Ollie

Sure been giving alot of love to my Comanche lately and I cannot believe what he did to me. Went to O'Reilly's last week to get a can of matt black spray paint to finish up my window trim painting. When I got ready to leave, I turned the ignition key and NOTHING happened. (new starter & battery) They jumped me off with their battery pack and low and behold my volt meter is reading 12 volts, no charging. I had the alternator out when I did all the AC and heater work and it looked brand new, even the Car Quest sticker on it looked new. Any way, a new alternator from O'Reilly and we are back in the race. !!!! Moving on to the camper top.....we got it sat on the truck yesterday. BEAUTIFUL !! I am really happy with my color selection and the match to the silver trim is perfect. All the color blends, interior, trim and all in my opinion. The top also solved my back window problem. It seals really good. I have to get to the trim shop next week. Plan on adding a small midnight blue (truck color) "hockey stick" just above the window. I think that will really tie it all together. I am really happy, got a great deal on the top, $125, truck ran like new money on his Tennessee trip to get it, and the out come is awesome !!!! Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

It took me a couple of years to learn how to drive my stove. That's all my thermostat did too was control the inlet air. I would load my stove full, leave it alone till it almost burnt down. Crack the door, get it really roaring, knock down the ashes and load again. I had to empty the ashes ever other load. Yes, there is a tricks you learn with a wood stove. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

I heated with a wood stove for 15 years. Vermont Castings, was a quality stove. At 70 years young and I stopped the wood chopping, now I heat with gas. Sure do miss the wood stove, but not the work. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Caulking to permanently shut. I don't want any leaks. I was afraid to dismantle the windows and replace the rubber seals/gaskets because I was not sure if I could find the correct rubber. Having AMC Fun, Ollie

Got the door seal rubber in. It was very loose in the track but some weather strip adhesive fixed that up. I had no issue going around the bends. Got my side windows back from the trim shop. Greg told me to let the tint dry a few days before messing with them. My plan is to fill the sliding tracks with caulk and close the window and clean it up & paint the frames. Issue now is to wait for some warmer weather. I too cannot wait to see it together and in some sparkling sun shine. Be a few days before that happens....... Talking snow Monday..........might be in order for the next few days !!! Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

I must assume that you are speaking about a Snug Top? I had one heck of a time getting the old brittle weather-stripping out myself. Plyers and a small screw driver and alot of digging. Sometimes I could get a foot to come out at a time. Question for you? Is your 3/16" "T" channel a soft rubber? Mine is a fairly ridge rubber and I don't see how I can bend it around the door curves. I don't have alot of confidence that my weather stripping will work. It's todays project. Got the top painted yesterday. I am satisfied with the out come. You must consider a jack wagon did it with a $9 Harbor Freight spray gun...... Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Top is sanded, wiped down and ready for silver paint ........... My weather-stripping for the back door is here. Now we are WOW. For you non marine people or offshore oil workers.....Waiting On Weather My paint room is not a booth so weather conditions have to be right for painting. My outside roll up door has a gap at the top that wind and dirt can blow in. When the wind comes from a southerly direction it hits directly on the door. A northerly wind hits the back of my shop. Today we are supposed to have 20-25 gusty south wind. Tomorrow North @ 5 mph. Its tomorrow or awhile as we are to some cold weather coming next week. I can heat up the room pretty warm with my butane bottle heaters, turn them off and paint. After the fumes clear, I have a exhaust fan, I can light the heaters again. I don't worry to much about a explosion, if that happens I most probably will not be to concerned about the after effects !!! Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

My fuel gauge works backwards, but to be honest it is accurate enough that you will never run out of fuel. When it gets to 3/4 full; {meaning 1/4 if it was reading correctly} ; it takes about 14 gallons to fill up. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Be careful changing out the fuel pump. They come complete with a fuel gauge sending unit and the ohm readings on the new pump/gauge assembly will be different than your present pump. Your fuel gauge will work backwards. I know you can find out more info here at the site. Maybe you can use the sending part from your present pump. I was not lucky enough to have the old pump when I got my MJ. New tires make a world of difference. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Were going with hockey sticks........... Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Update on the top project. Got all the black trim around the windows painted. The two big side windows were delivered to the trim shop for tinting. Told Greg I want them solid black. Went by the paint shop and got everything I needed. They were able to scan the silver stripping on the trim and come up with a mix formula. So the top will be silver. Here everything masked up and wiped down for priming........ Primed....... Now I have to wait for a good weather day to paint. It was way to windy today for top coat. A fast hit with some 320 and a wipe down and I will have a silver top !!! Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Camper top project is moving on........... Windows are out, cleaned up and ready to go to the trim shop for tinting. I want them blacked out. They are tinted glass. My idea of replacing the windows with a solid piece of glass was becoming to big of a project. Got the rear window painted today. Worked on the rear window seal rubber. Old rubber was very hard and brittle. Found new seal rubber and got 12 foot ordered. Next step is to get the front rubber boot cleaned up and painted. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Extremely interesting........yes, more info please Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

I like the bumper too....... Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Same color as my Pioneer !!!!!!! I kinda like that rear bumper. Clean it up and paint flat black. Good luck on your project, learn and have fun. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

The question seems to be "Go Topless" and let all hang out or "Cover-up" ???? I agree for the sake of eye candy TOPLESS is best. Being covered up has it advantages to. We like road trips and you need a top for that, not much room in the cab for stuff. I will definitely have some "hockey sticks" on the top. I am going to start pulling the windows tomorrow. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

My sliding window is broke too. I sure thought about building a frame for the flat topper too. Sure be alot of work. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Had a very good and happily an uneventful road trip to go get the topper in LaFollette, TN. I have to brag on the Comanche a bit. He actually was running better the more I drove. First two tanks of gas the mpg was in the 14 range. The third tank went to 16 mpg. After than we stayed in the 18 mpg range with 18.7 being the highest. I was running 68 mph most of the time. We covered 1266 miles round trip and with no oil consumption. I feel confident going anywhere in my Comanche. The topper is a Sung Top. I see they are still in business. A pressure wash was a big improvement. I have been thinking about painting the top silver, the same color as the bottom stripe in the Pioneer graphics. Might look better than the truck color. My next though is to remove the sliding windows, replace with a solid piece of glass and tint them as dark as possible. I plan on getting going mighty soon on this project. Having AMC Fun, Ollie

Plan two has now on the main burner! I have located a top in TN, and will pick it up Dec 8. It came off a Comanche. This is going to be The Comanche's maiden voyage for me and the wife. All of his running around has been local and this 1250 mile trip is his first "stepping out". I have the utmost confidence. I bought a new Interstate battery yesterday to replace the 4 1/2 year old battery that is in the truck. I just don't want to deal with that issue on a cold morning, especially on a out of town trip. I am sure it would have failed sometime during the winter. Looking forward to our Road Trip. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Nice looking Comanche. Sounds as if you got a good plan and on the road to success. Also welcome to the hobby. Nothing wrong with Craftsman tools. I own a bunch of them. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Dailey Driver, that's what I call it. When I need a truck in my business, my Comanche is the go to vehicle; Only truck I own. Daily Driver as needed. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Playing with the topper from the Ford Ranger. I don't think it going to fit, much to my disappointment.... It just does not fit good at the rear corner's, no matter how far back you pull it. From a distance its not to bad. The inside brackets....... I just don't think it was meant to be. Working on plan two. Found a camper top in TN. Having AMC Fun, Ollie

This is my shop, man cave, Headquarters of Ollie MotorSports or anything you may call it. I started out with a 50' X 50" slab, roofed it all with a free standing roof. Second step was to enclose 30' X 40' with three over head roll up doors and a 4' walk-in door. As with any structure it was out grown. The 1st addition was added on for lawn movers, wife's space with a counter, sink and work tables. I needed a paint room because I could not have the overspray inside any more so the over head door was moved out and that space enclosed. Come on in.......... The Wall of Fame (holds lights for the lift) and my 1974 Postal Jeep. I bought this jeep and put the drive train in my 66 American Convertible and the American drive train in the Jeep. The 'vert has been sold and replaced with a 69 American post vehicle. Pending project is to finish up the front cap. Views around the shop......... I have a young man painting a mural........... Love my lift. The older I get the better it is. I played yesterday and figured out how I could get two vehicles on it so I can open up my paint room. The Postal jeep is to tall to get in any position. The Comanche will not fit under the American. Feel free to drop in any time !!! We are always open for visitors, firing up the BBQ grill and swapping stories !!!! Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

I been following along and your project and progress is fantastic. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie

Bed liner sprayed and I think it came out great. here's the steps I used and what I would change if I do another. I washed the bed good with dish detergent and let dry good. Started scuffing with a 120 grit sanding pad. I was getting a bunch of goo in certain spots. I actually think it was tree sap. Tried to clean those areas with Xyceline, came off but with alot of rubbing I then got out my pressure washer. I should have done this as step one, was able to get all the sap off. I started over with the sanding. I sanded the box good. Filled the holes where the chrome bed rails were bolted on. Wiped down good with tar, wax and grease remover. Masked up. I called Speedcoat about spraying over the body filler and was told not an issue if its just a small area no bigger than your palm. I have a question for those in the know. Was the tailgate liner a stock factory installed item? Now that i removed it to paint I am thinking of putting it back on. Next project is to work on the box cover. Having Comanche Fun, Ollie