frogpirate

My new to me '88 MJ made it home last night. I'm trying to figure out exactly what I have here. This was a former City of Lake Oswego (OR) Maintenance truck. It has a 4.0L and column shifted Auto. I think this is a Dana 44: Are these Metric Ton springs? or are the just stock springs with an extra overload? And look what I found in the glove box! Thanks, Ken

Year, Make, Model. 4.0L/ AW4 / N/A / 2WD / Dana 44 Trac Loc / Long Build date: Jun 1, 1988 (I think, very faded) Current Location: Vancouver, WA, USA Status: Running, DD Notes: ex City of Lake Oswego, OR truck. Has switch on dash for revolving light and wiring for 2-way radio. White ext/Butterscotch int. Vinyl, column shift. Hitch/step bumper with 2X2 box welded on vertically (for vise?). 73,700 miles today: Feb 24, 2011 Current owner: frogpirate aka Ken Morton

Showing my age, when I hear Ms. Jackson, I think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh_gaaUiNs8 It's home! I picked my wife up from work this afternoon and made the drive down to pick up the truck through snow, sleet, rain and even sunshine. We quickly traded $$ for title and keys, and headed right back north towards home. After a quick stop for gas and to check tire pressures (all OK) we drove straight home the other 100-ish miles. No pictures because I forgot to take any. I'll get some this weekend. The good news: the interior is not blue as I feared. The bad news: it's butterscotch. :eek: Also, I got 3 ignition keys (2 look new and are AMC/Jeep) and NO door keys. :hmm: I found out when I got home the two missing hub caps are behind the seat (one is at least partially broken). Oh, and the factory AM radio either doesn't work, or the fuse is blown. I'm a happy guy this evening! Ken '88 MJ 2wd 4.0L, AW4, LongBed. PS: Mrs. Frogpirate likes "Mrs. Jones", 'cause she already knows this is going to be the "other woman", and I'm going to be riding her hard. Err, the truck...as far as you know. :D

As soon as I get it home, I'll be all over it figuring out exactly what I have. :D I've been kicking nic-names around. I kind of like "City of Lake O" as a play on "City of New Orleans" and the fact this spent it's first 20 years or so being a city vehicle. I could do a custom plate like CTY LKO but I'm not sure anyone but ME would get it. ;-) EX LK O might work better, or just LAKE O. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Oswego,_Oregon Then there are plays on MJ. "Mary Jane" is way over done, IMHO. "Mother Jones" (MAJONES) is doable. (Mother Jones is a liberal viewpoint political commentary magazine http://motherjones.com/). "Mrs. Jones" (MSJONES) could be fun too, as "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfr6jmJOGA8" Me and Mrs. Jones got a thing going on. The custom plate would confuse people, which might me OK. :yes: Thoughts? Comments?

Pics fixed ?

The low miles were important to me, and nothing around here that is $500 is reliable. Not sure what is up with the pictures ... I'll get them fixed this afternoon.

Well, I had my buddy Mike go look at a 'manche that is ~ 120 miles away from me. It is an 1988 2WD, 4.0L, Auto, long bed. 74K miles, ex. City of Lake Oswego, OR truck. It's seen some time working, as would be expected from a ex-fleet vehicle, but runs great and has really very little rust. OK, there is a little in the bed. Buddy Mike says it starts and runs OK, with no weird noises, and no apparent oil leaks. Mike's and olde farte like myself that's been wrenching all his life, so I trust him on things mechanical. I already have a parts truck located on Craigslist, and there are a gazillion (roughly) Cherokee's being parted locally, so I don't think finding parts will be too hard. :shake: Mike says the tires are "thin" and mismatched, the seller says they are OK. I've been eying some factory alloys with decent tires on the craigslist superstore. :brows: I specifically told Mike to check the floorboards, 'specially the drivers side. He said it's a little 'soft' so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a little rust in there. It does get a bit damp in Oregon, and Mike said the floor mat was a bit wet. So the asking price was $1350. I'm more excited about the low miles than I am bothered by the dents and dings, so I called him and asked him what he'd take. He came back with $1200. Even figuring in tires and wheels, that's well within my budget. I'll be picking it up Sunday. My wife barely even blinked when I told her. :cheers: Edit: moved images to Picasa, hopefully they work now. Ken '88 Comanche "City of Lake O"

Hey, we all need a day off now and then! First, you are doing the Lord's work saving this old pile of sh*t...err, truck. :cheers: 2'nd, as has been mentioned, Canadian :Canadaflag: girls rock - you have a keeper there! Finally, love the work your doing, clearly you are enjoying yourself, and that's what it is all about! :popcorn: In for the duration. Ken in Vancouver. No, the OTHER one.