knever3

Now THAT is a sharp lookin truck, to be honest the white one looked like a grandpa truck where the fifth wheel is right behind. I would stay away from one that has a fifth wheel hitch anyway, there are more trucks out there that haven't ever pulled anything. True they are built for this purpose but if you had a choice wouldn't you choose the road less traveled?

If that's not Irony I don't know what is!! Best of luck with Irene, don't fret it's just going to rain albeit for about 8 hours!

I sure like that rust free starter, I am not looking forward to mine rotting away over the years and the constant upkeep. Thanks for the pics of the progress, replies are few and far inbetween sometimes so don't give up.

Ok, update plan for working on the truck got on the back burner. I had a bedroom I was working on this past week. I did however get my driveshafts back so here they are. I had them replace all joints with spicers, balanced and painted. They switched the yolk and cut down my 2wd driveshaft to the length I requested. I am happy with them. I had gotten a new set of JKS adjustable control arms that turned out to be JK ones. :fs1: It's partially my fault and some of the websites. They had the same pictures for the JK ones as the XJ ones, and their description said the same thing for all. Lesson learned, and I paid to send them back today.

I don't have any experience with Mobile 1 filters, if they are their premium line like their full synthetic stuff I would say they would be good. I myself use AMS Oil filters and Castrol GTX, Castrol Syntec in the car. I buy the filters from Belle Tire and from what I've seen from every other filter I've picked up at the auto parts store and/or tried personally I perfer the AMS. They aren't that expensive either. For a step up from that try Royal Purple ULTRA premium filters, they are made from synthetic materials exclusively for synthetic oils. I saw how they built and tested them and I believe everything I saw.

Well after 7 days of hard work on both the Comanche and the donor Cherokee I've fell short of my lofty goal. I really gave it a go but with constant interruptions running for hours to get parts on a daily basis the project will carry into next week. I didn't expect to power wash EVERYTHING that came from the XJ, the dirt in the south is like concrete. I am taking my time on most things trying not to rush slapping it together and that is my crutch. I will be much happier in the end. The progress update: First thing this morning since I couldn't sleep anyway was to measure the driveshaft length. I will be keeping my 2wd driveshaft, I took 3 shafts to Joint Clutch to have the u-joints replaced and the rear shaft shortned and balanced. After realizing that the output shaft was different I'm glad I had three spare shafts around. Well I'm not the only one to miss a deadline, the company said they would try to get it back to me today. No sweat since I'm not really ready for it anyway. Old trans, ba-10/5 Before install of the new trans I almost forgot to install this!! Remnants of the old brackets In with the Novak shifter cable, After that was done I started with some engine work, I swapped throttle bodies because the auto one had the bracket for cruise and the sensor is different. Here's some pics of the two. I decided to install the shifters and the cruise to get most of the in and out stuff done. alt='DSC_0621.jpg'> I hope you all enjoy seeing the progress since I worked my whole week of vacation. All for a good cause.

Whew, my fiance showed up yesterday and brought her camera. I bought a Nikon point and shoot one and the flash quality is terrible, with her Nikon D5000 the pictures are so crisp and clear. These are taken at the lowest quality setting too. Puts their other product to shame, unless I just got a bad one. :hmm: So more work today, I got the leaf springs back on, they make the truck sit 1/2" lower than before. I have the Hell Creek 3" leafs and now I have the JKS shackles installed. I removed the fourth leaf and for once when you jump on the rear bumper the truck actually moves!! That should ride better. Ok, here goes the quality pics. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Tomorrow's Project. Image Not Found

Pretty soon...

I have had some progress with the project this week. The whole interior is out, the entire wire harness is out, the newly painted leaf springs and JKS shackles are in and I replaced the leaking valve cover gasket. Here are some pics of the progress.

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to get a new steering wheel, I bet you didn't pay close to what I paid. Almost $200 for mine off ebay, I selected buy it now and the owner probably fell over someone was crazy enough to fork out that kind of cash for a 20 year old wheel.

So lets see the collection, I'm a fan of old school video games. How bout the 3DO from Panasonic?

My guess is nowhere fast! :yes:

Here are a few pictures of the leaf springs I had mentioned. The paint that comes on them is a joke. After about 1000 miles driven and only a couple days have ever seen rain never snow here is what the springs look like. So here's what they looked when I installed them: Now come on, if you know something is going to be outside like a suspension component maybe you should put the money on some more paint. Shame on them, Now the end customer (me in this case) must take the time and money to make it right as Mike Holmes would say. I'll post pics when they come back from blast/epoxy primer and paint.

I had a couple days off to work on the trucks. My friend Jerami came over after work to help me tear the Cherokee down. We got a good start and I picked up the day after. We got the trans/transfer case and crossmember, driveshafts, pedal assembly, cruise, A/C, heater box, radiator and front end disassembled. We also removed the rear axle on the Comanche to get the leafs repainted. They should be done today or tomorrow, I can't wait to see how they turned out. I need to stop to Fastenall to get new thru-bolts since the ones that came on them were fine thread and after soaking them with kroil the nut took the threads right off the bolt. Here are a few pics of the progress thus far.

I have a '90 xj donor but the engine/trans harness is different. The xj sticker says 1990 chrysler. My mj is an '87 but says amc jeep on the sticker. Did I get unlucky and buy a late model '90 and get the wrong parts truck? I need another complete harness because this one won't work and it's chopped up anyway. Does anyone have a harness that they would like to sell me? Also is the trans computer going to work because one is Chrysler and one is amc? I have pics but can't figure how to upload them with the iPad.

Just a thought maybe everyone should just bite the bullet, run down to their local parts store and buy a set of torx bits along with the external sets for the bell housing bolts. I just removed my trans the other night and I was prepared to go to the store to get the proper socket, after digging through my tool box I already had a set of external torx sockets. :D I feel for everyone out there. I was a mechanic for a few years and have accumulated a number of specialty tools. From my experience nothing can touch the right tool for the job. Period. :wrench:

:redX: :nuts:

:agree: That's the advice I was looking for. Thank you

Ok, I've exhausted my search and I can't find a nice replacement pair of stock height rear shackles for my Comanche. I see that JKS makes them but they say "Cherokee/Comanche". I don't think they are the same if I remember. So who makes them and why are they or arent they the same?

So I am debating installing A/c from my donor cherokee. In your opinion is it worth it? I can see ahead I will need to buy a new reciever drier, probably a new condenser core and a heater core just for a piece of mind. I need to switch the wiring and the heater controlls too. So after all that is it really worth it?

Ok, so here's the scoop on the long awaited project. I decided to take a week off of work to work on the Comanche. The first week of August I need to do these things. Switch over from 2wd to 4wd, front axle already installed. Remove NEW hell creek rear leafs and have them powder coated or painted since the paint they come with SUCKS!! :shake: Install door speakers, radio, headliner, and power lock actuators with remote keyless entry. Possibly install A/C from donor. I don't know if it's worth the hassle? :hmm: That's the big list anyway, we'll see how much I get done when I actually have time to work on it. :wrench:

Thank you, I bought the cable one, it should be here tomorrow. Thanks for the pics!

Pure awesome!!

That would be great!!

I don't like OE shifter linkage on my 241 transfer case so before do my 4wd swap I need to order a linkage. Which one is the best between these two? I want someone that has used one before to give me some feedback. Here are the ones I am referring to. Website for info: http://www.novak-adapt.com/catalog/kit_sk2x.htm