fix or replace comanche?

[dfreeman616]

so the other day, "Rusty" had a lifter fail. tearing down, i found that all the lifters are shot and it needs a new cam to get going again. all this after i just did a 4wd conversion. here's more about that truck http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5129. it's a 1990 4.0 long bed auto 4wd, trans has 61,xxx miles. after tear down, i also found signs of oil starvation, although it still ran fine and i've never run it dry. has great oil pressure.

 

the truck i'm looking at with 86,250 miles on it is an 88, i'd be the third owner, has almost no rust (including solid floors and rockers), 4.0/auto/4wd/longbed. comes with a topper, a sliding rear window, pioneer package. rear axle is just a 35. the guy's asking $2500, which is about what KBB says it's worth. I'll go look at it Saturday and probably offer $2000 since I wasn't planning to get a truck at this point anyways. He's selling due to having 4 kids now.

[renOnv]

I would hold on to my money to buy a manual, thats my personal preference though because i enjoy driving more when i make the decisions instead of a machine. other than that the new truck sounds good, and it might be more satisfying for you if your money went into upgrading your truck rather than just getting it to run again. just my 2cents

[renOnv]

on second thought: keep in mind i am not as mechanically inclined as you or most of the forum members, and the satisfaction you would get from getting your truck running again by means of your own two hands might outweigh the bells and whistles of a new ride. still, I'm more of a "choose your battles" kind of guy.

[mfpdm]

Find you a good running 4.0 to swap in it. Take a good weekend and do the swap, then build the stroker at your leisure with the motor that came out. JY down here charges $150 for a complete motor.

 

I also like the idea of buying the other one and making either a truggy or Cheromanche out of Rusty.

 

:cheers:

[gogetemturbo]

:agree:

Find you a good running 4.0 to swap in it. Take a good weekend and do the swap, then build the stroker at your leisure with the motor that came out. JY down here charges $150 for a complete motor.

 

I also like the idea of buying the other one and making either a truggy or Cheromanche out of Rusty.

 

:cheers:

 

I agree with this option. It will give you more time to build. I would swap in the 4.0 to get the truck back on the road. Then (if money allows) buy the 88 and do the Cheromanche with the 4.7L build. That way while you are building the new rig, you can still get yer MJ driving fix with your current rig. The after the other rig is done and built, you either sell your existing MJ or keep her in the stable like a lot of the people around here have. :yes:

[dfreeman616]

i kind of like that option, it's a lot like the last one i listed except making the 88 the cheromanche, correct? if i drop another motor in rusty, i don't think i can justify getting the 88 for a cheromanche project at this time. the other reason i like getting the 88 and then keeping rusty for a cheromanche project is that way i don't cut up a really clean MJ and bed. a lot of what is rusted on rusty would be cut and welded/repaired/modified in a cheromanche project anyways, so not much extra work compared to starting with a clean MJ. that way, i'm preserving/saving two MJ's :D

 

some other things to consider is time and space. i only have a 1.5 stall garage at the moment, and i do car work from my garage for side income, thus putting a bunch of time into my truck means less money making time, and less time with my wife and 6 month old (as of today) son.

 

i've been keeping an eye open for a good engine for a swap candidate, but haven't seen any for a price i like.

[mjeff87]

not calling your abilities into question, but I just swapped a 4.0 into my neighbor's YJ over a weekend (and had a few screwups along the way 'cause I used an XJ engine with minor differences). I agree with previous posts that you swap engines for now, and don't let your mind make hasty decisions. Heck, I wish I were closer, I'd help ya do it :cheers: You should hold a wrenchfest at your place for the local CC members......like Paul said, engines are cheap (down our way anyhow) out of the 'yard and would be the quickest fix to your problem.

 

'git-er-dun!

 

Jeff

[dfreeman616]

oh i can pull the engine, it's already down to the block and i have an extra block on my hoist right now i got cheap in case i do the stroker build. engines aren't as cheap around here, i guess. the other problem is picking up an engine, since my truck obviously can't move much right now...and i don't think the wife would like it in the back of her car :no: i'm not in a big rush, since she's staying home with the baby for now we can have just one working car. the other factor is the time and money to put into fixing a truck that has half a bed due to rust, no rockers (although i have some waiting to go one thanks to mfpdm on here), and no driver's floor panel. the 88 i'm looking at is solid in all those places. call me crazy, i'm also not the biggest fan of un-proven junk yard engines, but i have been looking for junk yard engines and trucks being parted out.