The Start Of Something... 86' Comanche Custom

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Thanks, Ill have pics of all the stuff I replace this week. 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

I love getting in new parts, its like christmas in summer.

 

 

[earl*t]

Looks like you're well on your way. :wrench: That sure is a shinny wheel, does it have mates? 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Yes earl it does, those are going on it when i get the new tires and lift got all four for 100 bucks, didn't realize how rare ravines were till i got them, I just need one more for a spare. 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

The new stuff in it

 

 

Got locked out of the engine compartment, had to take off the grill to get to the latch.

 

[Geonovast]

So when's the 4wd swap?  Looking forward to sinking my wrenches into that thing.  :wrench:

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Well, hopefully I can get the parts from 87Warrior soon. because what I am wanting to do is get the parts for 4x4 then while thats in getting put on, put the lift on it so i can put the ravines and new tires on it. I'm gonna see if I can get the drive shaft from a cherokee when i go to get some doors. 

 

All I can say is soon very soon early in the summer, glad your gonna help me, my dad doesn't think that it is easy, he just tells me to sell it and buy a 4x4. But I have connected with this truck, all the stuff I have put into it, blood, sweat, and tears. Its not going anywhere. 

 

Funny part though my dad got jealous that I got a comanche, so now he is buying one Wednesday for $900 hopefully, plus we getting a pair of 98 cherokee doors for $30. In good condition too.

 

Now that they truck is running up to par, I can get stuff that I actually want.   

 

Let the customizing begin..........

[Geonovast]

What are you getting from Brett?  4wd AX-5?

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Yeah thats what he had and what I would like 

[Geonovast]

I was just curious since I bet it's my old trans.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

yeah he said it was from an one you had, i would like the fifth gear for how often I drive between Springfield and then to Wichita. and 4x4 well, i think everyone knows why id want it. 

[Geonovast]

5th is gonna dog on 3.55s, it did on mine, and mine had MPFI.  So don't count on using it a lot.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Even on the highway?

[Geonovast]

Yup, it was hit or miss around 70, eventually gave up and just quit using 5th altogether.  Certainly no reason to not throw it in, it'll be there if you ever get around to regearing.

Your experience may differ from mine, too.  Just wanted to give you a heads up to not expect it to work that well.  There's a reason the 4 speeds got different axle gearing that the 5 speeds.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Yeah I understand I was talking to a friend about it, Ill probrably end up re-gearing someday. 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Well all the parts are doing good with no problems, but I can't seem to get the freaking thing to stop squealing like a pig. Its about to drive me insane!

[87Warrior]

You really have to get those serpentine belts tight to keep 'em quiet.

 

What are you getting from Brett? 4wd AX-5?

Bingo. Sharing the MJ love!

 

Now that good pick-n-pull weather is about, I will be headed east to visit a few yards sometime. Would love to drop off some parts for you 401. Heck, I'll even volunteer to turn a wrench.

[Geonovast]

Is he getting the whole thing?

 

The trans and T-case are from a 93 and originally internal slave, but the bellhousing and bearing retainer are from an 86... which means passenger side slave.  So if you're ordering a new clutch line, you're going to need one for an 84-86 XJ.

[87Warrior]

Is he getting the whole thing?

Yup. I figure it would be easiest that way. Even throw in the 1/2 block if requested. Plus, I haven't got much use for the parts and it will help clean out the barn. The 231 would be nice in my '86, but it is already 4wd and the 207 is in working condition so I will share :)

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Its not the belt loose, the pump and pulley as a whole is a little offset from the rest of the pulleys. 

 

If you want, when i get all the stuff I need for the swap you can help out, your welcome too. I'm going this weekend to get some parts off of a 98 cherokee sport, ill see what i can find off of it. 

 

And you have some parts to a 401? don't know what it needs, all i know is that i have we have a good collection of AMC parts and thats what my dad wants in the Javelin

 

Ill try to get those parts soon, right now its either get the parts or get a new tool box (I have three tool boxes full of tools that my dad keeps giving me). And I'm overflowing with tools. 

 

And tell me when ever you go picking Ill try to meet up with you sometime maybe, and lend a hand if need be. 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

Id say a good deal for $30

 

[TheDirtyJeep401]

 

Loaded up the boat, had to drive through some bad storms with it. Stopped at a gas station in Kansas, we were trapped between two tornado's and couldn't move till it passed. At least I got a little storm chasing in while driving.

[dscowell]

That's freaky! Stay safe out there.  And good looking MJ I've been keeping my eye on this thread to see where you take this. Good work! :thumbsup:

[TheDirtyJeep401]

That's freaky! Stay safe out there.  And good looking MJ I've been keeping my eye on this thread to see where you take this. Good work! :thumbsup:

Thanks! Its going slow but its getting there.

[TheDirtyJeep401]

I gues earl*t wanted to hear the story so here it is (Its kinda long)

 

I was getting ready to turn sixteen, so that meant that I would be able to drive on my own (no parents backseat driving) and was looking for a car or truck. I had $1600 to spend on a vehicle. So I hunted on craigslist trying to find a vehicle. thought I found it. It was a Mazda mx-3, it needed work (wanted a DD project to work on with my dad). wasnt to bad, went out to look at it and was ready to buy it, he siad $1000 and you can have it. So I went home and pulled my moms 68 AMX off the trailer so we could put the Mazda on it the next day. 

 

When I woke up the next morning, I was getting ready to go pick it up,  then I got a text from the guy selling it saying that he couldnt sell it because his wifes cars computer fried and that was the only other means of transportation. On my way home my mom told me that maybe buying that car wasnt meant to be.

 

After all that I saw a jeep comanche listed in Ozark, Mo on Craigslit for $1000. I emailed the guy to see if he still had it, and if i could look at it since I would be in springfield (Just north of Ozark) in a few days for a martial arts tournoment. No reply for three days. Then right when I was leaving the tournoment, I got a email saying he still had it, and I could look at it that day. I emailed him back and asked him where it was located. Got nothing back. Went to eat waiting for a response. Nothing.

 

By now my mom was tired and wanted to go back home, I asked her if we could atleast drive to Ozark for a few in case he emailed me back. We drive down there and waited in a flea market parking lot for about 35 minutes. Got nothing back. Right when I was putting my phone down to tell my mom lets go, there it was, getting ready to turn. I was told my mom to follow that truck, she thought that it wasnt the same truck based on the pic and thought that I was insane, but I knew that was it.

 

So we followed him, for 5 miles to his house. When he parked my mom said you can ask him if he posted it on craigslist, she didnt want to get in trouble for stalking. The boy was staring at me and his dad was loading a desk into the back of a truck. I asked his dad if he was the one sellin the Jeep Comanche. he said yes and wanted to know how i knew. I told him I was the one emailing him about it. He then wondered how I found it, I told him that I saw it driving and followed it. The kid that drove it looked at me and said, You followed me? I told him yes and talked to them about the truck. And the guy said that it was fate finding the truck.

 

The reason he couldnt email me was because they were moving and the internet was messing up. (they were selling the truck because they were moving) I looked at the truck and it was what I wanted. The guy said that I could buy it and he would hold on to it while I ran back to Joplin to get the money , if he could use it to move some furniture to there other house in Ozark. I said deal.

 

Went back to joplin and grabbed the money and ran back to Ozark, My mom was the only one that could drive it at the moment because of it being a standard. And she wouldnt drive it during the day since it was 103 degrees and no A/C so she drove it at night.

 

When I went back to pick it up, the kid that drove it was sad to see it go. They handed me over the original keys (both sets) and it was mine.

 

The pic of it in front of the garage next to the pool wall was the first pic I took of it, that next morning. I wanted a project, and I sure got one. I had to wait 3 months to drive it by myself, so most of the time I just sat in it and listened to the radio in it. Then I got my license, and it was amazing to drive,

 

People have wanted to buy it(friends family), my dad wants one and my mom thinks that since I want 4x4 to sell it and buy a 4x4 truck, and even give it to my brother and I can get another better vehicle, but I won't, this truck is my prized possesion Its not going anywhere. By the time my bro gets it I would have too much money into it to part with it, so he can just get his eclipse, but the MJ is staying with me.

 

To this day it still is mine and July 28 is the day I got it, almost a year.

 

As for the working progress and those interseted in the build, Its going slow, trying to find a job so that I can change that. But I promise you since its summer, a lot is going to get done. And thanks for being interested in my slow build lol