Automan2164

How about surfing old MJ ads for inspiration? Some of the ones that come to mind are: 1986 Four Wheeler of the Year Easy to be a truck, hard to be a Jeep Comanche, it's worth a look. There's a new truck on the road, it's called Comanche, it's built by Jeep, it's worth a look. When we say pickup, we mean pickup. Rob

I don't envy you southerners at all. Except for your rust free vehicles that is. Keep your heat. I've been getting temps in the 90's, and I am miserable. Rob

This month... One of our members who has the bug, and bad. Enjoy. :cheers: ---COMANCHEKID45's MJ TRIBE--- MODEL AND YEAR 1988 Comanche Sportruck ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Litre 242ci Inline 6 Cylinder Besides some exhaust work and a set of Precision fuel injectors its the same bulletproof AMC engine we all know and love! DRIVETRAIN: AW4/NP231/Dana30/Dana44 Trac-Lok COOLING: Added an E-Fan/ Stock closed system ELECTRICAL & IGNITION: Custom 160amp Alternator and upgraded wiring. Stock Ign. system STEERING: Stock SUSPENSION: Pieced together 3.5" lift, JKS Swaybar Disconnects INTERIOR: A few slight changes including a refurbished bench seat but overall it retains its OEM characteristics BRAKES: XJ Duel Diaphram Booster, Stock otherwise LIGHTING: Plenty of Aux Lights, Silvaina Silverstar sealed beam headlamps WHEELS/TIRES: Crager D-Window 15x8 4.75" Bs wrapped in 31" Treadwright Crawlers MISCELLANEOUS: Spartan Locker up front, Armored up pretty well and a few other associated items for the 4x4 world This was the first vehicle Ive ever owned. It was brought back to life by what was my families dealership in 2003. I learned to drive in this truck, I learned to work on Jeeps with this truck and I still enjoy this truck dearly. It has its dings, dents, scratches and scars. I still give it a good drive on the roads once in awhile but it has since become more of my "adverturer." Its by no means a "trail beater" but If I go out to do some off roading this is my vehicle of choice. This truck was just the beginning to my Jeep addiction and adventure and I really do cherish it for that. ------------------------------------------------------------------- MODEL AND YEAR 1988 Comanche Sportruck (yep another 1) ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Litre 242ci inline 6 Cylinder DRIVETRAIN: 2wd AW4/Dana 44 Trac-Lok COOLING: Stock, Closed cooling system ELECTRICAL & IGNITION: Stock. STEERING: Stock... SUSPENSION: Yawn.... Stock INTERIOR: A few "custom" modifications but still very much Stock BRAKES: Plenty of New parts but still the same old OEM setup LIGHTING: Besides a pair of rather useless bumper lights its the same old here. Ha Ha WHEELS/TIRES: Well worn American Racing 15x8 wheels wrapped in 235/75/15 mild terrian tires MISCELLANEOUS: A custom Lowes paint Job and a sweet removable sunroof definently give this truck its character. This was a quick purchase decision and a very fun project. I have built this thing into my current Daily Driver and absolutly love ripping around town in this sucker. It has gotten its nickname "The dumpster" from its obvious paint job but its no garbage can. I just prefer to relate to it as "Oscar" :D -------------------------------------------------------------------- MODEL AND YEAR 1990 Comanche Eliminator ENGINE & PERFORMANCE: 4.0 Litre 242ci Inline 6 Cylinder DRIVETRAIN: AX15/NP231/Dana 30/ Dana 44 Trac-Lok COOLING: Stock, closed cooling system ELECTRICAL & IGNITION: 100amp Alternator, new stereo speakers. No ign. mods STEERING: Stock SUSPENSION: Stock INTERIOR: Besides a set of cupholders the interior is 100% Factory and in immaculate condition! BRAKES: Stock LIGHTING: 2 KC 57 series lights on the Factory rollbar and 2 Factory fog lights on the front bumper. Still retians OEM Wagner Headlamps WHEELS/TIRES: Factory 10 hole 15x7 Wheels wrapped in 235/75/15 Goodyear Wrangler Radials MISCELLANEOUS: This truck is summed up in one easy phrase, "My baby" I knew from the minute i purchased this truck that it was one day gonna become something special. The paint job was done in tribute to the one and only Walker Evans and the success he gave these trucks in the later 1980s and early 1990s. The truck has been kept to as close to factory as possible. With every decision I make very well thought through in honor of the rarity of this beauty. This is my Dodge Viper or Chevy Corvette and I treat it as such. To many people its probably still just a 22 year old Jeep, but to me I feel the rich history and heritage everytime i sit behind the wheel of this baby, and I hope to preserve it for many many years to come. gotta give an honorable mention to Dads 1989 Pioneer as well. He said to include it since i did fix it up for him ;) Best MJ story O man only 1...hmmm. Lets go back to January 2008. I still only owned my blue 1988 and I was enjoying a snowy night racing through the feilds around my house with a few friends. After awhile I managed to drift alittle far off into the weeds and slammed into a large rock with the right front tire at about 30-35mph. The truck went airborne and I thought for sure I was going over. After slamming back into the ground and coming to a stop I got out to asess the damage. All my friends had rushed to the scene only seeing headlights become vertical and then crashing back down. The next day after a replacement tire and an alignment the truck was good as new! No broken chassis parts, NOTHING! That night everyone got a taste of the toughness of these little pickups and still to this day I use that event as a testmony. What owner loves best about CC O man, theres just so much. Wether its an escape over my lunch break from a hectic day at work, or i just have a few minutes to kill in the evening. I can't think of much better therapy than this forum and the members of it. The array of knowledge, dedication and the sense of humor of (most) members is outstanding! Anytime i get behind a computer screen its one of the 1st sites i jump onto. It doesnt matter if its to checjk up on a build, to ask/answer a technical question or just to see what crazy things might be happening to others that day.....Comancheclub.com is as important to me as Facebook is to a teenage girl. Ha Ha I ABSOLUTLY LOVE IT! and knowing I'm not the only MJ nut out there makes me feel even better each day :D ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BJ, holy crap. That's a lot of MJ's. Your trucks all have a purpose. You've been one of the members who has been around here pretty much since the dawn of the club, and you've only become a stronger member. You share your tips and tricks you've discovered while working on your fleet, your ideas, and your help to any who need it. You have a build thread on your trucks and keep them updated. Those trucks! This is what the bug is all about. I can't tell you the ideas and sparks you've started with the Walker tribute truck. Completely out of the blue, you take a super clean truck and make it an awesome replica/homage to a big part of MJ heritage. Congrats, and enjoy the MJOTM! Rob :cheers:

He's one of those guys with the V6. Rob

Nope, different tanks, different sender. Rob

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7f0_1340976270 Rob :cheers:

It's been on ebay a few times also... Every time I see it, it makes me double think getting rid of the towing mirrors on the Farmer. Something about that truck just makes it look right. Rob

To properly do it, it's best to take it somewhere where they can draw it down under vacuum, leak test it, and charge the system proper. Moisture is your enemy, without a vacuum pump, it's tough to clear the system as needed. Check your components for obvious leaks or damage, then take it to a shop. Rob :cheers:

In my experience, it has always been the track bar, track bar bushing at the axle, track bar rod end, pitman arm, or loose steering box. Anything that will cause a skip/looseness in the steering to axle placement. If the axle can walk, as with a worn trackbar, every time it walks you get an undesired steering event. Same with worn steering components or gearbox... If one can move independently of the other, the wheels can wander left and right, until they catch just the right bump or speed and set off the whole works. Have a buddy get in the truck, key on, engine off, and saw the steering wheel back and fourth with the wheels on the ground. As they are doing this, look for any looseness or movement in between rod ends, bushings, or components. Rob

It's rare to ever get a call/trip off the card. I don't know what it is. I've even chased people down through 2 towns to catch up to them at a stop light. Never to hear from them again. Good to hear that you got a response. Pretty cool one at that. Rob

Finally fixed something that was bothering me. Turns out the dealer still makes them, and they are only about $11. The rear wheel cylinder on the right had been leaking, and bad. Master went dry a day ago, so I figured I would just fix it already. Did a look over, and ordered up all the parts. $56, and everything should be in tomorrow. Back of the tire looks like spin art. And on a side note, I found a wasp nest under a spare tire I had outside, so out came the brake cleaner and the grill lighter. More pics tomorrow after I do the brakes. Rob :cheers:

Off the top of my head, Neohic is a huge VW guy, he's got a beetle, dunebuggy, and various hands in the pot including some engine swaps... Sirsam is a die hard Westy guy with ton's of info... A bunch of members DD VW's of all shapes and sizes. I would love to have a VW dd, but just can't give up the hauling aspect of a ZJ/MJ/XJ. Let's face it, in order to love the MJ or a VW, you have to be a little touched in the head. Rob

235/75R15 4wd ... just because everyone loves a dancing banana. Ben' date=' I thought I was bad... I think you have just eclipsed me. By a longshot. Plus, if you want me to come up in August, you will have to pre-plan my back country roads all the way up to you if I'm not supposed to go that fast. I second the 30s on 3". I have 3" and 31s right now and I rub too much in the front. I'm sure you don't want to trim, so that's my vote or leave it as is. I was just looking for a bit more circumference. Now that you mention it, I remember rubbing with 31's. Rob

You will find that MJ/VW's go hand in hand here. Feel free to indulge us. We have a lot of VeeDub owners in the room. Rob

They don't leave the outbox until they are read by the recipient. Pete is on vacation to Georgia. Anything you need a hand with? Rob

Will and Don have it I guess. These are the demons I am fighting with it. Maybe I am just nervous about the high rev's on the highway. Couldn't imagine doing 65 for an extended period of time. Rob

You must not know much about the Renault in this thing. I'm not going to do any "tweaks" to an engine I can't get parts for. A maintenance item, the timing belt, was hard enough to find by itself (On a shelf in Belgium). I couldn't even imagine trying to find hard parts. Plus, a 40 HP gain would be adding 50% more power. I don't think it was ever designed for that. Rob

The lift would really depend on what those OME coils would end up doing... Only one way to tell. I have heard that those OME coils are incredible. I know Glundbad has some on his Chief, and he said he noticed a difference as soon as he hit his driveway. You are right about the pavement queen aspect of it. Maybe not 3", but whatever I get out of the coils... Similar to what you have brewing with your '86. Know what I mean Verne? Rob

It moves decent for what it is. The turbo helps a ton. I would be more worried about not keeping it original. I guess it could all be reversed, but still. Rob

Man oh man. I am contemplating something I swore I wouldn't do. Lifting the Diesel MJ. When it was up at opsled's he was doing the injection pump and getting it running right, he made mention of putting a little 3" lift and some 31's on it. Nah, I said, looks good as it is. The more and more I think about it, I think a 3" or so lift and some 31's might not only look good, but help it truck down the road a bit easier. One of the things I noticed is that with those 4.10's, the engine sits at 3,000 RPM's at 55. I know it's "Right" but I just don't like it. Now I know what Phil meant when he said that the 260K on his equaled a ton of rev's on the engine. Maybe with the 31's I could gain some circumference and bring the rev's down a touch. If I were to do it, I have a set of Old Man Emu 1.5" or 2" front coils which I have heard are actually closer to 3" and ride like a dream. I also am sitting on a Metric Ton leaf pack, so I could either go that route, or maybe some Chevy drop shackles in back... I would probably do the WJ LCA's on the front since I am pretty sure the stock LCA bushings are shot anyway... Keep the black turbines, and do a 31"ish retread. The truck in question: So I guess my question is, what would you guys do? Do I keep it bone stock and original? Do I give it a little 'tude? Rob

Thanks Don! I can't thank you enough for doing that work for me Phil. I can't even express how happy I am to just have it going again, and trucking down the road. It's been a long time since I've had a running, driving Comanche, let alone a clean/rare one like this. I am happy I can rub off on you and rekindle a love for an old truck that's been with you for so many years. I would love to see it rise again. Around here, the diesel pumps are on the end pumps and outside pumps of all stations, because they know that the majority of vehicles coming to fill off them are on the larger side. I just have to get used to driving a stick diesel. The ram I had was an auto, and I've noticed how cool it is to have the turbo - a lot less downshifting. Rather than down shifting, just a little throttle, and the boost comes right up and picks up the slack. I must say too, that I am already excited about the fuel mileage. Phil told me I can expect in excess of 30 MPG, better on the highway. If I remember correct, I think he said he could get 38 on the highway. I filled up just after I got the truck on the road with a junk pump and unknown fuel, and after 220 miles with it being in and out of the shop, pump on and off... Once I did the calculations, I am already at 25 MPG. I can't wait to see what it levels out to now that the pump is fixed, and the fuel is getting fresher and fresher with every fill. Rob

Moved to pub, and fixed the two pics I could. You took the address in the address bar, but that won't work. Right click on the pic, select copy image location, and use that inbetween the img tags. Rob :cheers:

Rob

Oh, it's on like Donkey Kong now. Just settling in. Life is good. Rob :cheers:

Insert huge freaking smiley face here. I just picked up the diesel from Phil's (opsled) house and I haven't been able to stop smiling. The whole way home was a riot, plenty of power, great sound, and smooth running. Like it should be. It's a great feeling. Phil got it fixed up, running good, and made sure I was in good shape. Phil tried his alternator to get my tach working, but to no avail. Then they tried the gauge. Sure enough, the gauge was toast. It was a complete surprise to me when Pat told me to start it up this afternoon and I saw the tach come up and sit where it should. Sweet! Phil lent me his until I can find another, because his just putters around the farm. So awesome. b7qUQDjm1mc :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: All hail Phil! :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: I still have some electrical gremlins to work out, but it is a good running article. Good enough for me for now. Rob :cheers: