New to the site and obsession. Purchasing first Comanche, need advice

[RonMexico]

Hey everyone,

 

So I'm trying to get ahold of my first Comanche and I've been doing my research.  I want to get one that needs some work and use it as a project truck and to learn how to do my own wrenching.

 

With that being said, I've found one for sale, its an '87 2.5 4WD manual with 114,XXX.  That's pretty much all I know for now, besides some pictures.  I'm going to go look at it this weekend, but I'm driving a state away to do so.  The guy has said that the frame is solid (which I can see in some of the pictures because he has the bed off in some of them) and it "runs like a tank". 

 

Now, when I go to look at it, I know to crawl up under that sumbitch and check the frame really well but I've been reading on here and some other forums that if the floor of the cab is rusted that people run away fast from these trucks.  Well the guy has been honest and sent pics and the floor is pretty bad off.  Some small holes under the clutch pedal rusted all the way through and the rest of the passenger and driver floors are pretty well rusted.  The guy has said that he has new floor panels that come with it they just need to be installed.  Also, the bed is pretty rusty and he has said that the back fenders have been "trimmed" to fit bigger tires.  I'm assuming the trimming is because he didn't lift it first?

 

Anyways, long story short, if I'm willing to put in the work on fixing the body, but the frame is (mostly)rust free and the truck is mechanically sound, is it a good buy?($900)

 

 

Is replacing the foor and the bed of the truck that much of a pain/cost?

 

Thanks in advance

[Pete M]

welcome! :waving:

 

how much do you like to do body work?  what is the end goal for the truck? 

[Jeep Driver]

I'd rather travel further and install an engine that deal with rust.

 

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4898345839.html

[87Warrior]

In my opinion, the truck you are looking at should be 1/2 the price. However I do not know your location, desire to do body work, or how hard it is to find an MJ in your area. Having dealt with 3 rusty trucks, I agree with Jeep Driver that doing a drivetrain swap would be the way to go. 

 

You can turn a rusty truck into a gem. All it takes is time and money. You can also patch a rusty truck together and have a phenomenal wheeling rig. It really boils down to what it is worth to you and what you want out of the truck. Replacing the floor boards isn't a massive undertaking as you can buy quality replacement floor pans. It is a very time consuming job though. The bed however, I would consider a loss unless you have the skills to fabricate body panels. 

 

I absolutely love my rusty '86. Bought it for dirt cheap with a transmission and t-case in the bed, mismatched wheels but a solid frame. 

[pitbull4x4]

I bought my 89 Comanche for $325 and drove it home. Its a long bed, 4.0, auto with 280,000 + miles. Its getting cab corners, inner and outter rockers and floors fixed. The bed sides were fixed last summer. I don't have a welder so a good friend is doing the body work. I'm up over $550 and will owe more when done. So a rusty truck is very costly to get fixed. Good luck on which every way you go

[Zebvance]

I would hold out on a 4.0. thats just me....  you will find your self looking for more power after you buy it most likely..