Kenbob

Still finding my way aroound my 89 with a 4.0 5sp. I noticed there is a round rubber plug on top of the valve cover toward the rear of the engine. It seems to have a small hole in the center of the plug that would accept a vacuum tube. There is nothing there and I don't see any loose or plugged hoses. SHould there be a tube there for all engines? I do have cruise and pb if that helps. Truck seems to run ok.

I just did a the gauge swap. I don't have pics, but the sending units are pretty easy to see. Oil is right by the distributor...It is round about as tall as it is round 1 1/2" or so, tapered at the top with on wire coming out of it. Water sending unit is surprisingly small. It is also easy to see and get at. It is on the drivers side of the motor and is also one wire. It as at the back of the head, real close to the valve cover. Sticks up about an inch and comes out with a socket. I ordered new sending units from ROck auto and in the middle of ordering my computer froze and when I ordered I ended up getting (and paying) for two sets. They arent that expensive but they came from two different suppliers and they ship priority mail so with shipping it cost me 38.93. I was going to keep the extra set until someone in the club needed them. You can have them for my cost plus what ever it cost me to ship them.

I have seen enough references that say fenders interchange between comanche/cherokee, but parts geek has inner fenders really cheap for the cherokee but none listed for the comanche....they are the same aren't they?

FYI my 89 I just bought has almost the same vin is yours...I have a t instead of the first j and a 9 before the k instead of a 2....my build number is 454163...I think I have the pukegout tranny, but that would make sense as it is earlier

You mean right to left? I am sure I plugged them into the same side they came out of.....there is a small chance that the left side is in upside down if that is even possible to do. I know the right one went in right side up. Is it possible that the plugs switch side going from idiot lights to gauges? With all those circuits back there, it would seem more than the gas gauge would not work if I had one side in upside down.

I just replaced the gauge cluster on my 89 Comanche. Everything went slick, but when I turned it on, the fuel guage went from pegged to the far right slowly backwards to the full mark, and then it returned to pegged right. The old large guage worked fine. I would chalk it up to a bad gauge if it had not shown some sign of life at first.

Haven't seen any talk of synthetic used in the peugot tranny. My new ride has 189000 and the peugeot tranny. It doesn't appear to have had hard use and I don't intend to give it any. Tranny works fine except going into second it wants to grind a little when cold (below freezing). Any issues with using synthetic in these beasts?

After taking my floormat up and being happy about the rust situation there (none on pgr side, little on drivers side), but observing that the jute pad is moist and smells like mildew, I think I know a fix to keep the moisture out. I used to work on a lot of old fords. I had a 1958 and those were notorious for rear floor rot out. I noticed under the dash that the jute padding extends out past the rubber mat. I thought it was just a money saving thing, but I now believe it served a purpose. The jute acted as a wick and allowed the moisture from the front pans a means of escape. I noticed the jute on my truck doesnt even extend up the firewall, but has a different foam mat there. When I put my mats back in, I am going to put some sort of cloth under the mats, all the way down across the floor and leave the top sticking out above the rubber mat. I think this will prevent the mats from accumulating moisture in the future? Any comments?

I did as recommended and pulled up the padding over the cab floor. I was pleased at how good it looked. I was not pleased when I took off the moulding on the drivers side. I had a bunch of wires I do not know what to do with. I would assume Jeep would have all their wires inside the bundle that is taped with electric tape. That bundle is there and unmolested. If I am wrong on that someone let me know. The rest consist of a heavy primary wire, an antenna wire, i light black wire and some rca speaker wire and jacks. I am guessing this was for a radioo/boombox/speakers behind the seat. These wires are all cut under the molding. There is also a twin strand red/black wire that comes out of a hole in the floor mat under the drivers seat. This I would guess is factory, but it also goes nowhere? It is not the seatbelt wire. Does anyone have a clue? I do not have dome lights. Might this be the wire for that?????

Ok, I appreciate all comments and I read all posts about this from previous. After reading those I am still fuzzy about two things: I get the impression the wiring for the tach is there even if I don't have one now. Is that right? If I find a cluster without a tach does it matter if it is from a 2.5 or 4.0. From the posts it sounds like the calibration of the tach was the thing that made the switch a no-no

My interior I would call blue-gray..The mini console around the 5 spd is the only thing I need interior wise other than guages. It is there, but some of the places where it is attached are broken and is only held by one screw. I have bench seats so long console will not work. I also would like to find a guage package and front inner plastic fenders. Mine are there, but have chunks missing where they attach to the fenders in places....should be same for cherokee

That is how I feel. I like to see that temp gauge go up and then fall back when the thermostat opens. Have you installed mechanicals on the 4.0? Any problems?

My 89 I just bought has the basic dash with idiot lights. I have seen some gauge clusters cheap enough, but it is my understanding, I would need new sending units for oil and water. Am I right on that? For about $35 I can get some mechanical mini gauges that I think would mount just to the right of the very left a/c dash vent. It would seem I could have mechanical gauges for the same money as factory electric......any landmines in that? any opinions?

Hoping to score some simple stuff: underhood insulation, plastic inner fenders, and one 9 slot wheel. I need that mini console that goes around the manual shifter, but I don't think cherokees came with bench seats so that will be different.

I found a cherokee in a very small yard in Granville IA where I used to live. my bro is checking it out to see what is there to pick. Prices should be cheap there.

I guess with 189000 miles on the clock it has been on for a while. Surprised the bulb isnt burned out. Must be better bulbs that they put in the cab lights.

I am in Smithville. The car still has KS plates, but I bought it from a guy in Independence who had a MO title but still had KS plates. That worries me a little, but the vin matches what is on the dash. THere is a nice, white long bed near me at Platte City and I think I saw one other one in town, but only once! Good to know their are some locals around

I just bought an 89 Manche with 4.0 and 189000 mi. The check emissions light is on. I do not have that adapter the manual says you need to check codes. I was just wondering if there was any one weak link or obvious place to start. It runs fine and I don't need the light out for to pass any inspections in my state. Most of my other cars, it is always the ox sensor, and on one, it doesnt like any aftermarket replacements. Thanks for the help and happy to be in the brother/sisterhood

And you can bet this truck didn't spend it's life in MO or there would be rust issues!

Yes, come to Springfield once in a while. Being a MO truck though, I have to replace the windshield first so it will pass inspection. THEN I need to get out and find out if it there are any other issues. Drove it 30 Miles home and all was sweet. It has 1 incorrect wheel. As many of those base wheels as they made and as many wheels that got swapped out for bigger wheels and tires, you would think you could find one for scrap price. So far no find. About 35 in the local yard, or 20 plus shipping on the net. Seems high for something that hardly wears out and people discarded. Otherwise, it needs inner fenders.

Now if I could just figure out how to post pics. Just signed onto phtobucket but havent figured it out yet I got it! I just backed it out of the garage on a cold day to take the pics....It doesn't smoke like that all the time!

I just purchased a 1989 Comanche Sportruck, 2wd. It is 4.0 5sp, has 189000 mi. What enticed me on this truck was the fact it has almost no rust! There is a very tiny soft spot on one rocker. Floors are solid, bed is solid, corners solid. I live in the Kansas City area and it is unusual to find such a rust free truck around here. Clearcoat is toast, but otherwise it seems to be in great shape. vn 1j7ft26L9kL454163. I owned a 258 amc six in a 1971 Matador in from 1971-74. It feels good to be driving that amc based 6 again.