Looking at a rebuilt Comanche. I have some questions.

[cbates44]

I just began looking for a truck to replace my leased 2006 Tundra. The local Cherokee rebuilder has a Comanche that looks fairly good. It is an '87 two-wheel drive that he converted to four-wheel drive. It began life with a four cylinder, but he installed a four liter six, a 2000, I think. It has a five speed manual, the one that came with the four cylinder, I think. The rebuilder says that it has a 3.55 ratio since it began life as a four cylinder powered vehicle. He had the truck repainted since he was going to keep it for himself. It would come with a somewhat rusty tailgate taken from another truck (he has several for parts) that he did not have painted because he wanted a better tailgate to go along with the quality of the rest of the truck. He installed A/C in the truck. He told me that it has a Dana 44 rear end. From what I can determine, the Dana 44 came only on the seven foot bed as part of the heavy duty kit. It does need new seats because the seats are from a four door, hence do not go forward to provide access to the storage space behind the seats. He has two door seats, but they are pretty dirty and ragged. I don't know what it would cost to have them reupholstered. He said he would trade seats with me when he gets some, but also said they are few and far between.

The questions:

How can I tell if it is a Dana 44?

Can the Dana 44 be a limited slip differential?

If it has the Dana 44, can it be increased to the "metric ton" payload that was possible with the long bed?

Could it be worth $3000 if all is as I have reported?

 

I know the value question is very subjective, but any help will be appreciated.

Clyde in West Virginia

[aemsee]

I would have to say from the information you have posted, no. I would definitely want to see before paint job pics of the truck. It could be hiding tons of poorly repaired rustout. Check the floor. Our trucks are notorious for being Flintstone mobiles. Alot would depend on the quality of the conversions that were performed on it. Pics would be helpful.

 

Personally, for 3K, you could find what you wanted in a Comanche that wasn't a conversion.

[BLHTAZ]

Yea...3K is a little steep.

 

If it was a 4cyl 5 spd to start life, then it should have 4.10 gears. If they used the same tranny, that's a bad thing as the AX5 is weak behind a 4cyl so I would NOT trust it to stand up to the 6cyl for any length of time.

 

The more I study your post...the less I think it's worth now. If I were to want it, it would need to have the tranny repalced, new seats, a good tailgate painted and I am sure there would be more if I could see it. I am thinking $1500 - $1800 tops...

 

You can look here fo a reference of axles to determine if it is a D44 for sure.

[Eagle]

A 4-cyl 5-speed would have had 4.10 gears. A 4-cyl 4-speed would have had 3.55 gears. Either way, the 4-cyl transmission would not bolt up to the 6-cylinder engine, so either you misunderstood him, or he isn't giving you the straight story. Also, the 2000 XJ used a totally different computer and injection/ignition system, and converting an older XJ or MJ to work with the newer system is ... complex. You would need to find out exactly (and I mean (EXACTLY) what in the vehicle is original 87, and what is from the 2000 ... and what he did to make them interface.

 

The '87 short bed was available with a Dana 44 ... I own one. Mine came from the factory with a Dana Trak-Loc limited slip. You can easily upgrade to the equivalent of a Metric Tonne suspension with new springs, or by adding an extra leaf to the old springs (but not a typical add-a-leaf, which would generate excessive lift). But ... why would you want to do that? The stock MJ is rated to carry 1400+ pounds. That's a 3/4 ton truck ... are you really going to carry more than 1400 pounds on a regular basis?

 

That truck, except for the Dana 44 (if it has one) sounds like a good one to stay away from. I foresee nothing but problems.

[cbates44]

Thanks for all the help, guys.

 

I was worried about the body, but I do have some faith in the guy. I have not heard anything bad about him, but then there are lots of things I have not heard about. I will try to get in touch with the original owner. It was a one-owner vehicle. Maybe he can enlighten me about the condition of the body.

 

The state the vehicle is in would mean it would be a bit of a hobby for me. But I don't want to get in too much over my head.

 

As for the transmission, it is a five speed and it is connected to a four-liter six. If that means he changed the transmission, then I guess he changed it. I can not remember everything he told me.

 

I forgot to ask him about cruise control, so when I call to learn about that I will inquire about the other things you guys brought to my attention.

 

I would like to have the extra payload because I want to find or build a slide-in camper for the truck. I want it to be fully self-contained, and that means it will be heavy. I meant to buy such a truck three years ago, but got my wife involved and ended up with a Tundra. It has less payload than the normal-duty Comanche, and that is not enough for most campers. In fact the only self-contained campers that claim to be built for the Tundra run upwards of $20,000. Too rich for my blood. And they are nearly impossible to find used.

 

Clyde in Fairmont, WV

[Pete M]

Then I guess you've read this thread? :D

 

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13881

 

But anyways, you can make a metric ton MJ out of any MJ. You just need some heavy duty springs, shocks and rear axle. But for the camper, you'll likely need even more than the metric ton leafs can give you (like the sir springs that Luke added). And more braking than the stock system can give you. Personally, I'd look for a longbed that was as close to stock as possible and ran very good and build it up with all the fun upgrades that are out there. I'd add a disk braked 8.8, the double booster mod, some sort of disk brake upgrade up front (I wonder if liberty brakes can be adapted?)... Maybe it's for the better that I don't have any money. I'd be blowing it on building more MJs. :D

[jtdesigns]

Just following your link there Pete...

 

I'm guessing you meant >>this one<<

[Pete M]

Yup. :doh: I fixed it.

[Eagle]

There's "self-sufficient," and then there's "luxury." Pretty much any slide-in camper is going to be self-contained and self-sufficient, once you move beyond a simple cap (which my idiot state claims turns any pickup into a "camper"). There are two or three companies making the pop-top type like Summerinmaine's, and the level of finish and equipment (and thus the weight) varies. You can buy a basic shell that you finish out yourself, or two or three levels of finish. What I found a few years ago when I was researching it is that regardless of pop-top or hardtop, there are a LOT fewer choices for the compact pickups than there are for the full-size trucks.

 

Keep in mind that weight affects more than stability. You also have to move that weight down the road, and regardless of how good the 4.0L Jeep engine is -- it ain't a 454 Chevy mountain mover. My plan was to go with the lower level of finish and gimmicks, partly to keep the weight down and partly because I was always a tent camper, and trying to bring an entire house along for the ride just doesn't strike me as "camping." The slide-in was my concession to advancing age, but it now appears that my camping days are over so it becomes an academic discussion.

[cbates44]

Eagle,

 

I definitely want a flush toilet. At my age it is NOT a luxury.

 

Clyde

[cbates44]

I just talked to the rebuilder. I did, indeed, misinform you guys. The engine and transmission were taken from a 1998 Cherokee Sport and installed as a unit. So it does have the proper transmission. I discovered that it does not have cruise control, and though he no doubt has the parts and would let me have them as part of a deal, he will not install them. I don't think I want to get into pulling the wheel and whatever else would be involved, so I did not ask other questions. Again, thanks for all your information, help, and opinions. As someone suggested, I will just try to find one that is original. I will be looking for a long bed, preferably with the heavy suspension and a five speed manual transmission. I would not consider any without the four liter engine.

 

Clyde

[Eagle]

Eagle,

 

I definitely want a flush toilet. At my age it is NOT a luxury.

 

Clyde

AFAIK the pop-tops (except the base, finish-it-yourself shell version) has the same flush toilet you get in a full-height camper like Luke's. I wouldn't have a camper that didn't have one, either.