considering the age of that thing it’s probably time to get something newer. if $ is an issue look locally for pc recycling places, you might find a cheap upgrade (new to you) and be able to recycle that old thang. sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!

Just to be clear holding down or repeatedly tapping the F8 key during boot up give no other boot options? You gotta tap the key immediately after powering the laptop on. I did find some mention of GRUB being added as the primary boot loader in BIOS but if you reset that, that shouldn't be happening now. Also the instructions I found to fix this were for UEFI native laptops, not BIOS native, (like what you have presumably) friggin Linux is a b*@ch! I use linux server for services, and run WSL on my WIn 10/11 workstations to SSH into them to do updates, configure them etc, but it's NOT MY DAILY DRIVER I'm am nerd but not That much of a nerd, lolz

Yowzer, that machine is old! Does it ever boot into Linux? If so, can you access the shell there? If you pull the drive you can use this to connect it to another PC. (do you have another PC?) Amazon.com: Unitek USB 3.0 to IDE and SATA Converter External Hard Drive Adapter Kit for Universal 2.5/3.5 HDD/SSD Hard Drive Disk, One Touch Backup Function, Included 12V/2A Power Adapter : Electronics I know you said the laptop doesn't boot off a DVD or USB drive with the primary hard rive installed, you could pull that drive out, then load Windows or Ubuntu or whatever on a USB drive then boot off of that. If GRUB still loads after the primary hard drive is disconnected, then that's a new one to me. Last thing, try resetting the BIOS to factory defaults, that might give you the ability to boot off another drive/USB device PREBOOT (before Grub loads and takes over) On Dell PCs tapping the F12 key during boot up allows me to choose what to boot off, some other PCs use the F8 key to do this as well. (EDIT) on Asus it appears to be the F8 key How to Access Asus Boot Menu to Make Asus Boot from USB? (partitionwizard.com) Let us know how it goes, it sucks when this kind of thing happens.

How do I automount usb drives in Linux (Debian)? - Unix & Linux Stack Exchange If you can't do that you will just need to let Linux know where the devices reside, and mount them. See above for "an answer". Whenever I run into a problem with LInux after upgrading (usually a service, not so much the system) Google, then test, then refine the Goolging get me close enough to figure it out. plus you gotta us the shell (command line) for this kind of thing, but don't sweat it. It's already broken so what do you have to lose?

How old is the laptop? What Model? Can you pull the drive, format it, then put it back in and try again? Any setting is stored on the disk, not the BIOS if you wipe the disk you should be able to do whatever you need to do. Alternately, do you have another drive you can swap into the laptop to see if the laptop behaves? Bottom line, you are fighting a setting stored on Disk, removing, wiping or replacing the disk should get you back in action.

I'm "familiar" with Linux as in I administrate 7 Linux servers (Ubuntu). What is it you are trying to do? Just unf**k the system so you can reload Linux? Or do you need to fix it so you can get your services back up and running? If you just want to wipe and reload, that should be easy since DVD, USB are firmware (hardware) devices and should be accessible via the BIOS. PM me if you want to get all nerdy offline and sh*t

Wow you scored on that one!

Sugar Candy Mountain

Pretty sure the columns are "standard" Chevy steering columns. You could start looking in full size Chevys trucks from the 80s-90s

Ouch, I drive a Prius. Not cause I'm "pious" but because I don't like to $pend money on gas (I'm cheap) to drive 40 miles a day to and from work. Plus, I'd rather save that cash for ole Jeepy or my 69 Mach 1 mustang or 2015 Sliverado, those vehicles are way more fun to drive, trust. Regarding the cancel culture comment, I agree it's wrong. Wrong on both ends of the spectrum, on the left they want to ban anyone who made a mistake, on the right they want to cancel anything that makes them think about the actions of their forefathers in a negative light. Both extremes are wrong, but they are important. America is somewhere in the middle. We all need to be respectful of each other's ideals, but we don't have to like or agree with them and neither side should get to impose "MY WAY OR THE HIGH WAY" on another. "Don't tread on me" and all that you know? it swings both directions, so I find it funny when I see right wingers flying that flag as they "crush dems", they are missing the point. DON'T IMPOSE YOUR METHODAOLGY ON ME, LEAVE ME BE We all need to remain open minded and remember that we all live in this country together. We will certainly have differences of opinions but that should make us stronger because we keep each other in check and encourage us to find common ground that we can agree on and live with. Look at all of us. We have a common passion, our money pit Jeeps. I've bought parts from some of you that clearly are on the different side of the political spectrum than I am, but hey my Money is green, and we want to help each other out, so we all benefit. What would happen if we all had to declare our political stance before joining this forum or to buy or sell parts to each other, it would suck, that's what. Back OT I left my Comanche emblems in the drawer in my garage because I am not sure if I want, or don't want to make some kind of political statement, so I leave them off. as they were when I drove my MJ out of the bushes. I was not aware of the Comanche history, that was an interesting read, but I am still not going to tread on another person's heritage "just because I can" or "because look at their history" it just doesn't sit well with me. Run em on your rig, that's your choice, I'm not here to change you mind. Like I said these are my beliefs, take them or leave them. I hope we can all agree that we have different viewpoints (political and otherwise) and carry-on being Jeep/MJ/Comanche owners and aficionados because in this forum, that's what unites us.

Sweet rocker skids, thanks for making my MJ look less beat up!

Ely is a cool place, make sure to visit the rail museum there, it's a really neat sight.

or you could just use hose clamps to secure it to the sending unit assembly as shown in the picture and save some $$ for other things

This is how I attached mine, same pump model, ordered from the same place.

Ford - Fix Or Repair Daily

Boat - Break Out Another Thousand

Are you going full 35 spline or 40 spline on them axles?

Roger that

I'll keep my eyes open for that from now on, seems like loads of sensors need to be recovered as well, nothing like a new "collectable" to look out for!!

What is this system exactly, do you have any photos? It does indeed seem to be a rare thing.