Comanche Long Arm

[misfitmechanic]

I'm currently building a 86 comanche. Once I finish the 4.0l engine swap I would like to install a long arm-radius arm suspension setup in the front. Ive had a look at the Rough Country web site and they have a long arm upgrade kit for a cherokee. This kit includes arms and a trans crossmember/arm bracket. Its a fairly cost effective way for me to get a decent front suspension set up. I know there are tons of similarities between the comanche and cherokee (my donor vehicle for my swap is a xj) but does anybody know if a long arm crossmember from a cherokee work on a comanche with little or no mods?

[Automan2164]

If I remember correct, it will bolt up fine, but some with interfere with one of the cab supports that stretch from the framerail to the rocker. In the past, members have just notched the mount or the member, depending on how bad the overlap is.

 

Rob

[desertmike]

I'm installing the RC long arm kit know. I've got everything done except cutting off the brackets and installing the long arms. Because I wanted to keep the cab supports I notched the RC side brackets to fit and redrilled the rear hole. The Comanche has extra crossmember bolts on the inside of the frame so I welded some strap on top of the crossmember at the right height and used the front and rear holes for two more mounting points. Now have 7 bolts holding crossmember on each side. If you have the BA 10/5 you will have to make it fit. I started doing this and finally gave up and upgraded to a AX15. The RC trak bar didn't work for me so I got an Iron Rock double shear one. And I couldn't stand the gray paint so I painted it black.

[misfitmechanic]

My truck origionally was a turbo diesel but I'm swapping a 4.0l and ax 15 into it. Thanks for the info, I didnt want to buy the Rough Country kit to find that it wasent gonna work.

[87jeepmj]

Wait your swapping a factory diesel for a 4.0?

[mountainman]

Can sell that junk diesel to some of the guys on here and make you both happy. There are a couple guys who really dig em and could prob use the parts.

[Automan2164]

Hold the phone. You are getting rid of the factory Diesel? Where are you located?

 

Rob

[jpnjim]

You could sell the whole truck to someone,

if its in decent condition,

you could have your choice of 4.0L MJs to replace it with.

[Alexia]

Turbo Diesel?! GETTING RID OF?!

 

I think I can make a spare spot in my garage. >_> You know, if you wanted to part ways.

[misfitmechanic]

Ha I knew that would start up a fury of replys. I bought the truck without the engine. The previous owner had destroyed the engine three times and gave up on fixing it. I didnt see any point in fixing a underpowered, unreliable, obsolete not to mention stinky diesel. But once I'm done with my swap I will have a bunch of diesel parts for sale. I live in Ontario Canada so if anybody is interested in some parts let me know

[Automan2164]

Whew. I thought we were about to have an uprising. Haha.

 

I'd be interested. I'll shoot you a PM so you can keep my info.

 

Rob

[HOrnbrod]

Ha I knew that would start up a fury of replies.

 

It did. Like a pack of vultures on a dead dog carcass. :yes:

[desertmike]

I got a PM from a member about why the RC track bar did'nt work for me. I sent him some information but forgot to mention that the RC tie rod end was to big for the frame side bracket. I did a some research and the OEM track bar part # changed in 1991. I think they changed it to be the same as the XJ.Hope this helps.

 

Mike

[misfitmechanic]

The RC track bar setup I plan on running also replaces the mount to a double shear set up. The frame side track bar mount on my 86mj is made from cast steel vs the fabricated metal mount on my donor 91 xj.

[Casper2000]

I have that same long arm kit in my 91. Yes its costs way less then others and works well at that, but one thing i will warn you of is, don't over tighten the heim joints when you put it together. They won't take grease and knock everytime you hit a bump. Keep the joints strait in the crossmember. I found that when they turn they help make more noise then no grease

[misfitmechanic]

Thanks for the info, I'm glad you didn't have anything terrible to say about the rough country kit as I pulled the trigger today and ordered it. Now the only thing I gotta find now is a pair of 6 inch springs, shocks and I'm off to the races

[comanchedude]

I have the RC kit on my MJ over 3 years now and its been a great upgrade , BTW I notched the cab supports .

[misfitmechanic]

I have the RC kit on my MJ over 3 years now and its been a great upgrade , BTW I notched the cab supports .

After you notched the cab supports did you do anything to reinforce them??

[Dirteatr717]

I have the Clayton ylink setup and love it, you can drop the tranny/tcase without having to remove the arms and none of the joints have made a single noise in over a year.....It's a tad pricey but well worth it IMO. If I would've known more about suspension and whatnot I would've gotten the 3 link instead since I'll be swapping to full width axles so it would've made life easier.

[NH_JeepBuilder]

Sorry to bring back and old thread... I have been looking at and hopefully going to be buying there long arm upgrade for my 86 comanche. As for notching the cab support, how much did you cut out of it? Any pictures? I've heard a mix of both good and bad about the kit. I have had only but good things to say about RC, I have had three jeeps and each one I have used RC for the lift kits.

[misfitmechanic]

I have the rc long arm kit and am happy with it. What engine came with your 86? I put one in my 86 mj diesel and only one of the crossmember bolts lined up, I had to drill all my own holes and make flag nuts to go up inside the unibody frame rails. Also instead of notching the cab supports I cut the side brackets and drilled the hole a little further forward. I didn't wanna notch the cab support.

[comanchedude]

Don't have pic, i can take one later and post it , I cut about 1/4 or so of the support. you can cut up the lift kit also. for me it was no big deal the support is thick and what I cut from it was not enough to make much difference in my opinion. and I didn't close it back off , if your going to treat the MJ like a res-to and keep it really nice and not wheel it much then i would (if you notch) close it back up so it looks "finished off" if someone looks under your Jeep. so you will have to decide. the RC kit has been updated over the past couple years and if you buy one today RC has updated the weak links both the flex joints and the lower arm bushings at the axle . I have the updated parts in mine and they do last as long as would be expected. I'm over a year on the latest gen and I wheel mine often and fairly hard. and the parts are lasting.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to bring back and old thread... I have been looking at and hopefully going to be buying there long arm upgrade for my 86 comanche. As for notching the cab support, how much did you cut out of it? Any pictures? I've heard a mix of both good and bad about the kit. I have had only but good things to say about RC, I have had three jeeps and each one I have used RC for the lift kits.