LocoJeeper Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Ladies and gentle-jeepers, Introducing my project "Maggie" a 1989 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4WD and my 7th Jeep purchase! For those of you not in the know... here is my short chronological list know also as an obsession: 1) Wendy - 1991 Jeep Wrangler Islander Edition (project Jeep)2) Stewie - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited (sold to my parents)3) Larry - 81 Jeep Cherokee WT (disassembled then sold)4) Angie - 89 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (parted then crushed)5) Rosie - 89 Jeep Cherokee Laredo (repaired then sold)6) Betty - 96 Jeep Cherokee SE (built, then sold) I sold "Betty" for $2000 and within 30 minutes was driving "Maggie" that I had deposited $200 against three weeks before. For a total purchase price of $2100. A little higher then I wanted it to go, but it was right down the street... had less then 1000 miles put on in the last year... and only had two noticeable specks of rust (nothing poke-your-finger-through worthy). I'll try to keep things updated as I go along. Frankly, I'm not off to a good start as I purchased Maggie in February (hence the snow on the ground) and it is now May and 90 degrees outside. Anywho... fresh start here I go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob S Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Looks like a nice start, good clean MJ. Got big plans or keeping it mild? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 It's always good to see there's still clean examples out there. Too bad I can't find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenosha Warrior Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 It's always good to see there's still clean examples out there. Too bad I can't find one. They are scared of you, scott. you do evil things to parts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 nah, that's pingpong they have a problem with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 It's always good to see there's still clean examples out there. Too bad I can't find one. They are scared of you, scott. you do evil things to parts I want one for a DD. My MJ was the best DD in the world back when it was stock. But yeah, I've been know to have been hard on a few things... Image Not Found That door used to actually close right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenosha Warrior Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Mine is falling off, so I don't mind haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 nah, that's pingpong they have a problem with. I never met a jeep that didnt need a lil trimming :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 Looks like a nice start, good clean MJ. Got big plans or keeping it mild? Here's the plan of attack: Maggie is going to be my daily driver. Just back and forth to work (5 miles or so) and running to the home improvement store to pick up supplies for the house remodeling project. I loved the way I had Betty (the 96 XJ) built, but I realized I put the seat's down and never bothered to put them back up. I was really in need of a pick-up truck. So that's when I talked myself into swapping it for a MJ. I still have Wendy (the 91 YJ) and it's right now sitting on waggy SOA with dana 44's, 35's .... and not a whole lot else bolted to it. I want to take the next 4-5 years and build that the way I would really like too. That's where Maggie (back to the MJ) comes into play. I want it to be a nice looking, capable daily driver / weekend warrior. Something that i'm proud to call myself a "Jeeper" in and something that keeps me from rushing the Wendy project just to get it on the road. So here's the "short-list" ... in a semi-chronological order of attack: - Remove vinyl graphics (done) - Swap out for gray XJ bucket seats (done) - Custom front and rear bumpers and rocker guards - Por-15 the floor boards to repair light surface rust - Swap out blue interior pieces for grayt parts pulled from a 2-door XJ - 97+ Shifter handles - ZJ shifter grip for AT handle - Cobra front firing speaker CB mounted flush in the dash - Pioneer CD player with iPod adapter and steering wheel mounted remote - Grant replacement steering wheel - 97+ front clip swap - Louvered hood - Firestick mounted where the stock FM antenna is - Bushwacker fender flares - TJ style filler neck - SOA on rear disc-braked MJ Dana 44 - Swap out 231 in favor of 242 t-case - 2wd rear springs to lower it to approx 4.5" total lift in the rear - Front suspension components from BDS to level it out - 33x12.5r15 TrXus MT's mounted on 15x8 Crager Soft 8's - Power windows and door locks - Remote entry and start button - Painted silver or gray using DupliColors Paint Shop line - Accent pieces (louvers, door handles, filler neck, etc) painted black - Duraback bed - Rear bed cover - Round off-road/driving lights mounted on front bumper - 4.56 gearing - On board air, and tool mounts built into new panel behind seats - On board air port using another TJ filler neck - Ummm... cool stickers. I think that's it Here is a short "wish-list" which I may or may not get done: - 4.5L stroker motor swap - AW4 "manual" shifting kit - MasterCraft Rubicon w/tilt seats - Interior roll-cage - 4 point harness - Palm pilot built into dash for GPS navigation and possible undercarriage camera Whew... I'm tired already. Anywho, time to get my arse off the couch and start building this thing so I can get to building the other project (is it insance? Cause it's begining to sound a bit off kilter) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 2, 2007 Author Share Posted June 2, 2007 First task at hand was to get rid of all the "un-necessaries". The cap would have to go... though convenient it doesn't quite scream Jeep machine the way I would like it to. I tried posting it for sale, and no-one seemed to bit. After calling around for a bit I found a Ishler's Truck Caps, its a family run business. Gave the owner a call, described what I had, and he said that he'd give me $25 for it. Sold! I ran it over to Mount Joy and the fork lifted it off, and I said my goodbyes. Second item to get rid of was the rubber cargo mat. I liked it, but realized so would someone else and I was going to end up durabacking the bed anyways. So I posted it on the various forums and within a few minutes Lynn of Rausch Creek Off-Road Park fame was chomping at the bit. $25 and it was hers. Another Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance member was headed up to the park that weekend so I had it hitch a ride. In a matter of a moments it was riding in Spike. That concluded the initial pillaging. There certainly will be more. But that was it for the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1999MJ Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 danm ..I have been looking for a cap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 danm ..I have been looking for a cap I have two for a longbed and one for a shortbed...though I kinda want to keep the sb one... shoot me a pm if you're interested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 sounds like a nice build up for a daily driver. Mines the same, daily driver, anything screamin jeep is good. good plan can't wait to see how the build up goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Second item to get rid of was the rubber cargo mat. I liked it, but realized so would someone else and I was going to end up durabacking the bed anyways. Was looking for one of those awhile back. I would of taken that off your hands for that price. :brows: I plan on doing a spray in liner as well but thought the mat would come in handy if you had to put something in the bed that you didn't want the rough surface of the spray in liner to scratch. Just throw the mat in, haul your stuff, then put the mat back in the garage. Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky. By the way Nice MJ and good luck with the build. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 Second item to get rid of was the rubber cargo mat. I liked it, but realized so would someone else and I was going to end up durabacking the bed anyways. Was looking for one of those awhile back. I would of taken that off your hands for that price. :brows: I plan on doing a spray in liner as well but thought the mat would come in handy if you had to put something in the bed that you didn't want the rough surface of the spray in liner to scratch. Just throw the mat in, haul your stuff, then put the mat back in the garage. Oh well, maybe I'll get lucky. By the way Nice MJ and good luck with the build. :cheers: Well I did post the mat in the for sale forum on here... but also on a bunch of other forums ... but within 5 minutes of posting on the Rausch Creek forum... it was sold. Oh well, guess I should've asked more then $25 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 So pulling up in Maggie the day I bought it... my wifes first comment upon seeing it was "looks like an old man drives this!". So with the cap gone, the graphics (strip and text) on the cab and body were the next thing to go. They weren't completely objectionable, but with Maggie needing a paint job anyways, I figure I'd hurry the build along by getting those graphics off. I started off with just a razor blade and ended up scraping the paint more then the vinyl. It was the first nice day of the year so I ran down to Harbor Freight Tools (a discount tool supplier that is dangerously close to my house) and after $9.99 + tax I had a heat gun. It didn't take me long to pick up the necessary technique. Following about 12-16" ahead of myself with the heat gun being held about 3-4" away from the body. Finger and thumb grabbing the vinyl strip and they'd come off quite easily. I still had my share of scratches left from having to use the razor blade after my "feed" of vinyl ripped. Knowing that I was going to re-paint it anyways I didn't feel so bad. I followed it up with a rub-down of "Opps" and then a dry car wash rub and it turned out not too shabby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86FUBAR Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 u gota love Hobo Freight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfpdm Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 It didn't take me long to pick up the necessary technique. I just did mine this past week the same way. It only took burning my fingers a couple of times before I had that technique down :brows: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 I TOLD y'all that a heat gun is the way to do it. didn't even leave much residue now did it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 I TOLD y'all that a heat gun is the way to do it. didn't even leave much residue now did it? Yeah it certainly is. The "Opps" application was more for my own sanity... having removed stickers before only to have the reappearing adhesive shadow every time I washed the thing. But I probably could've gotten away without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 i use GOO-GONE after i use the heat gun. I'll be removing the pioneer stripes from my 89 on friday with the same method...but no razor. I build old Yamaha snowmobiles (Exciter, GPX, SRX, and even an SSR plus some newer ones) and from using it on fiberglass and aluminum i've basically got it down...it DEFINITELY involves getting hot thumbs, but it's worth it in the end :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 After driving about 20 minutes in my new Jeep Comanche I was reminded of what I had already determined... the bench seat needed to go!! Big time. Though the bench seat didn't look worn, it always felt like I was sinking to the passenger side while driving. I'm 6'3" and have steel rod and pins holding my femur in place... so I appreciate the bolstered support of a bucket seat. So I had a fellow Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance member who was parting out an 89 XJ drop some seats off for me. He was already coming down to my garage to buy my old arc welder... so it didn't take much to convince to have the seats hitch a ride down. I unbolted the old bench seat and drilled out the rivets attaching the seat risers to the bench seat and slider assembly. A little bit of persuasion with the BFH and I had the necessary risers to bolt onto the XJ sliders. I did the same to the XJ risers and drilled through the sliders, so I could bolt the MJ risers to the XJ risers and seats. The seats worked pretty well. They are the older rocking chair/ bull riding / swivel seats and they add about 3" to the overall height of the seat. Its not too much of a problem as most of my height comes from my legs... so that gives my legs a little more room to make their way to the peddles. However, I might run into a problem if I adhere a windshield sticker... as I am looking out the top 30% of the windshield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 With the bucket seats in place focus was then paid to the rest of the nasty blue interior. Swapping in the XJ seats held me over for a little bit, but I really needed seats from a 2 door Cherokee as they would have the fold front capability that the Comanche needs in order to get behind the seats. I found a guy parting out a 90 2-door Cherokee with a gray interior just inside NJ on the other side of Philley. A 50 or so minute drive and about 4 hours of wrenching and the interior was completely stripped and strapped down in the back of Maggie. As of right now the gray buckets have since been swapped in place of the 4-door versions... but the rest of the interior is sitting in the garage attic waiting to be swapped over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 what color are the 4 door seats and which blue did you have (Light or dark) I've got light blue interiors in 2 trucks and spare parts are always good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoJeeper Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 The 4-door seats were dark red. However, I already gave those away. The rest of the interior is dark blue. I will have a few parts leftover after everything is said and done. I'll post here what I have left after the swap is complete. Haven't figured out which components I'm going to swap and which I'm just going to paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now