89 MJ

I had to modify the speedo cable and use the end from another one, but I now have a functioning speedometer. Now for the first time since I’ve had the car, the speedometer is functioning AND correct.

We use ones like this. To haul it to get recycled, we’ll put it in milk jugs or put it back in the original container.

Watch out world, big update here! When I swapped the dash, I didn’t change the glove box door lock. I was going through my extra parts and I decided I should finally do that. Yup, that’s the update. The weather has been terrible this spring, so I have only put about 150 miles on it.

This tractor has just been a solid workhorse for the last few years. The original choke cable broke earlier this spring, so that needed replacing.

I would also not recommend 3.07s for 30s, nor would I recommend an Explorer 8.8. The Explorer 8.8 is narrower than the stock MJ axles. The Explorer Sport Trac pickup has a similar width rear to MJs, but those only had options for 3.73 and 4.10 gears.

I think I’ve still got a solid rear window. The closest I’ll be to you is VA though towards the end of July.

I recently put an extra NP231J in my Eagle. The Eagle has a different front driveshaft set up as XJs and MJs, it it requires a u bolt style u joint strap instead of the bolts like our MJs use. I also needed them for the rear because I used the Rubicon Express SYE, but that’s beside the point. The u joint straps you will need are SKF part number UJ534-10. Hopefully this helps someone in the future.

On the topper looks much cleaner, IMHO. Plus, the third brake light is up high on trucks anyways.

I used a brass punch and a brass hammer. Brass because it won’t create sparks.

The thread from the adventure:

June 2024 - Keep it Stock Stupid The Travelling MJ Owned by @GonzoTheGreat Build Thread- https://comancheclub.com/topic/72817-keep-it-stock-stupid/ Year/Model – ‘89 SporTruck Drivetrain- 2.5L AW4 2WD, stock Dana 35 with factory 4.56 gears Cooling- 4.0L open cooling system with stock, 4.0 electric fan with stand-alone sensor/relay Electrical/Ignition- 100amp alternator, clock panel REM II, fresh tune up, grounding improvements, battery cable upgrades, 4-pin tow harness, bluetooth amp under the dash for rear speakers while keeping factory AM system in-tact, deep-cycle battery in the bedcap/camper shell for the vent fan and LED strips, deep-cycle charging from a Victron DC-DC charger under the hood. Suspension/Steering- mostly stock, but all recently replaced, with 1” lift shackle to compensate for weight of the cap Interior- Key Parts floors, sound deadening, ACC carpet, DIY headliner, XJ laredo illuminated vanity mirror visors Brakes- CuNi lines, XJ prop valve, load sensor delete Lighting- Headlight relay harness, LED bulbs everywhere except headlights and front directionals, late-model alternating directional mod, Euramtech dome lights, courtesy and glove box lights installed Exterior- factory paint with a couple rattle can touch ups, FEY rear bumper, DIY trailer hitch with Krusty’s plates, ARE contractor cap (with vent fan and LED lights), manual side view mirrors, AVS smoker vents Wheel & Tires- Stock steelies and snow tires, and YJ “5-star” alloys with summer tires Misc- Cruise control added, power steering added, Ebay exhaust header, KJ muffler Best MJ story- Although I have countless stories from the daily driving days of my ‘88, I think the best MJ story would actually have to be driving from Boston to Costa Rica in this one. I never imagined I would be doing that at all, let alone in a 35 year old Comanche, but the truck held together perfectly, and we only had a couple of small issues. Plus I found a couple Central American MJs along the way to add to the CC registry! CC is Awesome! Why? When I first found CC, I was a super novice in the automotive world, but I had bought a Comanche, and things needed fixing. This website provided and incredible wealth of knowledge, and the people here are actually weirdly kind to one another. CC is by far the only webforum I’ve found where people have patience, and really try to help the inexperienced folks learn. There are way too many people on the internet, and especially on car forums, that just want to belittle people and make fun, but this site is different. I’m happy to be a part of this oasis of humanity.

An alternative to this is buying a high altitude CPS. It advances the timing 5 degrees.

The wheeling event didn’t happen because of rain, but I did get the tires mounted up and tested in the yard. Plenty of traction, but they look strange. The cable transfer case shifts so much smoother than the XJ/MJ linkage does.

That made a huge difference!

I bought the entire set up from JB Custom Fab. I went with the flush mount one. It includes everything you need, including hardware.

Thank you! It is a cable shifter. Actually works very well, but it’s all a tight fit.

Picked up some UTV tires for trail only use. Planning on giving them a good workout this Saturday.

You’ve got that right! I was really hoping it would look similar to your twin stick set up in your Jeep, even though one of my shifters is for the transmission.

231 is installed. To my fellow Eagle owners: don’t do this, it’s really not worth the work of trying to make a shifter fit and work. I’d recommend an NP229 or NP228.

@fiatslug87 might be able to tell you. If you post this in the registry (or if @Pete M or @eaglescout526 or someone moves it there), we might be able to find out from the build sheet.

Oscilloscopes are super cool! Pretty darn useful too.

NP231 swap has been completed. Well, that’s not true. But the transfer case is in and I’ve got low range. I do need to install the shifter and get the proper u joint straps, all before going wheeling this Saturday.

As did I. I was searching for a sport bar or an original topper. I ended up with both shortly after giving up the search.

SYE has arrived. Hopefully I can get my transfer case put together tomorrow and then installed another day. It should be in before the next wheeling trip on the 8th.

I hear that’s a common issue on SX4s. Second or third time I’d heard of it in the last month or so.