H3RESQ

Mine did well on my cage till it went in for Powdercoat, not sure why but it just couldn't handle the sand blasting and prep..... :dunno: :rotf: That reminds me.....I need a new sticker!!!!

I have always loved those year Falcons. I think they would make such a great resto-mod.

Well I have decided to drive rather than trailer for my upcoming trip. That was the idea of the build, drive it, wheel it, drive it home. We will be heading to Florence to meet some friends for a little dunes action, then on to Trukee to meet up with some other friends to run Fordyce and the Rubicon. After that we will make a quick side trip over to Lincoln to say hi to my parents, sister and her kids. (I still do not understand why my sister and parents transplanted from Washington to Cali :dunno: ). Then back to Washington. I plan to try and keep up on the trip as we go with pictures and short storys as the trip progresses. We leave Wed. the 31st in the evening so keep an eye out. Jason

I sooooooo feel for you on the paint dude. That just totally blows, just sucks you got in to deep to walk away and find someone else...

Well it is the Family Wagon......Zombie family?

I bolted a box down in the back finally, Buffy (the xj) inherited the green box that I was using. This one fits a full oil change, trans fluid, steering fluid, diff fluid, a full spill kit, cables, spare parts, a heavy supply of tools, first aid supplys and more. Obviously a trailer box but it just fit so well.

Thanks guys!

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I have never owned a Powerstroke, but have watched my friends ruin my drive way with oil. So I can't say much on that. I have owned 2 cummins Dodge's. One was a 12v with auto trans, reg cab long bed. (97) I LOVED that truck. Very comfortable interior, great motor and that one would get 21mpg running around. My second was a 01 24v H.0. manual transmission ext. cab long bed. It was a beast, loved that truck. Both trucks were flawless when I owned them, Neither got anything but regular maintance while I owned them. My buddy has an 02 ext. cab dually 6 speed manual with an exhaust brake and 4;10 gears. One of the greatest tow rigs I have ever used. Hauled two rigs to Moab and back with a 5th wheel, hauled my jeep more times than I can count, all the way back to when I had my grand Cherokee. He is actually going with me to Rubicon/Fordyce next week and we will be towing the Comanche with it rather than my Yukon xl 2500. The only problem he has had in owning it over 10years and 120k miles is the injector pump going out. I can't say enough about the Dodge with a Cummins. As far as how one would hold up over the other, well I believe that honestly has more to do with how you treat your vehicle. Ya you might see a few more "Thrashed" dodge diesels on the road than fords. I honestly believe that is because when it comes to hard core labor the dodges are the ones used, and well there seem to be more still on the road and running, were by the time the fords are beat up that bad they have been put to pasture. THIS SIMPLE,....the number one diesel (and almost the only swap) swap into a early chevy or ford is a CUMMINS motor.

So......could I enter my 1990/99 Comanche? I see a "truck" section but that is it in the categories. Seems like it would be a fun event and the kids would enjoy the activities as well..

Couple pictures with front anti-rock disconnected and Jeep flexed. Checking clearance on new track bar bracket brace..

Ya, a Spartan, ez-lock, Detroit etc. will have that. It is very common. Think of your locker like a freewheel/cassette on a bmx/mountain bike. When you coast it free spools and allows tires to move at there own speed. Once you put any power/throttle to it, it will lock up. The popping sound is just when your at a point were it is right in between grabbing teeth back. So...the way to drive one is to just either be on constant light throttle around turn (but this will wear tires much faster) or coast turns until you straighten out. (this is frustrating because by exit of turns you going so slow) and then throttle. If your don't have a smooth throttle foot through turns and in acceleration (especially in a manual trans) it will drive you crazy. You will figure out its sweet spot with time behind the wheel. There is nothing wrong with it.

Haha....believe it or not...I don't really feel like dropping $850+tax on some headlights. $450 for the MJ is ok though..

Bracing looks good. As does the clean rig. I have H4's in my MJ and have been eye balling those LED's since they finally came out with the square one's. Getting the XJ (still stock lights) finally gives me an excuse to do the LED's on my MJ and move the H4's over to the XJ. :)

Track bar drop bracket brace....

Today the MJ will get a brace for the track bar bracket. Running across to passenger side of the frame...

So I went out yesterday and just drove it in circles a bunch in low range. I guess I exaggerated it as a pop/click type sound. Its more of a light bind and release type of feeling. Looked everything over real good and then just went ahead and tore into it. Everything is fine. What is going on is basically the springs stiffness is just right to be constant at the slip point of the lsd while turning, especially at low speed driving. I went ahead and put it all back together and will take it out for a run tomorrow and see how it does in actual trail situations. The end result is I will probably pull the LSD out and put an ARB in the front. I really want the easy steering and just be able to lock it on a need by need basis. Putting a $1000 locker in the front was not my plan for this, but to have on board air and nice steering, locker when I want it will be worth it. The biggest issue with ARB is that once you have one in the front of your rig there is nothing else you want. Until you have one you don't realize what your missing.....

Also clicking is specifically when on power more so than coasting.

Well I took it out with Kate and the kids last night. Just ran up to visit some friends that were camping. So for the most part just gravel roads. Did of course lock in the hubs and run 4hi and 4low just to check everything out. IT DOES HAVE A ISSUE up front. Its a new one for me so I will have to look into it a little more. I will probably bust the front axle completely apart after my trip in the MJ to Rubi/Fordyce. Here is what is happening in case anyone knows the issue. When hubs are locked in and jeep is in 2wd, there is a very light clicking coming from BOTH sides of front end. You only hear it when turning in either direction, going straight there is no noise. Also when cruising down road in 2wd with hubs locked in randomly will pull one direction or other. When I engage 4wd It is quite going straight, once you start to turn in either direction it starts to click, its a very consistant click for the most part. Kinda feels like there is a bind, but I really just think the bind is usual to what you feel when front is locked up (This has a heavy spring Yukon limited slip up front) I have already checked both U-joints and they ARE GOOD, checked the limited slip (one wheel off ground and used tourque wrench on wheel stud to get lsd to break loose(130lbs), also lifted front off ground and checked general rotation of tires while hubs locked in. It feels smooth and good, of course this is not under power though. So basically in 4wd I get a clicking once I turn wheels in either direction but quite when going straight. Any idea's guys? I have a couple, but will wait to say since I will be tearing it apart to see for sure either way. Really would like to know if anyone has had this scenario though and knows exactly what it is. Cheeers, Jason

Done right? Usually done right would include a front drive line...... :hmm: Just razzing ya.....SICK MJ!! :thumbsup: :cheers:

Oh lala, nice garage...

I noticed that too! I looked close and there is no damage to the inside on plastic or anywere so considering the outside markings and that it creased enough to chip paint it probably was not due to that. Although I have seen that done before.....so who knows. I'm not to worried about it. I drove it all day today and put about 60 miles on it. Been flawless thus far. I'm happy with a great buy on a rig with good parts and a really beat to snot body....

Ok lets keep this to my MJ. Here is a link to the Family Wagon XJ build thread http://comancheclub.com/topic/39510-h3resqs-family-wagon-xj-build/

Ya, not sure. Guess I should get a dog and name it Tank or something.. The tire carrier bolts to that rear bumper, but honestly its pretty shady. It is actually what caused the dent in rear hatch. I don't think I will be running it. Yes, the 5 speed is nice. I think the kids might end up with memories of learning to drive a stick with this rig. Its pretty nice that both my MJ and XJ are 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern and both run Warn hubs!!