r.j.c.omanche Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 :USAflag: howdy all. i have been lurking on here for a little while with hopes of getting a mj, it today i hit pay dirt. i pickup an '86 lwb 4cyl, 4 spd, 4x4. it is a retired U.S. navy plow truck with 38,099 miles! the gentleman i bought it from used it very little but put alot of work into it, new fuel tank and pump, new water pump, rebuilt transmission, and had the seat and headliner re-covered. i bought this little jem for $400! because it has a blown head gasket. it also has a horrible vaccum leak, but i did drive it onto the trailer. here are some pics i snapped with my phone, i will get some better ones this week. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onebigmj Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Thats quite the find. Looks like its in great shape. What plans do you have for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLHTAZ Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Sweet deal. Can't wait to see where you got with it. :wrench: :thumbsup: BTW...welcome to the club and congrats on a great deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 11, 2008 Author Share Posted November 11, 2008 :USAflag: first off is to get it running right. i have a 2" spacer kit for the front so i can run 31s on both ends. (right now it has 31s on the back and 30s on the front :???: ) then i will address the body, the drive floor board is rusted thru but that is all the rust i've found yet, and some kind of paint. i could do the rustoleum trick i did on my wagoneer: Image Not Found (no one ever belives i painted it with rustoleum and a roller, so i always post a picture) or i might buy one of those camo wrap decals, haven't decided yet. i plan on putting a 4.5" lift on it, but keeping the 31s cuase it's going to be a daily driver. and i will probabaly put a locker or limted slip in the rear so i can have some more fun on the trails. i'm sure it will end up with bumpers and sliders as well. this is my first MJ or XJ, we've had a couple XJs in the family that see some mild trail use and i think i will stick with that. my last toy was a 'yota that i built up, but i took it to far for what i want Image Not Found so i plan on keeping to the K.I.S.S. principal with this one. and it seems i have come to the right place. i know i will have way to many questions to ask, so i thank you all in adavnce for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDXJ Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Sounds like a pretty good deal and plans. Allow me to say welcome and let me be the first to point out that you grill is upside down :no: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Some of us like our grilles upside down. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Some of us like our grilles upside down. :D Even if it looks funny next to the headlight door? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Sounds like a pretty good deal and plans. Allow me to say welcome and let me be the first to point out that you grill is upside down :no: soory 'bout that, didn't mean to affend ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 very nice find. sounds like you got a wisconsin price there :P I'm jealous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Some of us like our grilles upside down. :D Even if it looks funny next to the headlight door? :D Yes. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 i called the local napa yesterday, they deal with a well know local machine shop, and quoted me $220 to researface the head and do a valve job. $56 for a head gasket kit. the power steering pump is making a lot of noise too, but i hope it is just low on fluid. hopefully i can get time to remove the head this weekend. i took some real pics today as well: Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookspanS Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 What would the Navy want with a Comanche? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 My '86 used to belong to a Squid too. They make good little transport rigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 15, 2008 Author Share Posted November 15, 2008 supposedly this truck was from a base in VA and had a snow plow on it. that sorta explains why it has a blown head gasket and has had the tranny rebuilt with less than 40,000 miles on the truck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 so i did a compression test on the 2.5 and found: #1) 75 psi #2) 72 psi #3) 70 psi #4) 79 psi then i rechecked each hole with a small amount of oil poured down cylinder #1) 125 psi #2) 130 psi #3) 100 psi #4) 180 psi :wall: from my experience this means the rings are not sealing properly. the truck had a overheating problem and a horrible amount of blow-by, you can see the oil covering the engine and possibly see how the PCV valves are silconed into the valve cover: Image Not Found also the air filter reminded me of an oil bath type from a tractor :yes: so i proceded to tear the engine down and i did find a blown head gasket: Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found but i am worried about the bottom end. and since i am going to swap a 4.0 in eventually, I'm thinking a may just do it now. option #1) there is a '94 XJ on the local craigslist with a 4.0 H.O. and i assume its an auto. it was posted about a month ago so i don't know if it's still available ( i will call in the a.m.) . the ad said it's wrecked but it runs and will drive onto a trailer $250 option #2) i friend's brother has a '88 XJ wagoneer ( i luv the quad headlights :banana: ) 4.0 with a pretty dam fresh auto tranny. I'm told it could be had for about $300. but it might also have a blown head gasket :headpop:. if that's true i will probably pass on this one. option #3) fix the 2.5L any suggestions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazjeeper Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Nice findand welcome to the addiction. I hope when I bring home the 91 that I picked up for that price that the engine is not bad. If you are going to change the engine to 4.0l you need all the wire's to go with it. myself I always said, Self if you have to change from a 4cyl to a 6cyl just put in a chev 350 or a rustang 5.0l. have to change the wire's anyway. I had a 454 in a XJ and it was not that hard to do. my buddie put a 350 with a blower in a yj and no changed it for a 454. actualy gets better milage then the 6cyl did. just my 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 If it's still available, I'd get the 94XJ to swap in the 4.0 and everything else that goes with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLHTAZ Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I would go for the HO. You are getting a complete vehicle so you will havae all of the needed wiring & sensors to make it work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 16, 2008 Author Share Posted November 16, 2008 or i could steal jeepco's idea and go with a 3800. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 If you do, find a better transmission. He blew up 3 or 4 AX5s with that engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 If you do, find a better transmission. He blew up 3 or 4 AX5s with that engine. and now an ax5 rebuild only takes me 3 to 5 hours depending on whether I have to tear apart multiple transmissions for parts, or if I have the parts in my ever-growing ax5 parts pile... not to mention the 4 dana 35's It's eaten through...the last of which shot teeth through the diff cover.... :clapping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazjeeper Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Time to find a d44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 IT'S ALIVE!!! heck yes, i fired it up about 9:00 last night. :jump: i found that my brake booster is my worst vaccum leak, probably has something to do with the brake fluid that is running down the front of it. but the engine sounds good. i traded my street tread 31x10.50s and aluminum wheels to my dad for a set of factory steel 5 spokes and 235-75 cooper ST tires that have about 3k miles on them . dad likes my wheels, i like dad's tires, everyone wins. also i started buffing the paint :ack: . that sux. i spent a half hour on one half of the hood and it does't look much better. i will take some more pics when it's outta the garage. :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted November 24, 2008 Author Share Posted November 24, 2008 progress pics: Image Not Found Image Not Found before budget boost: Image Not Found after: Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found also, look at them new treads :brows: . 235/75-15 cooper discoverer s/t. we put a 3" rough country stage II on dad's XJ this weekend, he now has the clearence for 31s and he liked the aluminum wheels better than me. i like the more agressive coopers and steel wheels, and they will treat my 2.5L better. so everyony wins. i will have to take a pic of the XJ, it looks pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.j.c.omanche Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 well it has been a good, long weekend. i finished assembling the exhaust and front suspenstion thursday nite and friday. then i added my add-a-leafs to the rear on saturday, add took the truck out for it's first test drive :cheers: . all went well. i do have some steering issues to deal with, i think i need tie rod ends, ball joints, or both. i will find out more this week. i forgot how much it sux driving a truck with no radio, but i guess that it's a good thing as i am listening for strage noises and such. i noticed the worst noise i have is the plastic trim piece directly below the rear window, that thing is obnoxious as hell :headpop: . i have put about 75 miles on the truck now, all it is running better and better. i still have excessive blow-by but i found a band-aid for this problem, i routed my PCV hoses directly into the base of the throttle body. plenty of un-used ports since the de-smogging. i also tested the 4x4 and low range out today, they work fine. here are some pics. Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found Image Not Found and a couple of dad's XJ with the 3" kit installed, i think it turned out good but now i'm gonna have to get a 4.5" kit :yes: Image Not Found Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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