xjustinx Posted June 6, 2013 Posted June 6, 2013 I decided to jump into the Jeep world a few days before christmas 2012. Some of my friends have off road toys as secondary cars so I decided to get one as well. This is my first real 4x4 build but its not my first car build so here she is: Basically what she looked like when I got it. 31 tires soa on dana 35 and worn out leafs with no overload springs. Swapped from 2wd 5-speed to 4x4 HP dana 30 aw4. First thing I did was strip the interior to spray the floor. Thank god there was zero rust cause this jeep was leaking water like a sieve from every common place a Jeep can leak! Then I fixed the starting issues it had by making my own cables out of 2 gauge welding wire. Fixed leaky valve cover with a brand new Zj cover and it allowed me to convert the ccv system to the newer style. Motor is all stock with 112k miles. I also replaced a broken motor mount and the exhaust from cat all the way back. So the Comanche was originally 2wd 5-speed but was converted by a previous owner. When I got it, it still had the clutch pedal in it and super spongy brakes to go along. I swapped in an auto brake pedal assembly and decided to ditch the stock shifter and switch setup that was in the truck. Since the truck didnt have a transmission control unit it has to be manually switched through the gears, so I decided to get a RADesigns Baja II shifter and the stock location Rock shifter to simplify the shifting.
xjustinx Posted June 6, 2013 Author Posted June 6, 2013 There was so much janky wiring from previous head unit installs under the dash and in the engine bay it wasnt even funny. I cleaned everything up and installed a lancer radio from my girlfriends car lol. The switch is for the torque lock up. I also made a faceplate and gauge mount for the clock location. I upgraded the broken interior lights with S10 blazer rear cargo lights. Stole the idea from another member lol. They work great and you only have to file a tiny bit off of the hole to make em fit. Last month I installed a Ford 8.8 with 4.10 gears. Super straight forward swap. Got the axle out of pull-a-part for $170 :banana: Then I picked up M.O.R.E. axle perches and shock mounts. I used Rubicon Express spring plates and U-bolts. Total for the swap was about 290 dollars, I already upgraded the brake lines and replaced the worn out leafs with a really good 2wd set out of the jy as well. So the 8.8 was the icing on the cake for the rear end. Now I got to get a lunchbox locker and Solid diff cover. I also upgraded the front end. Truck came with 4.5in lift springs I then added ACOS, prothane bump stops, JKS quicker disconnects, IRO upper and lower control arms (temporary till I upgrade to longarm later down the road), IRO track bar, Crown brake lines, rukse upper control arm bushings, and Zone off road swaybar extended mounts.
xjustinx Posted June 6, 2013 Author Posted June 6, 2013 I picked up a set of 33 10.5 KM2 tires and had the Dana 30 regeared using G2 4.10 gear set. Gear swap done my Mild2wild 4x4 customs in Powder Springs, two thumbs up to them. This is how she sits today:
jeepmarine312 Posted June 11, 2013 Posted June 11, 2013 awesome build man, +1 for it being a pioneer, +1 for being a southern MJ, and +2 for being lifted :) you live in GA man?
xjustinx Posted June 12, 2013 Author Posted June 12, 2013 awesome build man, +1 for it being a pioneer, +1 for being a southern MJ, and +2 for being lifted :) you live in GA man? Thanks! Yeah I live about 40 min north of Atlanta.
jeepmarine312 Posted June 12, 2013 Posted June 12, 2013 lol dang i live 2 hours from atlanta, towards SC
xjustinx Posted July 17, 2013 Author Posted July 17, 2013 Did closed to open cooling system swap today. Just from a 10 mile drive seems like its running about 10 degrees cooler. Used a new 2 row radiator and over flow bottle from an Acura Integra.
xjustinx Posted July 30, 2013 Author Posted July 30, 2013 Went wheeling in Helen over the weekend. Just a random pic of some 3 wheel action. Spartan locker working nicely in the 8.8. Few more pics from the trip: Buddy John and his Zeep-- Zebra wrangler
zackcj7 Posted July 30, 2013 Posted July 30, 2013 Looks like you guys picked a good weekend. That's a great area, my parents live close to Helen.
xjustinx Posted July 30, 2013 Author Posted July 30, 2013 I know the weather was great. We originally wanted to go up to Beasley Knob but its been closed cause of all the rain. So Helen was plan B and it didn't disappoint.
xjustinx Posted August 15, 2013 Author Posted August 15, 2013 Had to upgrade the shocks cause the skyjackers upfront were too short. It was a good upgrade.
xjustinx Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 Nice shot of me and my buddies. Also got a JCR rear bumper in the mail, excited to get rid of the box tube bumper that came on my jeep!
zackcj7 Posted September 17, 2013 Posted September 17, 2013 How do you like the 4.10 gears with the 33s?
xjustinx Posted September 17, 2013 Author Posted September 17, 2013 How do you like the 4.10 gears with the 33s? I think it's great, don't really have anything to compare it too cause when I got the jeep it had 3.55 and 31's. I didn't drive it any either, just drove it home from Alabama and took it apart lol.
xjustinx Posted September 20, 2013 Author Posted September 20, 2013 Got the bumper and it looks like its gonna be a fun project. Spent a few min on it today on my lunch break.
xjustinx Posted September 30, 2013 Author Posted September 30, 2013 Got the bumper finished Friday night. Looks awesome if I do say so. Hidden receiver!
xjustinx Posted November 8, 2013 Author Posted November 8, 2013 Used my day off today to fab up some sliders for the Comanche. So far so good I think, they are trail gear brand. Universal fit for toyotas but I made em work lol.
zackcj7 Posted November 9, 2013 Posted November 9, 2013 I had the same idea, using the univeral Yota sliders. I can't wait to see pics of them mounted.
xjustinx Posted November 12, 2013 Author Posted November 12, 2013 I didnt get any good daylight pics of them all painted so I included the raw pics since they are better. The are rock solid on the jeep, I'm very happy how they turned out.
ComancheKid45 Posted November 12, 2013 Posted November 12, 2013 Just a tad short, but they look good!
xjustinx Posted November 12, 2013 Author Posted November 12, 2013 Just a tad short, but they look good! Yeah I know but for 229 dollars invested in the project I wasnt gonna complain too much lol.
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