Good info, the distributor is driven off the cam not the crank. Just helping out.

THIS JUST FIXED MY JEEP!!!!! Aaaahhhh!!!! I’m freaking excited. I had no idea to put it at top dead center after installing the distributor. Hasn’t ran in 8 months!!!

I've rebuilt my 4.0 distributor instead of replacing it. May I offer a few words of advice: after removing the distributor hold-down clamp, take a wire brush and go around the base of the distributor stem/block and clean off the road dirt and rust so it doesn't fall into the engine when the distributor is pulled. A few puffs of compressed air after brushing would also be good as well.

shade tree tip to finding TDC, wad up a small piece of TP or tissue and put in in your plug hole, it will pop out with compression.

This is probably the most easily explained video of changing the yj's distributor I've seen, thanks!

The harmonic dampner bolt is 19mm. Thanks for the video!

One of the many projects I have ready to be tackle... I'm glad you did this one... Only difference is I decided to go with an HEI Distributor where the coil in on the cap...and unfortunately it's vacuum driven. I have been told that I can still use it, just need to find a good vacuum source off the intake manifold, which I have located...and maybe change out electrical connections from the old coil to the new one... I just gotta get one of them round-tuits...lol

This did it! 1995 YJ, lower portion of the distributor needed replacement. Thanks for the help!

I'm still trying to figure out how to open the hood.

Very nice video. However, you can make it yourself easier when putting the engine on the first cylinder’s TDC. Since the distributor cap was on the car, you were able to determine which one was for cylinder one. So at the moment you disassembled the distributor cap, you found out that the rotor was pointing to another cylinder, so then just crank until the mark on the crankshaft pully is aligned with the fixed mark. If then the rotor is very near the cylinder one terminal of the cap, you automatically know that you are on cylinder one TDC. No need to put finger on the spark hole. Still a nice video! Edit: was only halfway the video when I wrote this. You did exactly this with the engine on the engine stand. So, just perfectly great! Nice work!

Man I love your videos. I know this is a petty critique, but we are working on the same engines. Knowing socket sizes would be awesome!

What brand distributor would you recommend to replace the original I'm still on the original one.

Great tutorial but what if the old distributor came of without any marks? How to align it now?

Thank you sir for making everything seem easy for us DIY newbys.

Dale, this is a fantastic video. Thank you!

What are the proper steps for replacing distributor when the former owner removed the distributor but did not mark the timing and/or rotor position? I purchased the vehicle with the distributor not in it. Please help.

I have a related problem, my jeep has developed a pinging problem and has low power, you have any ideas? I've already put in a new distributor, cap, rotor and followed your instructions to the letter but still have the pinging. Thanks

Awesome video very clear step by step

Great video and well detailed keep em coming!

Thank you for the video my jeep is losing power when i drive it hopefully this solves my problem YJ life!

JeepSolid, I have had so much trouble getting my 93 2.5L to start. It stopped running one day, and that was it. Tested and replaced all wiring, had some shorts. I then replaced the relevant fuel system parts (filter, relay, pump, TPS), started to turn over and that was it. Anyway after replacing absolutely everything, I mean everything, no start. I put my beloved YJ aside for over 2 years. I’m going to get back at it as I just realized I haven’t replaced the distributor itself. I found info online that it’s the camshaft position sensor in the bottom of the distributor. I searched the entire web for that sensor, no luck!!! My question is, by replacing the entire distributor, does that include the alleged “camshaft position sensor?” I’m not talking about the crankshaft position sensor. Talking about that ignition switch in the bottom of the distributor. If I order part 53006150 will that be what the forums are talking about? I thought I knew and did it all. I don’t wanna bug one more unnecessary part. I’m over a grand deep into an engine diagnosis and it doesn’t run. It’s the last thing I can think of. When I say new everything, I mean new everything down to every sensor, plug, wire, etc. my pcm also fried eventually while trying to start for the thousandth time after each replace my. so I’ll be sending that off. You say the word, I’ll order the new distributor and give it a try. The only distributor work I’ve ever done is the cap and rotor and obviously wires and plugs and ignition coil.

1987 jeeper here its actually quite easy to change em

Thank you this helped me me fix my 89 XJ

I’m having issues what does the bottom plug go to ?

Oooooh new intro!! Nice

Mine is toast, it makes all kinds of noise. I will be puting the new one in today. Definately a lot easier than replacing one on the old sbc where its smashed back between the intake and firewall...

I just replaced the piston rings on my 91 2.5L. I’m not getting spark after assembly, I’m assuming I need to start what you just did to get my spark ⚡️ back.

Alsome example for the timing on this engine you helped me out a lot

I have an oil leak that is coming from the distributor. Will changing it out stop the leak? Did the new distributor come with a seal?

Love your videos, informative and funny keep up the good work.👍👍👍👌👌👌🧠🧠🧠

If you're REPLACING a distributor, it seems to me that if you just mark the rotor position, don't turn the crank and reinstall the distributor in the same position, you could avoid all of the TDC stuff and save some time. Am I missing something?

it would be nice to tell the folks that they need a gasket between the distributer and engine.

What do I do if I didn’t mark my distributor?

great vid... I miss the outtakes though :)

Awesome instructions thanks! Is there no need for a sealant\gasket material when installing the new distributor ?

Do you have a video for just the crankshaft seal replacement? I have a 90 4.2 i6 any tips getting the main pulley bolt off??

useful info. Thanks

Hi did you use the hold down fork with the new distributor shaft I didn’t I put it in today. The new shaft had a fork already should I still use the fork to thanks.

So I replaced my distributor about a year ago with an HEI one. Had a friend help me but I’m not sure we got cylinder 1 at tdc on the compression stroke. It has run fine, starts easily, but has always had a “popping” kinda sound to it and has backfired at the carb a few times under low rpm load. Now I’m in the process of replacing the timing chain and when I have what I think is tdc, the dots on the crank and cam gears are not aligned, crank is correct but the cam gear is 180 out. My question is, would the Jeep run at all if you were to put the distributor in in the intake stroke? Another question is at tdc, are the gear dots facing each other and the distributor pointing to the #1 cylinder on the compression stroke?

Came here for the distributor replacement but noticed the AC compressor is removed. Does this jeep 4.0L have the same belt routing as a '96 ZJ? It looks similar but I didn't get to see the whole thing in the video. But it looks like you used a shorter belt to delete the AC compressor entirely. Do you remember the length of the belt you used? I'm having trouble finding what length to use to bypass.

Good job! Great information I will use.

Hey buddy you got the valve cover off, maybe watch the valves for tdc compression stroke instead of the pinkie trick. :)

Hi man I like yours video. It's helpful. alot.thanks.

Thank you sir

and have a good day. You forgot to say that. Anyways, this video was two months too slow for me. Not knowing how to do this, after installing my engine. I just put the truck on a flatbed, to my brother-in-laws shop and he took care of it. Still breaking in; but, seems to be running a little bit better each day. Maybe next time, I can use this info?

I’ve done everything you showed, the timing is still off,

so what happns if i accidently moved the oil pump bolt a littke and noe uts not setting in right! and i back trac it to the right position? or do i have to find the tdc again

What year jeep is this?

HELP I have a 94 yj it run for about 40 to 50 minutes then it start back firing and running rough it will die sometimes it will crank again but idle rough. Please help me figure it out. A shop have changed the distributor plugs changed my muffler. I'm into trouble shooting for over 1300.00 What can I check. Can't get a pcm/ecm. I need Help

Is this the same process for the 4.2?

Do all stock motors line up with the "0" timing mark? I'm currently working on my v8 5.9l magnum.

My 1998 grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 showing camshaft is bad can it be it’s out of timing

Thank you for making this video. Can't you just look at the distributor button and set it at 5 oclock to set TDC? What is the purpose of TDC through plug or at the crank pulley if we are marking the original position? -DDTJ

Where do u connect the distributor pick-up coil to?

Great video but I had to replace the oil pump in my Jeep that has the same engine. Everyone is saying to remove the oil filter then distributor then put a flat head bit on a drill and spin the oil pump shaft clockwise until oil comes out of the oil filter. How would I go about matching up the male end of the distributor to the female flat head end of the oil pump after it’s spun a million times with the drill?

The hold down bolt is blocked by the frame i cant really get to it with my wrench am i missing something? Will a ratcheting wrench work better?

Even in auto trans , I just put in neutral correct?

Please saw me 2.5 4clinda 98 model distributor

Ok I picked up a 2.5 crate motor from auto parts store I have no reference to go bye for distributor placement I have my timing mark on tdc #1 compression when I put my distributor in do I use a 3/16 drill bit to key it or do like you did in your video ? Your way seem better just not sure mine is 2.5

Dale I have a question when I install the new distributor in my 1998 ZJ Jeep 4L I do all that you show in your video but the rotor never lines up exactly with the No 1 cylinder pickup it is just past it, the distributor is the type you can lock in the 4L slot but no mater what I do it just won't line up have you any idea what's wrong or have i missed something.

Why Some jeeps cam replace(comp cam) after 11 o clock position is starting to vehicle

Thanks, Dude!

What size wrench you use for the hold down bolt

Obrigado pelo vídeo ,me ajudou muito!!

Does anyone know why you can't go counterclockwise? Can it damage anything or will it just not be on time after?

Why can't I just mark the position of the rotor before pulling it out and put it back in the same place?

i have a 95 cherokee 4.0 ltr h.o. seems like with in town driving something over heats and quits firing. i let it set a few minutes and on my way again. any clues? Thanks.

2.5 yj cranks but wont start. I think it’s the distributor

Q pasa si giras al sentido contrario el cigueñal?

Your daughter's nail polish is the go-to paint!

I'm building a jeep any chance I could he you to help me

I strongly dislike the other guy, wastes my time.