19comanche86

Don’t make the Maaco mistake. I did and now I’m paying for it. The prep is absolutely $#!&. They destroyed the chrome trim on the truck with over spray and then sanded the $#!& out of it. The paint lasted about 2 years and peeling everywhere where. Now it’s going to cost me between $8-10k to get the truck down to bare metal/body work and a professional/show car finish. Hopefully in the next 6 months I’ll be ready to have it done.

More parts! Almost ready to start putting it together lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome this is what I will do. Thank you. You have an LS in yours? If so any other tips or snags you ran in to? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

More parts came from NOVAK Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got the front drive taken off last night, I ordered the Holley front accessory drive, didn’t want to be tracking down brackets and everything else. To relocate all the components to the top of the engine. Decided I’m going to blast the engine bay and coat it with Raptor Liner. The rest of the truck will be painted billet silver to match the gladiator. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can’t go wrong with an LS. One thing I’m Looking in to is the radiator situation. Because it’s an 86 the Novak radiator won’t work, it’s for 87-92 swaps. So not sure if I can just find a universal 3 core by Be-Cool or if I’m gonna end up having to change the header panel to an 87+. The other thing I’m looking in to is the fuel pump. Since the 86 was carb with mechanical pump I’m trying to Decide if we are better off doing an external pump or trying to retrofit an in tank pump Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got the harness pulled off and shipped out to LT1 Wiring in PA. They are going to convert the harness to stand alone, add an OBD2 port and flash the ECU / remove all unnecessary systems. Also took the front accessory drive off. Ordered the Holley kit which relocates everything to the top of the engine. Did not feel like chasing down brackets from the C5 Corvette. Comes with a new R4 compressor, alternator, power steering pump. Moving right along, I need to do the WJ booster conversion next week, and start prepping the engine bay to drop it in. Motor mounts and headers come Monday. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got it on eBay from a salvage yard in Michigan. It was not cheap. It was way more than I wanted to spend honestly. With that being said LS1s have gone way up in price and finding one with low miles is next to impossible. It’s got 48k miles on it, I paid $5700 shipped to my door. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So considering this thing is getting an LS1 and 4L60E. I probably need to look in to an axle swap. Ford 8.8 seems popular... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the response and also pointing that out. It’s never been touched as far as I know. I have had the truck since 2009 and my grandfather was the original owner, got it brand new in 1986. Someone along the line must have messed with it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a 1986 Comanche XLS, came with the 2.8 V6 and automatic transmission. Trying to determine which axle I have and the gear ratio. The metal tag is long gone. I believe I have a Dana 35, the real question is the gear ratio. Only numbers I’m seeing are 35C on the axle And also 6079 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

She’s here!! Got a bunch of stuff coming from NOVAK and I’m sending the harness and ECU out tomorrow to be flashed and converted to stand alone Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Been making slow progress, but after months of saving, a big purchase was made. FINALLY! Things should start really rolling here soon! Scored a mint LS1 / 4L60E with 49k miles on it out of a 2002 WS6 trans am. She will be here Monday. I’ll be ordering a ton of stuff from Novak here shortly. Initially I was going to send her off to paint this month but decided it needs to be running and dialed in first before I do paint, that will be the last step as it should be. Those that have done this swap, what rear drive shaft are you using? Custom? Oh on top of the engine purchase I also pulled the trigger on this.... it’s a dream come true I have been waiting for this for a long time, since the concept in 2005.

Took the bed liner out today and cut it up. It was already modified at some point for the topper to fit and was in bad shape. Fortunately the bed is perfect underneath no rust. Hoping to get the truck out for paint in about 2 weeks or so. After that things should go together quickly. I have my eye on an LS1 and 4L60E locally. Might go take a look this weekend. Going to polish the taillights this weekend and paint the trim silver. They had the chrome trim on them from the factory but unfortunately it’s mostly worn off. Also planning to pull the bed and media blast the entire frame, then coat it with POR15 and undercoating Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome thanks!! This is so cool. Yes it has an auto. The only two things that jump out at me are the front bumper, it says black but it’s chrome and the instrument cluster does not have a tach, it’s got the large gas gauge. My grandfather told me it was fully optioned except for not being a 4x4. He told me he had the original build sheet but I could never find it. Unfortunately he’s been gone for 10 years now. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Purchased by my grandfather new from Frystock in New Jersey. Doing a full restoration with LS1 swap. I grew up in this truck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got some work done today. Wire brushed the floor pans, cleaned them up and got them coated with POR15. Ordered a bunch of stuff last night. So glad things are finally moving along. Floors weren’t bad thank god Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Picked these up, gonna do a 4.5” lift. Debating on keeping all the chrome and having it redone or changing everything to black. Opinions? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So it took me over a year but i got her out of my parents garage. She’s at my house now and I have started further stripping her down for paint. Final decision on the color is sting gray. I’m planning to get a rubicon gladiator so it would be awesome to have them matching. Here’s some pictures of her current condition. This thread will not be stalling again. I’m on the hunt for a corvette LS1 and 4L60E. Hoping to have her out for paint in the next two months or less. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow can’t believe it’s been 5 years. This project completely stalled. Life got in the way. I got married and bought a house. And now have a 7 month old daughter. Anyway, I still have my Comanche. It’s sitting in my parents garage. I have been slowly gathering parts here and there. Right now I’m on the look out for a 5.3 LSX or a LS1 to swap in. Not wasting time or money on the v6. At this point I’m getting ready to take her in for paint. With as clean as this truck is I think I need to stay with the original maroon with gold flake color and keep all my chrome pieces. I’m ready to pick this back up and get her back on the road. I have the time, money and my own garage to do it now. Current condition of my girl Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

V8 swapping? What's the plan. Obviously need a new bottom end Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Holy $#!& man. That's a major failure. Is the rod broken? Serous detonation Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow bro what happened Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly, and it could be worse it could be a DOHC 4.6 cobra motor or coyote. Double or triple the cost and much harder to work on. This is an awesome build. Get it buttoned up and enjoy it. You actually have me considering going a route similar to this instead of an LS1 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What brand pistons? You must have had some serious detonation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk