Possible missfire

Is the Jeep still "stock"?

Can you list any modifications that may have been done in the past?

Does it still have a mechanical fuel pump?

This seems to be strange symptoms, I'm wondering if this might be a coincidence with another problem.

How often are the "tugs" occurring?

Your turn,

The Medic

The fuel smell is probably normal if your exhaust runs straight out of the rear.

I started kicking mine out of the side behind my rear driver's wheel years ago to eliminate what you are experiencing now (me and my passengers weren't fond of the smell either) See pics 1 and 2.

Have you added anything lately, around the time of the "tugging"?

Let's try to isolate this issue. Answer these questions please.

1) Have you tuned your rig using instruments- timing light and a dwell/ tach or vacuum gauge? Is it possible it has not been tuned correctly? See pic 3.

2) Have you been swapping jets around in your carb?

3) How long has it been "tugging"?

4) When do you notice it - during acceleration? Any speed? At the end of "winding up/ out"

5) Is it kind of like a hesitation, like when try to go and your carburetor is still cold and your Jeep is not nowhere near operating temperature? (Like it spits)

6) Is it a constant problem, does it go away (if so, when?), How often does this occur? (Seconds/ minutes/ after it a operating temperature?

Can you remove your breather and send me really good full pics of your engine, left side/ right side/ top.

The Medic

I'm pretty sure that if you kick the exhaust out the side behind the rear wheel the fumes will diminish greatly.

As far as maybe your tuning making things richer, maybe we can tune yours a little better.

I'm going to link you to a post I answered about nine years ago.

This should be easy to follow, what I did was "converted" tuning my 258 over to a 304 (so the 304 guy could grasp what I was doing) So basically leave out the 304 parts!

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/jeep-cj7-1985-jeep-cj7-stalls-when-hot

Beings that this was written when I was a "newby", I feel sure I can explain things better should you run into something you don't understand. Keep us posted on progress!

I appreciate that you have returned and seem to have confidence in pulling your Jeep into our garage.

I'm right here if you need me!

The Medic