Renix 4.0 Timing needs Adjusted - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

barillms · 02-26-2011, 06:32 PM

I have an 88 MJ with the EFI 4.0L and I'm 99.9% sure somebody had rebuilt the engine before I bought the Jeep.

It has all the symptoms that the timing is advanced a bit too much,
Runs hot, hard to crank over.... But it runs good.

My question:

If i take it to an engine guy... or good mechanic, will he be able to adjust the timing without any major challenges? What all does it take to diagnos for sure the timing being off on these 1988 4.0L engines?
.... I know the distributor doesn't turn, so how is the timing adjusted?

james@bluetorchfab · 02-26-2011, 07:09 PM

check it with a timing light to get an idea of what the timing actually is. that would be a good start before you take to someone .

deepstage69 · 02-26-2011, 09:16 PM

Me and my buddy rebuilt a renix 4.0 and had a non stock cam and a few other go fast goodies on it

. Anyways it never ran good, would idle decent, put it in drive, it would sound like a popcorn machine with all the backfires.

We ended up cutting the bolt locator off the distributor and adjusted it by feel the first time and it ran great. Drove it back to the gargage and set it for good with a timing light. I dont remember what the timing was when we set it, he sold the jeep shortly after we got it running good.

02-26-2011, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
barillms Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Member # 81189 Location: Steubenville, OH (near Wellsville) Posts: 1,625	Renix 4.0 Timing needs Adjusted I have an 88 MJ with the EFI 4.0L and I'm 99.9% sure somebody had rebuilt the engine before I bought the Jeep. It has all the symptoms that the timing is advanced a bit too much, Runs hot, hard to crank over.... But it runs good. My question: If i take it to an engine guy... or good mechanic, will he be able to adjust the timing without any major challenges? What all does it take to diagnos for sure the timing being off on these 1988 4.0L engines? .... I know the distributor doesn't turn, so how is the timing adjusted? __________________ '88 Jeep MJ 1-ton buggy

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02-26-2011, 07:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
james@bluetorchfab Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Member # 118546 Location: NORWOOD, (BHAM) ALABAMA Posts: 716	check it with a timing light to get an idea of what the timing actually is. that would be a good start before you take to someone .

02-26-2011, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
deepstage69 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Member # 139622 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 9	Me and my buddy rebuilt a renix 4.0 and had a non stock cam and a few other go fast goodies on it . Anyways it never ran good, would idle decent, put it in drive, it would sound like a popcorn machine with all the backfires. We ended up cutting the bolt locator off the distributor and adjusted it by feel the first time and it ran great. Drove it back to the gargage and set it for good with a timing light. I dont remember what the timing was when we set it, he sold the jeep shortly after we got it running good.