WranglerMangler

Have been going over Minche lately getting ready for wheelin season. The usual stuff, checking fluids, topping off what’s needed, greasing everything, looking for stuff that needs attention. I have been noticing a Lazy Leftward List Lately and came to the conclusion that my front coil springs are worn out due to a fat guy always driving it. They are the springs that came on the truck and I have had some spares sitting around for years now. Turns out to be Rusty’s 4.5” springs. Swapped those in, they sure made a huge difference in ride quality. Old springs were most definitely worn out. Spring swap only took about half an hour luckily. Was able to get out to Evans Creek ORV park over the weekend. Sure was a beautiful day. Had a great time with my 2 best friends. No problems popped up, Minche is ready for the summer fun. And just figured I’d put this in too. I’m always interested in different tires and how they perform as well as input from average people. Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ P3 (I'm running the 31/10.5/R15) I got these tires just before Thanksgiving, so far I’ve only had them in winter driving conditions. For a tire that says “Baja” on the side, I can’t believe how good they do in every kind of snow. Fresh 12 degree northern Idaho powder, Hard pack and Ice on I-90 in a blizzard or sloppy slush spring time crap, they have exceeded my winter expectations. This was my first trip to actually put them on some rocks and dry dirt. Very happy with them, didn’t spin a tire once. Even had a sloppy muddy, off camber side hill spot that my friends couldn’t believe I didn’t slide down. Highly suggest the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ P3

Threw on some used stock XJ shackles last week. Leveled out the truck pretty nicely. Can’t say I noticed a ride difference or anything else but it definitely looks better. Worth it for leveling out the 2WD MJs imo. MJ left, XJ right XJ bolted up Longer stock MJ How she sits now. Did not take before and after pictures or measurements. Assuming about an inch drop in rear.

Definitely agreed 👍

Should go right here on your front housing.

Depends on the Definition of “Regular” On average, the regular MJ Owner, according to the NHSTA, Bureau of transportation and Statistica, own 1.3 MJs in their lifetime. The number drops significantly to .00005971 MJs owned when you introduce the “regular” person into the equation. So wouldn’t the math be 6~1.3? =4.6 regular MJ owners?

Thank you. I was very lucky to have found such nice parts. I’m so glad you sent me that picture. I’ve been debating on what carpet color to get. Definitely sealed the deal on Black. Thank you. Your interior looks amazing. Good job.

I’m electrically challenged guys. Hate to admit it, but I’m looking for help from more experienced people. I have a friend that is good with this stuff and he has been sending me links on how to choose an amp for subs and all this, but it just doesn’t compute in my head. Never has. Just makes frustration boil deep within and leads to more confusion. Maybe somebody here can point me in the right direction. ( I know what sketchy wiring looks like and am not going to burn down my truck per your advise, I’m good with making ugly, sketchy wiring pretty, and am capable of doing the work. I just don’t know anything about any of this RMS and Ohms and bridging) So basically I have this sub that I want to put in the truck. Know nothing about it or even if it works. I have seen the power light come on one time and that’s all I know. Appears to have a built in Amp? Is that what this is? Flip it over to the backside and find another sub? Am I seeing this correct? Like a self contained amp/dual 10” sub box? I am planning on installing Rockford Fosgate punch 4x6 speakers in the B pillars, Rockford Fosgate 5.25” door speakers and Rockford Tweeters as well. I am not opposed to buying a new or different sub/box if this one doesn’t work out. Would like to stay with 8-10” range. Don’t need anything crazy. I have this selection of amps to choose from, The Kicker amps are different. What would be my best bet as far as amps goes? Would the 2 kicker amps be able to power the 6 speakers and 1 sub? Also wondering, I have a decent amount of 1/0 marine rated battery cable but it’s aluminum, do you think that would supply enough power to work? Is aluminum cable trash? Any help or advise is appreciated. Keep it simple for me. Like kindergarten level. I’ve never gotten further in to audio stuff than installing a deck before and do not understand your electrical jargon. Thanks. Probably just way over complicating this in my head. I don’t know.

Nice fix. Curious to see how long it lasts. I am plagued by warped air boxes as well. Never really tried to come up with a solution. Maybe something for these 3D printer guys to get on. Little drop in reinforcement tabs. I’ve found that the ‘92 seems to have a little better construction and more clips. Something to always keep an eye out for at the junkyard. Thanks for sharing. 👍

I was going to stick with Rockford Fosgate for the speakers. I will end up with the 5.25” in the front door and will buy their tweeters as well. Not for any specific reason. Not brand loyal, just found a deal on these and am running with it. I do have multiple amps sitting around, I need to decide which to hook up. Have never wired an actual decent system into anything before so it’s going to be a learning experience for me. And unfortunately I’m an electrical idiot

Recently got a good deal on some 4x6 Rockford Fosgate speakers for the B pillar rear speakers (thank you GJeep), took a little doing but got them hooked up to the stock harness. Sound much better than the paper stock blown out speakers. Plan on wiring up a sub and amp here shortly. Still need front door speakers and tweeters too

Wow. The grill and headlight bezel paint job turned out great. Turbines are looking good too. Windshield trim up for paint next?

Don’t forget the ‘87 too while your at it. We know your holding out on us

Sorry TurboedMJ, just throwing myself into your guy’s interaction. Lol. I have a rear diff for TheSilvAPython. I’ve been meaning to meet up with him.

Where are we meeting? I’ll bring the 8.25. Was planning on dragging it out of the shed tomorrow. Would be cool to meet 2 more CC members

I used to drive around in Highschool in a 1964 Ford F-250 4x4 all jacked up and would always keep an eye out for spring cleaning of old ugly 70s love seats and throw them in the bed for the summer. Only seats in the truck with seatbelts. Extremely convenient and useful as a high school kid through the summer. I’ve been keeping an eye out for cheap Subaru Brat seats to put in the back of the wheeler for the kids to ride around in. Your not crazy. The local police may inform you that ALL seatbelts in the cab must be in use before anyone can ride in the back. But when your truck was built before seatbelt laws and literally the only seatbelts on the truck were for the couch passengers, whadda ya do as a cop? Agreed with pizzaman on rearward visibly limitations tho. None of my couches were that tall but a much bigger truck

Just out of curiosity, what amount of work to a Wrangler justified the trade for the Comanche? I would think that would be the other way around. Congratulations on the nice MJ. Hopefully it was a good deal for you.

Did you win in the best Comanche motor home category?

Yep. Exactly what I do as well. Wrench, Wheel, Wreck,Repeat. Lol. Find the weak link, fix or build it to my specifications, on to the next problem. Just know where not to cheap out. (Like a winch) Nice score on the turbines too. I’m jealous. Have always wanted a set.

I’ve been running a long arm RC lift on Minche for years now. Got it for free. When I found it the enduro joints were beat to death so it had already had a rough life, replaced the joints with Johnny joints and have continued to beat on it for almost 10 years now. I’m one for finding weak links as well and it hasn’t left me stranded. Worth every dollar invested IMO. And if a dude with deeper pockets and a $3000 lift doesn’t like it, I could care less. He is usually the one at the bottom of the hill telling everyone to turn around because he couldn’t make it then my group of experienced drivers and less capable rigs goes straight through what he just got done tearing up. Just my opinion on making stuff happen on a budget. Keep up the good work!

Yes. Agreed with all of that.

That’s all part of the fun, finding previous owner hack jobs and repairing them up to your standards. Be sure to check the frame mount higher up, closer to the frame, I recently found one almost cracked all the way through on one of my MJs. Keep up the good work. Looking good. 👍

Awesome story and a beautiful truck. Congratulations

Just spent the last hour reading through your posts from start to finish. Awesome job you have done on your truck. The blue interior painted pieces really do look amazing. Keep up the great work. Beautiful truck.

Did some Dana 44 stuff today. I have a feeling CommuteChe is going to get a rear D44 swap in the very near future. Usually like to disc swap the rear before installing but it’s tough times these days and I don’t have any backing plates or brakes laying around unfortunately. Just a future post I suppose. Started out like this, The old hammer through, Snap-On Pry chisel helped out getting the XJ shock mounts off. Got both shock mounts and spring perches cut off. Cleaned up pretty good. Blank canvas now. I was debating on which spring perches to weld on for the MJ swap, looking at the stock MJ perches, they’re pretty flimsy and basically look like stamped sheet metal. Found these “anti wrap” spring perches by Barnes4WD that I do like the look of. Decent price as well. Looking back at these stock XJ perches, they actually are looking pretty stout compared to the MJ ones, and with some of this 1” thick steel I have laying around, I could probably make my own “anti wrap/ lowering block” mounts. With the XJ perches and 1” block, I believe it would drop it 1.5” in the rear I don’t know, no plans set in stone yet. Just out screwing around today.

I did not, I just feel awkward asking people to get a picture of their vin on a random stop and knock. I’ll see at least 2 more in the future. I’ll try then.