renOnv

Well, why would the key stay lost once you no longer need it? :shake: When you guys get the re-key are you getting the same flimsy keys that came with the jeeps or is there a way to get a beefier more solid-feeling key to match our tough trucks?

Like Giffer I find that on any given day I have at least 3 jackets behind my bench seat. I'm pretty good about taking the trash out at every stop, and running a vacuum through her once a month or so. But I'm a smoker, and you can never get all the ash out the window, so thats probably my biggest fault. Plus the blackening headliner above the drivers seat makes me wonder how my lungs are doing. :roll:

I was reading and re-reading the DIY already posted about the seats, but he used the XJ brackets to. Also from what I could gather I'm not going to be able to do this without drilling. Is that what you mean by "modified the floor" when u put the XJ rocker brackets? I'm guessing the easiest way is to get the seats, take everything out of my cab, then set the seats in the truck, mark the holes then drill. Am I getting close?

Oh yeah, I guess this is necessary... :hijack: Also, I stand around 5' 10" so the 3 extra inches mentioned in above responses would not be an issue, I'm looking for the easiest way to get bucket seats. XJ seats are easiest for me to get at local junkyards, but I am open to buying a set of MJ buckets from a forum member. PM me with prices and color. I live in Reno NV so take that into consideration with shipping costs and the overall price. Also I would be willing to drive as far east as colorado, as far west as the ocean, and I'd go all the way north or south to either of the borders for the right price.

I'm trying to put some buckets in my MJ, but there seems to be some dispute, can anyone from experence verify if I get a set of similar year XJ buckets if I'll be able to use the existing MJ bench seat brackets and just put the XJ bucket seats with the existing mounts onto my bench rails? I'm trying to make this happen without drilling or cutting, as I only own a set of hand tools. If this is not possible, I would appreciate a clearly outlined plan that I could give to my buddy with a tool needed to drill/cut. Doesn't need to be detailed, just enough that I can convey my idea to my friend without seeming like a total idiot. In return I would be willing to write up a thread compiling all the information from the numerous threads on this topic into a single comprehensive in-depth, sticky worthy thread for the DIY section of our forums. Thanks for any help or information.

I bought new battery cables at the local auto store for around 20 bucks, like the above poster mentioned, they can be coroding away from the inside out, mine were terrible when i pulled the old ones out. Its also worth it to check the other end and make sur everything is clean back there. :dunno: Hope that helps

$60 damn! I just went to the local pick-n-pull and paid $16 for two window cranks :fs1: I was pissed, but you know how it is, after walking around the place trying to find a jeep that still had the cranks in it I felt like I was more or less "dedicated to the cause" I would have just buried them under my tools if my buddy hadn't talked me out of it... he apologized for stopping me after I paid $20 total including the cover charge. Nice truck, I'm liking those seats, living in the desert, thats the perfect spot to watch a bonfire.. or go all out redneck and drink some beer in the drive way :rotf: XJ seats? post some pics of how you set up the brackets if you can remember, thats what I want to do to my truck next.

I'm also interested in any information and prices you may have on the steering box. My truck has some play in the wheel, thought it was normal, but it sounds like i might need to do some snooping to make sure everything is kosher.

I think they change to blue when it hasn't been used in a while. :chillin:

ah yes, i thought i woud mention, lest ye all lose faith in me, that I have not ruled out an xj, or 2wd mj. I mean, come on now. Like i mentioned above, at this point I'm just gathering information and weighing my options.

I am in no way trying to discredit hondas achievments, I know they made a reliable hard working car that will be rambling our roads for years to come. I don't think anyone is crazy enough to say that hondas (and corollas, ect) are not good cars. The thing is, I am trying to explore other options. I chose a comanche over a ranger, and likewise i'd like a car with a little more character. Let me rephrase the question like this: What older (pre 90's) cars would make good daily drivers? (I went with pre 90's because there are some mid to late 80's cars that i consider "classic" like the e30s, scouts, ect.) PS. When I think of a honda I'd be proud to drive, this comes to mind: Keeping this in mind, whats something with a bit of style that could make a good daily driver for an intial investment of under $10K? To include purchase, initial maintance, and new parts/upgrades to get her running right.

...sigh. Why can't they just take a 60's mustang body and make a diesel-hybrid engine to put in it? I mean come on is that so much to ask? :fs1:

Ok, so I was offered a state job in the next city over, Its a smaller, quieter town town than the one i currently live in, and as a young guy I am not interested in moving there. It would be 30-40 miles each way, which would mean at the very least 300 miles a week (30 miles* 2 ways * 5 days a week). Now I know that many of you guys use the comanche as your daily driver, however if i am driving 300 miles a week MINIMUM just for work I would prefer something with a little better gas mileage and something more... practical i guess (I know I know, nothing is more "practical" than a truck, with the off road/towing/hauling capabilities, but humor me on this, hopefully some of you see my point :peek: ) I just don't want to be putting that kind of stress on my truck, id prefer to keep this truck in good condition for as long as possible 8) . Anyways, I have a few ideas bouncing around my head for a car i can pick up to commute in and also be able to load up some buddies for a night around town or a road trip here and there. Ideally I'd like to get a Datsun 510 8) , the styling is awesome, and id be able to fit a few more people than my commanche holds. An earlier subaru is another option for the reasons listed above as well as the AWD/handleing (down side being my girlfriend drives a legacy and i wouldnt want to seem "cute" with matching cars :yes: . I've also read and heard the praises of an earlier honda (reliable, simple, easy to work on??) Lastly, I have a soft spot for VW's (either an older bug, square back, or fastback. but their lack of power is the biggest draw back. Stretches of the road average 80 mph, and I know a lot of older bugs won't touch that unless i put some after market work into them(but I'm open to ideas if you can give me rough estimates on the prices it would take to make a VeeDub a little quicker. A newer jetta turbo diesel is also a consideration. Anyway, here are my requirements: 1. decent gas milage (At least better than my manche with 31" tires, ive been looking for good diesel models) 2. a car, i don't need an suv... ive got a truck. 3. some style. (my biggest problem with a honda, subaru and most new cars on the market... too common) 4. Most importantly EASY TO WORK ON, I don't want to be paying other people to work on my ride if at all possible. I don't have a problem with getting an older car as i would have the spare change to keep up with maintenance, as long as for the most part is it a reliable ride. In fact I would prefer an older car. I'm just trying hard to avoid buying a new "penny-car" like a honda fit or nissan versa ect. I want something with a little more cool factor to it. Let me know what you guys think of the cars, specifically any experience with driving and working on the 510's or any other ideas you have. I found out about comanches on accident, so i am sure there a lot of choices i haven't though of yet. Remember easy to work on is my mantra if it is an older car.

Good-God :eek: Tell me your going to fabricate your own badging for that beast as well. At this point it seems unfair to give jeep all the credit for this creation. :popcorn:

I had this same problem starting last week, after putting in a new battery and cables and what not i hoped on here to ask the forum, turned out it was in-fact my starter. You can try this right now: bang on the starter with a wrench or hammer, if it starts up, then you know for sure its your starter. Good news, the auto parts guy quoted me a price of $70 dollars for a new starter. Good luck, let us know if the banging "fixes" it. Its not a permanent fix, but it will get it running so you can drive it to the parts store/not be stuck in some parking lot waiting for a ride.

best answer by far. Painting it in many layers of expoxy would be a sweet option too, play it off like "I've got faith in my egg as is" and hav everyoe expect it to shatter not knowing its coated. but then again, I'm assuming the teacher has the eggs and you bring in the container, then put the egg in right before you drop it to prevent someone from draining the egg through a hol and filling it with something else like spray in foam or elmers glue ect. I'm telling you man, if you want an easy A just get a pillow and duct tape

I'm a bit of a smart @$$, and also quite the procrastinator. In high school when i had to do this I just grabbed the pillow off my bed on my way to school and put my egg on top of the pillow and under the pillowcase. It didn't break 8) . If there isnt a size requirement then just go to wallmart and buy an extra pillow or two and duct tape them up into a pillow envelope then spray paint something on the pillow case "government issue" would work well 8) . If i remember correctly, the people with the most complicated designs all had broken eggs. :cheers: The down side? You won't get scouted by NASA for their latest research team. The up side? Neither will the kid who spent over five days and a hundred dollars.

excuse my ignorance. are those moon-roof windows on the top? i havent seen those, did you put them in yourself, or were those stock options? either way, if those are mini moonroofs, did you paint over them? :eek:

my dog Vandal (terrier mix), rescued him from the pound when he was a year and half, an extremely loyal dog. He's smart enough to know he has a good thing going on and hasnt tried to challenge me yet. Small enough i can pick him up if he gets into trouble on a hike, but big enough that paris hilton couldnt carry him around in her purse. 8) here's my girlfriends over-weight beagle. Disclaimer: I in no way encourage dressing up your dog in ridiculous costumes. :roll: any dog as long its loyal will be a nice addition to your life. they stick by you no matter what, and make you smile at least once a day.

beat on my starter with a wrench until the truck would turn over, then parked it on a hill so i can drive it tomorrow to get parts. :roll:

thanks for the advice everyone. ill be sure to check the cps tomorrow. as for good news... i was hoping it wouldn't come down to this, but i knocked the starter around with a wrench, and yup... it started, then i just re-parked it on a hill so i can roll/push start her tomorrow. a little more ghetto than i would have preferred but oh well, ill checkout the CPS and probably buy a new starter tomorrow. then I'm going to turn the stereo up real loud and drive over something big so i can remind myself why i bought a 19 year old truck in the first place. thanks for all the help, and bearing with a novice wrencher :cheers: i promise a build thread with some worthy pics will find there way on this forum in the near future.

i pulled the starter out and drove it in another car. it sounds like i have the opposite problem from wht you experenced, asonce it does start i can stop my truck to go into gas stations, stores ect, then it fires up fine after a few min of sitting. but if it sits for a while I'm out of luck. i might just have to start buying new parts ie. starter and ignition switch untill it starts working again.. :wall:

Ooops, i forgot to mention that i did open up the dash panels in the cab to take a look at that wiring. I was hoping it would be something obvious ("well hello there, the stereo installer unplugged my ignition switch") but once i got inside i didn't have the foggiest of what i was looking for. I will say that all wires were connected to something... and nothing blatantly obvious was going on like melted wires or anything. Is there something in particular I should be looking for? Or would that be a good part to replace, any ideas on how much I would pay for a new ignition switch? Thanks for the quick reply

Quick background: bought the truck a few weeks ago, seemed to run decent, albeit it idled high and needed work. once in th parking lot of 7-11 it wouldn't turn over, the key would just click and sit there. after 30 min of waiting for a ride, i tried one last time it fired up and i drove away no problems. a week ago i put in a new CD player and subwoofer (pics coming when my truck starts running) The night i get my stero i park my truck and when i go outside to show it off to some friends she won't run. Now here is what the truck is doing: When i turn the key, all lights/radio turn on, however i hear a buzzing/humming noise from the engine. nothing cranking, nothing clicking. Here is what i've done so far: Replaced the battery cables, both possitive and negative and cleaned off the connections at both ends. Bought a new battery and installed it, re-wroked the ground behind drivers side tail light. Removd the master craft soilenoid (in the engine compartment by the battery) I didnt get it tested, because I'm not sure if its actually the soilenoid or just a relay or what. but i cleaned it, cleaned all wires running to it, and covered in di-electric grease. Here is what came closest to working: i dropped the starter, and it was filthy. i scrubbed off all the oil/grease/grit with a steel brush and took it into the local auto parts store to have it tested. The man working there said it passed but that it was the original starter, and even though it passed it might be a good ida to replace it. However he agreed with me that it sounded like an issue with the connections (based on the humming sound) so i bought a can of electric system cleaner and sprayed down the starter, scrubbed more, coated in di-electric grease and re-installed under my truck. It started perfectly! I drove it around town for a little while, vacuumed it out, then parked it. THE NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T START. SAME PROBLEM. I turn the key and all i hear is a buzzing noise. I've recharged the battery, and am at a complete loss as to what it could be or what i should do. I'm hoping its not a bad fuse or burnt wire somewhere because i am terrible with electric systems. let me know what you think, or maybe there is a common problem i haven't read about. if you guys have any questions or need pictures let me know. I'm trying to get my truck running by tomorrow as i was supposed to help a friend who drives a car pick up a new TV... ive gotta pull through for the honor of all truck owners on this one. I'd hate to have him preach to me about how i should have spent my money on a "reliable car"

on second thought: keep in mind i am not as mechanically inclined as you or most of the forum members, and the satisfaction you would get from getting your truck running again by means of your own two hands might outweigh the bells and whistles of a new ride. still, I'm more of a "choose your battles" kind of guy.