'88 Jeep Comanche restoration

[88comanche5.0]

I bought an 88 jeep comanche 5.0 straight 6 2wd 5 spd trani with 289,000 miles

 

i started fixing it up and then stoped. i am now planning on doing a full restoration.

i want to:

-put a small chevy 8 cyl engine

-put an auto 4wd trani

-make the outside look stock and original and than everything else will be new

 

any suggestions or comments?

[jpdocdave]

Sounds good, and welcome to the forum. :wavey:

[88comanche5.0]

thanks, I'm new to jeeps and restorations in general. any advice?

[jpdocdave]

My advice would be before making any decisions, or jumping in head first in any directions, hang around here a little while. Get used to the truck, look around, see what you like and don't like. Don't light the torch yet, do some learning, and then start your direction. Decide if you want to have an off roader, a street truck, a daily driver, a mud truck, or whatever. And then think about how to go about it, and ask a bunch of questions.

[MJCARENA]

I bought an 88 jeep comanche 5.0 straight 6 2wd 5 spd trani with 289,000 miles

 

i started fixing it up and then stoped. i am now planning on doing a full restoration.

i want to:

-put a small chevy 8 cyl engine

-put an auto 4wd trani

-make the outside look stock and original and than everything else will be new

 

any suggestions or comments?

 

Welcome, I am pretty new myself. Why put a small chevy in, when you already have a 5.0? :smart: I think you meant a 4.0

[88comanche5.0]

na i have a 5.0 (the biggest stock straight 6) i was looking at small 8s and the cheepest i can find is about 1200, i may rebuild that. what i don't want is to have the engine go down the rd. the block is mint. will that give me trouble if i keep that in and put a newer auto 4wd trani?

[MJCARENA]

The engine in it is not the original. :???: What did it come out of?

[88comanche5.0]

wow.. you must be right... according to the specs it has to be the 4.0L ... its a straight 6 hmm.. see this is my problem haha. would that work with a chevy 4wd auto trani?

[88comanche5.0]

ya its gotta be this one:

"Jeep offered the Comanche with a selection of engines, including the 4.0 L, 242 CID straight-6 engine found in many Jeeps from 1987-2006."

[88comanche5.0]

another question i have is about parts. i have found that atleast in connecticut it is tough to get parts. does anyone know any sites that sell the parts or do i have to go junkyard diving ? also the truck bed is pretty rough, would you recommended just patching/bondo or is it even possible to get a "new" bed?

[JeepcoMJ]

jeep cherokees share the same parts.

[88comanche5.0]

i knew that was for the body, is that also for mechanical? and what year spread of cherokee?

[JeepcoMJ]

i knew that was for the body, is that also for mechanical? and what year spread of cherokee?

 

if yours is an 87-90, same in a cherokee, with similar engine.

 

91 or newer, same as 91 or newer cherokee.

[88comanche5.0]

ok thank you- ya mine is an 88.

 

how do you get your parts? junkyards? or online