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Various comanches and Cherokees came with different axle ratios. 2.5 four cylinder models tended to have 4.09/4.10/4.11 gears. Automatic 4.0 six cylinder models usually have 3.55/3.54. Manual 4.0 six cylinder models tend to have 3.08/3.07. You want the same ratio front and rear or "bad" things happen when you shift int 4WD. If you change tire size you should consider changing the axle ratio to match.

I've never heard anyone call a 4 door an LK. There's always "JK" and "JKU" from what I see.

A little more about the project. The stock axles and springs are being replaced. Custom spring perches are being welded in to do stock Chevy springs in a different location than factory. The front axle is a kingpin Dana 60 out of a Chevy, not sure of the year. The rear is a Dodge Dana 80. Both are going to get 5.38 gears and air lockers. 20" beadlocks will get some 42 or 46" tires. Not sure exactly what tires will eventually end up on it. The 6BT will remain mostly stock. The Getrag 5 speed manual will also be mostly stock. Behind that will probably be an ORD Monster Box attached to an NP205. Most of the character and style of the truck will remain stock. The 24V electrical system is probably going to be replaced with a 12V, while trying to find gauges and lights that will work and still look original. It's probably going to end up with mechanical gauges for the most part when possible. Still a lot up in the air but it's going to be pretty awesome when it's done.

A buddy of mine has a 1968 Kaiser M715. I'm helping him with a 6BT from a 1992 Ram. Today was the day to test fit the engine. I'd say it went pretty well.

Clutches are cheap. No better time to replace it with new. Also, a Slip Yoke Eliminator kit would be a good replacement for the tail cone. There are several options on brands.

I'm helping a friend do a 12v into an M715 this summer. It's an interesting adventure. The issue is that the engine bay in the SJ platform wasn't designed for really big engines. It was designed for the AMC straight 6, Buick small block, and AMC V8. Trying to fit big engines like a big block or long straight 6es like the Cummins and Ford 300 can be a challenge and may require sheet metal modifications.

A 6BT is a tight fight under the hood in any full size Jeep (M715 included). It can fit, but you're millimeters away from the firewall and the radiator fan. And routing the intercooler is a challenge. It can be done but you have to know what you're doing and there isn't much room for error.

I believe that the YJ axle is a low pinion in addition to being a leaf spring setup. Not worth it at all. XJ donors are mostly high pinion and have all of the brackets you want to bolt them right up. Avoid 2000, and 2001 (low pinion) and earlier XJ with the CAD (axle disconnect, easy to see the big chunk of cast steel on the passenger side).

I like to have AC for the really hot days. But since I moved to CO, I'm seeing a lot fewer of those. Humidity is also a big factor. The Denver area is usually pretty dry so it doesn't feel as hot. Back when I lived in high heat/humidity areas, AC was mandatory. I'm still not sure whether or not I'll put AC in the trail rig. But for a daily driver, I will probably always have it.

GoPro Hero 3.

Part of it. The switchbacks are one way down only. The pass above is two way before it gets to that part.

I'd take an FC170. Or a 50s Willys pickup with a flathead Ford swap.

It's pretty common for states without income tax to have high property tax or some other way of generating revenue. The tax man always finds a way to get his money.

That's probably going to be your biggest limiting factor. $100K doesn't buy much in a whole lot of this country unless you're really out in the middle of nowhere. You'll need to steer clear of very large metro areas. Find smaller metro areas that meet some of your other criteria. Best bet is to figure out what areas of the country are set for major growth in the future and get in before everyone else starts buying up the land. Not only does that give you free equity in your own place, there's always tons of work as the yuppies move in and need stuff done. Trouble is, predicting that growth is almost impossible.

A group of full size Jeeps (and me in the JK) went down and got stuck behind a line of Jelly Beans (FJ Cruisers). That's a stock 1974 Cherokee ahead of me.

Yeah, it's not as bad as it seems. People take full size long bed trucks down it. There are a few 7 and 9 point turns for them but it's doable. Fear of heights can make it terrifying though so it's not for everyone.

That's a fun trail.

Dry waffles? Are you insane man? Ain't nobody got time for that.

With a side order of the diabetes?

Current type should be DC.

BTW, I had a chance to use the pliers on some wheel well liners on the XJ this last weekend. It made getting those christmas trees out so much easier. I highly recommend the kit.

Always hiring computer science/engineering types. I sent you a message with the details.

Besides fixing Jeeps? I like to drive them. Especially off road. I don't have a lot of pictures handy but I do have a handful of videos on YouTube. For work I make computers go. Right now I'm working on flight computers for satellites.

I had a full size (SJ) Wagoneer Dana 44 in the back of my XJ for a while. It was quite a bit narrower than the XJ/MJ rear axle. I had 1.25" spacers on it and it was just a hair wider than the front. So probably 1" on either side narrower. I ended up cutting off and welding the spring perches to fit in the XJ. I'm not sure if you'd have to do that with the MJ if you were going for a spring over conversion. If you want to keep the leaf springs under the axle you absolutely will have to relocate the spring perches. As others have said, the bolt pattern for the SJ rear is 6 on 5.5". It is technically possible to swap axle shafts to match the 5 on 4.5" bolt pattern of the MJ. You would need to get a new brake drum to match. I don't have any information on what would fit there. Or you could do a disc brake conversion that had the right rotor. The XJ parking brake cables bolted right into the SJ drum brakes so that made the swap easier. I avoided the bolt pattern mismatch by swapping a matching SJ front Dana 44 from the same donor. I ended up not being happy with the swap so I went back to XJ axles. I still have the axles and I may swap the rear into one of my two MJs. I have thought about keeping it 2WD with a V8 swap to be a fun drive around truck. At some point I'll look into converting the wheel bolt pattern with new shafts and brake drum.

I wanted a fresh surface to tell me what all was leaking. I figured the cardboard would make that easier. And it helps when you pull the oil filter adapter and oil drips everywhere. It'll go away when I'm done with current repairs.