87Warrior Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 Looking forward to seeing the new paint! Don't be afraid to spray the Raptor liner in yourself. Check out my 92 build to see how I went about spraying it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 Looking forward to seeing the new paint! Don't be afraid to spray the Raptor liner in yourself. Check out my 92 build to see how I went about spraying it in. I had found your thread when searching for reviews and pictures of the Raptor liner, and that series of pictures is part of what convinced me to give it a shot. I see that you did not go over the rails with it. My main reason for wanitng to pull the drop-in bedliner (which is an over-the-rail version) is that I don't want the bedliner "cap" to scrape up the paint after the repaint. The original paint was in bad shape where the liner had rubbed off the OEM paint. How comfortable would you have been taping off the bed and shooting the Raptor over the rail to create a bed rail "cap" out of the liner? My only concern is the masking line being too imprecise and I get a messy line between the body and the Raptor liner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted January 3, 2012 Share Posted January 3, 2012 I choose not to cover the rails as I don't like the textured cap or the thick 'edge' that is created by the liner. It's a personal opinion. I am not a body or paint guru, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to mask a straight line around the rails. I think my biggest concern about applying liner over the rails and masking it would be the surface preparation. The liner really needs to stick to a sanded/scuffed surface. How you scuff in a straight line would be my biggest concern. I was pleasantly surprised how clean my masking line was along the tailgate and rear of the bed. I let the liner tack up quite a bit before removing the masking. I am sure there are helpful hits from professionals posted online that could help with the straight masking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 3, 2012 Author Share Posted January 3, 2012 I choose not to cover the rails as I don't like the textured cap or the thick 'edge' that is created by the liner. It's a personal opinion. I am not a body or paint guru, but I don't see why you wouldn't be able to mask a straight line around the rails. I think my biggest concern about applying liner over the rails and masking it would be the surface preparation. The liner really needs to stick to a sanded/scuffed surface. How you scuff in a straight line would be my biggest concern. I was pleasantly surprised how clean my masking line was along the tailgate and rear of the bed. I let the liner tack up quite a bit before removing the masking. I am sure there are helpful hits from professionals posted online that could help with the straight masking. Good thinking on the issue of prepping the surface with a fresh coat of paint. I'd hate to scuff up the fresh paint in an effort to rough up the bed cap for the raptor. Maybe I will look into one of the universal rubber caps that attach with 3M adhesive. I just want something to protect the top of the bed. I had some GM ones on my Silverado and they did a great job protecting the top rail from moderate bangs and bumps. I would not trust the rubber roll-on ones against a major whack, but they did well enough on my Silverado and I was in the construction industry back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knever3 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Call a LineX distributor and they will probably say they use a tape with an embeded wire so when they peel the tape it makes a clean line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Some early shots from stopping by to see the truck yesterday: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLee Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 have you found PIONEER decals anywhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 have you found PIONEER decals anywhere? I have not, but I have also not looked. I don't intend to replace the "Pioneer" decals on the truck. The other emblems and molding will be replaced, but not the hockey sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Washed a bunch of the small parts (in the dishwasher) to degrease them for paint: And the results of the paint job, plus a partial reassembly. I used Krylon (the stuff for plastics) satin black spray bombs for the trim pieces. They turned out pretty good for a spraybomb job done in mid-40s weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exxon Valdez Jeep Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 chili pepper red looks nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockMJ Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 There is a guy on eBay that sells the correct Pioneer decal kits and they are good for the LWB and SWB models. He can also do custom colors, ive already asked :D. Here's the link and the MJ looks great man http://www.ebay.com/itm/MJ-JEEP-COMANCHE-PICKUP-PIONEER-STRIPE-DECALS-STICKER-/160675276104?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2568fe2548#ht_1556wt_1124 RockMJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b16gsr Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 looks good, nice work. love the CPR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Picked these up from jeepsticker.com: This was Spencer's first run of camo tailgate and door emblem stickers. My grandfather was an avid hunter, and though I have not hunted in about 25 years, I wanted the camo stickers as a tribute to him. Also grabbed these at the junk yard...$40 for the guard and the bumperettes. I had the bumperettes on my '86 XJ and never thought to add them to my '95 XJ, though I did have a sweet Savannah Jones Brush guard on the '95. The grille guard for the MJ will get cleaned up and shot with satin black rustoleum paint. Lastly, I picked up some Hella 500s and a relay harness. Not bad for $30 shipped. I found them on my WRX site. '01-07 WRX guys like to run them in place of the factory fogs. The grille guard even has tabs for mounting the foglights, which is part of why I bought the guard in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camjeep3 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I like that camo. If i ever paint my truck i might have to do the camo if I could get it in max4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 New picture after it came back from having part of the bed re-painted. I finally got to some serious re-assembly...brush guard, repainted bumpers, added bumperettes from an XJ... Sorry for the crappy picture quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 I LOVE the tailgate lettering from jeepstickers.com They came out EXACTLY how I wanted them: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 And some more, post-assembly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 I installed a trans cooler this weekend. It has been a LONG time since an update, but I have been using the Comanche to tow my racecar, so adding the trans cooler seemed important. Backstory- I have a 1987 BMW 325 that I race in RallyCross events (and I hope to use for HPDE events), but it is not registered for the street so it gets dolly-towed. Since I tow the e30 everywhere that it goes (really just Summit Point Motorsports Park, about 15 miles from my house) and my only tow vehicle is my Comanche, I decided to upgrade the Comanche a bit and add a trans cooler. The truck only has 96K, but the extra safety margin is worth the cost. So first, the parts: Hayden/Imperial Transmission Oil Cooler: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_high-performance-transmission-oil-cooler-imperial_3670013-p?cm_mmc=ET-_-Trans-_-Confirmation-_-General#utm_source=et&utm_medium=trans&utm_campaign=confirmation&utm_content=general $67 but I paid $47 with a $20 off $50 coupon code. Hayden 391 fitting kit: http://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Automotive-391-Transmission-Fitting/dp/B000EPPFMY (see below for info on my issues with this) I also had lots of trans fluid and I ended up needing to make some small spacers to prevent the lines from interfering with end of the radiator. I'll explain.So the process was easy. First, I removed the grille and headlight door (pass side only) for access: Had I not had a brush guard, this would have been easier. Next, I went through the removal of existing line from the upper radiator point. This required 2 wrenches- 1 for the line and 2 fo rthe radiator fitting. I tried to just remove the line but it began to twist. I sprayed it with PB Blaster and let it sit for 15 minutes and then it came right off:So here is the issue with the Hayden 391 kit... At that point in the install there was a 4-week delay as there was a quality control issue with the Hayden fitting kit that was supposed to attach the trans cooler to my Jeep lines. I had the fitting kit and got everything apart, then I (wisely) test-fitted the fitting kit on the line and the radiator before mating the lines to the fittings. They are supposed to be a male and female 45-degree 5/8" thread fitting. One of them fit the vehicle- the other did not. I should have known, as the 2 fittings would not screw into each other when I was playing around with the kit before the install even started. Long story short, the fittings in the packages that I bought (and bought, and bought) never matched up with each other or the truck- and it was never the same ones that did NOT match. I ordered a replacement set- same issue but now the opposite fitting worked. I finally got a pair (from 2 different packs) that were the correct- by ordering multiple sets and mixing a male from one, a female from another. I was not amused, but Amazon was great about refunding my money.Anyway...Cooler fitted:To get the lines to clear the sheet metal on the driver's side, I had to add a 1/2" spacer between the trans cooler and the radiator. Maybe this is because I don't have A/C, but the lines would not have worked wihtout making 4 adapters, eahc one 1" square with a 1/4" hole drilled throufgh the middle for the attachment thing-ys. Lines attached (with the proper 5/8" 45* fittings!!!):Grille back on:Buttoned up: That was it. I ran it to get it up to temp, checked the fluid level and topped it off again, and considered it a 4-week and 45-minute project done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 Towing the e30 to get caged... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 So not much to report. The truck failed inspection this past month...not good. She had been inspected at the same shop since 1988- in truth, every inspection I ever had done on any vehicle was at the same shop with the exception of when I moved out of state for a couple of years. Then the shop closed unexpectedly this spring and I (and the rest of my family) had to try some new shops. Not positive so far. My wife's car passed when it shold not have (tire showing cord form camber wear), my brother's Grand Cherokee failed for brakes that were brand new, and the MJ failed (okay, these were legit) for an exhaust leak (that has been there fo ra decade and the old shop never cared) and loos passenger side ball joints. I finally orderd the ball joint today and hope to decide on a possible header in the next couple of weeks. Exciting, I know, but I had not updated in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 Leaving this here so I can find it... http://comancheclub.com/topic/14086-upgrading-to-a-gauge-package-w-column-shifter/ Also, ordered this today: http://www.jegs.com/i/Pace+Setter/766/70-1191/10002/-1 Pacesetter 70-1191. Got it price-matched to $231.80, shipped. I have been putting off replacing the cracket exhaust manifold, btu I think it is time...since I failed my annual safety inspection on that item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 All new tie rods, drag link, etc. ordered and received. Also picked up a new rear bumper from Nates 4x4. I had the rear receiver slot sleeved to hold the drop arm to tow my track car. I also had some new Metric Ton springs made up by General Springs. With me towing, plus with the age of the vehicle and some side-to-side sag that I am noticing, I decided to bite the bullet an dbuy new reather than rebuilding/repacking the current springs. I have a LOT of installation to do in the spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenryiv1 Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Need this... http://www.quadratec.com/products/12042_902.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Holy crap your truck is beautiful. Glad to see another MJ that's stayed in the same family. Very nice BMW also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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