Topic: rebuilt top end, now it won't run.

[USARLen]

1988 Jeep Wrangler 2.5 89000 miles.

Ok, took apart.

lapped valves, replaced valve seals, new gaskets, plugs, wires, oil change, thermostat, and put together with caution.

Ok, now, it's popping thru the intake, and barely running.

has spark, compression
1-130
2-145
3-148
4-135

has fuel, has spark, I'm pretty sure all the wiring is right. Only taken apart to search what sounded like a top end tap, figured go thru the head at the same time, it's easy enough. Ran great when I took it apart, now it won't run. I'm desperate, as this is my primary vehicle and I dont' want to drive my big truck as much..

Please, I need help here, I'm lost. The rockers are set at 21lbs, head bolts at 110, and 100 for front left. Firing order was checked and rechecked, plugs were checked, compression checked, etc.. I dont' have a manual, but I'm pretty knowledagable, just this has me tired and stumped.

Did not remove the distributor, but did try moving plugs around the distributor one spot at a time. 

I tightened the dizzy hold down bolt to get rid of the 1/16th inch of play the dizzy had.  Valves are all good.  Oil is all new. 

Pops thru the intake enough to blow the intake hose off the tbi.

Yes, and I'm new here.  this is my second post.  But I'm crazy desperate to get this figured out.  I've done head gaskets before on many other cars, and never had this type of issue before.  Normally, put it all together, and I'm done.  Go driving..  Not last night..   

[sharpxmen]

since you did not touch the timing chain and popping thru intake I can think of ignition order being out or too lean of a mixture. rotate the crank until the #4 cyl valve/exhaust are overlapping equally, that sould be your cyl 1 TDC spark point and  verify that the rotor is lined up with the distributor cap prong going to cyl 1. Cyl 4 wire should be opposite to that. You can do the same for cyl 2 and 3. Also, use a timing light to check where the spark advance is when cranking for cyl 1 (you should have timing marks on the crank pulley). I would also make sure that all the valves are opening and closing and verify that all pushrods are seating properly in the lifters (unlikely but who knows). Make sure that all the sensors are plugged in, verify that the MAP sensor is connected to the vac hose properly and that there is no check valve on that vac line (just in case you mixed them up) and double check the TPS, Crank and MAP sensor connectors. Make sure there's no vac leak or vac hoses unplugged. Can't think of anything else since you didn't take the engine apart just the top end.

[dwtaylorpdx]

Renix Fuel Injection? Make sure the injector is not leaking..... It will run really bad at idle and do what your describing.

Dave

[USARLen]

Aint gonna believe this one.  I put the plug wires on wrong.  I went counter clockwise with them, not clockwise..  Duh.  35yo, 4yrs of tech school in auto mechanics, a few jobs working on cars, and I made that mistake...  Yes, I feel like a moron..

Len

[sharpxmen]

Aint gonna believe this one.  I put the plug wires on wrong.  I went counter clockwise with them, not clockwise..  Duh.  35yo, 4yrs of tech school in auto mechanics, a few jobs working on cars, and I made that mistake...  Yes, I feel like a moron..

Len

glad you figured it out, pretty common mistake though so i wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[Torch_Ind]

Aint gonna believe this one.  I put the plug wires on wrong.  I went counter clockwise with them, not clockwise..  Duh.  35yo, 4yrs of tech school in auto mechanics, a few jobs working on cars, and I made that mistake...  Yes, I feel like a moron..

Len

lol been there done that don't feel to bad!!

that was going to be my first question to double or triple check the wires lol

  glad it's fixed up!!!

[dwtaylorpdx]

  Don't ya love those moments of self discovery?


Dave