Crassis-Comanche

True! I am just happy that I managed to hold on to this MJ and having the opportunity to get back to work on it really does offer some solace! Thanks Pete! Chris

So I was able to get both chrome bumpers test fitted on the truck but decided to pull the header panel and consider going back to my original one (but keeping the 21-slot grille in place). Here is what the original bumper looked like... Does anyone know what these three black wires might be? They come out of the loom under the bed. Maybe for trailer wiring? I hope to have the bumpers tightened up this weekend and will re-install the front clip. Right now everything feels pretty good and I will take it for its safety inspection and plan to drive it for the winter. A new windshield this month and replace the antenna and possibly add the hood new Cowel rubber and weather stripping for the doors. There will probably not be much more done until spring when I can start work on the D44 and plan the bodywork. I'll post a photo once it's all back together up front. Cheers!

And five years later... Life has been interesting to say the least. A lot of turmoil with jobs and family and through it all I still managed to drag the MJ from driveway to driveway - though it's sat untouched for the most part until now... I have finally found a place and time that I can continue working on the truck. I will go back in time a bit with my photos for this build and bring everyone up to date. In the past several years I have been on here routinely finding inspiration and great fellow members who have been generous with their help and in helping me lighten my wallet lol - but in a totally good and much appreciated way! Now, back to 2017 we go... The rad swap and all electrical issues were a success and to this day the Jeep still fires right up (touch wood). Around this time I also sourced a header panel and 21-slot grille and a chrome front bumper, I found a couple of good tailgates and some tail lights and I even bought a steel LWB skid plate from CC member yellaheep (however the guy I asked to pick it up from yellaheep went there and got it but then never delivered it to me! ). On a happier note this was all in a long line of great finds and buys that began in 2016 when I bought a Metric Ton badge from Hornbrod (Don). He thought I was crazy for wanting to pay for it (the exchange between the Canadian dollar and the US dollar was not good in my favour lol)! But he was amazing about it and happily mailed it to me. I actually have it in my home safe as we speak and when the body work is done it will go on the tailgate. The plan for me is to build my own MT truck. Then it was time for some work on the under side of the MJ. New rotors up front and new drums in the back with all the fluids changed in the diffs. The caveat is that this was all done in 2017 and the truck effectively then sat since September of 2022. I found a good set of turbines at the local Pick n' Pull and put stock size Goodyear Wranglers on them. I am still looking for the centre caps but those seem hard to find. In early 2018 I picked up a factory D44 from CC member Wiggilez (and I posted that in another threat I am certain). The D44 is not on the truck. And then life got in the way again the MJ sat in the driveway. And then another driveway. And then another driveway. By winter of 2020 I had pulled the front bumper and the front fender trim. There was a lot of rust under the trim as you can see but I managed to find a pair of local XJ fenders that were also the same blue and picked those up - but not much else happened with the truck as you can see. It looks a little sad in this photo compared to where it was a few years earlier. The following year I bought a rear chrome bumper from CC member Jeeper1093 and he shipped it from the USA to Canada and made the transaction an amazing one! Then finally in the fall of 2021 I bought new springs for the MJ that were of a similar spec to the MT springs (I believe are 3 + 2 - but I don't really know). That was the first time I drove the truck to a friend's shop since 2017 and the last time I drove the truck until 2022. That pretty much brings me up to now. The rotors are a bit rusty and there is more rust around the wheel wells on the bed but the body work will be targeted in the spring. I will add new posts going forward as things are built and repaired in real time. I just wanted everyone to know the truck lives still and it may take me 10 years but it will get done lol Thanks all! Chris

Thanks for that post for Krustyballer16! I was going to also inquire about a rear hitch as well from him.

Does anyone have a photo of the LWB roll bar? With measurements for my own curiosity. I found some good ones of the SWB and there is an older thread with a hand-drawn LWB that Hornbrod had posted. But that seems to be all I can source. Thanks! Chris

That would be awesome though I am not sure the process of shipping freight between The USA and Canada. It would be an awesome road trip however!

Ahh ok it looked like on some previous posts the SWB was 22" from bracket to bracket. What are the dimensions for the LWB? Thanks! Chris

Hi all, I just picked up this roll bar and to me it looks Comanche specific. And based on the measurements (3' high, 5' wide and 28" from mounting pate outside edge to mounting plate outside edge (floor to wheel well) This would be for the LWB correct? It looks like the mounting plates need some help though Thanks for any help! Chris

It's just a little list I know! I am looking for the following: Driver's side blue floor mat (The actual Jeep branded one - it does not need to be new just without damage please) U-Haul trailer hitch LWB gas tank metal skid plate Dash switch with both Fog Lamp and Cargo Lamp icons If you have any or all that is awesome. I am finally getting my truck back together and on the road, so am excited to begin this next chapter. Chris

Well I found a pair or rust free fenders and they by some miracle the same colour as my MJ. The guy is a Comanche owner too and I told him about the site so hopefully he joins up! i am now on the hunt for a bumper among other goodies 😛

Yes I checked out RA and the fender prices were amazing between $30-$55 CDN for the closeout items. The shipping however was between $700-$1,300 CDN. 😳 i just cannot understand that one.

Hi All I am wondering if anyone in Western Canada -(BC/Alberta/Saskatchewan) - has a pair of MJ/XJ front fenders in good shape for sale. Thank you! Chris

Working on some photos now...

Hi all, just to give you an update I followed the great advice on this forum and managed to solve my electrical issues once again! So I wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped out. As usual this site has proven invaluable in helping would-be driveway mechanics like myself learn how to fix the MJ! I now have both a test light and a multimeter to help me figure out future issues as they crop up. It turned out I did in fact have it wired up correctly the first time based on what I thought I was reading on the electrical schematic. But I had made a bad crimp which prevented the circuit from being completed. So when I re-wired the socket I in fact crossed them up giving me the super bright always on abnormality. Fixed now. Thanks again all! 🤘🏻 Chris

I should have mentioned that my original 1988 headlight harness on the right side has a brown, a blue and a black wire and the donor socket from a 1996 has a black, dark blue with red stripe and a green wire. Thanks again

Hi all, I have begun slowly working on the MJ again after having some of the those special life problems that keep some of us from our projects and and decided to address my wonky passenger side turn signal. When I was driving the truck I did the headlight harness upgrade but have always driven it with the passenger turn signal out of commission. Both rear signals flash and both headlights (high beams too) work as they should and my left turn signal works up front but not my right. I have the solid arrow on the gauge. I recently spliced in a donor socket and now all four corner light up solid when I turn on the headlights which is great but I am still only getting three of the corners flashing when I use the turn signal indicator. That passenger side won't flash! Plus it's super bright now compared to the driver's side. Did I wire it up wrong? Thanks everyone and I am hoping to get back to my build thread asap. Chris

Awesome resto! What did you use for your lighting in the gauge cluster? Chris

I did find this thread from last year: http://comancheclub.com/topic/45621-hvac-selector-vacuum-leak/ But I am still unsure as to what the smaller black plastic line does? I see now the pink line is the heater control vac line.

Hi All, I am in the process of replacing some of my deteriorated vacuum line hoses and I cannot tell what this thin plastic black line is. It's obviously broken off and the part in my hand runs into the firewall on the passenger side (along with the pink line) and the remaining piece of line travels along the inside of the passenger side fender, down into the reservoir behind the front bumper. Is this something to do with heating? I have pretty good heat in the truck. Also my vacuum harness looks to be in good shape but the rubber attachments and hoses are breaking down. Can I replace just these and keep the plastic harness? I think my charcoal canister hoses are also deteriorating. Can we get these separately? Thanks for the help all! Chris

Ok thanks! I will look at it on Monday when I am off work. Are there any recommended replacement rubber parts? Are the lines (like the pump) interchangeable between the XJ and MJ? Everything rubber on that unit is pretty much pooched. A quick look online shows pumps with what looks like kits that have the 90 degree hose and seals etc. and others show only the pump and strainer. Also the tank is still attached to the truck (so I have not had a look inside) but is this the time to bring it down and flush it out/clean it? Is that something that is recommended? Thanks again for the help and input! Chris

Thanks guys!

Hi All, I am curious if this is an XJ sending unit and fuel pump? I had it checked and it looks remarkably clean but the rubber hoses and most of the rubber components were deteriorated. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Chris

Hi all just wondering if any Alberta members have the aforementioned axle shaft (it's the longer of the two). I require one to move the Comanche back home. Thanks, Chris

Ok, good point! But the tires I have are 235/75R15 (Wrangler Duratracs). Do you think this will be a problem? I want them for out Alberta winters and occasional off road.

:banana: YES!