highlandjeeper

I used 1/4" plates at the bumper attachments and 2.5" x 1/4" angle between. I plasma cut the holes for the lugs and welded them on the back side. You may want to consider running that further back to the large holes on each side. The bumper attachment points are not really intended for tow points. It's just sheet metal that will rip apart fairly easily. Willy I had put that into consideration when I did it. As it was only for temporary use until the real bumper is built that will use the mentioned holes, I figured it would be fine for a weekend. As it turned out, we had to winch the Manche out of the mud using a snatchblock with a Warn 8274 and it held, but I would recommend using the mentioned holes to those who try the same thing.

Didn't get much for action shots, but we did baptize it as a new offroader in the mud :D There were 2 CJs (one on 36" IROKS and one on 37" boggers) with me on this run and it's a good thing they had winches because we all needed them. Also got a character mark as well on the upper left rear corner of the box when I slid into a tree while bypassing on of the mudholes we had to get by.

I used 1/4" plates at the bumper attachments and 2.5" x 1/4" angle between. I plasma cut the holes for the lugs and welded them on the back side.

Figured I should start a thread of the entire project as I have no threads going to post the progress of the truck. It all started with this: 1991 SWB 2wd Comanche 4.0L 5spd P/O started the swap to 4wd Plans were to lift 3" and run 31s as it is a daily driver. Ended up with this SOA rear, 6.5" front and 32s Parts include RE adjustable UCAs and LCAs, RE 4.5" coils w/ 2"spacers, RE swaybar discos, RE adjustable track bar, OME steering stabilizer, and Superlift shocks. Rear axle is an 8.8 Explorer SOA with 2wd leafs. Tires are 32x11.5 R15 Cooper STTs on white 8 spoke 15x8 rims. Just swapped in some grey leather buckets from a Cherokee Limited. Near future plans are a custom front winch bumper with a Warn 8274. I had to build some temporary tow points for now until bumper is ready: This weekend will be her maiden voyage to the mountains. I will post some pics when we get back.

My leak is gone :D . All this hot weather must have softened the sealant (appears to be roofing tar) the glass shop put on trying to stop the leak enough to run into the leaky spot. We had rain for almost 2 days and not a single drop came inside. Now I can put my headliner and interior trim back in.

I was planning on using the info in the link to mount my buckets, but fortunately an MJ with buckets showed up in the wreckers this week, so I grabbed the brackets today and mounted the seats. I can sure see why I should find some seats from a 2DR Limited if there ever was such a thing. I want to stick with the leather. I suppose if a guy was ambitious one could swap the leather upholstery to some 2DR seat frames. Maybe another day.

Or just bumpstop it correctly to keep the tires out of the fenders. Bumpstops? What a novel idea. I didn't even think of those. I think I will try the TJ flares first as I don't feel like pulling the front apart again quite yet. Just picked up some RE swaybar discos today. Hopefully I will begin my build of a kick a$$ front bumper for the Warn 8274 on Monday. Here is another pic I just uploaded from my phone.

I have a poser pic I was just checking placement of shocks. Looks as tho I need TJ flares.

Took the Manche for a test drive tonight. I have a few adjustments to make here and there, but otherwise all is good. I will take some pics tomorrow.

I set my lengths as follows: LCA=17" UCA=16.25" Castor is now 5.5 degrees and pinion/ds angle is +/- 5 degrees. I should be able to road-test it tomorrow night if all goes well and see how things are and take it from there.

I guess I will have to try that.

I have installed RE 4.5" coils with 2" spacers. I have RESF adjustable UCAs and LCAs and I need to know where to set my lengths at. I used the numbers posted in another thread (LCA=17.25, UCA=15.5) and I have 10-11 degs of castor and pinion is approx 0 degs. Are these numbers just a basic guide? Do I have to just keep adjusting until I get the angles I need?

You are correct. This all goes back to what I said about no power. Threads on the side I was putting the wheel on were slightly fouled with dings and crud.(much easier to see when daylight) Got the rear sitting on the ground today and didn't like the stance, so I installed the 2" spacers again and things look good. (hopefully I will be done taking things apart and putting them back together again soon). Just have to button up the last few bolts in the front and adjust alignment. What is the spec for castor that I should be aiming for? As for the rear, I got the new brakes installed and just about completed. Also got the E-brake working. Went to bleed the rear brakes with my lovely wife's assistance and one of the wheel cylinders drained my resevoir. I guess I will be pulling that apart again too :wall:. Just a couple more evenings and I should have it rollin' :banana:

I recall reading somewhere on this site that RE4.5" coils actually give close to 6" lift. If that was stated, I disagree as I got exactly 4.5" with my RE1310s according to Eagle's way of measuring lift (22" axle CL to wheel well flare). As for the adjustable CAs, I set the length of the LCAs @ 16.75" and the UCAs @ 15.125" (shortest setting available). I haven't measured castor yet, but these should be fairly close, no? At the rear of the truck, I sinched down the u-bolts on the diff and hooked up the brake lines. I went to set the truck on its wheels to see how the new coils sit and discovered that the 8.8 has metric studs :wall: . I guess I will have to get some nuts tomorrow. Looks as tho the u-joint is the same from the Exploder flange to the Comanche drive shaft, which is surprising. I just wish there was power in the shop I am working in. I may be able to get a few more hours in the evenings then. Alternatively, I get to go to bed earlier. Maybe a day or two and I will be able to drive it outside to get some better pics.

Got the front LCAs installed last night. Removed the D35 and set the 8.8 in place tonight and should have it bolted up and plumbing done tomorrow night. Picking up the UCAs and new springs tomorrow after work and installing them on Friday. If parts supplier has an Aussie locker in stock, I may pick that up as well as the rear diff is apart right now. If all goes well, I should have it running Saturday and driving it on Sunday to see my new niece . Also hoping to have a new front bumper built and installed with a winch before Sept.

I am probably one of the first to admit it tho.

No more screwing around: I picked up some RE superflex adjustable LCAs today and ordered some RE adjustable UCAs as well. Also decided to order RE 4.5" coils and return the Superlift coils. MJ sits good now, but as the coils break in it will probably drop some and I don't want to put more spacers in to correct it. I also picked up an OME stabilizer. Parts should be here mid week. Until then I am going to be busy putting the 8.8 in place. Hopefully it will be ready late next week to go to the alignment shop.(unless I do it myself) This thing is turning into a better trail rig than originally anticipated, for a lot more money than I wanted to spend, but I am sure it will be worth it. I am starting to realize that when one tries to save some money on this stuff, the costs are far greater in other ways. Just spend the money and save yourself the headache, and have fun with it! If I would have gone this route before, I would have had it running a long time ago.

Looks like I am about to do an 8.8 swap as well. I have one that has the same G/R. Downside is drum brakes. What does one have to do about the E-brake cable?

Disregaurd the Exploder in the pics. This is one I built for a friend and plan to do something similar for my Comanche.

Haven't got it on the road as of yet. I will post the end results when available.

Rear is now 1.5" taller. Before I put the 2" spacers in the front, the extra weight that was transfered to the front lifted the rear 1" from where it sits now. I did say that it was 8" total lift with the new tires. SL was 6.5", but now is 5.5" in the rear.

Here's some pics of the progress: Just need to deal with the rearend of the truck now (ie. brakes, set pinion angle and weld perches, weld on shock mounts, and t-case drop)

I am not looking to get into an argument here. It doesn't matter how everybody else takes a measurment as long as your start and finish reference points are the same. I could have measured from the roof down and still got the same result. Simple addition and subtraction are pretty easy to do in my head. also, I did state that the rear was lifted approxiamately 3" more in my post, not just that it was higher. :wall: Anyways, thats enough af that. So I was just about to order new 4" leafs for the rear, but decided to try some 2" spacers for the front first. I am satisfied with the end result and am going to move forward with the SOA. Raising the front 2" dropped the rear by 1". If the 4wd shop that sold me the coils would have sold me XJ/MJ specific coils, I would have been further ahead, but they assured me that they would work. I will try to get some pics tomorrow. I think it will look and perform killer.

That's a no brainer. I do know how to work a tape measure. I was basically stating the differences between the front and rear. I theoretically should have netted 5" in the rear and 4" in the front. The new tires have a 1.5"bigger radius than the old ones, so if you subtract that from overall lift gained will give what I gained in just suspension. Regardless of whether one measures from the floor or from the axle CL you would come up with the same result.

With the rear SOA and the front 4" coils in and the new tires, I ended up with 8"+/- in the rear and 5" in the front. Measuring from the floor to the flares, the rear is 4" taller than the front. Looks as if I am going to be ordering new leafs and going SUA as I don't want to lift the front that much to match. I am also trying to decide if I am going to order some new LCAs or build a long arm kit instead. I didn't get the amount of lift in the front as anticipated. Is that because the springs may be rated @ 4" on a TJ and you won't get the same amount on an MJ?