Over the past 2 weeks the 4.2 in my LWB Range Rover has been on a downward spiral. The symptoms started at interstate speeds with an apparent miss and surging in power while shifing into passing gear. Over the last few days things have gotten worse and now it sounds like I have a plug wire missing at any speed. Last night when I parked it after my daily commute I could smell raw fuel when I turned off the engine. Often when pulling away from a light I can hear a backfire in the area near the transmission which I assume is un-burnt fuel igniting when dumping into the cats. The plugs, rotor, and distributor cap are about a year old and the timing was locked down when they were replaced.

Does it sound like I have an ignition problem or could I be looking at a worn cam? The engine has 110k on it.

Thanks.

I'm gonna call Pendy!

If anyone cares it seems that it was the distributor cap and rotor causing the issue. It seems that the bushings in the distributor are worn and the rotor has been crashing into the contacts in the cap. :(

Looks like now I have to read up on the HEI threads.