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Sarge is coming together slowly


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Life keeps getting in the way, but my '87 Comanche is long overdue for some more work! I sold my house a year and a half ago (and don't have a garage anymore. Living in an apartment sucks!)

We bought a cabin with some of the proceeds and the plan is to build a house with a shop (actually, it will be a garage with living loft! jamminz.gif ) but I need to get work done on 2 of my 4 current "toys" (as my wife calls them) The '87 MJ is lifted 4 1/2" in front with an SOA rear with the D30 axle swapped in front and D35 rear with 3.73 gearing. This seems to work well with 4.0L, 5 speed BA 10/5 (about to be swapped for AX-15 so it can be a real 4x4 along with an NP208J from a full size Jeep)

It's shortbox and red (that's it in my avatar) on 33/9.50/15 tires with a canopy from an S10 shortbed.

 

 

My other projects are an '84 J10 (that I could nearly back my Comanche under w/o the canopy pre-lift) with stroker 4.6L, AW4, NV241 Rock Lok (4:1 Rubicon case) and D44/D60 axles with 52" tires. It's running 4.10 gears. (only one in the herd)

 

Next is my '73 J4000 junk hauling rig with 304 (from a '77 AMX) TH400/QT with PT/OD swap, D44 front and D60 rear with 3.73 gears (notice a theme here?)

 

And last is my latest to my collection. An '82 AMC Spirit Hatchback that will become "Eaglized" with 4.0L EFI, auto (not sure if it will be AW4 or 999 or 727 yet) and NP242 or NP229 (already have them) or maybe Dana20 with XJ rear axle (3.73 maybe or 3.08 if going to 727) and Eagle D30 front.

 

 

I have a carport setup at the cabin, but it takes an hour to get there, so till summer starts, I won't have much time to do anything. In the meantime, I rented a storage locker to put my excess parts into (I also have a cube van full of stuff I plan to take to the swap meet next month if I can)

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My '87 Comanche with the 255/85R/16s on ZJ rims (back to white wheels now)

 

My '84 J10 part way into the lift

 

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My latest buy/sell rig (3 weeks)

 

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My '73 J4000 junk hauler

 

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this is the '86 MJ longbox for sale for $600 (canopy isn't on it in the pic)

 

This is my '87 when I first got it.

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Carnuck,

If you ever interested in spending a day wrenching let me know. I have a million projects I'm working on so I try to do some work each week. I'm in Federal Way, but the guy I usually wrench with works at Town & Country, so I'm in the Seattle area often enough. Currently, I'm trying to relearn welding so I can start on bumpers, sliders and SOA spring perches.

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I am planning to get myself a shop set up out near Reiter with a house above it within the next couple years. Already have the property and just need the permit$ and a loan to get it started.

 

The '73 J4000 is D44 front (5 lug closed knuckle with drum brakes) with a 304 (I put in from a '77 AMX I parted in the pic below) and tired TH400 with Quadratrac (first year of this case. Before I got it, it was converted to part time and the O/D kit added which helps on the highway but sucks offroad as the chain skips too easily) with optional low range. Rear axle was a semi-float D60 (5 lug also) and I swapped it for a D60 full float to handle more weight, then did a rear shackle flip for the height to clear the 33/12.50/16.5 tires.

Front axle is awaiting time and a place to install. I've been using the truck to haul stuff (biggest payload so far was 6500 lbs of concrete slabs for my driveway)

 

 

The J4000 is on the right awaiting the motor from this '77 AMX. (I now have an '82 in much nicer shape awaiting EFI and my Comanche's 2wd 5 speed to make it a super highway cruiser) The motor was still warm when I dropped it into the truck. I changed the freeze plugs, oil pan and flexplate as well as alt and PS brackets to make it fit right in where the gas guzzling 360 once was.

In the back ground you can see one of my old AMC Eagles (#5 I think)

 

 

Another view of the AMX. My '82 Spirit is similar body lines (same hatch, fenders and doors) but slightly updated. It will be even more so if I get time and $$ to do it.

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:eek: car central man.

 

that J4000 is the coolest truck ive seen in MANY years, and the longbox 86 is a NIIIICE ride.

 

I'm jeaaalous.

 

Get it right Mon! AMC central! jamminz.gif

 

The J4000 has made many trips with a car on top and another on the dolly (sold the dolly to get another Jeep. Next will be a real trailer or the J4000 cab put onto a 2 ton IH frame I just found for free. :brows: )

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  • 1 year later...

The axles are indeed not stock. Front is from a 3/4 ton Ford highboy and rear is J20.

My MJ now had the AW4 and NP242 in it and I just need to do the rear driveshaft and finish the wiring and column swap.

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  • 7 months later...
I always wanted a J. I keep checking out this J20 but it's overpriced. So I have to wait and hope the owner has a financial crisis and wants it gone.

 

Ever get yourself a JtrucK? I will have one for sale soon.

1983 J10 longbox with 4.2L/AW4 (I swapped out the dead T5 and just need to finish the swap with a custom trans crossbar) with NP208J tcase. Stock D44 front and M20 rear, probably 3.31 gears. Alloy wheels or old whitespokes with my old 33/9.50/15 BFGs.

I was going to fix it up for hauling fifth wheel, but I got a shortbox '76 J10 with J20 axles instead to do that job. (it got the 304 motor from my '73 J4000 after I rolled it almost 2 years ago and a Jeep 727/Dodge NP208D from a Ramcharger to match the axles)

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  • 4 years later...

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