Hi everyone. I recently moved from Richmond, VA to Spokane, WA to start a new chapter on life and to open up a metal fab shop in my backyard. One of the things I'll need for the business is a decent, hardworking pickup truck to haul steel, scrap, and projects. I ended up buying an 89 Comanche a few weeks back that needs a lot of TLC, but I see a lot of potential in it.
http://i.imgur.com/mnfTnqd.jpg
Although this is my first MJ I am no stranger to XJs. My first car was a 92 XJ back in 1999, which I sold after purchasing a red 98 XJ in 2003 which I still drive to this day. I am new to Comanche Club, but have been active on Jeeps Unlimited, NAXJA, and even XJ Forum in the past.
Anyways, down to the details of the MJ: built in February 1989, 4.0L, column shift AW4, NP231, Dana 30 front, Dana 44 rear. 7 foot bed, maybe "metric ton package"? Rebuilt title. 198K miles on the odometer. Motor was rebuilt within the past couple years, runs ok. Transmission has issues: no reverse, and it feels like only 2nd gear works. No shifting occurs until 35-40MPH then it shifts into a non-functioning gear and coasts like neutral. There's no exhaust after the manifold/header so its loud as hell. Front end was involved in some type of collision: header panel and fenders are from an XJ. Every body panel is dented in some way, shape, or form. Previous owned plastered bondo on the door and rear cab corner. Interior is falling apart and the steering column is loosey goosey. It has a spring over lift in the rear and I'm guessing 6" coils in the front, its tall as hell riding on 31s. It looks like a pile of $#!& and my family thinks I'm crazy for buying it, but us Jeep guys know a diamond in the rough when we see one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8sy7_X6bjc
It starts and stays running once started. Someone converted the cooling system over to the open-style with radiator cap. Frame looks decent from what I can tell with minimal rust. The worst of the body is the doors and fenders and header panel, so I plan to do a 97+ XJ parts swap. The bed has dents but I think I can smooth out the worst of it. It drives surprisingly well on the road provided you don't go over 40 or the tranny takes a dump. I've always wanted to restore and paint a vehicle and this will be my first undertaking.
http://i.imgur.com/FF3GsVc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MBi8daf.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/DwdEOsH.jpg
My plans are to get it completely running and street legal first. Drop the lift down to 3" and keep it on 31s. Other than a possible regear I will be trying to keep this rig pretty stock. My XJ is heavily modified, and although I love driving it that way I have a different vision for this MJ. I want it to be a clean daily driver and work rig that retains a classic MJ look but with a late model XJ feel...if that makes sense. Would also like better than 14MPG.
I wanted to start a thread dedicated to this rig and it's build in the next few months, as a reference for myself and others.
If I had to speculate I think this truck was most recently owned by a teenager/younger person who wanted to use it as a budget mud/wheeling truck who didn't clean up after playing with it. The carpet will be replaced along with the headliner, I'll have the bench seat and steering wheel reupholstered, and some 97+ XJ parts swapped over to make it pop. The first official mod was a new battery since the one it came with didn't have a charge. Sweet battery tray: With an even sweeter tie down: Finally pull out what remains of the stock tray to find: If I had to guess it looks like the passenger tire threw something up into the fender well which blew a hole through the sheet metal and probably busted the stock plastic battery tray and shifted battery, hence the plywood tray fix. Some massaging with a body work hammer and I was able to flatten the metal out. A new Costco Interstate battery and tray from JCR fixed that and now it starts right up.