New to the forum, just picked up a 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4.0 4x4 Manual
My wife learned to drive in the same model/year truck that her dad bought new in 1988. Had wanted to restore that one, but unfortunately her younger brother wrapped it around a light pole. So we've been looking on and off for a Comanche in decent shape for about the last two years. Found this one about three weeks ago and picked it up last Sunday after haggling the guys down to $1,000. The guy said it had been running hot on and off, so we brought a trailer just in case, but I drove it home 55 miles without it running hot or any other large issues.
I'm not a mechanic, but my wife and I enjoyed learning and working on our 2000 Wrangler, and she's always wanted another Comanche so the kids can learn to drive on it, so we figured what the heck, we will learn as we go, and this forum has so much info on it, we're excited to figure it all out.
The Daily Driver
Here's when we picked her up last Sunday. My kids have named her "the booger"
First thing we had to do was give her a temporary face lift. The garage is home to the Harley and the golf cart, so most work will be done in the driveway. Since we have rather nosy and pretentious HOA, we figured if she looked a little prettier sitting in the driveway we could keep them off our backs. Lots of sanding, and primer, and Flat Camo Olive Paint, and she looking a lot prettier, still have a few more rounds of sanding and body paint. My wife has taken off all the decals, front grill and trim pieces, I picked up a bumper from the junk yard and a new front blinker light that was cracker, and she has sand, primed and painted all of them in Rustoleum OEM Black. Also got the bed sanded and Herculiner put down. Next up this weekend, I picked up some fender flares off a 92 Cherokee, going to get them painted and installed.
Immediate list of trouble shooting and repair:
- Previous owner said running hot, haven't experienced yet, but will start driving her and try and see what's happening
- A/C Non functioning
- Radio Non functioning
- Air filter is some rigged contraption the previous owner put
- Get the interior pulled apart and the carpet ripped up
Looking forward to finding solutions on here and getting her running great