My low miles 87 MJ

[imtehbeef]

After almost a year of flexing my barter/trade skills, I managed to turn a set of 235/75R15 all terrain tires into a 1987 Jeep Comanche. I traded the tires for a 91 XJ that was pretty rusty. A couple months after, I traded it to my friend for his 86 F250 plow truck that didn't run. Finally got around to putting the F250 on craigslist, and I got an email from a guy that said he had a Comanche with 90k miles. I figured no matter what condition or drivetrain, it was more useful to me than the F250. The guy shows up and it turns out I got a heck of a deal. Its got a 4.0l, a 5 speed transmission, and its 4x4. To top it all off, it only has 64k miles on it. It needs the usual MJ repairs, such as a soft spot in the frame and some very minor body rust. Will post pics as soon as I get them. Changing the brakelines and exhaust this weekend, and then next weekend comes the joyous task of frame repair. I'm just glad I finally get to join the exclusive Comanche Club. :cheers:

[camjeep3]

nice job! welcome and get those piccs up!

[imtehbeef]

Just to get it out of the way before anybody asks, I am not repairing the frame myself. My dad, who has been professionally welding for almost 20 years, will be doing all of the welding on the truck. So no need to worry about 15 pages of pictures of how to NOT repair the frame, like some of the other threads. Also, I will actually pay attention to any and all advice I am given.

[Automan2164]

Just to get it out of the way before anybody asks, I am not repairing the frame myself. My dad, who has been professionally welding for almost 20 years, will be doing all of the welding on the truck. So no need to worry about 15 pages of pictures of how to NOT repair the frame, like some of the other threads. Also, I will actually pay attention to any and all advice I am given.

 

Did some research on frame repair, and ran into our little buddy eh? ;)

 

Welcome to the club, sounds like you'll fit right in.

Rob L. :cheers:

[-600JeepMJ]

:cheers: Welcome to the MJ madness :banana:

 

:needpics:

[imtehbeef]

Pictures are on the way, just waiting for my chubby friend back home to put down the industrial sized bucket of chicken and get me some pictures. Might attach some pictures of him too just for a good laugh.

[imtehbeef]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its nowhere near mint condition, but it has less rust than any other jeep I've owned. The wrenching begins this weekend.

[High2by]

Working on them is half the fun, well for some it's all the fun. Let the fun begin! :banana:

[freakjeep93]

Just to get it out of the way before anybody asks, I am not repairing the frame myself. My dad, who has been professionally welding for almost 20 years, will be doing all of the welding on the truck. So no need to worry about 15 pages of pictures of how to NOT repair the frame, like some of the other threads. Also, I will actually pay attention to any and all advice I am given.

 

 

Yea i learned my lesson on that one. since then my fab skills have gotten better but I'm not trying anything of that magnatude for a long time.

but welcome to the club.

[imtehbeef]

Well, I forgot to update this when I got the truck on the road, but it's been great so far. I'll post pics tomorrow. Unfortunately, I got T-boned in an intersection tonight, which is my birthday, so the pics aren't gonna be pretty. I figure its time to restart this thread for the second rebuild. Gonna need a lot of help on this one. Busted a leaf spring on one side and a shackle on the other, so I figure its time to put some insurance money to good use and lift it.

[wannabeMJ]

give a call to Tom at Hell's creek

he's also a membre here I'm sure he can hook you up with a set of leafs

 

or maybe a full lift kit

[sinkrun]

Welcome :waving: everytime I drive my truck its like a big magnet I almost get hit. I take out my mega rusty 99 cherokee no one comes near it.

[imtehbeef]

The insurance company hauled it away a few days ago. Turns out the frame was cracked between the bed and cab on both sides. Fortunately they're payin me $2400 more than I had into it. Also managed to find this:

 

I dunno how I keep finding these things, but its a 4.0 auto 4x4, metric ton long bed with a solid frame and 78k miles. All it needs is a transmission and a few miscellaneous parts. Picked it up for $900 with the plow.

[buxmj]

Wow that was a turn of events that definitely went positive. Nice use of insurance money. Great find also. Looks like this one is in much better shape. What year is it?

[imtehbeef]

This one's a 1992. Definately more solid, but I'm gonna miss my old one. Everything was easy to work on because it was almost 100% factory parts. Nothing had been hacked yet. It ended up looking pretty nice once I got the body work done. Painted it red with black on the bottom. Unfortunately I can't seem to find a picture of it, or I'd post it. I'll post some pictures next week of the transmission swap I'm planning on doing this weekend. Just need to find someone with a trailer to haul it home for me.

[buxmj]

I didn't realize that you had done so much work on it already. That sucks. Hopefully this one will stay out of the way of doom. I just barely missed being T-boned 2 days ago. Lady on her cell phone oblivious to the red light she ran. I wasn't in the comanche, still would have ruined my day.

[imtehbeef]

I found some pictures of the old Comanche on my old phone today, so I figured I'd post them.

 

Messin around in a sandpit with the stock 215/75r15's.

 

The reason I was in the sandpit in the first place:

 

The patch master at work

 

Patch panels from scrap metal

 

Artist rendition of what I wanted the truck to look like

 

What it actually looked like for a bit.

 

After a $10 spray paint job.

 

Rear ended a 2001 Ford Ranger at about 5mph and got this nice bend.

 

 

I'm sad to see it go, but in other news the 92 Comanche is almost done. I'll start a new thread for it when I finish working on it and register it.