dankicksass

The Ilco brass key I had cut is a lot lighter and feels like junk compared to the Chrysler key I have.

Finally got around to working on the Jeep again. Haven't got a lot done really. Took off the bumpers because they both need to be adjusted now, replaced later. I need to take off the badges on the fenders because the TJ flares need the space and the front fenders aren't long for the world anyway. I was thinking about putting fresh ones on the door after it gets painted. A Facebook friend found tail lamps for me so those are on the way. I haven't given up on my original lamps but also haven't had time to sit with the heat gun and fix them. I'm thinking about welding a receiver hitch to my rear bumper temporarily, until I build a better bumper.

My Jeep came with one key. It's a Chrysler plastic head that looks pretty old so I assume it's original. On the way home with it, I had a copy made just in case. The original was really worn down though. If I go to a Jeep dealer, can they make a key from a 1991 VIN or is that too old? If I did get a new key made, should I expect it to work nice or should I scrap this idea? The peaks and valleys on my key are more like hills and streams.

I don't even have a headliner, I'm fully jealous of anyone who even has one that's falling down. I'll make or buy one eventually, that's a tomorrow problem.

I'm trying to get my taxes done so no real progress today. I mocked up the TJ flares with green tape and they look boss. Taillights are still looking pretty sad. Harmonic balancer is shot so I ordered that. I remembered I have a stock JK towing harness so I decided to use that with the Silverado harness to re-do the tail light harness. Keeping a list in MS OneNote of all the stuff I do to this truck so it has some accounting.

I think it looks like a good fit, especially since Dakota lights are about $30 a pair brand new. Nice work.

I separated the lens from the housing on my lamps with a heat gun, and I strongly recommend against this for anyone else who tries to save broken lamps. The polyester housings do not take heat well and deform extremely easily. If I were to go thru this again, I'd cut them instead. Now I've got quite a bit of work to straighten the housings before I even begin to fill in the missing plastic and reinforce the lamp mounting areas. On the bright side, I picked up a set of TJ Rubicon flares today, and I'm very exited about that.

How different are the fenders shaped? Anybody have a photo of the late header installed with early fenders? My fenders are crap but I'd probably do the header a lot sooner if I didn't have to find fenders, can grab the whole kit on ebay for about $100.

I didn't have a lot of time to work on the Jeep today. I wanted to try to fix the tailgate but it came to my attention that the tail lights are crap. One was out so I went to do the bulb, but I was damn near horrified to find house wire nuts used by the PO to repair existing wiring. So that's got to go. Fortunately I have a brand new pair of wiring harnesses from a late model Silverado that I got for nothing. They have two brake/turn bulbs and one reverse, all 3047. I was saving these for my Monte Carlo, but it has perfectly good lighting and I need these now. New from the dealer these harnesses are about $40 if you were to buy two of the cheap side 25906854. I know what you're thinking. "Dan, those bulbs won't fit." And you're right. This required minor modification of the bulb receptacles in each lamp. 90 seconds with a Dremel tool and they fit. About 1/8in needed to be taken out of one tab slot for each bulb and the ground wires needed to be extended between the bulbs. I think older GM harnesses with the reverse on bottom would probably require less wire modification, but these were free to me. I chose to modify the plastic lamp to fit because it's much easier this way than modifying the bulb sockets. I think the stock bulb sockets would still engage, but it doesn't really matter. I have no intention of selling these lamps. If I ever buy new lamps, I'll just modify those again. The trimmed areas are marked in white. So far this has worked brilliantly. I've now got three bulbs per tail lamp and I need to join four wires per side. Total cost: about $0.50 worth of solder, heat shrink and tape, and ten minutes. Not so fast though. These lamps have been thru the last 23 years and it shows. All the mounting tabs are cracked or broken. So tomorrow I'll be going to the store for some supplies. I'll split the lamps, reinforce the mounting tabs by plastic welding some metal lock washers and replacement plastic in. The lens has a bit of cracking, so that will be addressed. Tomorrow is another day.

Hi I'm Dan, I'm from Jersey, and I've always been a car guy. Was a Chevy guy in my teens, then I got heavy into VWs, then I relaxed it and just worked on cars for a while and didn't try to do anything fancy to my own. This is my first Jeep. It's a 91 Comanche 4.0 AT 4WD with a Dana 35 rear. It's not very pretty right now but the bones look good to me. I got it in Pennsylvania where it would not pass state inspection so it sat at the PO's house forever before I saw it. I'm a pro tech but I don't know how to weld yet, guess it's time I do. The good: - Clean title - It runs and drives and can keep up with highway traffic - It has a little bit of lift and came with plenty of 31s - It has a full console with beverage holders The bad: - Rotted out rockers and bed - Tailgate handle is missing, tailgate isn't in good condition - The steering is crap - The existing lift doesn't look well done and the back end is way too low - The blower doesn't work and was disassembled by the PO - The engine does not appear to reach operating temp during normal driving - The engine is running really rich, probably due to the cooling issue - Fuel level gauge is crap - Exhaust leaks - 4WD doesn't work as well as I'd like it to - Bunch of missing interior bits - Stereo doesn't work - Junkyards around North Jersey haven't been very good for my other vehicles but maybe they'll be good for Jeeps - Rear bumper doesn't fit and it's rotting out - Doors are missing limiters, not very good condition doors in general The plan, in order of importance, I guess: - Fix the blower and change the T-stat and WP if necessary - Fix the exhaust bare minimum so it stays out of the cab. New exhaust later - Fix the tailgate or find a new one - TJ Rubicon flares, cut out the bed rot, fix the bumper as much as necessary right now - Remove rocker rot and fix the cab - Remove carpet, repair floor if necessary, fit new carpet and headliner - Get the ignition cylinder replaced before it leaves me stranded - Fix the lift and steering. SOA conversion probably. New springs definitely. Like to get a better axle in there - Dye interior black, recover dash top with vinyl, install nicer seats, probably MkV Jetta vinyl - Need to get a new fuel tank because the anti-slosh is crap. Doesn't leak right now but it's on its way out - New wheels and tires. Highly likely it'll be JK 17s with 2in spacers and 33s unless somebody can talk me out of it - Transfer case has angered Jobu, so it will need attention. Would like the later Cherokee full time switchable box if that's not crap. I'm sure someone will let me know. - Doors need attention, like to update them to late model with power windows, locks and mirrors - Late model front end update and a new rear bumper with late model endcaps - New paint, probably white - Stereo fixed sometime in there - Somewhere in there I'd like to fit a Chevy V8 and new trans in - Also if a rollbar finds its way into my lap I wouldn't turn it down - Needs LED lighting everywhere

I don't take any real issue with this other than the build location. Jeeps shouldn't be imports.

I signed up thru the Tapatalk app with the automatic button so I have no password. To log in on my PC, I need a password reset but the dialog never sends me the email. Can a mod help?

Hey, I'm Dan, and this is my first Jeep. 91 4.0 AT shortbed with a 4in lift. It has about 200k on the body, I don't know a lot of history on the truck but the price was right. I haven't done anything with it yet but it's a toy so the bad ideas are flowing.