My 89 Comanche Project

[Reedtech]

pic updates

4/17/14 New http://comancheclub.com/topic/41707-my-89-comanche-project/?p=434564

2/16/14 http://comancheclub.com/topic/41707-my-89-comanche-project/?p=426058

2/14/14 http://comancheclub.com/topic/41707-my-89-comanche-project/?p=425645

1/25/14 http://comancheclub.com/topic/41707-my-89-comanche-project/?do=findComment&comment=422431

 

I've had this jeep since I was young. It used to run really great but over time and lack of TLC it became a driveway ornament for 6 plus years.

Its been sometime since I originally meant to make this post because I was waiting for the email validation.

 

I'll leave you with some pics of the truck with very little that I've done to it to compare and contrast, and tomorrow morning I'll go outside and take new photos of what I have been real busy with. I just wish I had taken more pictures before I started!

 

Now I present you with the Jeep!

 

 

Exterior photos taken a couple months before the engine ones which were taken last week.

Cleaned the engine bay up with a brush

Checked inside the valve cover after this photo, rockers were all tight and no sign of any coolant leakage or any discoloring. Just a bad gasket..

 

After all these photos were taken I really went to town.

Took the old cracked serpentine belt off.

Replaced the rusted non grooved Idler and Power steering pullies with new grooved ones.

Brand new belt and good quality.

New FEL PRO Gasket Set for Valve cover

Replaced the corroded and rusted water outlet and thermostat with new ones and gaskets.

 

Will have new photos tomorrow!

 

To Do(for now anyway)

Check Alternator Charge - replace if needed

New battery

New interior ambient lights

New drivers side lock mechanism

Right Rear wheel hub has a broken Lug bolt and needs to be looked at. ( could use tips )

New wheels and tires

 

Some misc stuff

I am trying to find a correct way to get all the old coolant stuff out of my radiator, I already have all the hoses off the water outlet and coolant container, and the power steering pump is still lowered so I have access to that area.

I plan to drain the old oil of course and put new oil in it aswell as a seafoam run to clean everything.

Theres an old hose I pulled off the lower intake manifold area thats hooking into the bottom of the airfilter. Whats that hose called? I need to replace it very bad, as it crumbled to dust when I moved it once.

 

Final Thoughts

This is my first ever automotive project, I have taken the time to read and watch videos and buy the haynes book for my model jeep. hands on only came after I had confidence I wouldn't mess anything up. So any tips , tricks would be nice because I'm really enthusiastic about this Jeep and plan to have fun building it and driving it for many years to come. Unless someone offers me a million dollars for it of course.

[Babyblack86]

Your best learning curve is going to come from the hands on experience. Best thing you can do as a beginner is to document with pictures and sketches of everything you are taking apart. Keep organized and invest a few bucks in zip lock plastic bags and a few sharpie pens. Label everything and keep it all together with your disassembly pictures. Also, throw NOTHING away until the project is over. I've done at least 8 trucks over the years and have not tossed anything yet! Good luck and be patient. Before you know it you will have that million $$$ rig and be looking to start another.

[Alexia]

Welcome to the club! The truck looks great and only looks like it needs a good exterior detail to shine.(Minus chipping graphics, doubt any of us managed to avoid that over the years.)

[Reedtech]

Alrighty, thanks for the feedback, tips and warm welcomes. Off to a good start on this forum, right on!

I took some pictures for today to post for your viewing pleasure.

 

Here we go!

 

Interior is clean, minor dashboard damage in under glovebox compartment.

All washed and pretty

Wind Deflector back on

That right rear wheel hub needs work, has a broken lug bolt.

almost back together, but stopped because I still need to replace lower intake hose for the air filter.

138,370 - not bad! :-)

Oversized steering wheel covers keeps my hands from getting sticky, wheel needs to be wrapped.

Nice and clean!

Upper Radiator hose needs to go!

whoever "tried" fixing the jeep before left a mess of wires. Been real fun trying to clean that up.

Can see the new water outlet and P/S pully

This is an issue I'm having with the spacer for the idler pully

On the new one it rubs against the plastic?

on the old there is a nice gap.

Any help getting the new idler pully on would be nice, thanks!

edit: I ordered the wrong pully threw Napa, that's how we learn folks!

 

Next update I will let you all know how installing the new alternator and battery went.

Soon after, once old fluids are drained, new ones are in, I will try to turn the engine over a couple times and start it!

[Alexia]

Why are you replacing the smooth idler with a ribbed idler? That will tear the belt apart.

[Reedtech]

Why are you replacing the smooth idler with a ribbed idler? That will tear the belt apart.

I don't know any better, but I'll take that into consideration. I'm going to take that idler back to napa because the guy ordered the wrong part. I originally wrote down a Gates model grooved idler pully. I will buy a smooth one, I had a brain fart because for some reason when I took the belt off I thought to my self that the belt went over the pully and not under it. Anyway, glad that's sorted out and I can fix it. Thanks!

[Reedtech]

Update: Took the old alternator out, will have pics tomorrow. It's in rough condition and makes bad noises when I spin the fan thing,

Also I think the hose I need that hooks up to the air filter housing is called the heated air hose. Can someone confirm possibly? Thanks for the help and support

[Reedtech]

Took the idler pully back to napa and got the right one installed. Next I wait until my return comes in, then I'll be getting this up and running.

[Reedtech]

Just got back from napa with some new parts.

Champion Copper core spark plugs

Air filter

Napa Silver oil filter

new battery

and an alternator

also picked up 5 quarts of 10w-30

some 50/50 coolant

 

Its raining pretty good here at the moment so I might wait and see what tomorrow is like. I will have some new pictures up soon, and perhaps a video of its first start up in 6 years.

 

 

I also ordered the UNITED IGNITION WIRE Tune up kit from http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1145043&cc=1179839

 

major props to onlyinajeep726 for recommending me those spark plugs and that tune up kit.

[Reedtech]

Just ordered some MORE parts from RockAuto.. lol

 

1989 JEEP COMANCHE 4.0L 242cid L6

DORMAN 42088 PCV Valve / Crankcase Ventilation Grommet $ 2.24

DORMAN 46003 Vacuum Harness $ 18.52

GATES 28095 Control Duct Hose $ 4.93

GATES 21821 (21821:P) Radiator Upper Hose
Wholesaler Closeout - Private Label Pkg. - 30 Day Warranty $ 4.09

MORSE D203 Brake Pad
Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty $ 9.35

OMIX-ADA 1711501 (17115.01) Hose Clamp $ 1.59

STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS DL22 (DL-22) Door Lock Cylinder $ 8.19

STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS VG6T EGR Gasket $ 1.31

TRICO 182 (600182) Wiper Blade
Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty $ 2.54

WAGNER PAB267 Brake Shoe
Wholesaler Closeout -- 30 Day Warranty $ 6.55

WAGNER BD61195 Lug Stud $ 1.20 

Shipping First Class Mail, Ground $ 24.81 Order Total   $ 87.86

 

Can't wait for this thing to drive!

[Reedtech]

sorry for the lack of pictures, my head has been elsewhere because one of my dogs passed. Things are looking good for the Jeep rather, I got all the parts today and plan to work on the jeep all friday when I'm off work.

Got my work cut out for me now... hoping and praying for sun on friday.

[Reedtech]

Hey everyone, have an update for you today and some more pictures.

 

Today I installed the new United Ignition tune up kit but could not proceed with installing the new spark plugs because I didn't have the right size socket for it. So it will have to wait till later today when I get money and I'll just go buy a new one from Napa.

Warm sunny day here in Jax

 

 

The old

 

Some cool pics of underneath.

Comanche comes with a lake!



Hopefully I'll be back soon with more pics and progress.

[revmaynard]

Good progress man! Slowly but surely you'll get it there!

[Reedtech]

I got some done on the Jeep today, Installed the new PCV Grommets and attempted to install the new door lock cylinders but came across a problem. The Instructions are very limited and do not say what tool I need to remove the door clip. Can someone please tell me how to get the old door lock cylinder out and the new one in? Tomorrow morning taking my alternator to Napa to have it checked out, if its good to go then I can fire the engine up when I install it! So I am pretty happy with that, and my Mom told me they replaced the stock fuel tank with a bigger one. I have not gotten a good look at it yet but it looks pretty big. So thats nice, I just hope its all hooked up correctly.

 

Some tips I learned;

When installing a new radiator hose and you cannot put the clip in place because it rubs against the water pump hoses' clip, simple remove the water outlets two bolts but be careful not to let the thermostat fall while you install the clip for the radiator hose. It should install right back into place.

 

 

Hope you like the pics. :-)

[Reedtech]

replaced a heater hose and added power steering fluid. installed battery and turned the key to the on position, fan and radio came on so I tried to start it and the engine clicked and the radio and fan shutoff. Now I cannot get the radio or fan back on, I am not sure whats happening.

[Strokermjcomanche]

Check you battery connections clean them and make sure there tight

[Gnarmanche]

Check you battery connections clean them and make sure there tight

X2.. Happend to me last night. All i did was tighten the ground on the battery and it fired up.

[Reedtech]

so I bought new terminals and wire brushed the copper cable tips to a shine, attached everything now I actually get a crank out of the engine. I can't get it to start tho, currently am trying to determine wether its a spark issue or a fuel issue. Battery connection is good and all the lights are on.

[Gnarmanche]

Dumb question....did you drain gas and fill with fresh gas?

 

[Reedtech]

Its been 2 months since I was on here, been real busy getting the house in shape and researching colleges. I quit my job so I have to put what money I have to bills right now until I find something else. I just came inside from checking on the jeep, everything is really clean. I installed a stereo and had to find the pigtail diagrams and figure where each cable went. I used butt connecters and heat shrink and it looks very clean and works great! I put jumpers on the jeep from my car and put some fresh gas in the tank. The starter is trying to get the thing running but I still think its the fuel pump, there simply isnt any fuel in the fuel rail. This next question is kind of a shot in the dark, but if anyone has a used fuel pump for the 89 comanche it would help a great deal with the situation here. Not much else I can do for the time being just gotta keep motivated and active each day. Thanks everyone for all the help getting me this far. Its been a great fun journey and someday I'll have a great Jeep thanks to all the help and support I have received from this forum. Thank you all!