Dillithium

Last week I started this thread http://comancheclub.com/topic/41888-86-comanche-purchasing-advice/ to ask for help with purchasing a comanche. It took a little while, with the seller being absent for a while but since last tuesday I am officially the owner of a new to me 1986 comanche! It's hard to describe how exited I am about this, it's my first car and what a car to start with! Before I give you my long story, let's get the obligatory pictures out of the way first. So, as mentioned before it's an 86 LWB. It was imported from Californio late 2012 and had been sitting in the p/o's garage since then. He started sanding the hood and roof and did some other things, but eventually just didn't have time anymore for it and wanted to get rid of it. Which I where I came in of course. I took it off his hands for a reasonable price and was able to drive it home, where I got some sweet time to get to know my new pick up. It runs fine, it shifts(though first and second whine) and it goes down at 75 mph quite well. But let's say that there are a few...ahem..issues. None of which I can't tackle, but I definitely miss having an autozone/advanced/napa with a full availabilty of knock off or reman parts. Now, the list of critical problems. - The (power)steering box leaks fluid, not at the pitman arm(as far as I know) but definitely at the input shaft from the actual steering wheel. There is also a lot of slop in the steering wheel, and when I go lock to lock the whole car vibrates pretty badly. I can't imagine what causes that horrible vibration, maybe low fluid or something, I don't know. The serpentine doesn't look brand new but it's not worn. The p/o gave me a few seals to tackle it, but I think I just need a rebuild kit or a new one. I haven't had it off the floor yet so I can't confirm the slop comes from the box, but considering its condition I suspect it's that. The steering wheel itself is offset too, but the weird thing is that the car tracks very well. I can let go of the wheel and it just keeps going straight...quite surprising. - The brakes need to be bled, I found that out right when I took off. It was pretty scary. I went ahead and just treated myself to a WJ master cylinder + booster from a JY, i hope to god it works and doesn't leak or have vacume issues. - Being in Europe, I need to adjust adjust the lighting. At least up to a point where I'm not blinding everyone in their tiny little Peugot 106's. Or smart roadsters for that matter, holy $#!& those are small and low... - It has vibrations between 50-55 miles per hour. The front driveshaft is also not currently in it, though I do have it. I need to do ujoints on both shafts and see if that helps. After I get these four critical things fixed, I can bring it in for a National inspection. Right now I don't have a formal title or even license plates. That means I can't legally drive it, insure it or pay the required quarterly roadtaxes. With the JY brake set up bleeding it shouldn't require much, but I haven't had it on four jackstands yet. Who knows what else there is to find, wheelbearings, CV joints on the halfshafts, the list is endless. So far I've just taken off those horrid round lights off of the rollbar, they're nice and heavy but I want rectangular lights as they came from the factory. I think it just suits the headlights better. I've also been tackling the interior lights, which turned out to be a bad connection. I need to follow all of the renix tips, refresh grounds etc. But so far I just haven't had the time. I won't bore you with my long list of things I want to do to this car, because it's all pretty cookie cutter. But for now I just want it safe and mechanically sound so I can get plates and drive it to work and school. I've been using the search function a lot to solve issues, but I'll keep posting updates here when I get time. I have next week off from class and (mostly) work, so I'll get a lot done I hope. Thanks for reading! *edit, as far as the last picture goes. Those were in the spare parts container. Anyone know what they are?

Not to threadjack, but do the Fey's also fit on the longbed MJ's?(1986 Comanche) I can't select our jeep model on their website and I can't find the mounting kit either. I'm currently without a rear bumper, so I'm trying to find a new one. *edit, the problem is that everywhere I see the bumper it lists 87 as the starting year for it to fit. I'm a little worried it won't fit an 86 longbed.

Well it felt like touch and go for a moment there, since the owner of the comanche went silent for a few days. He finally replied to my offer today and hopefully I can go do a final inspection soon and call myself a comanche owner! man, I have so much to read and bookmark before I start this project. I can't wait! Thanks for your help everyone, if all goes well I'll start my own project thread soon.

For now that is definitly the idea, I'd just like to drive it and get used to the fourbanger. I might even like it. I'm so happy to hear the 242 will work with the standard driveline. I hear it's a much better tcase, and permanent 4x4 sounds sexy. From what I've read from other users it's the tunnel and cooling system, specifically the radiator mounts. I haven't read anything conclusive about motormounts, since the two blocks are so similar in design I hope I don't have to mess with them. The 5.2 v8(from the ZJ?) would be awesome, they're not uncommon here but the gas mileage is pretty crazy. I don't know if I want that. I'm definitely checking out your build though! Dilithium, Do I understand you and the 86 Comanche are in Western Europe??? If that is true, then you have some serious options for an engine upgrade that we in North America just don't have. The 2.5 turbo diesel built (I think) by VM. Yes Sir, 2.5 TD cherokee's are around to steal an engine from. However much I like diesels too, even with the lower price per liter(quart) of diesel they're still not economical. Where I live, we pay roadtaxes by type of fuel and weight of the car. A diesel comanche would cost me about 80 bucks for roadtaxes per month, for an equivalant gas car it's significantly less. Unless I drive a certain amount of miles per year, diesel would cost me more. Not to mention how expensive new turbo's are for those engines. I know western europe is vague as far as location goes, but I'm still worried about someone else snagging the car before I get to it. Once I get the comanche I can disclose my whereabouts =D. Thank you for all your replies. I put in an offer, currently waiting for a reply. I still have to do an inspection before I drive away with it, let's hope it's as advertised!

Goodday fellow Comanche lovers, Similar to everyone here I've wanted a comanche for a long, long time. I pretty much gave up on it, because in western europe they're so damn hard to find. I tried to settle for a post face lift cherokee, but I haven't had a lot of luck finding a good one in that category either. They're plagued by rust, high mileage(even for the 4.0) and owners who want more for it than they're worth.. I even tried a WJ, but the 4.7 is just too hungry for gas and the Insurance/road taxes are simply too high for someone with a part time job. Believe or not, I found a comanche for sale. I've been talking to the owner and he's willing to part with it. It came from the Sunshine state, so rust is nowhere near the vehicle. It's been sitting in his garage for a while now since he's been trying to sell it. Problem with it is, it's an 86. All my research on cherokee's was on the post 91 models. I know the np231, the 4.0 HO, the gearboxes all by heart. But I've never even seen an 86 cherokee, let alone a comanche. I simply don't know a lot about them. I've done some research of course, jeepforums are always incredibly helpfull and abundant in information, but I'd still like to hear any tips you could give me. It's a 2.5TBI, 4 speed manual with command-trac Tcase. My impression is that it'll be a dana 35 in the rear with (hopefully) 4.10, or maybe 3.53. Front is Always D30 on the comanche's I believe? The nice thing about it is that it has fhe stock. roll/lightbar. I hear it's tinfoil material, but it'll make a good design to rebuild with thicker piping. My plans for it: I want to give it the facelift from the 97+, most importantly the 4.0, ax-15 and the ever rare np242. I know the tunnel/firewall needs modifying but I saw someone took Thor's hammer to it and that worked, so I'm not to worried about that. But what about transmission mounts? Will the crossmember of the ax-15 fit on an 86? will the 242 fit on an 86? I have acces to every form of welding, but I don't know anything about fabrication. I wouldn't even know where to find steel to use, that's how experienced I am. I'm really betting on plug and play upgrades, like the 96+ brakes, ZJ rear discs, Hella H4 lights and so on. I'm not afraid to pull the engine, it actually sounds fun. But hacking into a chassis might be above my head. Also, motormounts, do they need relocating? It'll get a moderate 2-3'' lift, with at the most 30'' tires(with hopefully some moab wheels). It has to be a super reliable DD to get to school and work. This will be my first car, I want to be armed with information before I sink into a moneypit(No, not every jeep is a money pit per definition!) Any insight is appreciated, even if you tell me to stay away from 86's. Thank you for reading this far.