Mudtruck87

YUP I AM Some great reading. Even your set backs are encouraging cause they happen often to me. Been trying to buy the parts to build my lift and that's when something more important than the MJ needs it. Love the ideas and I am sure to use some of them. Still studying your build and will PM with some questions. Unless I think others would need the info then I will post them. Thanks again for taking the few minutes to document your work after all the busted knuckles!

Nice truck! Keep up the good work. Some great ideas.

Haven't forgotten. Weather and time haven't lined up yet so I can take the doors off and take all the pictures. I plan to have pictures with the doors on, doors off and then tube doors on.

Now that is dedication! Great looking truck! Love the rear bumper idea. Look forward to seeing what else you come up with. an MJ to be proud of!

I so have to learn how to turn words into cool links........ Thanks for all the info. All are really good ideas. I just need something that won't mind living in the mud. So all I have to do is figure out what to run for springs. Thanks again.

Would be interested but I guess there would be different kits for different heights. In theory, if the height is great enough then the tank may not be an issue. I am going to test that theory in a month or so. Thanks for running with the idea. But I have noticed from the date of post that it has been a while. Any updates?

I have tossed the idea around for the last 6 months and I have decided that I am going to 4 link the rear. Yes I have noticed that with the right set up the leaf set up will flex yet to get the mad articulation I think the 4 link is with out a doubt better. The bed. Yes I would agree with everyone that it is an issue to be considered. If you aren't planning on raising the height of the truck to near monster truck standard then the bed is in the way. With 35's and my leaf set up I have a rub issue on the tub at max flex. I am sure that with 2 inch wheel spacers or an axle swap with a wider foot print it may correct it but now you have to wonder if its all worth it? I am planning on doing mine for two reasons. The first is I love to be different and a street driven 4 linked Comanche wouldn't be a common site driving down the street/trail. The second is I have learned from many people that you can tune a 4 link to do some wonderful things. I plan on adding enough height as well as wheel spacers to avoid any bed issues. I'm not in territory where rock crawling is big, here it is large mud holes and who can out do who on the trail. If I were to do a lot of crawling then I would keep COG low and ditch the bed to install the 4 link. I am stuck on a few issues. What style rod ends to use and what springs to install. I originally planned to add in a set of one ton axles out of a Dodge 3500 but when I realized I would have to run 42 inch tires just to get the same clearance as I do now with the D44 and 35's I decided not to. The other factor was my decision to not do a V8 conversion when the 4.0 died. What research have you done so far?

Bravo! Awesome job. Shows you really care about your MJ. It is really nice to see some one take the time to do things right and clean. Keep up the good work!

Awesome. So true. Each dent, scratch and lost bumper end has its own story full of laughs ending in busted knuckles. LOL I too miss the straight panels but the bragging rights are priceless!

I built my tube doors and although they aren't as easy as a lift off job they seal fine and I can put them on by myself. ( no need to have some one hold the door and another hunt for the hole. ) I am posting this at night so I will take pictures of my hinge modification tomorrow. Basically all I did was modify the inner most top bolt hole. I cut a slot so I can leave one bolt in the door on the top and bottom. Then all I have to do is set the door on and off. Yes I agree you can't do this in 30 seconds but I can put on both doors in about 5 min. The advantage is the door alignment is proper and I don't have leaks.

If you are building a daily driver to take on a trail from time to time then I would go with the spacer and shackle option. As you have learned from other owners, MJ's perform outstanding on 31's and 32's. If you are looking to run in the mud and do some really crazy mountian climbing every weekend then maybe I would spend the money to go up. Personally I have been playing in the mud with those non jeep guys on 38's and 44's. Following those foot prints with 32's only leads to being high centered. Remember... it's your MJ and build it for what you intend to do with it. I love looking through the forums. So many people with great talents and ideas. It's what keeps the hobby alive and our MJ's on the road! The trend seems to be the higher you go, the further off road you go and then you start exchanging shiny paint and straight panels for custom sliders, chopped fenders and trophy dents.

Nice truck!

Maybe so. Then again some things slip by at the factory. I can follow the history of the truck back about 12 years from previous owners and no one changed it. Either way I'm not restoring it to numbers matching show truck. If anything it will end up with a Mopar V8 and Dodge 1 ton axles for extreme off highway fun. Thanks for looking and for the useful information. Always nice to find people that do research and know what they are talking about.

BEFORE AFTER Year, Make, Model. 87 JEEP COMANCHE, unknown model Engine / Trans / Transfercase / Front axle / Rear axle / Wheelbase 4.0/auto front D30 rear D44 w/ TT and metric ton pkg, long wheel base Build date: (its on the driverside door sticker, in the form of month and year) Sorry but the only part of the sticker that was scratched, was the part with the date Current Location: Region will do, state, and area of state. Hampton Roads, Virginia Status: Is it still on the road, is it in the junkyard? Project awaiting work? Currently on the road and an on going project. Even tied for a daily driver with my 3500 Dodge 5.9 HO Cummins SRW 4x4 Notes: Anything that makes this comanche different from the rest. Skid plates, plows, lights, bumpers, weird factory options... Would also be a good place to note the exterior color, and the interior color and combination, IE, Bench or buckets, Vinyl or cloth, column shift or floor shift. I got the truck in March of 2010 from a friend. I paid $150. Good deal if you think a non running truck with a broken frame and completely rotted floors is a good deal. It did have a 3-4 inch lift and 32's. Had bucket seats with floor shifter in a complete center console and black interior. I like to be different and everyone has a wrangler. A Comanche on the other hand is becoming a rare find. Long story short, closed off top of frame under cab with 1/4 steel, new floors, replaced front 2 feet of frame, rebuilt front suspension, rebuilt D44, installed B&M shifter and installed a stack. Since Then I have removed the TT out of the D44 and locked it with a spool. I modified the fenders to make room for 35's, built a custom front bumper to hold the 4 off road lights and the 12500 lb Warn winch, added a triple gauge kit in the center console, added a tach and adj shift light, Cobra 29 with twin sticks, added lights on the custom bedrack to shed light on the bed when off loading gear at the campsite, custom tube doors,new headliner with addition of a sound bar and Custom air intake. Next to come is a total of 8 inches of custom lift to include a triangulated four link in the rear, more custom front and rear bumper work to include tailgate and tire mount. Install his/her style sun roof, cage with 5 point harness. Current owner: Well, you know. Put down who has it, the yard its in, or anything of that sort. The Comanche is mine and has become a member of the family. I built it to enjoy life by cruising, hitting the trails and playing in the mud. details athttp://www.cardomain.com/ride/3849608/1987-jeep-comanche-regular-cab Thanks for your time and for all the minds that have contributed to this site so we can keep these machines alive.