Gjeep Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 adam518 - I'm in the middle of a 4wd conversion for my 92 MJ. Ax-15, 231 case. Got the Novak shift kit and like you the bracket that attaches to the studs of the case wouldn't fit without trimming at the top corner. AND the bracket that attaches to the tranny tunnel isn't shaped correctly to fit flush against the MJ. Basically one of the bracket ends is curved in the wrong direction "poking into" the body. Did you have this problem also? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 adam518 - I'm in the middle of a 4wd conversion for my 92 MJ. Ax-15, 231 case. Got the Novak shift kit and like you the bracket that attaches to the studs of the case wouldn't fit without trimming at the top corner. AND the bracket that attaches to the tranny tunnel isn't shaped correctly to fit flush against the MJ. Basically one of the bracket ends is curved in the wrong direction "poking into" the body. Did you have this problem also? Thanks Hey...I had one of the two problems you are experiencing. The bracket that attaches to the transfer case studs would not fit without removing a bit of material. Of course, I thought I may be doing something wrong, so after an hour or so of trying to make it fit just about everything under my truck, I called Novak. The guy I talked to was just shy of being outright rude...definitely arrogant. It wasn't like I called him before trying to figure it out on my own and I was definitely open to the idea that I was doing something wrong on my end. Eventually, he was convinced that I was installing the bracket correctly, did in fact have an AX15 & had their proper kit in hand. At that point, his response was that they sell a gogillion of these and I have the only tranny that wouldn't fit his bracket. I find it hard to believe, but whatever, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. In the end, it was really no big deal to make it fit and I just used a bench grinder to remove the necessary material. The other bracket you are referring to fit my transmission tunnel as it should. Let me know if you are still having trouble. I'd be happy to snap a few pics to help you get the orientation just right. After installed, I have to say I like the way it shifts. It is smoother than the factory linkage on my '97 XJ. I used it this past weekend offroad for the first time and it performed perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 adam518 - I'm in the middle of a 4wd conversion for my 92 MJ. Ax-15, 231 case. Got the Novak shift kit and like you the bracket that attaches to the studs of the case wouldn't fit without trimming at the top corner. AND the bracket that attaches to the tranny tunnel isn't shaped correctly to fit flush against the MJ. Basically one of the bracket ends is curved in the wrong direction "poking into" the body. Did you have this problem also? Thanks Here ya go. The wife rolled her eyes when I said I was going outside to snap a few pics of the underside of my transmission tunnel to post on a forum. The braided line you see is the hydraulic line for my clutch slave cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gjeep Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Thanks. Pics really help. My bracket is all wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted May 30, 2012 Author Share Posted May 30, 2012 Thanks. Pics really help. My bracket is all wrong. Have fun telling them they made your bracket wrong. You'll have the only one in history that their part didn't fit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Scheduled the Comanche for the paint shop. I'm taking on the 18th of this month. I plan to remove all of the trim, handles, moldings, weatherstrip, bed, etc myself to save a bit of $$. Hopefully it won't take long for him to get it back to me. I'm getting excited about putting it all back together and actually have an interior again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Is it staying black or are you going with something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 3, 2012 Author Share Posted June 3, 2012 Initially I wanted to paint it a metallic gray, but I already have a Steel Cities Grey '71 Vette & the wife has a metallic gray BMW. I've also have owned several gray other cars in the past. It always seems when I see a color I like, it is gray, which is fine, but I wanted to do something a little different with the Comanche. ...so, here's what I came up with 2002-2003 Corvette Electron Blue Flares, trim, mirrors, windshield molding, etc will be black and I have an idea for a subtle stripe that will hopefully turn out nice...more on that later. Also, I am undecided about the hood. A couple years ago, the paint on my XJ all looked good except the hood. The clear coat had worn through. Because I was afraid it would be tough to match the green perfectly, the hood was painted semi-flat black. I really like the way it looks and am unsure whether to do the same thing with the MJ or paint it blue to match the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 I love the color. I had picked a very similar color as my second choice. New paint always makes a dramatic difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 6, 2012 Author Share Posted June 6, 2012 Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've changed my mind regarding exactly how I wanted the exterior to look. To this point, I wanted to do a '97 front end swap, but now I've gotten to where the old style squareness is looking pretty good to me. My front header fit for crap, but I never really cared because it was going to be replaced with a '97 anyway. After deciding to stay with the old front end style and looking to see why it didn't fit properly, it turns out that someone has replaced the original header with a cheapo plastic one that is at least a quarter inch too short on both sides. I went to the pull-a-part and scored a perfect front header with complete harness off of a '96. Today, I ordered all new weatherstrip, door glass seals, solid black front grill & headlight surrounds as well as a few other odds & ends that I will need when I get it back from the paint shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 Off MJ build topic, but I know you guys dig Jeep trucks. Check out what I bought yesterday. 1979 J10 Honcho 360 cid V8, 3 speed auto, 4" lift w/ 35x12.50's Factory power steering, power brakes, air (doesn't work) Interior is in really good shape. Driver's door glass won't roll up and the door won't open with either handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilecenturyfarm Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Off MJ build topic, but I know you guys dig Jeep trucks. Check out what I bought yesterday. 1979 J10 Honcho 360 cid V8, 3 speed auto, 4" lift w/ 35x12.50's Factory power steering, power brakes, air (doesn't work) Interior is in really good shape. Driver's door glass won't roll up and the door won't open with either handle. Awesome!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-man930 Posted June 9, 2012 Share Posted June 9, 2012 :agree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 That's fantastic. Nice truck! What are your plans for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 Thanks guys. Not bad for $1500, huh? I actually paid less for the Honcho than I did for my MJ. At the moment, I am not sure what I will do with it. I'll probably drive it & wheel it as it is for a bit while I decide what to do. It's been a farm truck the last 8 years and is definitely rougher than the pics indicate. It really isn't the best candidate for a full restoration and it would take a lot of $$ to make it a real looker. The truck has the 1339 transfer case. It does not have a 2wd option. Basically, it runs in full-time 4wd and has a vacuum switch to lock the transfer case in part-time 4wd. When I bought it and for the 1st couple of days, I assumed it did not have a low range option. Many came that way and had the 1305 transfer case. Anyway, I cleaned the interior yesterday and found the low range lever protruding from under the bench seat next to the seat adjuster. So, it does have a low range and it is 2.57:1. You can shift it into low range in either full-time 4wd or part-time 4wd. I tested it in all modes of operation and it seems to work well. Part of me want to leave it looking as it is and pick up either a 5.3 or 6.0 LS motor to swap into it. I have a freshly built GM Turbo 400 collecting dust. I could keep the 1339 or maybe swap in a Spicer 18. Both my axles are D44's offset to the passenger's side, so unless I completely change out the axles, that has to be taken into consideration. I think the front is fine and I could probably keep the rear alive seeing that it's an automatic and I'm relatively easy on my hardware. But then again, a 6-lug 14-bolt would be sweet. The interior is in really decent shape. The denim seat looks almost new. When I bought it, the driver's side window wouldn't roll up and the driver's side door wouldn't open. I fixed them both yesterday. The carpet was filthy, but I cleaned it up and it's ok. I think I may just rip it out and bedline the floor. The gauges all work except for the fuel gauge. The clock on the dash even works...part of the time. Sterring is sloppy as heck. With your hand on top of the wheel, you can move it from a 11 o'clock to a 1 o'clock position without having any effect on the steering. Power steering works and the brakes are really decent. The radiator leaks out the top and that will have to be addressed right off. Also, it needs mufflers. The driver's side muffler has a hole in it big enough to stick a football in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted June 19, 2012 Author Share Posted June 19, 2012 I took the MJ to the paint & body shop yesterday. Hopefully, they will be able to jump right on it, but they appeared to be pretty backed up. I'd be surprised if I get it back anytime in the next 3-4 weeks. The JCR Crusader front bumper should arrive today. I ordered it with built in driving lights, but without the optional built in receiver. They called Friday and said that they made a mistake and installed the receiver, so, I could either accept the upgrade at no additional charge or wait a little longer for a new bumper to be made. Anyway, I went ahead and decided to take the one they made with the receiver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 That 3-4 week wait time will seem like the longest 3-4 weeks of your life. I once had a vehicle painted and it took the shop 14 weeks and I about went insane. I'm looking forward to seeing the color on your truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Share Posted July 11, 2012 I haven't put any pressure on the shop to get my truck done, but I am getting a bit anxious. They have to make insurance jobs a priority and a few Honcho related projects have kept me occupied anyway. As luck would have it, the body shop actually got hot and heavy on my truck late last week. The body shop owner called me today and said that the bed is off and all necessary body work is complete. They are working on the cab now. It will be in primer and ready to block on Friday. I am going to go check it out on Friday to see how it looks...will post pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunComanche Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Awesome truck!Are the wheels (Ravines) stock Jeep 15 inch?I've found a stock set on Craigslist that look just like those that I want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 Awesome truck!Are the wheels (Ravines) stock Jeep 15 inch?I've found a stock set on Craigslist that look just like those that I want. They are Ravines. Stock size, 15x8's. The backspacing is 5.5". I have 1.25" spacers in the front and 1.5" in the rear. The finish on mine is called hyper black. They are powder coated black and then painted with a translucent silver on top of the black. It gives them a pewter/charcoal appearance depending on the light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunComanche Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Awesome truck!Are the wheels (Ravines) stock Jeep 15 inch?I've found a stock set on Craigslist that look just like those that I want. They are Ravines. Stock size, 15x8's. The backspacing is 5.5". I have 1.25" spacers in the front and 1.5" in the rear. The finish on mine is called hyper black. They are powder coated black and then painted with a translucent silver on top of the black. It gives them a pewter/charcoal appearance depending on the light. Actually after further research,the rims I found on Craigslist are like the ones you have in your first pics.You say you ordered the Ravines.Where did you order them from?After Googling stock Jeep rims I've noticed that Jeep has made some really nice stockers in the past.Any info on when your getting your truck back from paint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted July 16, 2012 Author Share Posted July 16, 2012 Actually after further research,the rims I found on Craigslist are like the ones you have in your first pics.You say you ordered the Ravines.Where did you order them from?After Googling stock Jeep rims I've noticed that Jeep has made some really nice stockers in the past.Any info on when your getting your truck back from paint? I have always felt that Jeep designed some of the best looking stock rims. The wheels that were on my MJ when I bought it were Canyons. The Canyons were made in both 7" wide (Grand Cherokee) and 8" wide (Wrangler) versions. Mine were the 7" wheels or I probably would have kept them. This is where I bought my wheels: http://www.oewheelsllc.com/Wheels_3/Wheels-for-Jeep I went on Friday to check the progress of my truck. Earlier in the week they though that the whole truck would be in primer by Friday. When I went, they had it in primer forward of the doors, but the cab was not. The bed was primed and blocked. It's looking good, but I was just hoping it would be a little further along. It's ok though, the Honcho still has plenty needing to be done and that is keeping me busy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CajunComanche Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I found some Ravines on Craigslist with good 31/10.50/15's for $250.Thanks for all the info on these wheels.I really like them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam518 Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 I found some Ravines on Craigslist with good 31/10.50/15's for $250.Thanks for all the info on these wheels.I really like them. That looks pretty sharp. I looked for nice original wheels for a while and eventually gave up. I am out of town b/c of work, but I got a text message from the body shop today with a pic attached: I know the pic quality isn't the best, but it gives you an idea of the color. He said they shot the jambs today and that they will paint the body first of next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Ravines are the only way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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