1999 MJ

@jeff351 you have a lot of great ideas. Thank you for some inspiration. 👍👍👍

I’m looking to do the same thing to mine, when I swap in the 1999 interior. I’m guessing / I believe I saw someone had cut down the newer OHC, glued / bonded / adhered / fiberglassed it back together, then hid the work with the fabric. If you stumble across the link / pictures / write up, please post it up on this thread, or if you undertake the project, please do a build thread. Never mind, I didn’t realize it was the next reply.

Glad you are enjoying Italy. I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I was in Sigonella for a month, followed by Napoli for 5 months. I kept getting the non-Italian speaking discount, among other things…. I enjoyed Italy so much, I started to pronounce Italy with an "Sh" in front of Italy. I did look at a ‘97+ 2.5TD while I was there. Seemed to drive okay. I wouldn’t mind purchasing a 2000 / 2001 2.5TD eventually, from Europe. I did want to get a few European parts, but between google translate on Marketplace and the prices they wanted for used parts, I found it easier to bring parts in from elsewhere to Italy.

RockAuto has been my friend, but I had FPO / APO privileges. It’s been a struggle getting the locals to work on my XJ, when I didn’t have the time / equipment. Even then…… grrrr…..

1988 Jeep Comanche Laredo. 1JTMW66T0JT049363 2.5i 4spd manual 2wd Long Wheel Base. Build Date ? Northern Minnesota. Slow Work Build In Progress. Original Color Black. Someone painted it White (pealing). Plan to paint it back to Black. Gray Interior. Bucket Seats. 16 gallon fuel tank? Goal is to make this a 1999 MJ 5spd 4x4, with about a 2 inch lift and 30 inch tires. *****NOTE: If this VIN decoded correctly, this should have had a 4.0 5spd from the factory.

Where are you working on the XJ? I had my RHD Orvis XJ in Napoli, that I’d drove down from RAF Lakenheath to NAS Sigonella, and then up to Napoli.

I can picture & visualize everything coming together, except the trim at the door jamb / back of the seat area. Those rear corners have me scratching my head. Granted I imagine once I see it, it will make sense. Unfortunately, I’m not near my MJ or parts XJ. Can someone snap several pictures of that area, that has done the ‘97+ interior update? I’d like to see how the plastic trim all ties together. I’m wondering about installing the larger Boxey Jeep speaker mounts.

What’s your opinion on the 8.8, from the Explorer, why aren’t you a fan of it? My ‘88 Comanche is currently 2wd, with a 4spd transmission. Not sure what axle is in the back. My ‘99 parts XJ is a 5spd 4.0 4x4. I guess I’m just not seeing / understanding (for my needs) why I should put something like a 3.55 / 3.73 under the truck, with 30 inch tires. The truck is as aerodynamic as a brick. It will have less than 200hp. I don’t tow / hall more than 1500 lbs. When I do, it’s during hunting/fishing season, so only on the weekends. I don’t off-road my vehicles.

So, I know the Ford 8.8 is a popular swap from the Explorer’s. I see the Mustangs had 3.07 ratios. Does anybody see any issues, with wanting to take a Ford 8.8 rear axle from a Ford Explorer & then taking the gears from a 8.8 Mustang with 3.07’s and installing the gears into the Explorer Axle? Or, can / should I just use the Mustang 8.8 axle? I haven’t seen any write up on it being done, so I’m guessing it’s a no-go. I’m really wanting to run a 1999 XJ drivetrain (4.0 5spd) in the Comanche, with 30 inch tires. It’s what I ran on my 2000 XJ with a 4.0 5spd. I didn’t have any issues, driving around. Thoughts? Concerns? Ideas?

How can tell me about Floor Pans? I’ve read some topics & dug around Comanche Club. I’m going to go with Key Parts, for the floor pans, driver & passenger. Unless there is something better. My next choice, I’m needing guidance. I’ve considered putting in the “rocking” Renix seat frames. I really liked how my ‘87 Cherokee could “rock” the seat on the bowed sliders. From here, I’d like to put the ‘97-‘01 Classic / Limited XJ seats in. Then modify the seat, so it will hinge & slide forward, like a 2 door XJ when lifting the back seat lever. So, since I plan on doing the floor pans, I’m assuming the mounts will change, based on the model year of seats. WWCCD? What Would Comanche Club Do? - opinions? - thoughts? - ideas? - hiccups?

I reached out to an eBay seller that sells aftermarket factory looking switches, for the 1997-2001 XJs. I asked if they made a switch with the icon / graphic that shows the Comanche truck bed light. Apparently I’m the first to ask if such a switch exists, and no they currently don’t make one. Maybe if enough interest is shown, they could make a limited run of switches, with the truck bed light icon / graphic. The eBay seller I spoke with is “GoldCoastDistributing”

Please point me towards the build. Also, the rocker switch used.

I don’t smoke, so I’ll be installing heated seats, into the factory (ash tray) location. I’m trying to figure out what to put into 3rd slot or even a 4th slot. **** I need to look for a factory looking rocker switch, to fill the 3rd slot. I’m thinking this rocker switch would be a “bed light” as found on the stock 1988 truck.

Awesome, thank you for the responses. I had used the gear calculator. I understand how to put numbers in & see what it calculates. I just need to figure out if I’d be lugging the engine down in an overdrive gear at 80mph. I THINK ideally, I could really use 2 Overdrive gears. I just need to figure out how to get these “custom” gears, without breaking the bank. Where I live now (Midwest), I really don’t see much elevation change. If I did, I’d just down shift to stay in the power band as needed. As for towing / hauling, it would be very very minimal. If I was towing / hauling, I’d guess I’d be under 1500 lbs most of the time, and this would be less than 10 times a year. Quick rough numbers tell me I usually have less than a 1000 lbs, to include someone else for hunting/fishing/camping. Definitely considering the WJ front brakes. I’m definitely going to need to read up on SOA versus SUA set ups, for a 3 inch lift. In my XJ, I have a 3.5mm Aux input installed. Maybe my next factory radio, I’ll add Bluetooth. I was thinking if the rear mounted ceiling speakers were too much, I could always fade them through the radio controls. This is definitely going to be a “yuppie” truck. I plan on putting a lot of period correct upgraded factory options, from the XJ.

I just bought a 1988 Comanche, 2wd, 4 speed manual transmission, long bed. I plan to find a 1999 Donor XJ, to “update / modernize” the exterior & the interior to what perhaps a 1999 MJ could have / would have looked like. My intent. Exterior: 1999 XJ front end with factory fog lights. Front doors switched out to ‘99-‘01 specifications, with power door locks & windows. I’ll be grafting ‘97-‘01 interior 2 door cards onto front door, 4 door cards to make it look factory. 2 door power window switches. I’m thinking a 1999 4.0 engine, with a NSG370 transmission. I’m starting to lean towards the AX-15 / NV3550…. I’m thinking a Ford 8.8 rear axle, with Yukon Axles. Obviously, I’ll have the shock mounts relocated and what not. Factory HP Dana 30 for the front axle. Interior: ‘99-‘01 Interior with Classic or Limited front seats. I haven’t decided if I want leather or cloth front seats…. I’m thinking manual seat bases, with the option to hinge them forward, so I can get stuff behind the seats. I’m even wondering about the “ Renix rocker” seat bases, as found on some older XJ’s. I’m wondering on how to cut down the overhead console to make it work inside the MJ. Key Parts floor pans. Questions: Now that you know my intent / visions. 1). What gear ratios / transmission & axles? I don’t plan to wheel this MJ. It will be a pavement princess / mall crawler / sleep in the back camping trips. I’d like something with 30 or 31 inch tires on 16 inch rims. I’d like to have a final drive of 6th (5th gear?) gear at around 2,000 RPMs at 80mph. Is that too low of an RPM for the 4.0 at 80mph? 2). What can / should I fill the other 2 console slot buttons with? I’ll be losing rear window defrost, so I’d like to fill that spot. Maybe I need a 4 slot center console bezel, so I’d need a 4th switch….. 3). Overhead console, maybe I’ll remove the “sunglass holder” and install 3 switches up there. Give me some ideas. 4). I’m thinking a 3 inch lift kit with the Ford 8.8 rear axle. Educate me about setting this up. I read stuff about “Over The Axle” versus “Under The Axle”. I’m not understanding why one is better than the other. 5). Best / preferred way of obtaining a 3 inch lift? 6). Rear overhead XJ speakers mounted above the driver / passenger? Dreams / Ponders / Wondering: I’m wondering about putting a hidden winch behind the bumper. I’m wondering who makes the “extended” top bumper cover to fill the gap, between the grill & the front bumper, since it will sit a little bit forward. Custom graphics? Custom badges? Other modernization ideas? I’m not looking to do a Pi dash or anything like that. Tips? WTB: Guidon Renegade 2 topper for the 7 foot long bed.