I Overheated and now I can't keep a steady run

[Jeep88Comanche]

4.0L I6
5 Speed Manual
4x4

 

Before I start, I did peruse through the forum, but I have not found exactly what I've been going through

 

About 2 1/2 months ago... One morning I got up early and went out to warm up my Comanche. Sadly I waited too long and when I went outside, I saw smoke bellowing out from under the hood.. I rushed over and shut off the engine. I knew at that moment I screwed up. 
*Break*
(My radiator fan is hooked up to a manual switch and I don't flip it on until the engine is at operating temp. That is how I bought it and never intended to fix it until, well now.. )
*Continued*
I popped the hood, coolant leaking out of my overflow hose into my makeshift catch can for my coolant when it overheats and bubbles out. Instead of blasting coolant on the ground or all over the engine, it goes into the coolant bottle. The pressurized reservoir is completely separate. I attempted to turn back on and got nothing but some clicks... I decided to leave it alone and take my wife's car to work. After about a two weeks, I was able to start attempting to figure out what the hell I did. I got in the truck and turned the ignition, engine turns over then dies within seconds of having life.. So I attempted another, This time it turns over starts and revs up and back down to dying. I've tried multiple times. Strong smell of fuel as well but with no fuel leaks. 

Could I have fried something from the coolant overflowing and smoking? 

Below I have listed what I have done so far since that drastic Smokey morning. 
Things I've checked like oil and coolant. Coolant just looks used and as for the oil, no milkiness to it, which leads me to believe nothing wrong with the head. I did drain the fuel rail last weekend and I'm hoping to put it back on Sunday. 

I will be cleaning the injectors and replacing rubber seals on the injectors as well. 

Any information is greatly appreciated. If anything needs to be clarified, please let me know. Thank you.

[Pete M]

check the fuel pump ballast resistor.   

 

can you share a pic or 2 of your engine bay?

[Jeep88Comanche]

Most definitely, Give me a few minutes and it'll be uploaded. 

[Eagle]

Remove the spark plugs and run a compression test. It's very likely that at least one of two things happened -- and maybe both:

 

1. The head warped and blew a head gasket

 

2. It got hot enough that the rings initially seized in the bores when you shut it off hot. The cylinder walls may be scored, and the rings have probably lost their temper, so you're not getting good compression.

 

Unfortunately, I suspect that the engine may be toast at this point.

 

[gogmorgo]

I cooked a 4.0 so hot the temp sensor went out of range and tripped the check engine light, repeatedly, over the course of a day, driving around with no coolant. I wouldn’t write off the engine just yet, but a compression test is definitely a good idea. 
But like Pete says, the engine dying within a few seconds is how a ballast resistor circuit failure goes. That doesn’t necessarily explain the fuel smell, or wandering idle, just cutting out after a few seconds. Best way to check this is simply connect the wires from either side of the resistor. 

I would double check the intake/exhaust manifold bolts aren’t loose. Rapid and extreme heat cycling can do that to them. The smoke you saw may have been an exhaust leak. If the bolts are loose, you’ll want to change the gasket. A bad enough exhaust leak will screw with O2 sensor readings, and the vacuum leak from the intake will screw with idle speeds.

[Ωhm]

Check for fuel in the vacuum line between the Fuel Pump Regulator (FPR) and Intake Manifold.

[Jeep88Comanche]

Sorry for the drastic timely delay. 

 

The fuel ballast was the culprit.

Started right up when I bridged the wires. I got a new one installed and runs great! Thank you to all who have put their advice in here! Thank you!

[Pete M]