decurion Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 Hello all! New to comanches, but not exactly new to jeeps. Ive had a 97 and 98 wrangler, and loved them and miss them, but I hate that they don't have a pickup bed. Ive always liked the comanches since they were new (and I was fairly small). Anyway, Id like to get one, but Id like to get some info from those in the know first. What years were they made? What years are best? I'm plenty familiar with carbs, which is why Id like to get one with fuel injection, which I think means about 89^. Ive looked on ebay, and found like 3... :cry: How hard is it going to be to find a 4.0L auto 4wd long bed that hasnt been molested to death? I'm thinking hens teeth. Also, how much lift do I need to clear 31s? 32s? From what Ive seen so far, these are basically XJs with a pickup bed, right? Ill keep searching the site to find answers to my questions, and thanks in advance for the pointers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JpDrvr51 Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 You've come to the right place. I've only been surfing these forums for a couple of weeks now and have learned a lot more than I ever expected. As far as your question, this site seems to have the answers you're looking for. http://comanchemj.1hwy.com/photo6.html You will find this site and many others in this thread. http://www.comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1458 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 It's kinda a tossup as to of what is 'best'. 87+ with the 4.0 MPFI engine and AW4 (auto) tranny are solid. 87-89.5's with the 4.0 and 5spd got a kinda crappy tranny. Oh, and 92 got the elusive 4.0 HO engine, but you don't want that anyways. And look for a metric ton version, or check to see if it has a D44 rear. Personally, to do it over again I'd probably look for the cleanest cab possible, and not worry about anything else. But that's because I'm no longer into keeping things on the sane side of modified. Oh, the 2.5L engine is just too small! And the 2.8 is ugly. And the renault turbo diesel is beyond rare, but cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT A MINUTE my 91 has an HO..... What do you mean molested?? as in not beat up? or as in someone restorable condition? I know of an long box with a 4.0 AW4, no idea the shape underneath but it looks great from the pain. price would be 200 i'm guessing...and then deciding if you want to deal with border trouble... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT A MINUTE my 91 has an HO..... Sorry, I screw that up all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 SOAB!!! I thought I had a rare...or more then likely a frankenstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decurion Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 not molested = not beat to death. So Ive read about the crappy trannies, not to mention I know about them from the YJs, which is why I'm leaning more towards an auto. How come I don't want the HO? I already know why I don't want the 4 popper, my 97 tj had it. NEVER AGAIN! what a turd... so what year did they get fuel injection? I'm not scared of a carb, I know how to work on them, I just don't want to fuss with it if it needs it. And how much work is it to clear 31s? Far as I can tell 2.5" should do it. With that little bit of lift, I'm guessing all it will require is springs/shocks. No bs with sye, relocated this, lengened that, fabricated other thing... Its just a work truck/weekend wheeler, and Ive got other priorities, so I'm just looking for something with a fairly straight body that doesnt need a TON of mechanical work (some I can handle). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Oh, all 4.0L engines in MJ/XJs are MPFI (fuel injected). And you can fit a 31 stock. Little trimming would be in order with a different BS rim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 And the HoHo thing is something that I always say because I hate them. I find them hard to work on. The renix engines are much simpler, sorta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROADLESS Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 :agree: with DirtyComanche about the ease of working on the Renix engine models (87-90). For a while they scared alot of ppl away, but now they are growing in popularity due in part to their reliability :brows: ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 The original 4.0L and the HO 4.0L are the same engine. What changed is the injection/ignition system, from the original AMC "Renix" (RENault-bendIX) to a Chrysler designed system. The Chrysler system is OBD compliant (not OBD-2, however), the Renix is not. They are both good engines -- that should not be your determining factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decurion Posted July 29, 2006 Author Share Posted July 29, 2006 sounds like 87-up 4wd 4.0L auto is what I'm lookin for then! now the hard part is finding one... well that and getting rid of my current truck to make room for the MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decurion Posted July 29, 2006 Author Share Posted July 29, 2006 something kinda like this actually... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... %3AIT&rd=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Also think about what you want to do with tthe rig. IF you want a trail beater find one with a rougher body, and good drivetrain, or if you plan on changing axles and motors find a 2wd 5spd.... its all about choices. Also the HO motors don't get as good of fuel economy as the Renix era motors.. don't ask me why cause I don't know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Also the HO motors don't get as good of fuel economy as the Renix era motors.. don't ask me why cause I don't know Chrysler is inept. They really blotched the HO computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Also the HO motors don't get as good of fuel economy as the Renix era motors.. don't ask me why cause I don't know Because they don't have a knock sensor. The Renix system always keeps the spark fully advanced, as far as the speed and load will allow. The Chrysler system doesn't do that. My '88 XJ still gets around 23 MPG on the highway, and that's with 260,000 miles on the clock. One trip when it was fairly new I got 28. The HOs can't touch those figures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Far as I can tell 2.5" should do it. With that little bit of lift, I'm guessing all it will require is springs/shocks. No bs with sye, relocated this, lengened that, fabricated other thing... My back ended up 2.25" up, and the only thing I had to do with it was drop one of the brake line brackets down. It's super simple, almost like doing nothing at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenosha Warrior Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Don't you dare knock the 2.5L :P My MJ with the 2.5 can do over a buck forty (kilometres/hour) although it is a AX-4 4speed 2wd :) Solid little truck, needs a new floor though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 Yeah, but it takes all day to get there... My buddy with a samuri got his 1.3 hampsters of fury up to 138km/h, but he had to do it in saskatchewan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnaevd Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 the pontiac 1.0 will do 160 km/h (also flat) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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