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88 Comanche Vs 86 Comanche


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i own a 88 2wd 4.0 5spd. i am looking at buying a 86 2.8 4 spd 2wd for parts. i am trying to find out what parts will interchange. i know the motor and trans will not work. mine is a shortbed and this one is a longbed. the front clip is good and i know that interchanges.will the dash cluster interchange? is all the suspension the same? the tailgate is bad but one taillight is good.any things that are comanche specific that will not interchange? i know 86 was the first year

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oh yea the parts truck has air conditioning and mine does not.being the different motors will any of the ac stuff work to add air to mine? would the lines and compressor be the only parts that wouldnt work?

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The hood is different but I don't think they changed the header panel until 1990. And the '86 hood could probably be modified to fit an '88. The basic hood is the same, it's the latches that changed.

 

Gauge cluster could be made to work, but the '88 used the nylon push-on speedo cable attachment, and the '86 used a metal tab and retainer screw.

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If you swap the whole front clip it will change over no problem. However the bolts, studs mounting the header to the fenders is different. On the '86 the studs are fastened to the header and the nut is on the inside of the fender. On the '88 the studs are fastened to the front of the fender and the nuts can be accessed after removing the headlligt trim. No biggy and easily modified.

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 i knew 86 was a odd year. this one is an xls with the bucket seats and a very nice center console that runs from under the dash all the way to the rear of the cab.i assume the doors are the same?doesnt really have anything on the truck that i have to have but parts are getting tougher to find so i am still going to try and  buy the truck

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The AC dash should also swap over, just keep the HVAC controls from the donor and put them in place of the old ones, and keep your 4.0 cluster, I'm not sure the V6 one will work correctly with the 4.0 electronics. The rest should be fine. Suspension and axles are all them same. Keep an eye out on the rear axle on the 86, it could be the rare AMC Corporate 20, which would be a great find, though being a 4 speed truck its probably unlikely.

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it has the dana 35 axle. i checked.lol. the only reason i was asking about the cluster is the 86 has a full gauge cluster and my 88 has idiot lights. i can find a cluster at the junkyard from a cherokee with a 4.0. the 86 parts truck is a 4spd manual . i am waiting for the guy to call me back after i gave him an offer.he originally bought the truck for his son bought he wanted a nissan and this truck needed too much work so we will see

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it has the dana 35 axle. i checked.lol. the only reason i was asking about the cluster is the 86 has a full gauge cluster and my 88 has idiot lights. i can find a cluster at the junkyard from a cherokee with a 4.0. the 86 parts truck is a 4spd manual . i am waiting for the guy to call me back after i gave him an offer.he originally bought the truck for his son bought he wanted a nissan and this truck needed too much work so we will see

 

 

The transmission in the 1986 Comanche with the 2.8L V6 would be a 5 speed. The 2.8L V6 was never offered with a 4 speed. I hope this info helps.

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i didnt drive the truck  but just looked it over. maybe someone put a 4spd shifter knob in it?

 

 

That is very possible. I've seen a few of them with the wrong shifter knob. The VIN would tell you what transmission it had originally. The 2.8L V6 was not offered from the factory with a 4 speed, so if it actually does have a 4 speed someone put it in there at one time.

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i don't know the vin yet. i havent got the truck yet.as soon as i can get the truck i will verify what trans is in it. this guy has only had this truck @3 years so there is no telling if it was changed before he got it.

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i was trying to buy the truck under the assumption it would be good for parts.the owner says it runs perfect and just needs a battery. he said he will put a good battery in it so i can drive it on the trailer.so a running comanche xls 2wd for 400.00. yea i will be picking it up next weekend

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When I bought my 88 MJ the owner said it was a 4spd ... with a 4.0 I thought that a bit odd.

 

Turned out he just didn't know where to find 5th ... it had a hurst T shifter handle (bloody uncomfortable I might add) and he just assumed it was a 4spd.

I showed him 5th gear on the test drive.

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yea it is in decent shape.he also told me he put in a  new clutch kit right before he quit driving it because he bought a new truck.forgot to ask him personally if it really was a 4spd.oh well i will find out when i go pick it up 

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just got the truck home.it is a 5spd with a 4 spd knob. po said it was the only knob he could find to put on it when his broke. what 5spd trans is behind the 2.8 v6? truck hasnt been cranked in 2 years and we put a battery in it ,poured gas down the carb, and drove it on the trailer.

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