mjenk72

Just an update on progress.

I did not take pics... Thought about it after I was halfway done.... I cut all three, as they all end up too long to fit properly. Basically each stud ends up being its own individual piece. As far as painting them goes, I prepped them by sanding with first 150, then 220 grit sandpaper. I used Rustoleum Bed Liner spray paint in three coats, hitting them lightly with the 220 grit again in between coats to remove drips/runs. Its a slow process, but if you're CDO like me (its like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order)... Took me about 3 evenings to paint, I stalled them on the 4th.

Ok, so here's the follow up (finally got the last of my pieces parts in the mail yesterday): So the wheel houses (inner fenders) were supposed to be specifically for the Comanche, they of course, weren't. But the Cherokee ones they sent line up with all of the fender hardware bolts, and all but a couple of the plastic retainer holes. As far as the fender flare mounting hardware goes, the fronts went on without issue. For the rears, I decided to try what I mentioned above. As each piece is too long, I cut about 1 1/2" from between each bolt, then mounted each piece individually without having to drill new holes. Seems fine, fender flares have no play in them. Actually, the cut pieces installed really easy. Here's the bad part: the "fender flare hardware kit" was missing 6 of the nuts for the mounting bolts, and 2 of the screws for attaching the bottom of the fender flares to the body. Moral of the story, this process works and you don't have to drill any new holes.... Just make sure you keep your old nuts and screws just in case.

They were supposed to be direct fit for the Comanche, but they must be for the Cherokee because they don't line up.... I've seen a lot of people talk about drilling holes to make these work... why not just cut the hardware bracket itself? As long as you leave more than an inch on either side it won't spin on you, and you can use the original holes with no drilling...

Decided to pull my fender flares and repaint them finally, thought I'd let you guys know where I found parts.... -fender flare mounting hardware kit: carparts.com, item #55003232k; (in case it doesnt show up in the search), $64.95 - replacement wheelhouses (inner fenders, fender liners...whatever you call them, they call them wheelhouses), discountbodyparts.com, part # SET-J220501; both driver and passenger front, $28.64 I know I saw a thread somewhere on here about it, but couldn't track it down... Anywho, figured I'd share...

Had that happen several times. Matter of fact it's how I found out about CC, lol.

Year/Model 1988 Pioneer Engine/Performance 4.0 stock Drivetrain 5 speed AX15, stock transmission Cooling Stock, plastic overflow tank. Electrical/Ignition Stock Suspension/Steering Stock Interior Original, with the exception of the stereo. Exterior Repainted body in the late 90s, repainted fender flares 2018. Mileage: 170k Was purchased new by my father, just a few weeks before I turned 16. Mostly original, other than the stereo and a new paint job in the late 90s.

ok, so here goes: My Dad bought this truck brand new in December of '88, just a couple of weeks before I turned 16. Here's the thing: my Dad had only ever had Dodge trucks. Matter of fact, he was getting the oil changed on his '85 Power Ram when he bought it. So my Dad walks in the door to the house with a sh*t-eating grin and a "Come look what I got." I saw it in the driveway, and was in shock. There is no way Dad just bought me a brand new truck, this has got to be a joke... So, I'm freaking out, "YOU BOOUGHT ME A JEEP?!??!" My Dad: "Hell no, that's mine!!!" "There's no way you'd buy a small truck, there's just no way!! Not to mention, youre truck is only a couple years old.." So this went on for a while, my Dad laughing hysterically because I thought it was for me.... Anyway, I took my Driver's test in this truck a couple weeks after I turned 16. I took my High School sweetheart (now my wife of 25 years) on a date in this truck. I always told my Dad, I had first dibs if he ever got rid of it. When his health started failing in the late 90s/early 2000s, he rarely left the house. He couldn't work, and the State of Missouri said he had too many assets (that he had worked his ass off his entire life for) to qualify for state assistance. So my siblings and I made the decision to buy his stuff from him so he wouldn't have it in his name anymore. Unfotunately, being in the Army and having 3 kids of my own, I couldn't afford to buy it. So one of my sisters bought it. She rarely drove it, just more wanted to keep it in the family. After my Dad passed in 2012, she approached me about buying it from her, and I've had it ever since. My father was very meticulous about his vehicles, and believe it or not there has been zero restoration done...it's almost all original except the stereo and the rear bumper. I don't drive it very often, so I have thought about parting with it a few times... but I doubt I'll ever bring myself to let her go. And that, my friends, is the back story on my Comanche...

Mornin' all and thanks for the invite 13 Legion. So first if all, that's my truck shown above, it's an '88 Pioneer, just under 180k miles, everything has been kept original but the radio. To answer your question from the note, sorry, she isn't for sale, she has entirely too much sentimental value (which I'm sure you all don't want to hear about, lol. Thanks again for the invite, and as I continue to work on her I'll post pics.