ThreeComanches

1986 Jeep Comanche Custom Turbo Diesel 2.1L Renault J8S TD / AX5 5 Speed / NP207 Trans Case Build date: Unknown Current Location: Colorado Status: On the road, engine has been rebuilt per the owner Notes: Truck was in TN until 1998, Then in KY until 2001, Then in Indiana until around 2006.

No, the diesel tanks don't have it. Took the sending unit out of one a couple of years ago and can confirm it.

I have one, shoot me a message!

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

Ladies and gentlemen, after almost 2 years of searching for parts, browsing forums far and wide, turning lots of wrenches, and lots of frustration... The Alabama Turbo Diesel rides again! The whole time on the first test drive, I was smiling like a dog. It's kinda hard to believe it really moves after sitting for 21 years per the last inspection sticker There are still some things left to do. Like interior, body work, exhaust. But I'm just over the moon that she finally drives again. Thanks to each and every one of ya'll that helped me out along the way. I wouldn't have made it this far without ya'll.

I've covered a lot of work in the past couple of weeks. I'll cover most of it in this post. So after resetting the old combo block, i put a plug in one of the holes. Turns out, it was the wrong one so I pulled it back down and installed one out of a Cherokee XJ. The old master cylinder was shot so I had to get a new one. When I did, the first one was bad out of the box. So I had to take it all apart again and put yet another one on. With that said, the brakes were finally in working order. After that, I finally found some tires for it. The best part: they had the matching wheels I needed.

After doing the rear brake lines, I finally set to work on getting the front to back brake line in. It was an absolute bear but I got it done. Removing the nuts from the rusty fuel tank J-hooks didn't go to well. Two of them were so seized they twisted the hooks out of their place. I did manage to clean the hooks up to where they could be used again. I held the tank up with a transmission jack while I fished the new brake line beside it and got it into place. Getting the line into place wasn't terrible once I figured out where it went. The worst part was getting it up through the firewall. I also had to make a rear line so I could bypass the rear level sensor valve. When I went to screw the line into the combo block in the engine bay, it was an absolute bear as well. I had to get some assistance and I ended up cross threading it and messing up the threads in the block. Since that happened, I ended up pulling the rest of the lines off and replaced the block with one out of a 1990 Comanche. Once I had the lines buttoned up, I tried to bleed it. However, I never could get anything out of the rear bleeder screws. Turns out the rod in the block was stuck so I had to pull it all down and reset the combo block.

On Wednesday, I finally got my brake line kit in. It was a stainless steel kit off of summit. First off, I started with removing the old lines from the rear axle. They pretty much broke off once I tried to remove them. The Rhode Island salt definitely had their way with them over years. I also decided to go ahead and replace the rear wheel cylinders since the old ones were very crusty looking. Getting the new brake lines on proved difficult. The first one went on without as much fuss. The second one was an absolute bear. However, I finally got it on with some help from the instructor. I also finally got the front to rear line pulled out and it was toast. I'll also be deleting the weight sensor on the rear.

After finishing the shocks, I decided to once again look into why the tachometer wasn't reading correctly. I decided to start at the alternator. For anyone who doesn't know, the tachometer in the diesels rely on the alternator since there isn't a CPS like a gas engine. I hooked a scope to the W post on the alternator to make sure I was getting a signal. Sure enough, I was getting one. After that, I checked the continuity of the tachometer wire. No breaks. Then, I hooked the scope to the gauge cluster plug and started it. The signal was present here as well. In the end, I determined the tachometer itself was the culprit. I'll have to check the resistors and chip on it another day.

So with the rear shocks replaced, I figured I'd go ahead and do the fronts today. They were super crusty and I had to have a few extra set of hands to help out. (One to hold the second wrench and one to hold the light.) I also went ahead and resealed the rear end cover and filled 'er up with new oil. New ones are on and we're getting closer to the first test drive. I'm hoping the new brake lines to arrive sometime next week

Tell me about it. It was a bear to get them off and to get the new ones on.

Decided to replace the rear shocks today. I'll do the fronts next week. Got a new one and an old one side by side. It wouldn't surprise me if the old ones were original or the second set it ever had.

I'm not the best but I'm fairly decent. I have another cluster from an 85 Diesel XJ I'm gonna hook to it tomorrow to see if it makes a difference.

Once I replaced the front braking hardware, another issue presented itself: most of the rear brake lines were rusted out. With that said, I went ahead and ordered a kit for it off of Summit Racing. While waiting for them to arrive, I started on solving some electrical issues. The issues are the following: Battery wouldn't charge Tachometer acts goofy and points at random Glow plug light and water sensor light don't light up anymore. The battery issue was sorted relatively quick. The positive post on the alternator had come loose. Lightened 'er up and she's charging! I checked the pulsing at the tach post on the alternator. I'm getting a pulse so I'm thinking the tach itself might be shot. I determined that the glow plugs are working. But, I haven't diagnosed further.

Sad, I've been wondering where she ended up. I do remember seeing it on Craigslist around 6-7 years ago. Oh well, life goes on.

Yeah I've spoken to Frank a few times about it. He did sell it to Caden. I bought off of Caden In March of 2023.

Well it's nice to know that you still have it!

Sounds like the one I have is kind of famous hahaha

Do you still have this truck by chance? I remember seeing a video of it on Youtube years ago and I'm curious of where it ended up.

So you do still have yours?

@fiatslug87 I appreciate that. I more so mean how many active members still have their trucks. I heard that Rob and one other guy sold theirs

Hi all! I'm curious to see how many of ya'll have a factory turbo diesel Comanche. It still seems like nobody knows how many of these were sold or still exist. It would be nice to know if anyone else on here has one of these unicorns. Running or not, let's see em! I currently own two in Alabama. First is a running 1986 XLS. Second is a non running 1987 Base model

The new radiator is in. The only main real difference is the lower hose outlet on the new radiator is on the driver side. On the original radiator, both hose outlets were on the passenger side. However,I made it work with two hoses. The system was bled with minimal fuss.

After installing the freshly rebuilt pump, the truck runs properly and purrs like a kitten. I will have videos up soon. In the meantime, once it ran, all that was left were brakes and the radiator. The original one had build up in it. With that said, I took it to a local radiator shop and asked for it to be flushed. I found out that it would have to be recored... they priced that at $600. Decided to order a radiator for a gasser Comanche and make it work. While waiting for the radiator, I replaced all of the front brake hardware: soft lines, calipers, pads, rotors, and regreased the bearings.

@Htchevyii I do have a diesel Cherokee I might consider letting go of for the right price. It is currently a roller though.