Salvagedcircuit

Hi. I've been itching to do a rear disc brake conversion on my 1988 Jeep comanche, but I have held out until I have completed my research on brake conversions. My comanche has a rear dana 35 non-c-clip style axle. Mine has the bolt access hole in the brake drum axle flange, and I can see the retainer plate and bolts behind it. Its definitely a c-clip axle. My use case: My comanche is my work truck. I plan on picking up building supplies, towing and various other truck activities. Not planning to rock crawl with it. I'm trying to improve brake response and reliability and to me it makes sense to switch over to disc brakes. At this point, the vehicle is 34 years old and still has the original rear corrugated brake lines, stock drums, stock front disc brakes, dana 30 front axle, dana 35 rear axle and the stock brake booster. It's at the point where it makes more sense to replace components than to refurbish. I plan on making my braking system reliable because I would like to make this my daily driver. You just don't see any of these on the roads anymore by me and I would like to change that. However, the non-c-clip axle is throwing me a curve ball. There are not many bolt-on disc brake options for the trapezoidal bolt pattern on the retainer plate that is used on the XJ and MJ from '84-90. The only one I could find is from teraflex, the Teraflex 4354410: https://teraflex.com/1987-90-yj-1984-90-xj-rear-disc-brake-conversion-kit.html My question to you guys is this: is it easier to remove the entire rear axle from my MJ and install a ZJ rear axle? The ZJ has a standard trapezoidal hole pattern on the retainer plate and it opens up a lot of disc brake upgrade options. I have seen nickintime's guide on 84-90 xj rear brake adaptions here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5IDOZz3fo4&t=9m36s and its a bit more how-you-doing than I'd like. Are there any other axle swaps I should look out for? Sure, I'd love to swap for a larger axle like a dana 44, but I don't know how lucky I will be at the junkyards. luckily a few local junk yards still have some Zj's and Xj's which is great. Any input would be great! Thanks!

Thanks! I forgot to check there For clarification, the 84-86 gauge cluster features a metal stepped smaller diameter concentric extrusion on the rear of the speedometer. This extrusion has a c-clip style mating which the later 87-90 gauges don't have. The later 87-90 gauges has a flush extruded speedometer mount which is geometrically simpler. Since mine is an '88 comanche, I am looking for the 87-90 gauge cluster. Excellent. Thanks. The image below shows the 84-86 cluster

My apologies, I meant speedometer. The speedometer is the one with the physical cable on the rear of the gauge cluster. Got ya. This is the specific gauge I am looking to buy. I just want to make sure I get the right cluster so I can diagnose my potential overheating issues. Does this one have the correct speedometer connector that would mate with an 88 Comanche speedometer cable? Thanks!

So If I get a full gauge off of ebay, Do I need to make sure the rear of the speedometer has a plastic fitting on it? Thanks.

Thanks. My PRND31-2 indicator is missing the red arrow. I have yet to remove the gauge cluster, so I'm hoping either the spring just came loose or the red lever fell off, but it could be anything at this point. Is there anyway to tell if the gauge in an MJ has the plastic or metal retaining cap on the speedometer without removing the gauge cluster from the dash? Is there a way to tell or is it just luck of the draw? I want to order one from ebay but I don't want to end up having to buy a different speedometer cable. Thanks!

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. My 88 has the dummy gauge syndrome. This guide looks to be the perfect antidote. many thanks! Curious, why is the red indicator missing from the PRND31-2 indicator in your photos? Did it fall out or was it just not mounted yet? Thanks.

Is there a neutral safety switch on all automatic AW4 transmissions? Or only the floor shift automatic transmissions? Thanks.

An electric comanche would be stellar, but dang that would require a ton of work. Ideally, the under bed space would be ideal, but that X frame box construction would pose a pretty significant problem. I do like that ford is offering their electric motor from the F150 lightning as a crate motor. https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-9000-MACHE The major hurdle here is the missing letter! Here's to 'maNche-9000

1988 Jeep Comanche 4x4 Long Bed Gold paint, gold paint on firewall behind the engine 4.0L Auto Aisin 30-40LE 231 AMC transfer case Dana 35 front Dana 35 rear 42968 Gas tank skid plate Bed mat Engine previously replaced with another 4.0L Last registered in Mass. Mine now I believe this spent most of it's life in Virginia. Body and frame rust very minimal. All suspension and brake components are thoroughly rusted and in need of replacement. She's a survivor that's for sure. Currently being refurbished. Engine seems to be running hot but dummy gauge syndrome complicates troubleshooting. Plans: Proper gauge cluster Complete disc brake upgrade Dana 44 install if I can find the parts. Would like to make it a metric ton package Proper Bedline Undercoat to the moon Change up the wheels. I'm a sucker for the stock 10 spoke. Drive it around the east coast, you really don't see enough of them around.

Sorry guys, had to hold myself back on this one. Will probably regret it. If this thing isn't a pile of rust, someone got a pretty good deal on this. $3050 ain't too shabby.

To buy a second or not is the question. Someone please buy this so I don't fill up my yard. Please. I paid more than this for mine. https://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/d/richmond-jeep-comanche/7481054774.html https://www.ebay.com/itm/154999998933

Oooh. Very nice. I plan to install a WJ master cylinder & booster, and do a ZJ rear disc swap into mine. I like the Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve, I think I may have to copy you if you don't mind

Curious, did you keep the Brown Dog engine mounts installed or did you go back to an oem engine mount? Thanks.

Wow. I've never seen a purpose-built wrench extender before, neat. I've always used a 1.25in diameter steel tube as an extender. That sure looks like a better solution

That's going to be pretty wild wrap. Post some photos when it's done Were you able to repaint that door? Those are some jumbo tires man.

I really dig CAD wireframe drawings, ones with isometric, diametric and blow-up views. The 80s red / green vector display outline really push it over the top. It would look sick on a garage wall. Maybe I should try making a new version of this in CAD and then export it as a .dxf so anyone could print it. It would be most excellent.

I learned about the jeep vin build sheets from jeepforum https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/vin-decoder-free.4381177/ and even though it is intended for 1998+ vehicles, several Comanche buildsheets showed up in my searches. I can't say 100% if they are legitimate, but they are indeed hosted directly from jeep.com, so I don't see why they would be fake. @eaglescout526 Thanks for the information! I have been using this vin code tool for the past 6+months to help me in my search for a comanche in decent shape for a reasonable price. It has helped me out a lot because it's immediate. Sometimes sellers are not willing to post engine bay photos and there's really no other way to know if a comanche has power steering or if it was a Pioneer, Eliminator or an xls, especially if it's been repainted. Still on the lookout -_-.

Does anyone know if these posters have been reproduced? I'm a sucker for 1980s CAD wireframe diagrams and disassembled blow-up parts diagrams. This is the image on the back of the above poster. image is borrowed from https://www.autopaper.com/1986-jeep-comanche-original-dealer-sales-brochure-2-sided-poster.php maybe I should just make one in CAD

I have found that the dewalt dcf899 impact I purchased a few months back to be invaluable for removing stubborn bolts. It comes in handy on a lot of old iron I purchase and repair. Yeah, it's a bit of change upfront, but the tool is literally priceless for what it does. Sometimes it even beats the big ol 3ft breaker bar.

comanche-vt-1J7FJ36L3KL461900.pdfHi Guys, Jeep has a very simple online vin search tool online here: https://fcacommunity.force.com/RAM/s/equipment-listing I realize that force.com is not jeep.com, but when a vin number is input, it directs you right to: https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=################# This directly pulls from the amc/chrysler/jeep/fca archives. As of late, I have noticed that the buildsheets that I have saved a few months ago have vanished from their database. Here's an an example: I was interested in a 1991 blue commanche longbed in virginia. The seller provided the vin, 1J7FJ36LXLL124142. The Seller wanted $8900, but the underbody rust looked bad and some of the repairs did not look great either. I was able to download the official jeep buildsheet (attached) but if you put that same vin number into the buildsheet generator, it no longer generates. It errors with "Unable to fetch required information. Please contact System Administrator" Same thing happened to a white comanche 1989 longbed. vin#: 1J7FJ36L3KL461900 https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1J7FJ36L3KL461900 generates the same error. I have attached the build sheet to this post as well. It seems strange why jeep would be removing vin numbers from their database. Otherwise, the buildsheet generator still works. Here's a jeep grand cherokee from gsa auctions: https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucalsrh/?sl=5XQSCI22912001 vin# provided: 1C4RJFDJ1CC117888 when input into the above link it generates: https://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/BuildSheetServlet?vin=1C4RJFDJ1CC117888 Giving you guys a heads up so you can download an official buildsheet before they disappear and you have to manually contact jeep archives and wait weeks for an official response. 2022 edit: it seems like the buildsheets for 1J7FJ36LXLL124142 & 1J7FJ36L3KL461900 are back up online now. Strange. Crisis averted? Jeep-MJ-Blue-Specsheet.pdf comanche-vt-1J7FJ36L3KL461900.pdf

I've really enjoyed the comanche repair series from the WAEMID IV youtube channel. He doesnt do the its a quick-fix cut-scene editing that many other yotubers do. he highlights all the painstaking problems of maintaining and repairing an older vehicle, and also adds many humorous parts too. Definitely worth a watch: