New To Forum - 1988 Jeep Comanche

[jeepn4fun]

New to the forum, just picked up a 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4.0 4x4 Manual

 

My wife learned to drive in the same model/year truck that her dad bought new in 1988. Had wanted to restore that one, but unfortunately her younger brother wrapped it around a light pole. So we've been looking on and off for a Comanche in decent shape for about the last two years. Found this one about three weeks ago and picked it up last Sunday after haggling the guys down to $1,000. The guy said it had been running hot on and off, so we brought a trailer just in case, but I drove it home 55 miles without it running hot or any other large issues.

 

I'm not a mechanic, but my wife and I enjoyed learning and working on our 2000 Wrangler, and she's always wanted another Comanche so the kids can learn to drive on it, so we figured what the heck, we will learn as we go, and this forum has so much info on it, we're excited to figure it all out.

 

The Daily Driver

 

 

Here's when we picked her up last Sunday. My kids have named her "the booger"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First thing we had to do was give her a temporary face lift. The garage is  home to the Harley and the golf cart, so most work will be done in the driveway. Since we have rather nosy and pretentious HOA, we figured if she looked a little prettier sitting in the driveway we could keep them off our backs. Lots of sanding, and primer, and Flat Camo Olive Paint, and she looking a lot prettier, still have a few more rounds of sanding and body paint. My wife has taken off all the decals, front grill and trim pieces, I picked up a bumper from the junk yard and a new front blinker light that was cracker, and she has sand, primed and painted all of them in Rustoleum OEM Black. Also got the bed sanded and Herculiner put down. Next up this weekend, I picked up some fender flares off a 92 Cherokee, going to get them painted and installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Immediate list of trouble shooting and repair:

- Previous owner said running hot, haven't experienced yet, but will start driving her and try and see what's happening

- A/C Non functioning

- Radio  Non functioning

- Air filter is some rigged contraption the previous owner put 

- Get the interior pulled apart and the carpet ripped up

 

Looking forward to finding solutions on here and getting her running great 

[buffalob]

Welcome aboard you have come to the right place.

All your questions & issues (including the ones you don't yet know you have or will need) can and will be answered here.

Looks like you are already off to a good start.

 

buffalo bob in Denver

[Herc]

Nice starting platform, good progress so far and definitely pull up the carpet and check the floorboards!!

[Fraggy]

Welcome, I'm also new looks like we both have similar issues, mine being no radio, no a/c, already figured out this one. I found a A/C hardline that was broke clean off on the passenger side up by the headlight. Good luck with the build.

[jeepn4fun]

Forgot to put in intro above, its only got 119,000 miles on it. Ran her today and can smell oil burning. On a good note...went by the junkyard and they had gotten in a comanche, bad news, no headliner.They did have a new XJ in though, so I tore the headliner out of that one, going to try and cut it down and make it work. 

 

A few more pics with the painted bumpers and trim peices back on....

 

 

 

 

Already putting the liner to the test in the bed, also got the back bumper painted and back on

 

 

Here's the current state of the interior, planning on changing everything over to black

 

The fenders flares are next to go on. Also have the emblems I blacked out and ready to go on. Did a little web surfing this afternoon and ordered a few inexpensive, found the 4x4 80's emblems on ebay as well as the JEEP decals in black to go on the tailgate raised letters. Made one splurge purchasee, these  Wet Okole RealTree Camo Neoprene Seat Covers  from Auto Anything, hoping these will look pretty nice will the olive paint.

 

Been working on her everyday since we got her, so taking a break tomorrow to get out on the boat for a few hours. Be back with more pics once I get the fender flares on and start on the interior tearout.