Spinnakerblue89

Hey I don't mind, I learned something at least, and anyways, Pinto/Mustang II couldn't help but creep back into the discussion... I realize I never started my intention with this thing!!! 1. Get it running (really more of an afterthought...) 2. Convert to Pinto/Mustang II Duraspark ignition. 3. Redo the interior. 4. (A huge maybe) Repaint it a deluxe tu-tone blue and white using the same blue it once was. Give it back it's '80's shine!

Ah, so sort of a game changer, you might say?

I didn't know that. I know the BII is different, and I know maaaaaany a mechanics who hated the twin I-beams. What's the scoop on the Pinto/Mustang II front end?

Right, it followed the Mustake II. Didn't exactly set a great precedent, if you're a fan of Mustangs, at least.

The BII is to Ford what the XJ is to Jeep... The Ranger is to Ford what the Comanche is to Jeep. One found more success with the SUV, the other found more success with the truck. It's a very interesting dynamic, and I happen to own an '88 Ranger. I guess now I only need an XJ Cherokee.....

I always got a kick out of FoMoCo naming cars like they were a sequel, So I had to make something out of it. Bronco II: The Revenge. It took a while and a little negotiating, but I acquired a 1984 Ford Bronco II: Bronco Strikes Back. It has the 3-speed C5 automatic transmission, a 2.8 carbureted V6, and one whack paint job. One side is primer, the other is blue. It doesn't run at all, but I can get it to start for a few seconds with starting fluid or with pouring gas down the throat. I got a bunch of parts with it, including a new gas tank. The body actually has very little rust altogether, it has a new floor panel on the driver side. I'm really glad I learned a lot on the ZJ and Comanche before I bought this. It's evident that this Bronco II: Bronco Returns also has electrical issues and its grounds need refreshed! (Thanks Cruiser!) Okay, I've had my fun with the name. Without further ado...

That is pretty neat! The '96 front end looks better than the ones before it, in my book.

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way to some folks on here, but I take a nuanced approach to this question. I say the Comanche is a reliable vehicle for a daily driver because it certain was for it's time and can be still. But it's reliability will only falter if it's maintenance isn't kept up, and it helps to know how an older vehicle like this works, because applying what we know about new and modern vehicles may not be the correct thinking for these, i.e. electronically controlled mechanisms vs. vacuum... That sort of thing.

I hear a carbureted 302 V8 is also a great candidate. I dunno yet, haven't made up my mind. Whatever the case, it would get a much needed tranny upgrade.

There is no such thing as the Tooth Fairy. There is no such thing as "too many tools". There is no such thing as a big enough workshop/garage/barn.

I put a GMB in my 4.0 ZJ months ago. No issues at all.

The Bronco II is to Ford what the Cherokee was to Jeep. On the same platform, the Ranger is to Ford what the Comanche was to Jeep. I swear all I need is an XJ now... But I'll settle with my ZJ... That blue cheese wedge... Yeah, Bronco IIs and Rangers don't share the awesome 4.0, the excellent manual and even auto trannies, or even the power the Jeeps had in those days. But there is one thing a '83-'94 Ranger and an '84 Bronco II has that my Comanche does not have. Duraspark. At least not to my knowledge... Apparently, this makes an '84 BII more desirable than the rest of the lot. Swapping in a Duraspark improves reliability and serviceability significantly, and bonus points, AMC Jeep also used Duraspark under a different name, I think in the CJs though. Motorcycles FTW! Shame I had to sell mine to move to AZ a while back.

Some friends of mine in Greenville, SC told me they were without power for a few days during Helene. Up here in Indiana, we had a few days of chilly weather, high winds from the east, and rain, but aside from that, we have been in a drought. The thing is, I hate to think of people living in valleys down there experiencing with the floods. I've already heard a few stories.

Well... I didn't want to post about it yet in the "other cool projects" part of the forum but it looks like I have something else headed my way soon, courtesy of a neighbor up the road from me... It's not exactly a done deal yet but he's been sitting on this for a long time and he's sick of it taking up space. And despite its looks, it's actually much more solid than one would imagine. New floor pans, probably a grand in New and reman parts to go with it, only two big rust holes to really be concerned about, and it doesn't start! So I'm thinking about picking this up and seeing what I can do for this '84. If the deal goes through, I apologize ahead of time to my Comanche for having to sit... but I've always wanted to tinker around with one of these things. It helps I have an '88 Ranger that gave me plenty of relatable experience. Otherwise, I've just been rearranging the shop with the new air compressor since the old one took a crapolla on me...

I have to say Jeepcables for me was a superior product over the ones I got from Ksuspension. Not because they were better cables, for all I know they're too similar to really tell the difference apart. But because the labeling and instructions are better with Jeepcables. That said, I would still do business with both no problem.

I have a Tom Woods front drive shaft in my 2003 Landrover Discover II. Here's a fun fact: Those trucks left the factory with drive shafts that were greased but had no way to grease them, no fittings, a sort of sealed part. The problem is that the front drive shaft near the front connection is situated between 2 very hot catalytic converters that overtime does quite a number to the grease that's inside the driveshaft. And eventually it starts to squeal, and once it does, it is not long before that front shaft becomes a medieval weapon, breaks free, and goes straight through either the transmission or the transfer case. Don't believe it? There are pics to prove it! So I have a Tom Woods right now in it and seems to be doing just fine!

Today I learned!

I've ordered from you a few times actually. I'm sure there will be more. I just gotta get around to putting a new floor in, and everytime I'm getting there, something else pops up.

Screw it! When are you going to 3D Print an entire Comanche truck?

As of 1 October, 2024, are you still selling the seat brackets?

I think there is a topic in one of the sub forums here that this question was brought up. It's been a while but it seemed like after the cab corners, this was the next thing. I may have read to deeply into it though.

I once made the mistake of putting Xenon bulbs in my 2004 Mustang GT fog lights...... That plastic didn't take kindly to the heat.

You aren't kidding, a friend of mine put in some LEDs on his RAM 1500 several years ago and he said the spotlight affect was the least of his problems- the intensity of the lights focusing on one spot was blinding and distracting, and after he would get out of the truck after getting home at night, the light would follow in his vision annoyingly for a few minutes after the fact. Incidentally, they didn't last very long, but I don't recall for how long either.

A while back when I was replacing the headlights on my ZJ, I read about Halogen assemblies and LED assemblies and why the differences mattered due to how the light was dispersed and patterned.

Misspoke, it happens.