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Hi all. As I've explained to some members who've posted to the Street Comanche Registry, I've not been active over the last 5 or 6 years as my wife battled cancer. She lost that battle last May and it's been (still is) tough. But I'm finally returning to other things important in my life and it's been a long while since anything substantial was done with #24. I didn't read closely enough or thoroughly enough Pete's ongoing mantra about pulling up the carpet. I didn't have a spot of rust on the exterior, under, on any fenders, or doors, didn't think I really had to worry. I missed the part about other water entry points...sigh. Some time ago I discovered the carpeting wet and found the sunroof had been leaking ever so slightly but for ever so long apparently. But in the process of getting my feet wet with restarting the project I note water entry / rust in some unexpected places. At least the master cylinder hasn't eaten up the fusebox assy. So that's a bonus. I've not yet posted new images or made updates on my build sheet but owe the site a lot of attention as well and plan to get that done very soon. Meanwhile I come seeking wisdom and experience. Now that the interior is fully stripped, I pulled the fuse box assy apart and note that there is evidence that water seeped past and into the interior. What I did not expect was to find that the same water had infiltrated UNDER the seam sealer. I can only presume that the surface wasn't prepared correctly or the sealer SHOULD have been well connected as it is in most places. But now I'm leary of ALL the seam sealer. Am I crazy to think it ALL has to be somehow removed to check to see if it's eaten up underneath? GAWD there's a lot of seam sealer... Is it overkill? Should just look maybe for loose edges and cracks (which I've found). I've pulled the sealer out of a corner where it was cracked by 1/4" x 1" so I pried it out. Sure enough rusty metal underneath. Just surface rust at that specific point but ...concern seems justified. So you experienced bodymen.... take a look at the images and tell me... what do I do / have done? I'll live another 20 years if I'm lucky and if I'm still driving that long even LUCKIER... but I want it fixed RIGHT not halfassed. The truck may well be passed to a grandkid going forward... not quite sure what to do with this in my will frankly, if it ever becomes worthwhile to will to someone... and not to be morose but... think about it folks... who gets YOUR projects...lol It WILL become an issue... pun fully intended. But similarly (and apologies for not having the correct terminology, but there is this sort of U Shaped channel with flanges that is spot welded to the floorpan in the cab. It essentially acts as support and I'm supposing as part of the Uni-Frame section under the cab. It's kind of like the cab floorpan is sandwiched between a deeper U shape under the pan and a shallower U shape on top of the pan, creating a defacto "frame" unit, integrating the cab floorpans. So this top channel is ate UP with pockmarks millimeters deep in the front 1/3 of it's length. Do I need to replace that channel? or just fill and paint? I've bought a full left floorpan to resolve what holes that I KNOW are there, delivery pending... But how does that work. Do I need to grind out every single one of those spot welds, UNweld the studs that mount thorough it, UNweld the side frame rail that runs to the driver's door opening and take ALL that off to cut out and weld in the floor pans? What about that uchannel frame section below? Those who know.... how does that work exactly to replace the floorpan? Can't see how you'd do it without "disassembling" the frame in that area....sounds like a bad idea. Yet they sell this full cab length floorpan... He'p me, he'p me... LOL

Can anyone tell me how to remove the stock fender flares from a Comanche

Hi all. Brief preface to questions. I've been off work since June (arm weakness and numb hands). I am having c4, c5, c6, c7, and t1 vertebrae fused in 3 weeks. then 3-4 month recovery time. In my boredom, I'm hoping to compile a project master list, and these questions are but a few of the many I have. Please forgive me if I post an inordinate number of questions in the next couple of weeks. This surgery has gotten me anxious and focusing on the Jeep keeps my mind off of whats coming. I thank you in advance for any tips or opinions. I'm numbering these, so Body parts, especially step bumpers are becoming scarce commodities. With that in mind, 1) Please refer to the first picture. Rear bumper. Can this one be beaten back in shape reasonably, or replace it? I already need license plate lights and the left plastic step, but I'm not having luck finding one anywhere within driving distance. 2) Refer to pic 2. The tailgate works ok, but there is a bend in it at the top. Can a body shop fix that, or should I replace it? 3) Picture 3 - left rear panel. I think this one is most likely repairable, but I don't know. Most folks want to sell the whole bed. Repair or replace? 4) Pics 4 and 5. My hood hits my cowl in the center just it starts to raise. Broke the old cowl. I bought a new one, but can't use it now. My daughters confessed to sitting and standing on the hood, so no wonder. They never admitted it till they were grown. The first pics shows that the alignment is pretty even all around the hood, but it might bump forward a little. The hood height matches on both sides, but sags in the center Pic 5 shows underneath it a brace with pancakes of adhesive pulled apart. Could this be the key for a body shop to be able to pull the center of the hood up a bit by attaching the brace? If not, new hood or has somebody found a better fix? 5) When painting stuff like aftermarket headlight trim and grille, can it be done at home and look decent? I have the new chrome grille, but I'm putting it away until I get it painted. I just need to spray paint the old one to put back on for now. Does it need to be primed or painted with a special kind of paint, or just Krylon or Rustoleum? Or should I buy another after market one, and put a clear sealer on it to protect it? 6) Also I have surface rust on the roof and parts of the bed. I'd like to sand this out and prime it to stop the spread of rust. Someone said not to use above listed primers , because the body guy would just have to sand it all off again. Whats the best way to take care of the rusty spots till I can get it painted? What about bumpers? Freds fast dry, Rustoleum, or dupli-color? Or should I leave the bumpers to whoever paints it? 7) Last question. Refer to last picture. These rims are in decent shape, but the clear coating has clouded. I found a set of 4 in Texas refurbished for $500 plus shipping. Could a fellow strip this clear coat with aircraft stripper or just buff it off to save the gray paint on it, polish it up, and re-coat it. How difficult is a project like that to pull off? That clears my list today. Any help and tips welcome.

For everything I've got into this truck so far. Meh, it wouldn't make any sense at this point I'd end up with just a vomit of pictures and half explanations. Anyways, anyone here have ideas on how to remove a spraybomb paint job without going to bare metal? I've tried lacquer thinner, paint thinner, acetone, all to no avail. The previous owner (one of 'em anyways) rattle canned the entire truck green....just not the same green as stock. I wanna get a single stage urethane with hardener but have to remove all this lacquer or acrylic or whatever Rust-Oleum is (could be Wal-Mart brand, you never know!). I'm trying to chemically strip the spray paint off without damaging the original coating too much and really REALLY don't wanna wet sand the whole truck. Although I know that's probably gonna be the solution..... Also, does the picture vomit sound like it would be helpful? I've got loads of pics from this thing.

hey guys new to the forum i have a 86 mj 2.5 that ive had since june....i think......ive done alot work to the thing to much to explain here..buuuuttt back to topic....the body on this thing is $#!& ive already taken off the fender flares and busted off chunks of rust there. sanded filled and primed tons of rust there...so my idea is come spring-summer i want to put a new coat of paint on....myself....i was thinking of using tractor and implement paint from the local farm store...by recommendation... and borrowing a gun from a friend....like i said I'm new and this is my first post really so just wondering if anyone does there own paint and body work and if they got any tips and suggestions for a noob