bruceb

Mounted my roof top pop up tent this weekend. The size is good and happy with rack height and the driving height of the tent.

The bed rack arrived! I ordered it over five months ago and it was on backorder. Not many racks for roof top tents that will fit the Comanche bed. With all the new smaller trucks coming available, like the Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, the redesigned mid-sized Nissan Frontier, more smaller bed racks will be coming to market. I used a closed cell 1/8" thick neoprene weather stripping to protect the new paint between truck bed and bed rack. Next step is to mount my roof top tent to the bed rack and my hi-lift jack.

Corrected my list, thank you. One less item! No, leaving the red two tone strip off, staying with an all black theme w/chrome

Yes, near the top most eastern part.

Thanks for the support from Michigan! I started 4 wheeling in Michigan in 1980's, in a 1972 GMC Jimmy. Then I was member and officer in the MTU 4 Wheeler Club in Houghton MI, during my university years. http://mtu4wheelers.powweb.com/

Over 25 years ago I drove a 85 Jeep Cherokee and always wanted the pickup version. Fast forward 20 years, I started searching for Comanche for a trail riding truck to explore Northern California Sierra Mountains. I had no luck, after 10 months, finding a local "clean" Comanche. Then I found a '86 4x4 long bed on a Copart online auction in Montana. I was bidding only against one other user, who was from Kuwait. I won the bid, but was nervous as I have never bought any vehicle without seeing it, but the photos looked great. So it arrived in North California about a week later, dent free, rust free, and a clean interior. The first step was to find everything wrong and worst, it had water in the oil. So it was not drivable, not without causing engine damage. As it has the 2.8l V6 GM engine and with a little internet research, the most common problem, causing water leak in the engine, is a bad intake manifold gasket. Hoping that was it, I torn into the engine top and removed the intake manifold. It was very apparent, the gasket was leaking water. So ordered new intake gaskets. Once reassembled, change the oil, filter and crossed my fingers that was it. So after four years, it is still running, water free in the oil. Before I could get started on all the other things broken or issues, like the big water leak from rain into the cabin, my job changed, got super busy, and I parked the truck in my garage for about a year, as I was work and family busy to do anything on it. Then for my job I moved to Arizona, just before Covid-19 outbreak. I found paint shop who mainly work on old cars and trucks. I dropped my '86 there, with an agreement, I am in no hurry, so take your time. It sat there for most all of the Covid-19 period, with a-little part being done now and then. Then two weeks ago, almost two years later, the truck was done! Now the work begins for me to build it up as my AZ Overlander. As my dream is to use it for camping, while exploring Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern Utah. My to do list for it now is: 1. Lights – turn signals do not blink, brake light not working now after the repaint. 2. New front Winch, mount, and wiring 3. New carpet 4. refresh Diff gear oil - front & back 5. Check A/C - not working - convert to R143a 6. Bed mount rack for pop up roof tent & trail jack 7. transmission oil change 8. pass. side window motor not working - repair 9. 2.5" lift kit w/new shocks 10. upgrade radio and speakers 11. Ball joint replacement 12. Aluminum radiator swap w/ new Anti-freeze 13. Fuel filter 14. Transmission linkage adjustment - it will not go into Park 15. Improve overall electrical grounding So a long list of things to get done. It will slow going as it is mid-summer in Phoenix and 110 degrees in my garage daily! I will need to work early morning on the weekends when it is under 95 and quit by noon when it hits over 105, but my goal is get the top 10 items items done by mid September. - Bruce

Things slow (stand still actually) during this Covid-19 period, but the truck is at the painters and looking forward to a shiny new "truck" in a couple of months!

Thank you!

done

86 Black Long Bed 4x4 v6 Auto Bought this truck at an out of state auction, 4 years ago. Just picked it up today from my painter. Very happy with the results!

Love your truck and I have been to Guam many times! Did all the work on your truck take place on Guam? I have two Comanches - one 2WD street and one 4WD for camping. Thanks

Project is still underway. Getting ready for a new head, cam, lifters. Also need to the 2" drop in the front with new ball joints, etc.

https://www.racingjunk.com/Stock-Super-Stock/184046848/Jeep-Comanche-R-SA-Tired-of-HP-Hits-NHRA-1.25-Under.html

I found a Cherokee set for $80, but not MJ. Looking for a "new" replacement set

HI - Does anyone know to obtain a set of factory oem fender flares for a 1989 MJ? Thank you - Bruce

No, I am not pulling the bed for this paint job. It is a California truck, so very little in the way of rust. Also, I am painting the same color as original, so keep the re-paint straight forward!

After a very long year hold on the project and now my recent moving to Arizona, the work has started again on the SCCA retro truck. First the paint, which is underway. Then starting in November, then I will rebuild the top end of the engine, exhaust, cooling system, and then rebuild front suspension.

Please keep me in the loop!

I am wanting to respray my '89 tan comanche, but told too hot till Oct for any painting in an un-a/c garage.

Yes work. Faculty at ASU now.

The trucks were unloaded in the middle of that rain

Phoenix, near South Mountain

I was in Berkeley, for 12 years

I have moved to Arizona! Both my Comanche project truck came with me on the transport truck from Northern California. Happy that I can continue to work on them and get them into shape, here in the "dry" heat! 104 today.