19comanche86 Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 What's up guys, glad to be on this site, so much info and knowledge. Anyway I figured it was time to start a build thread. I have a 1986 Comanche XLS with the 2.8. My grandfather ordered this truck brand new in New Jersey In late 1985. I remember growing up and helping him work on it and always telling him I wanted it to be mine some day. When I started driving the truck in 2009 it has 70,000 miles on it. Now it has 105k on it and I decided it was time to ditch the tired 2.8 and rebuild most of the truck. Major plans are as follows - camaro 3.4 FI (rebuilt from block up) - all body work and new paint job (mango tango metallic) - interior re done in black Need help deciding what transmission to use. All work will be done by me in my garage. I have a 2001 cobra I built so I'm thinking this motor build will be cake lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 This is what I'm starting with, straight body rust free First thing I did was take the side steps off and remove the hood Started removing the interior- very minor surface rust on the driver floor, after cleaning with a wire wheel it looks perfect. The seats are looking rough, getting redone with black cloth Door panels getting redone all black That's pretty much it for today, I am working till tomorrow. I am going to look at a couple Camaros tomorrow. Hopefully ill pick one up so I can get the motor out this weekend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrHeadlightNJ Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 whats up and welcome, I just wish you were here in Jersey I have the same exact truck but in charcoal grey, there's not many cc members near me (North Jersey), so anyways good luck on the build and if you are thinking of getting rid of any unwanted parts PM me and likewise if you have questions and am able to answer pm just the same. Good looking truck by the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rymanrph Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Why the repaint? In the pictures, the paint looks great. If you change the fabric on the seats and door panels, will you be changing the dash and interior plastic colors too? You've got a lot of chrome pieces. Factory chrome rear bumper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 The paint looks better in the pics then in person. It's peeling and fading in a few spots. I'm on the fence if I wanna go mango tango or stick with the original maroon with gold flake, depending on the exterior color I may go all black interior. All the chrome pieces are original. And yep I have a factory chrome bumper. Rear bumper is in decent shape besides a small dent from my dad in the early 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I would keep all the stock interior and have XJ panels redone. You have some pretty rare door panels there. Personally, if it were mine I would restore it to factory condition. If you don't mind me asking what is the last six digits of the VIN? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 thats a good idea, i wasnt aware that the door panels were rare...they are still in good shape, just not going to match the new black seats and carpet. This is the first time the truck is being worked on, everything on the interior is original 1986, truck was owned by my grandfather and hasnt been wrecked,clean titile. Last six digits of the vin - 184356. What can you tell from that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 You can tell how early the build is... The lower the number, the earlier the truck. Also... I have those door panels and seats in my diesel MJ, er, had. I wish I could find a set. My seat fabric was disintegrating like yours when I picked it up. It does take a lot for the porno red interior to grow on you, but with something as original as yours, that's been in the family for a long time, I'd be on the original boat too. Many a mild DD lift for stance and some oversized tires... Perfection. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 13, 2013 Author Share Posted January 13, 2013 I'm going to keep it as original as i can. I do wanna do a 2 inch lift though. I actually really like the red interior I was only going to change it if I painted the exterior mango tango. I have decided to stay with the original color. I did some more work tonight. Motor is ready to come out tomorrow. Found where my brake fluid was going, brake line has a pin hole leak and it was leaking everywhere down the fire wall. I also found some bad rust on the driver side firewall where it meets the floor board =( more pics to come once I get cleaned up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 13, 2013 Author Share Posted January 13, 2013 Engine ready to come out, I wanted to take the header panel and front end off but it's welded and bolted? Guess its not coming off Brake booster is shot, you can also see the rust on the firewall. Tomorrows plan is to get the motor out, degrease and clean the engine bay. I also wanna get the rest of the dash out and replace the heater core and ac evaporator. The brake lines are all shot. Going to redo all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Header panel screws are behind the turn signal bezels on the corners and along the rail at the top. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 19, 2013 Author Share Posted January 19, 2013 Made some progress today. Got the hoist repaired and pulled the motor, harness and degreased the engine bay. Right now I'm doing some research on putting a camaro 3.8 into the Comanche. , my fiancés father offered to give me his 98 camaro tonight. Car runs great and has a fairly new motor with 50k miles. Anyone have any ideas on what's involved? I know it's a 90 degree so the bell housing is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Slight update. Found a set of 16" MOAB wheels finally. Going to pick them up today. Still searching for a donor F body. Not much luck people want too much money for those 20 year old $#!&boxes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpace6a Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I just swapped an engine out of a early 90s s10 into my 86. In hindsight I shoudlve just bit the bullet and swapped in the 4.0 and aw4 from a parts xj i had, wouldve been much simpler. Interested to see how this works since the 86's are pretty oddball imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Well the f body will be 93-95 so it will be the 3.4. Should be a fairly easy swap. Keeping the fi. Still wanting to put the 3.8 from my fiancés dads camaro since he offered to give it to me and its a superior motor to the 3.4 but I can't find any straight forward info on the swap. Anyway got the MOABs on. Love them, gotta decide on a lift and tires next. Thinking 2 inch lift because this is gonna be my DD. any recommendations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knever3 Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I like the old rims better, make sure they get a good home. Nice looking truck, love the 86's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockinMJ Posted January 31, 2013 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Looks completely different with the Moab wheels. Dead sexy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted February 18, 2018 Author Share Posted February 18, 2018 Wow can’t believe it’s been 5 years. This project completely stalled. Life got in the way. I got married and bought a house. And now have a 7 month old daughter. Anyway, I still have my Comanche. It’s sitting in my parents garage. I have been slowly gathering parts here and there. Right now I’m on the look out for a 5.3 LSX or a LS1 to swap in. Not wasting time or money on the v6. At this point I’m getting ready to take her in for paint. With as clean as this truck is I think I need to stay with the original maroon with gold flake color and keep all my chrome pieces. I’m ready to pick this back up and get her back on the road. I have the time, money and my own garage to do it now. Current condition of my girl Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Good job on picking up the project after so long! I really hope mine doesn't end up sitting that long before I get to it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecodemonk Posted March 9, 2018 Share Posted March 9, 2018 Wow...5 years later! Glad you're still keeping the truck and am picking up the project again. There's a lot more information on the LS swaps so I think you're in a much better place with the new plan. I'm in the process of doing the LS 5.3 swap too! Excited to see how the project progresses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 So it took me over a year but i got her out of my parents garage. She’s at my house now and I have started further stripping her down for paint. Final decision on the color is sting gray. I’m planning to get a rubicon gladiator so it would be awesome to have them matching. Here’s some pictures of her current condition. This thread will not be stalling again. I’m on the hunt for a corvette LS1 and 4L60E. Hoping to have her out for paint in the next two months or less. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Picked these up, gonna do a 4.5” lift. Debating on keeping all the chrome and having it redone or changing everything to black. Opinions?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHMJXJ Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 If you go black, I'm all over that chrome rear bumper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted August 14, 2019 Share Posted August 14, 2019 Still a sharp truck. Good to see you again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19comanche86 Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Got some work done today. Wire brushed the floor pans, cleaned them up and got them coated with POR15. Ordered a bunch of stuff last night. So glad things are finally moving along. Floors weren’t bad thank god Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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