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I know i'm going to hate myself for that title in the future, but it'll do for now, been putting off starting this tread for about two months now since i found this truck and started work on it, i never imagined how much work needed to be done or how much fun i'd be having fixing it up! I'd like this forum post to be kind of a story, a journal for this piece of American rust rusting away in a foreign country and it's journey to bring it back to glory, i guess i should start from what little i know about the truck from before i got it, keep in mind English isn't my mother tongue, and even if i'm well versed and practiced, i'm doomed to make spelling and grammar errors from time to time, so bare with me here! This comanche's birthday is still a mystery, since the stickers on the door have since been removed from it, but i have a pretty good idea where it saw asphalt for the first time ever, since it still has the dealer's decal on the tailgate, can't be 100% sure though, since i don't know if the tailgate is original to the truck, and the original title has been lost to time, but in case it is, it's fun to think i know where she started things in 1988! She's very Likely from Alabama, and i hope to drive her to the dealership again one day, from all the comanche pictures i've seen i have never seen this decal, and i'll try my best to preserve it. the other things we know about her is that she was bought in texas sometime in the year 2000's my a mexican national and brought down to the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon in the 18th of august of 2000, more than a year before she had to see her mother nation weap when the towers fell, she has been in this country and state since. as i said, the original ownership title has been lost since Mexican customs keeps it when you do the vehicle importation paperwork, but they give you instead a document with a lot of information about it, from this importation papers i can know this comanche was a pioneer trim, which i already suspected from the interior, (since the original paint was so horribly painted over by a previous owner... ) but it's nice to see it confirmed in paper at least. from this same doccument (which has to be signed by the new owner every time the truck is sold from hand to hand) i can also tell that it has at the very least had 8 separate owners since she crossed over down south, who knows how many she had while in the states since the years 88 til the 00's... she's been passed around and it shows.. the bad thing is that nearly everything need maintenande or is entirely broken, the good thing is that this was the perfect excuse to get it for cheap, and finally start making myself a cool toy i can take me and my brother fishing with in the weekends to the local lake, aside from wanting to get better at my mechanic and hand-working skills, since i'm at most a novice still and i've heard that this trucks along with the xj's are relatively easy to work with. i pulled the trigger on it and bought it about three months ago, but i've been only working on it from time to time for the last two months, i'll include here some pictures of it from the day i bought it and before i messed with it at all, so you guys can have an idea of the state it was on when it landed on my lap. The windows barely worked, the mirrors need new supports, the dash was cracked, and the optional slider window was missing... the carpet had holes in it everywhere, the ignition cylinder is so worn out you can start the truck without a key making it more of a go-kart than a truck and the bench seat was not only torn everywhere, it also stank like cat pee. the truck bed is okay-ish, it's got a pretty big hit on the sheet-metal on the driver's side that actually barely poked through, and the tailgate is bent outwards, but a friend of mine that works with sheet-metal assured me it's more than salvageable. The whole truck was painted horribly by a previous owner, it seemed like they put the wet paint in their mouths and spat onto the truck until it was red enough, it's dripping in some areas, lacking in others, oversprayed everywhere and tool marks all over where you could see they laid things over the paint before it was cured, here's the roof for example, which is not the worst place, the hood has marks where they sat their beer bottles onto the paint before it dried. front needs work too, the hood had a bit of puddy in it, but only where i intend to cut it to add hood vents in the future, so not too stressed about that, the grill is what worries me, i want to keep it with the pre 97 grills, but i'm having a hard time finding a chromed grill that's not absolutely trashed... still looking! and this is without talking about the engine yet! just the outside still.. you've got to admit thoug, even despite all her bruises and age, she still looks damn fine. ...Continuing!

It's been a couple weeks now since I made the 1200 mile round trip journey to pick up my second Comanche pickup, and so far I couldn't be happier with the purchase. She's had a couple small issues, but has been everything I want in a "project" vehicle. By that I mean, mostly perfect structurally and mechanically, with a few small issues that I can fix over time while enjoying it as my daily driver. So without further ado, some pictures from the seller before I picked her up. 1991' Comanche Eliminator 2wd - AW4 console shift Dana 35 rear Lowered ~3.5" using unknown springs front and 3" steel blocks rear Aluminum Rad with Dirtbound Offroad triple fan shroud and 3x Derale 10" fans with PWM fan controller Newer belt, idler puller, thermostat, water pump and rad hoses Grant steering wheel Smoked signals/tails and LED headlights Factory 3pc glass rear window Clean, rust free texas truck (unheard of in NE) So far my plan is to go about fixing and cleaning up the little issues it does have and getting it back to tip-top running and driving shape. I've only had it a week and a half and I've already diagnosed and fixed a bad blower motor (replaced motor and resistor), a non functional horn (blown fuse) and no reverse lights (cleaned and re-greased NSS). Still to go is fixing the AC, which isn't kicking on for some reason although the PO said everything was new (and it looks new) and general tidying up of the wiring harness and ground situation. In the future I'd like to keep it around this height, but maybe allow it to have more uptravel as it currently bottoms out pretty harshly over any large bumps in the road and I'd like to look into some form of rear drop other than blocks, just for my own piece of mind. Potentially a Liberty 8.25 rear swap for discs and a stronger axle and even an AX15 swap (included in the sale with pedal bracket) although I'm quite happy with the AW4 currently. Thanks for looking, and please let me know if there's anything I should watch out for!

Just like the title says, how in the hell do you get the factory rubber bump stops out of the metal cup to install extended ones? I just bought some Daystar 4" extended stops (2" diameter) and I have basically ripped the hell out of the OEM rubber ones attempting to remove them. It's like it was glued or cast into the metal cup thing. Should I just bust out the torch and fry these M-effers?

'89 Renix 2wd Comanche with 4.0 6cyl and Aisin AX-15 manual 5 speed MFI 242 What advice can y'all offer on replacing/repairing the exhaust manifold on a 89' renix comanche? I haven't torn it all apart yet, but I'd like to be readied for the worst if it winds up as more than the perfunctory gasket replacement we're most familiar with. Exhaust fumes were noticed emanating from underneath the hood when parking my vehicle directly after 15 minutes of highway driving in heavy rain. I heard no distinct, loud, or obscene sound, but upon parking the smell of fumes was noticed as immediately as the now visible tendrils of fumes escaping on the driver's side from the crevice a closed hood rests inside. The vehicle was promptly parked awaiting its trial so as to prevent damage to my catalytic converter, the rest of the exhaust, system, vapor canister, EGR, system or throttle body. The replacement parts seem either too cheaply made, probably won't bolt on squarely, could need serious modification to correctly fit, and may require parts, such as a drill and tap; or they're strictly for a 91' + MJ/XJ though I'm in no way opposed to using the existing replacement gasket options. I'm experiencing hellacious blow-by and will be replacing the valve cover gasket and following Cruiser54's valve cover mod most likely tomorrow. As a side query what solution has worked for you replacing the air intake?

Starting this post way late as I’ve owned the truck for 2 years almost and have done a lot to it already. So far I’ve done an engine swap (OEM motor blew #1&2 pistons out the block), new clutch, 4.5 inch lift, light bars, custom center console, window tint, paint, front and rear bumpers, ‘97 Cherokee mirrors, front and rear LED pods, rock lights, exhaust, LED front lights, converting everything to LED, clear turn signals and side markers. I still have a lot left in store for this rig such as a new 4.0l HO that I’m building with a voodoo cam (262/268), Dana 44 or Ford 9inch rear axle swap, and regear both axles to 3.73’s with ARB lockers, cromeolly axles, an 8 inch lift, slip yoke eliminator and longer drive shafts, bigger tires, custom rock sliders and fender flares, paint, new rear glass, front driver seat, new dash, floor pans, white face gauges. Not doing anything too too crazy as it will be a daily driver for a minute but any advice y’all got on parts or easiest and cheapest way to do it but still quality let me know thanks!!