Crash_AF

So I finally got to get some more work done on the Comanche. Got the front springs and upper control arms on, along with the new track bar. Also sanded on the rust and hit it with some black rust eater stuff to temporarily cover it up. Found out the guy I bought the lift stuff from didn’t include the lower arms, so I’m on the hunt for a good used pair or I’m going to pull the trigger on some new ones by the end of the week. Got it the coil plates off the rear axle, need to get more of that done soon so I can make the rear match. And now, pictures.

Been busy at work which has cut into my Jeep time, but still gathering parts. Managed to score a good pair of the carpeted Jeep floor mats from an 88 baby Wagoneer that was being parted at the local Jeep place. Also got a good passenger fender for $40. My pull-n-pay run netted me a 97 booster and master, complete 05 Liberty 8.25 with discs and 3.73s, a pair of 97+ mirrors, door window rubber, and a 97+ fan for $170. And finally, my tires came in from Amazon, so I had to mount them up and take a motivational pic... LOL Hopefully soon this won’t be a ‘cheater pic’

I -almost- pulled the trigger on these since they were right here in town. Funny seeing them show up on CC

First order of business was to straighten out the mess under the hood that the previous owner made of the CCV system. He had run a piece of heater hose from an aftermarket elbow shoved into the front hole to the back of the air cleaner, and completely ignored the rear line and fitting. In addition, the valve cover was a mess, half the bolts were less than finger tight, and it leaked oil from the back of the motor like a sieve. I picked up the NAPA emissions hose sets and a new rubber valve cover gasket, along with the o-rings for the oil filter adapter. When I pulled off the valve cover, I found that evidently it was a quaker state engine, because it looked like someone had dipped it in Hershey's syrup. Scrubbed out the inside and outside, did Cruiser's mod to the tubes and put it all back together. Completely spaced getting a 'before' pic, but I'm sure you've seen what I'm describing... Painted and installed the valve cover, 'torqued' it down in the head pattern to the value of 'snugged plus half a turn'. Next step is the oil filter adapter. I'm debating the HO adapter swap to get the standard oil filter threads since I'm pulling it off anyway, but not sure I want to wrestle one off in the junkyard. So far, the puddle went from about 3" around after parking to a puddle the size of a quarter, so I think I'm on the right track. Anyway, here's the progress thus far.

So, I managed to stumble across an 89 Comanche for $600, so I decided to pick it up and build it into a daily driver. My last Comanche started much the same, but peer pressure after an axle swap got it onto 35s and way beyond daily status. The goal for this one is for it to be on 31s, running 3.73 gears, and basically set up for mild wheeling if I decide I want to go out somewhere with it. The base truck is a base model 4.0, 5 speed, 2wd with AC as basically the only option. It was originally from Michigan (or at least, the Great Lakes area, and migrated to Colorado back in the 90s with the original owner. I got it from the second owner, who picked it up for a song about 13 years ago from the original owner's family when he passed away and nobody wanted it because it was 2wd. Upon inspection, the truck has some surface rust in the belt line, but the underside looks good with no rot-through. This is probably due to the fact that it was Ziebarted, I've found the plugs throughout the truck, and it even has a pair of Ziebart running boards. The biggest problem for me is the aftermarket sunroof that has been added, I'm not sure whether I want to get it welded closed, or replace it with another one that doesn't leak. First priority will be to pull the carpet and find out if the floors are rotted on the inside. As far as the CUCV part, for those that don't know, they are the military Blazers and Pickups that the Army used throughout the 80s. My plan is to make a mini version, painting this one desert sand, adding a Tomken Machine brush guard (since they look similar to the CUCV unit) and some stencils to look like a military truck. Might even get one of those canvas tops for the back from Softopper. One of the amusing things is that this truck has the Cordovan interior, which the CUCVs in the military have a maroon interior as well, so it should go well. So, the planned recipe is as follows: 4wd conversion 30 front with 3.73 gears from a parts TJ I have (Yes, it's low pinion, it's not a big deal right now and is 'free') RE 4.5 coils in the front along with some short arms. Probably going to get an Iron Rock track bar Dual diaphragm booster with master from a later XJ, WJ dual piston caliper swap with knuckles and steering from a parts WJ I have Chrysler 8.25 from a Liberty with matching gears and disc brakes, maybe a limited slip. Spring-over. Might use some Cherokee shackles to drop the rear if it's too high, we'll have to see how sagged the stock springs are NP242 transfer case with a SYE (Craigslist find) AX15 with external slave (from same parts TJ) Bucket seat swap from my parts bin. A friend built an MJ about 10 years ago and put suspension seats in it, tossing the stock buckets with tracks, so I snagged them. They're even the right color. Full gauge swap Rubicon Moab wheels from a TJ. Managed to score them from CL for cheap in good shape. Going to wrap them with 265/75 Yokohama ATs Anyway, hope people enjoy it. We'll see how it turns out in the end.

1989 Comanche Base SWB 4.0 / 5 Speed / 2WD 211,XXX miles Black with Cordovan Interior, cloth bench, A/C Current Location : Colorado Status : Daily driver condition

Look into the 97+ conversion threads. If you can fabricate the mounting points on the floor, you can use the ZJ seat tracks to mount them after welding in the cross-brace/mount from the late model XJ or some similar piece of metal and I think adding one bolt to the rear.

I would go talk to the parents and the kids at the same time. Explain the situation, say you're concerned about the kids getting hurt, and just thought they should know so that the parents can take care of it. Don't make it a confrontation, but show them the pic(s) of the shoe-prints and thank them for their time. Respect gets respect, and by not making it a negative focused conversation and more about keeping Little Johnny safe, the parents should be more receptive. Later, Joe

Here's a site where you can purchase full scale blueprints for various different home-built campers. http://www.glen-l.com/campers/glenlrv.html Good luck with your project. Joe

I happen to be headed to MN in May and could haul one of those with me for a reasonable fee to help cover fuel. Drop me a line if you're interested.

Nice... I'd really like to see what you did with the tank sometime as I think that will be the second biggest hurdle for me to get over.

Wow, read all that and then you said you sold it. I was wondering who the lucky fool was that got it until I read that you bought it. Good for you though, can't wait to see it complete. But you are an evil, evil man for breaking so many keyboards from dropped jaws with the joke.

What did you end up doing for the fuel tank? Oh, and how did you total the Integra at 5MPH? Inquiring minds just gotta know...

Damn that sucks. Steering out of whack may be the rear axle shifted, probably sheared a leaf spring pin when you drove over her hood. I want to do a 97+ conversion to a Comanche, how hard did you find it? I can do everything but the sheetmetal work to the firewall myself. Want to help? LOL Good luck with the insurance company, just remember that their client hit you, so you are not obligated to take a settlement you aren't satisfied with. It just depends on how much patience you have in dealing with them. Later, Joe

I have been playing with ZJs lately and have found a few things that might be helpful to other people: A bad shifting 4.0 42RE may be a worn out TPS. If you crack the throttle and it tries to die, that's a good indication Same with a no-OD condition Flashing headlights, flashing Auto-lights, fog lights that won't stay on, and/or dash lights that stay dim or flash are probably bad solder joints in the headlight switch Heat them up with a good soldering iron and remelt the solder around the pins to fix Coolant temp sensor error on the VIC is the same problem, and same fix Sunroof control problem is also bad solder Rear hatch open sensor is probably a micro-switch in the rear latch assembly. Flipper glass not working is probably the microswitch on the handle. I personally like the cloth 96-98 Laredo seats better than the standard Limited seats of the same years. I feel like I'm sitting on top of the seat instead of in the seat in my Limited. And 5.9 Grands are like Thoroughbreds, they are high-strung and temperamental. Great trucks, but take lots of special parts and seem to like attention so they act up a lot. LOL