starter or flywheel

[beatruit]

starter seems to slip when cranking it was slipping occasionally and now slips and will only start by popping clutch

[JDPascal]

By"popping clutch" do you mean letting the jeep roll fwd and letting the clutch out to turn the engine over??? or pushing the clutch in and letting it out to keep the starter engaged with the flywheel??

If the first is what you mean, I would suspect the starter drive is worn out and/or the teeth on the ring gear are flat where the starter tends to engage most often.

Replace the starter drive and while you have the starter off, roll the engine over to inspect the teeth on the flywheel.

JD