Search the Community

So I bought a $700 Comanche as my first truck not knowing anything about this jeep model line. Couldn't go over 55 due to a violent shake for the 4 hr drive after trying to get money back. So glad he wouldn't take it back, I love this rattling rust bucket!!! So I finally crawled under it to get more acquainted and take off the pipe clamps he had on the leaf springs and discovered that the main leaf is snapped through. I have been reading about lifts and the like and now know I can't do any bastard packs. The local yard has TWO 'manches and am headed over on monday. Almost to my question. This thing is rusted out all over and has been "repaired" by a previous owner with Great STUFF expanding foam and bondo. The engine however was rebuilt just a few thousand miles ago (tech college project passed with flying colors) and anyone that pokes their head under the hood says they are impressed at how well it runs. I have started a DIY wildernest build made for the truck and want to own one forever. SO TO MY QUESTION I am driving to california for 4 to 6 months of work on Oct 20th. Do I 1) buy one of the donnors at the yard and pay a shop to do an engine swap (I don't have the time to do it and fix it and I don't have the expertise to do it right first shot) 2) Take the leaves off one of the donors (grind the rusted studs off mine and hope there is 15k worth of life in the mounts) 3) Take whatever MJ one of you lovely people want to sell me ;) / hobble till I find one I can afford I do live music and stage work and enjoy the great outdoors. I want a light truck DD that can occasionally take 1000lbs of equipment to a job, expects to see some snowy mountains once a year, and can get 500lbs of equipment off the lower field when the spring monsoon hits at the music festival. I hear that a 2.5L 2wd with a locker can take me most anywhere you'd like to camp and still get 20+mpg on the open road. If I could get all that I wouldn't need another vehicle till my lifestyle changed 89' Pioneer 2.5L Dana 35, covered in rust. TL;DR I bought a $700 truck expecting to get $700 in work out of it and accidentally fell in love.