Bought another Comanche... Fix or Recover Parts and Scrap?

[comanche09]

Need some opinions on my "new" MJ:

 

http://mobile.craigslist.org/pts/1797932148.html

 

Saw this on CL and jumped on it, picked it up couple weeks ago for $300:

 

It's actually an '89.

 

The Bad:

 

-It does not have a transmission or tcase,the engine is all there, but has been hydrolocked. (It was flooded halfway up its doors in a river...)

 

-The D35 is seized (pinion yoke bent) and the D30 is missing its CAD cover.

 

-The Rockers on both sides have small rust holes.

 

-The interior is trashed.

 

-No title (PO says he's expecting it in a couple months...right)

 

The Good:

 

-The frame and rest of the body is straight and rust free.

 

-It has at least a 4" lift and SOA (Pro Comp lift kit, but I've read alot of bad reviews about these)

 

-The taillights and tailgate are in good shape.

 

-The bed is in decent shape.

 

-Nice Aluminum wheels

 

Save or Pilfer and scrap? Opinions please!

[87Warrior]

Seems like it could be out on the road with XJ parts. I say rebuild... Granted you get a title or have the ability to file for one.

[jimoshel]

There's already more scrap than MJ's. Rebuild.

[DJM/78]

Yeah , rebuild it with a 383 stroker auto trans and posi lock ... :brows:

[jimoshel]

Yeah , rebuild it with a 383 stroker auto trans and posi lock ... :brows:

:huh???:

That's not rebuilding. That's blasphemy.

[mnkyboy]

If you part it out i would be interested in the flairs :cheers:

[88SporTruck]

REBUILD!

 

that looks to be rather clean on the outside. Pick up a parts XJ for another 300 and swap everything over and you'll have a sweet lifted MJ.

 

While I hate seeing any Jeeps go to the crusher they made a lot more XJ's so scrapping one of those is not as bad.

[comanche09]

Wow so far 4 to 0 for rebuilding. :cheers:

 

It's a shame that other than the drivetrain, this MJ is in good shape. Its gonna need new axles and complete drivetrain- easily sourced from an XJ I know.

 

I'm concerned about the flooding as the "waterline" came halfway up the dash, covering the fuse box and half of the computer... Electricals shot? Anyone with experience fixing a flooded MJ?

[Pete M]

I'd start from scratch. gut all the wires and install parts from an XJ.

 

 

but I too am concerned about water intrusion. water in the rockers/frame/doors can quickly undo that "rust-free" status.

[freakjeep93]

rebuild it . but like pete says make sure everything gets dried out

[kastein]

REBUILD!

 

Rockers, who cares, cut em out and do 2x6 rocker replacements if you don't like sheetmetal.

 

The rest can be solved. If you can't get a title from the PO, did you get a bill of sale? Sometimes you can file for a lost title that way.

[jimoshel]

Basically there is 3 kinds of water damage. Salt water, fresh water clean and flood, muddy water.

The secret of saving a water damaged vehicle is getting it cleaned and dried out as soon as possible.

The body. Remove all panels, floor mats, upholstery and anything that will interfere with with the cleaning, drying process. If it was flooded with clean water,IE, drove off into a stream or lake, it will be mostly just a drying process. If it was a flood then the water will have been muddy leaving behind mud and crud that needs to be removed.Sea water is the worst as the salt starts attacking everything upon contact and getting worse when exposed to air. I honestly don't know if it helped or not but on Kwaj we used baking soda to neutralize the salt before flushing good with clean water.

If the engine was running when submerged there is probably damage to it. Think hydro lock. If it wasn't there is a good chance it is OK. I used a car wash because of the higher pressure and hot water. However the backyard and garden hose will work just fine.

On the motor drain the oil. Look for water. If there is no water in it then reuse it, unless it was ready for a change. Remove the spark plugs. Look for any evidence of moisture. Remove air cleaner, AC hose as applicable. Turn engine thru several revolutions. Look for water out of plug holes. If the engine was dry then squirt oil into all the cylinders and replace the plugs. If water came out of any of the plug holes plan on removing the head and checking for damage IE, bent connecting rod. When reassembling be liberal with the oil. Don't try to start the the car or apply voltage to anything until it is completely dry.

In 1965 I salvaged a 1957 Mercury, 1958 Pontiac, 1952 CJ5 and a 1945 Harley Davidson that had been completely submerged in the '65 flood here. In 1987 I drug a '74 CJ5 out of the Platte River that had been upside down in it for over 3 months and salvaged it. It's a heck of a lot of work but it can be done. What's your time and the vehicle worth? The main thing is get into ALL the little, hidden nooks and crannys and get them clean and dry. Good Luck, Jim

[comanche09]

Basically there is 3 kinds of water damage. Salt water, fresh water clean and flood, muddy water.

The secret of saving a water damaged vehicle is getting it cleaned and dried out as soon as possible.

The body. Remove all panels, floor mats, upholstery and anything that will interfere with with the cleaning, drying process. If it was flooded with clean water,IE, drove off into a stream or lake, it will be mostly just a drying process. If it was a flood then the water will have been muddy leaving behind mud and crud that needs to be removed.Sea water is the worst as the salt starts attacking everything upon contact and getting worse when exposed to air. I honestly don't know if it helped or not but on Kwaj we used baking soda to neutralize the salt before flushing good with clean water.

If the engine was running when submerged there is probably damage to it. Think hydro lock. If it wasn't there is a good chance it is OK. I used a car wash because of the higher pressure and hot water. However the backyard and garden hose will work just fine.

On the motor drain the oil. Look for water. If there is no water in it then reuse it, unless it was ready for a change. Remove the spark plugs. Look for any evidence of moisture. Remove air cleaner, AC hose as applicable. Turn engine thru several revolutions. Look for water out of plug holes. If the engine was dry then squirt oil into all the cylinders and replace the plugs. If water came out of any of the plug holes plan on removing the head and checking for damage IE, bent connecting rod. When reassembling be liberal with the oil. Don't try to start the the car or apply voltage to anything until it is completely dry.

In 1965 I salvaged a 1957 Mercury, 1958 Pontiac, 1952 CJ5 and a 1945 Harley Davidson that had been completely submerged in the '65 flood here. In 1987 I drug a '74 CJ5 out of the Platte River that had been upside down in it for over 3 months and salvaged it. It's a heck of a lot of work but it can be done. What's your time and the vehicle worth? The main thing is get into ALL the little, hidden nooks and crannys and get them clean and dry. Good Luck, Jim

 

Hi Jim,

 

Thanks for the writeup and tips! :cheers: The truck hasn't run for about 2 years, It was definately hydrolocked as the oil looks like milkshake. It was submerged up to the middle of the doors in Alabama muddy river water. There is a definate waterline mark as everything below it is coated with a very thin layer of muddy silt. Looks like about up to the top of the ashtray on the dash (to include most of the wiring, computer and fusebox).

 

I will try to post some more pics of it. Seems to be that bottom line I will most likely need to locate a whole running parts XJ to bring this MJ back... :doh:

[500 MJ]

Might not hurt to flush some water into the frame rails & nooks and crannys until you get clean water coming out of them, THEN start the drying process...

[comanche09]

I think I've found a donor candidate!

 

'93 XJ 4.0L HO 5speed 4x4

 

http://mobile.craigslist.org/cto/1830489235.html

 

What would be a good price to pay for it?

 

Is 170k miles too much?

 

How should I go about the swap? Renix to H.O.?

 

Thanks :cheers:

[HOrnbrod]

Agree w. an HO swap (OBDI only), but that $750 for the rather high mileage (if it's true) 93 XJ is a bit high price I think here. I doubt the seller will get those $$ in that condition. Offer him half that, then sit back. $450 tops if/when he gets back, cause it's 4WD w. 5-speed. But donor HO XJs are plentiful if you're patient. :cheers:

[Sir Sam]

I think I've found a donor candidate!

 

'93 XJ 4.0L HO 5speed 4x4

 

http://mobile.craigslist.org/cto/1830489235.html

 

What would be a good price to pay for it?

 

Is 170k miles too much?

 

How should I go about the swap? Renix to H.O.?

 

Thanks :cheers:

 

gut the MJ, install all the XJ engine/dash wiring harness, AC system, etc etc.

 

Plus, if you never get the title for the MJ you can always just use the title from the XJ.

[DJM/78]

Yeah , rebuild it with a 383 stroker auto trans and posi lock ... :brows:

:huh???:

That's not rebuilding. That's blasphemy.

 

Then you guys are going to send me to hell for what I'm doing to my sport truck .... :evil: I tell you what Jim , I'll trade you my 2.5 or better yet you can have it . Its already cost me just as much as a V8 swap to find and rebuild

parts for this dammed thing and it still needs rebuilt . Just found a small block LS1 for 800 bucks with harness and trany . The next time someone thinks this truck is a joke , I'll leave little bits of rubber all over their windshield .

This truck will have life again I tell you . :yes: I might pass it up for an LS2 400+ HP GTO motor , we'll see . :bowdown:

[freakjeep93]

Yeah , rebuild it with a 383 stroker auto trans and posi lock ... :brows:

:huh???:

That's not rebuilding. That's blasphemy.

 

Then you guys are going to send me to hell for what I'm doing to my sport truck .... :evil: I tell you what Jim , I'll trade you my 2.5 or better yet you can have it . Its already cost me just as much as a V8 swap to find and rebuild

parts for this dammed thing and it still needs rebuilt . Just found a small block LS1 for 800 bucks with harness and trany . The next time someone thinks this truck is a joke , I'll leave little bits of rubber all over their windshield .

This truck will have life again I tell you . :yes: I might pass it up for an LS2 400+ HP GTO motor , we'll see . :bowdown:

i wanna see this

[DJM/78]

Here is a link I've been following ...

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1007477

[jimoshel]

I can't fault anybody that swaps out stuff on their Jeeps. I was putting V8's in Jeeps when we had to make our own adapters. Anybody even know what a flathead Ford is anymore?

Back to Comanche09's situation. I wouldn't go over $450 tops and thats if it runs really good. Since you'll be getting everything needed go HO. Around here I can buy rolled XJ'S all day for $400 tops. A little more if there's something on it I want. A couple weeks ago I got a '89 XJ for $300. Runs perfect, 4wd,4.0, 5spd, no rust, no dents, no damage, no title. Perfect donor for MJ conversion, restoration.

[jimoshel]

Yeah , rebuild it with a 383 stroker auto trans and posi lock ... :brows:

:huh???:

That's not rebuilding. That's blasphemy.

 

Then you guys are going to send me to hell for what I'm doing to my sport truck .... :evil: I tell you what Jim , I'll trade you my 2.5 or better yet you can have it . Its already cost me just as much as a V8 swap to find and rebuild

parts for this dammed thing and it still needs rebuilt . Just found a small block LS1 for 800 bucks with harness and trany . The next time someone thinks this truck is a joke , I'll leave little bits of rubber all over their windshield .

This truck will have life again I tell you . :yes: I might pass it up for an LS2 400+ HP GTO motor , we'll see . :bowdown:

i wanna see this

Probably put the pistons in upside down and then cut holes in the top so the connecting rods could fit. And about the 2.5, I'll take it.

[DJM/78]

I'll probably see about the 2.5 , I'm still pissed at it right now . I just put 300 bucks in the front pully's timing chain and Harmonic balancer , new seals all around and it still needs a cylinder head rebuild . :fs1:

[jimoshel]

Been there. Firm rule. Never do anything when PO'D. Cool down first, then do it. :no:

[JeepcoMJ]

coming from a guy who's owned 20+ comanches, scrapped approximately half of them (damn rust belt), and saved the other half from immediate death....that thing is NOT a scrapper.

 

it is too clean to scrap.