ryrycars

Its been a fun project. After a couple more wheeling trips it'll be hard to tell its a Comanche tho. Body is getting pretty beat

I had a dana 44 and a 9" under it on 37s for awhile and things just spiraled out of control....

Build List Front Axle 1979 F350 Kingpin Dana 60 · Yukon 5.38 thick cut gears · Yukon Grizzly Locker · Yukon Master install kit · Yukon Kingpin Rebuild kits · RCV 4130 Axle Shafts · RCV Drive Slugs · Reid Racing Knuckles · SORD Double shear high steer arms w/ ARP Hardware · Barnes4wd Truss · Ballistic Fab Shave kit and diff cover · 1330 Yoke Rear Axle 1979 Chevrolet 3500 14Bolt FF · Nitro 5.38 Thick cut turned gears · Detroit Locker · Yukon Master install kit · RuffStuffSpecialities Disc Brake Swap Kit · Ballistic Fab Truss, Pinion guard and shave kit · 1350 Yoke Steering · 2.5x8 PSC Double Ended Ram · 160cc PSC Orbital Valve · PSC Cherokee Power Steering Pump · Transmission Cooler · Parker Store Lines · PSC Resevoir and mount kit · Custom Ram mount made of 1.75” .120 wall dom · Barnes ¾” Heims Suspension Front · 16” ORI STX Struts · Double Triangulated 4 link · Ruffstuff 1.25” Heims · 1.75 .120 Upper · 2.0 .25 Lowers · Barnes4wd Shock Hoops · Custom Crossmember Rear · 16” ORI STX Struts · Double Triangulated 4 link · Barnes 1.25” Heims · 2.0 .25 Uppers and Lowers · Barnes4wd Shock Hoops · Custom Crossmember DriveTrain · Stock 1987 Renix with 400k miles using a 1990 Computer · 1998 Wrangler ax15 with around 160k · NP231 With SYE · LUK Heavy Duty Clutch · LUK Flywheel · LUK Master and Slave Cylinder · Homemade front and rear driveshafts · 3 Core Radiator · Electric Cooling Fan · RCI 15 Gallon fuel cell with a Delphi 1997 Cherokee Fuel Pump Wheels and Tires · 17x9 3.5BS Trail gear Creeper Locks · 42x14.5x17 Maxxis Trepador Competition Compound Interior · 4 point cage made of 1.75 .120 DOM · Corbeau Baja Suspension Seats Tied into cage · Round Body Center Console · Bluetooth Alpine Headunit, Waterproof 6.5” speakers, 10” JL Sub · Custom Built Floors · 6 switch panel Body · Badlands 9k Winch · Custom front winch bumper · Rear bumper tied in as part of frame · LED Rocklights on all 4 corners · LED POD headlights · Custom Half Doors · Bed bobbed to 3’4” · 2x6x3/16 Rock Sliders · 75% of Unibody is plated with ¼” Steel · Copper Hard Brake lines, Rough Country Steel Braided

wow...just remembered this existed. You could say some things have changed

Thanks! Unfortunately that gti and my other toys keep taking away from my Comanche funds :doh:

Well its been a long while since Ive given an update. I got everything buttoned up, a new shaft made for the rear and she's been on the road. I'm very happy, its drives straight with zero vibrations. Ive taken it on a couple trips over the past couple of months and its done great. This winter, I will be long arming it and swapping in a different dana 30. I bought a dana 30 with 4:10s, Aussie locker, solid diff covered and trussed for 100 bucks. Its already set up for 3 link and i purchased 3 link arms as well. I just need to build a crossmember. So stay tuned for that, custom 3-link member for a BA-10. Floor pans will most likely be replaced at the same time.

My buddies GLI sneaking in the background. The GLI is still there, something huge is blocking it. Driveshaft was a little short... Anyway, I'm really happy with the way its turned out. Final lift height is somewhere around 8" which is way too tall for me, but will do for now. Putting my winch bumper on this week and will hopefully have the driveshaft back soon as well. After that I need to order a front locker and put the gears in and ill be in the woods. The local Jeep Jam is in a week, I'm hoping to make it to that. Probably won't have the gears in the front done by then, but it will still be cool to cruise out there and see some Jeeps.

Sorry, that part was a little unclear. Prior to taking my cherokee off the road I planned on lifting the Comanche. I ordered the IRO 8.8 swap kit and sourced an 8.8 with 4.10s and lsd from a local yard. I just had this stuff sitting around. I swapped it in when I swapped the front over from the Cherokee. So the rear end is simply SOA with a Ford 8.8.

Thanks! Traded off my off brand 33s for a set of 35" KM2s. Near the same amount of tread and it was a straight trade, so i couldn't complain.Cut the front of the fenders to install my Smittybilt XRC winch bumper. Ordered and installed the JKS ACOS spacers. Got the rear shocks on and brakes functioning as well. Have a couple leaks I need to take care of. Rear Driveshaft is currently at the shop getting lengthened, then it will be on the road.

Making some progress... As of now it drives. I'm unhappy with a couple of things. The front sits slightly lower and will sit even lower once my winch bumper goes on. I'm not really a fan of my tires, would like to upgrade to 35s. I still need to order brake lines and re route the lines in the rear, since I swapped in an 8.8. Plans for now are. ACOS spacers for the front, order stainless brake lines, order rear shocks and try to trade my 33s for some 35s. After that it will be drivable on the road. From that point I will drive it to my buddies house to regear the front. I already have a new carrier, ring and pinion and master install kit. Trying to decide if I want a lunchbox locker or wheel the 30 open till it brakes and upgrade...decisions decisions. Hoping to be driving and wheeling it with in the next couple of weeks.

I did research on the engo, warn r8000 and super winch lp8500. The warn is basically a budget winch with warns name put on it from what I have found. It offers the same warranty as the engo, but has a heavier price. The super winch is also an option for me, but I think I will most likely go with the Engo. They have great reviews, a good warranty and lastly a great price :thumbsup:

Thanks for all the replies! The winch came on my Cherokee when I bought it, I used it once and went to use it again and it wouldn't retract. Ive heard nothing but bad things about this older style xrc. I considered fixing it, however I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with it and a solenoid is $150. Thats a chunk I could throw at a new winch. I have always heard great things about warn and would love to go that direction if the budget allows. I will also check into the supertech, that sounds like a pretty good deal. I don't plan on using the winch a whole lot, but then again I don't think I ever plan on needing to use a winch it just kind of happens. Its more of a safety precaution. It would most likely see use once a month. Do you all think an 8k would be enough?

Not sure if this has been covered, but anyone have any suggestions on best budget winch? I have a Smittybuilt XRC8 winch that I believe the solenoid has failed on as it will not retract. I'm looking to replace it instead of fixing. My buddy has a 12k Badlands from Harbor Freight that appears to work alright, but I question the quality. Any input would be appreciated.

Started to take the cherokee a part, I'm setting aside all the parts I want to keep before parting it out. The plans for the Comanche as of now are Swap over front axle, heim steering, 33s, 6 inch coils, drop brackets and control arms from the cherokee to the comanche. Find a ford 8.8 with 4.10s and lsd and do a soa in the rear. Repair the floor pans in the Comanche and either this winter or next summer swap in the HO and AX15 out of the Cherokee as they only have 120k on them. Will be a lot of work, but worth it in the end. A small update anyhow, was at the local LKQ and decided I was sick of the dummy gauges in the Comanche. I figured since it will be my only jeep and see quite a bit of woods time it would be smart to acquire some real gauges. I sourced a full cluster out of a 90 Cherokee and it also had a factory clock :yes: Unfortunately the gauge cluster had a cracked lens and a grey surround, while my factory one was black. I swapped the surround and drilled a hole in the factory lens for the trip reset, I think it turned out pretty good. The clock plugged right into the factory wiring and worked. Not a bad upgrade, got everything for $30. Next I need to grab some new sensors, so my water temp and oil gauge work and then onto the lift!

Little bit of an update...Was driving my 97 and started hearing a thud in the rear. Upon investigation, I discovered that the unibody rails got a lot worse over winter. I decided to take it off the road, because it is unsafe. Instead of repairing it, I'm going to part it out. Most of the parts will be transferred over to the Comanche :thumbsup: Here are some pictures of the rails, these are just a couple of the spots and here's the new daily.

You could also just piece together the parts needed. That might be a little cheaper for you then buying a donor vehicle. Just make sure the front axle has the same gears as your rear. The AX4 transmission is a 4 speed, I would recommend staying with a AX5 which did come in the 2.5 and 2.8 Cherokees and Comanches.

Yeah, I'm the same way. I don't know how the flares have stayed on my cherokee this long. Its a 6" pieced together lift with drop brackets and 33x12.50 chinese mud terrains. The front and rear have definitely sagged though, the front due to the winch bumper and the rear due to ad a leaf.

Looking good , those vent windows are a nice addition. Your rear passengers will thank you, my buddy had them in his 2 door and when riding in the rear they are quite nice especially in the trails. can't wait to see it with a 4.5" its going to look good. Do you plan on keeping the stock flares?

Wow! very nice work.

That is a very clean smurf you have there. Traded my 91 for my Comanche, but would love to get back in another. You can't beat a Miata for auto crossing they are great on the track even in stock form. Nice Build very tasteful and functional modifications, I bet its a lot of fun.

Do you plan on keeping it SUA? For SOA I welded new shock mounts on and perches. The exploder softline will bolt up, while swapping it however i would recommend buying new soft lines and possibly hard lines depending on condition. You might as well while the axle is out. I still haven't addressed the parking brake myself, but again I am SOA now so slightly different. Sorry if I wasn't much help here is a link I used and it was pretty helpful. http://comancheclub.com/topic/39063-88-axle-swap-into-a-90-comanche/

Nice! I have always liked the look of the short box better, but I can say there have been a few times where that extra foot of beds space would have come in handy. Maybe one day ill own a long bed too :yes:

I'm in Dayton, Youngstown is a little ways away. I actually bought my 97 up near there.

Hate was mainly from family, friends and coworkers, but that car is long gone so lets move on . :MJ 1: . Dayton is a great town, several legal offroading spots within a reasonable distance and great people that are always willing to give a helping hand while wrenching. Thanks, it is pretty clean for its age!