jteckmann

Thanks for the help guys. Shouldn't have a problem picking something up.

My MJ's missing the tool used to lower the spare tire from under the bed. I'm going to grab one next time I'm at the junkyard. Is it an MJ specific item, or will any long folding handle off a similar jack work?

1986 Comanche Custom 4x4 2.5 / AX4 / 207 / D30 / D35 / LWB Build date: sticker's long gone - build date unknown. Current Location: Kitsap County, Washington. Status: Still on the road as a DD & weekend camping/outdoor fun vehicle Notes: Found it rotting away behind a mechanic's shop in Portland, OR, and in its previous life had obviously been used as a farm/ranch workhorse. Originally painted off-white with tan interior, bench seat, rubber floors, 4 mis-matched wheels & tires. I needed a cheap work truck at the time, so I bought it for $250 and figured I'd junk it the first time something broke. 4 years and about $1,500 in repairs later, it's still may daily driver. I've added sunroof, bucket seats, center console, gauge cluster swap, cruise control, Line-X'd the interior, bed, tailgate & rocker panels, rattle-can paint job with Rustoleum camo flat Khaki. Aftermarket front & rear bumpers that I scored on craigslist. Future plans include eventual 5-speed swap, WJ brake upgrade, mild lift, D44 rear and maybe metric ton springs (so I can haul a pop-up camper in the bed) and a better paint job.

This is mine with roll-on Hurculiner on the bed, tailgate, and lower sides: When I got my truck the bed had seen a lot of abuse - lots of chips & scratches in the paint, and a bunch of small dents/scratches around the tailights and the bedrails. There was also a pretty good dent on the lower section of the driver's door. So the bedliner was a cheap & easy fix - by using it over the rails and on the end corners I was able to cover most of the damage - and IMO the flat, textured look of the Hurculiner masks the dents quite well, even up close. Since I'm up in the PacNW, rust wasn't a major issue *yet*, but I made sure to wire-brush the bejeezus out of everything, treat it with Rust Mort and then primer. The one downside to this approach is that if I eventually do decide for a better paint job, I imagine all that bedliner is going to be a PITA to strip off.

Finished up my rattle-can paint job. 2-3 coats of Rustoleum ultra-flat camo paint (khaki color), refreshed the Herculiner with a touch up coat, blacked out all the trim, and touched up the fender flares.

I've driven cross-country (Alabama to Washington St.) a few times - and I'll be doing it again this summer in my MJ. I've made it trouble free in some high-mileage vehicles, but one time I had a <70K Nissan Altima self-destruct heading over the Rockies. 4.0's are tough motors, so it's not like it's automatically going to self destruct at 225K or anything - usually the rest of the Jeep rusts away before the engine can die 8) It just depends on the overall condition of the vehicle and how well it has been maintained. That said - Murphy's Law. Before I leave, I do a thorough check of the truck. Oil change, radiator flush if necessary. Make sure the spare & jack are good. I pack an emergency kit of basic tools, hose repair kit, clamps, an extra belt, can of fix-a-flat, extra fluids and coolant. I also look at a map, decide the worst spot to be stranded, and figure that's where it will happen. So plenty of drinking water, a few protein bars or MRE's, change of clothes, blanket, etc. Cell phone & charger. So if worst-case scenario I'm stranded overnight or have to hike a few miles to get into cell phone range, I'm not S.O.L. Sounds like that won't be a problem for you since you're moving, and will be carrying plenty in the truck already. Also, you could think about getting an AAA membership for one year. I think a basic one is maybe $30-$40 (?) but then you'd have the insurance of 24-hr number to call.

Looks pretty practical to me. Depending on how big the compartment is, you could store tow straps/recovery gear, trailer hitches, jack/handle, etc. If it was well designed, had some drain holes in it, I don't see how rust would be any more of a problem than with a standard steel bumper (especially if you treated the inside with a coat of POR-15 or spray-on bedliner)

Basically, yeah. It's not that Gladiator concept exactly, but it's the J8 Military Spec Wrangler. JK Unlimited frame, reinforced, and beefed up suspension. Leaf springs in the back, so it has a 3K payload capacity. Comes in 4dr or 2dr with an extended bed. They build it in Cairo and Israel. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/08/heavy-duty-jeep-j8-now-available-everywhere-but-here/ The "official" reason it's not available here is that the 2.8 diesel powertrain won't pass US emissions standards. That part I can buy, and is sorta out of their hands. But there's absolutely no reason they couldn't have a truck version of the JK Unlimited available here in the states. The fact that they don't frustrates me to no end :wall: You can get something like that Gladiator concept now, but you have to go aftermarket. AEV makes the "brute" kit: http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/brute/ and there's a place in North Carolina called RubiTrux: http://www.rubitrux.com/

check to see if the clutch reservoir of the firewall has been leaking. It's common for the leak to run inside the cab, and onto the main fuse panel above the driver's feet. If fluid has been leaking behind the panel unchecked, it can cause a whole mess of electrical gremlins down the road. Best to get it sealed and cleaned up ASAP before you have a re-wiring headache. I have about +200K (known) miles on my '86 2.5. It sat abandoned in a field for a couple years before I wound up with it, and had not had the easiest of lives up to that point. After some basic maintenance like replacing belts, houses, and a few sensors, it's been running trouble free as my DD for the past 2 years - barely even burns a little oil. The 2.5 gets dogged at times, simply because it's not the 4.0. But for what it is, it's a great little engine. It's basically a 4.0 with two cylinders deleted, and is just as tough and reliable as it's big brother, IMO. The 2.5 can feel a little underpowered in our trucks, especially if you're used to driving something with more ci's. But a couple of simple mods like replacing the mechanical fan with an electric and opening up the exhaust & intake can free some wasted horses and make it a better driver. While MJ's are getting harder to find, the general rule is that anything from the dash forward is a direct swap with a similar year XJ, of which plenty are still floating around for cheap parts. The '86-'89 2.5's are TBI and use the "Renix" engine management system - so a few of the downsides are that you can't hook a scan tool up to them, and parts availability for some items (like the coil, ICU, injector, etc) can be a challenge at times. But the upside is that it's a fairly basic and straight forward system - as long as you know how to use a multimeter and read through the tech articles on this site, it can be simple to diagnose & troubleshoot yourself. Good luck! :cheers:

I'm more than willing to put up with the ugly if they're as functional, economical, and the build quality is good. Big bummer with what I've heard about them is the price - thought I read somewhere in the $25-$27K range. IMO, if they're going to work over here, you need to be able to drive off the lot in a base version for under $20K.

So far, my MJ has stayed in the PacNW - WA, OR, ID, and MT. But, next month, I'm taking it on a road trip to the Southeast US. I'll be driving from WA down to AL, then to NC, and back home. I'll be spending the next couple weeks making sure everything is in working order, for the +6K miles I'll be putting on it.

At this point, I'm almost hoping that Chrysler fails. Ever since the Damler merger, the Jeep brand has been going downhill, and I certainly don't trust the crew at Fiat to do any better by it. Best thing that can happen to Jeep, IMO, is that it gets sold again to someone else - I'm thinking that the auto landscape has changed enough to where Jeep could make a go of it once again as an independent niche auto maker. Or maybe it gets bought by Ford (GM has too many of it's own problems right now) Ford's in good shape, it would fill a niche for them, and Ford has the chops & tech to produce some good models again - plus there'd be a little bit of history coming full-circle, since Ford produced many of the original WWII Jeeps. Of course, the only problem with this scenario is that if Jeep were sold, it would wind up in the hands of the Chinese or something ...... To be fair, it's not that I've hated all the recent Jeeps simply because they're new. I accept that things change, and I know that outside of the Wrangler, it's unrealistic to expect automakers to build "basic" vehicles anymore. IMO, complaining about the modern electronics and engineering is a bit like when my Grandad used to complain about FI replacing carbs - yeah, it's frustrating, different, and requires learning a bunch of new stuff ... but in the end, it likely means a net improvement in the performance, economy, and lifespan of the vehicle. And I don't really have a problem with Jeep building economy or "softroad" vehicles - that's a valid market to attempt to fill. Heck, there's precedent for that going back to the original Willy's Jeepster, and utilitarian/fleet vehicles like the DJ's. Not everything thing they make has to be able to tackle the Rubicon, IMO. My problem has been Chrysler's absolute butchered execution getting anything to market. Take the Compass - IMO that could've been a worthy vehicle (even though it was car based) Just think if it had been like some of the earlier concepts they unveiled - a sporty rallye-inspired car with AWD that could've been a WRX challenger. Instead, it went through design-by-committee, lost the sporty edge, gained extra doors andheight, and wound up being puked into the market as a pathetic joke that wasn't good for anything except pissing off brand loyalists. And while they waste time with useless stuff like the Compass, or redundant vehicles like the Commander, the really cool stuff like the nukizer or Gladiator concepts still sit on the shelf. That's how I feel about this "Trail Duster" thing. if you look at the Fiat Panda they sell in Europe, there's actually potential there - it's a capable vehicle and comes in lots of different configurations, like small panel vans and delivery trucks. If done right, Jeep could have a successor to the DJ, and something to go head-to-head with the Ford transit. But I have zero faith they'll do it right, and it will instead wind up being pointless like the Compass is.

Gotta agree - one of the stupidest shows I've seen. If it was geared towards 10 year old kids (cutting stuff is cool!) then I could sort of see the point ... but I have no idea why it's on the History Channel in the evenings. That "America" show is awesome, though. I'm going to be keeping the episodes on my DVR for a while. 8)

Mine was like that as well. It was a FelPro rubber. I think it's just the design - it seems to fit into place as you slowly tighten down the cover. I put mine together without silicone - just a thin layer of gasket shellac to keep it in place as I repositioned the cover. Hasn't leaked yet (about 10K mi)

Thanks, fiatslug! :bowdown: Pretty sure mine's missing one of the spacers. I'll be taking it apart tonight and see if I can't finally get it fixed.

Does anyone have a pic or diagram of how the brake light switch on an '86 goes together and attaches to the pedal? I think at some point a new switch was installed on mine. Problem is that it keeps working lose and falling out of position. Obviously, no brake working brake lights at random times is a hazzard. I've tried tightening it down, using a lock washer and threadlock on the bolts, but it always works lose eventually. I just want to make sure that I have the right switch under there, or aren't missing any pieces. Any tips on how to align the thing and make it stay in place?

That Amazon one is different. This one is Reese Part #: 37152. Small Pickup Multi-Fit. http://www.reeseprod.com/fitguides/pdf/N37152.pdf

"runs & drives good" + "needs to be trailered home" :hmm: That's about an hour away from me ... I'll try to take a look at it.

Awesome I noticed this same hitch at my local Autozone a few days ago - Didn't have time to check it out, but was going to go back with some measurements and pics to see how close it would be. Good to know it works!

I'd like to see Jeep make two different trucks. And given their current line-up, I think they have the means to easily do it, and there'd be a successful market for both. The first would be that "Nukizer" concept they showed off at Moab. Perfect as is. Base it on the JK Unlimited frame, keep the updated Gladiator styling. Have the same trim levels as the Wrangler - entry level Sport up to loaded out Rubicon. Have the soft top as an option. And have 3 available engines - the V6, the 2.8 Diesel, and the Hemi. It would be a serious off-roader that made all the Jeep purists proud. And since it's not full-sized, it wouldn't compete with the Ram and it'd have it's own niche. I'm dumbfounded as to why they aren't already building it. The second truck I'd like to see them make is a true light duty compact. Probably base it off the Liberty or (gasp) even the Patriot. Available in 2WD or 4WD. 6' bed, has around a 1K payload or can tow 2K-3Klbs. Base 4cyl with the V6 or hopefully an economical diesel as options. Good road manners, suitable for light off-roading. Gets high 20's to 30mpg. A base model starts off with a budget price: <$20K I know it sounds blasphemous to suggest that Jeep make another "softroader" (but remember, I'd also have them be building the Nukizer to fill the off-road market). But, as much as I like to joke about the Patriot, truth is that it's 4WD capabilities are more than enough for 95% of the market. There are a lot of people that just need a plain utility truck - something that can be an economical DD during the week, spend the weekend fetching supplies at the hardware store, and handle the occasional camping/skiing trip. This used to be a market that was well served, but the options have dried up over time. The Ranger, the Toyotas, and the Nissans - they've all gotten bigger, bloated, and more expensive. There's almost no difference between them and a 1/2 ton full-size truck anymore. I honestly think that if Jeep could recapture that segment, they'd make a killing. Not to mention the mass quantities they could sell as a government, fleet, or rural delivery vehicles.

Agreed. I know there's a big traditionalist camp out there that still believes "real Jeeps have round headlights" But the rest of the MJ/XJ is too square & angular to make it look right, IMO.

That's about the same height my '82 Laredo sits - but it has pretty bad "wag sag" in the rear.

Aside from the hood latch, there are other differences. The engine bay wasn't designed for the 4.0 until '87 & up. From what I've read, fitting one in an '86 requires changing out the front clip and massaging the firewall to clear the back of the block. The motor mounts are also in different spots. You'll also need the beefier transmission to go behind the 4.0. IMO, finding a good +'87 donor MJ/XJ would be the way to go, so you'll have all the wiring, drivetrain, and body components you'll need.

Here's the clip from the ep: In their tests, the net was best. Tailgate up, tailgate removed, and tonneau cover all did about the same. Tailgate down was the worst. That really surprises me about the net. I've always figured those were gimmicks, and I still don't understand what makes it different than simply removing the tailgate ... I guess maybe it helps to create the "air pocket" effect of tailgate up with less weight? :dunno: Also seems to me that there are just too many variables at play. The aerodynamics of the cab, speed you usually drive, etc. Like was said above, MJ's have the aerodynamics of a toaster on wheels - the tailgate is the least of our worries. I don't think a tailgate net is going to make up for a winch up front or a set of 33"s :D IMO, the only fuel-saver "mods" that make any sense on our trucks are manual transmissions, good driving habits, reduced weight, and gearing. :chillin:

Possible. A re-paint always raised some red flags. OTOH - could just be a simple paint job. Out here in the PacNW, there were a ton of XJ's used as fleet vehicles for the Forest Service and Parks Dept, all of them with that green paint job. When they show up at auction, it's very common to see them painted a new color - either because people don't want it to look like a surplus vehicle, or they simply don't like the color.