Walkenvol

I prefer the look of the cherokee bumper to a step bumper myself. The license plate is an issue though as I wouldn't want to mount it in on the tailgate. Have you considered cutting about a 12" section out of the center of your cherokee bumper and fabing up an angled section with sides matching the cherokee profile where you can mount the license plate in the traditional location? I've seen folks do this with a Wrangler front bumper to make a rear bumper and thought it turned out well. Here's an example - http://www.cj-8.com/forum/showthread.ph ... 96&page=11

Thanks for the suggestions...more options to explore!

Not familiar with these. What did they come on?

I would it could be cut where the rear frame rails join the unibody at the back of the cab then build a tonge out of some additional steel. This would allow you to retain the existing springs/axle. Obviously ditch the tank. Personally, I would want to ditch the turning differential and replace with a straight trailer axle.

Good suggestion. I was hoping there might have been a stock steel wheel with the same bolt pattern but it seems like the bolt patterns changed with the introduction of the Cherokee and Wrangler.

Can't bolt a transfer case to the 2wd transmission.

I'm interested in creating a retro look and would like to find some steel wheels that will accept the older Jeep dog dish hub caps. Does anyone know of a vehilce / year model that might have come with such a setup?

http://icelandoffroad.com/CherokeeXJ/XJ ... fault.aspx

18 vlt sawzall in the parking lot works for me.

Its your truck so do what you want. You asked for opinions and folks are giving you good opinions then you appear to disagree with their opinions. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone who knows much about painting to agree with you that using rattle cans is better or cheaper than spraying it from a gun. Best of luck and hopefully yours will turn out great.

goal is to use a remote resevoir p/s pump to power a comanche p/s gearbox. I found a remote resevoir p/s pump on a honda with a v-belt pulley but it powers a rack and pinion steering unit. Hoping that someone has tried this before and will know the outcome either positive or negitive.

Did a search but for some reason nothing came up. Does anyone know if a power steering pump that supplies a rack and pinion steering system (this particular one is off a Honda) produces enough volume and pressure for a saginaw power steering gearbox on a cherokee?

Other than making a tailgate, I don't think it would be extremely difficult to make a thriftside bed. I saw where someone made a tailgate and used a the large Jeep script stamped into the back of a postal jeep - turned out great. Still looking for a photoshop expert who can mate a J-10 thriftside bed to a comanche.

How does the fill tube fit with the stock tank being in front of the axle and the TJ tank going behind the axle?

The ranger step side doesn't have a retro look with the rounded fenders. I have no photoshop skills. Is there anyone on the board who could photoshop a J-10 thriftside bed onto a comanche? My initial impression is the combination would make a nice retro look but its difficult to tell for sure without the pictures. Possibly use the new flat fender flares to match the thriftside fenders? Might would require a gas tank change if switching to a stepside bed?

Was the comanche ever offered in a thriftside bed option like the J-trucks? Since there very few new things to be done, has anyone modded a thriftside be to fit a comanche or custom built their own? Might make for a cool look as it appears there's a lot of interest in the flat fender flairs. Here's a link; http://www.thejeeptrader.com/details.php?id=10787

Everyone seems to agree that the external clutch slave is preferred to the internal option with the AX-15. How problematic is the internal slave? Are the internal slaves worse than the external slaves or is it strictly the access issue when a problem develops? If I'm changing the motor is it woth the expense to buy an external slave bellhousing and slave cylinder setup to make this change? Is there a difference between the wrangler ax-15 bellhousing and the MJ / XJ ax-15 bellhousing?

Are any of the bellhousing bolts tricky if I leave the transmission in?

1st time to pull a 4.0 out of an MJ/XJ in front of an AX-15. Anyone know of a good tutorial or have any pointers to make it go the easiest? Is it easier to pull the transmission with the motor?

Would make a great DIY entry?

I'd be interested in the side mirrors on it depending on type and condition. PM me a picture.

I'm going to swim against the tide here and say you should sell the truck and purchase one that's already in the condition you desire. If your willing to spend $8,000, then you can buy a comanche in fantastic condition and save yourself the headaches of attempting to find reliable folks to hire for restoration work. Most folks who restore a vehicle then sell it lose money if they place any value on their labor. Car restoration for most car models (some classics excluded) is not a busness plan, rather an enjoyed hobby. Good luck.

If I understand your model and its correct, then the weak point is the 2" tubing which I thought was standard in the trailer hitches I've seen? Is it worth beefing up the 2" tubing or does this prove the hitch design is as strong as others sold in the market place? I figured the weak point would show to be sideways pulling since the flat metal brackets don't have any gussets. I have seen some sold where the flat brackets had about a 1/2" bend on the bottom edge.

Are you getting close to offering these for sale and if so, what is the price? Very interested especially with the square cut out for the 2" tubing.

Did you read through this thread? viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28315 I'm anxiously awaiting the outcome.