ChuckP Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 Well it all started with a 1994 Jeep Cherokee. It got me hooked on Jeeps. 20 or so XJ's and TJ's later here I am with my much anticipated MJ. I don't remember when I figured out that a "Cherokee truck" existed, but when I did I had to have one. Luckily for me this one popped up on craigslist with a vague location on a map and no phone number. The location was a couple blocks away from work so I left work and drove up and down every street in that neighborhood until I found it sitting on the side of the road. The reason it was so cheap is because some low life side swiped it out in front of the owners house and took off without leaving any contact info. It had 1 wheel facing forward and the other turned in (as you can see in the pic). The owner was home at the time and wasn't weirded out that I found his home without talking to him so that was cool. We talked a little bit and I found out that he only had the truck for about a year and had bought it from the original owner who had purchased it here new back in 1988. We talked a little more and worked out a price and I am now the proud new owner of this beaut. 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer, Olympic Edition, 4.0L, 138K original miles, 4x4, short bed, BA10/5 I got it towed to where I work, stuck a floor jack under the bent tie rod end and bent it "straight". It wasn't perfect but I was able to drive it home that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 I got it to work and snapped a few more pictures, the body is actually pretty dang straight and only slight surface rust from where the topper attached to the bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Empty Post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 I've also bought a whole slew of parts for it, just need to find time to install all of them. I bought: Cap, rotor, plugs and wires to do a nice tune up. 5.5" Rubicon Express Coils Rough Country Adjustable Trac Bar Quick Disconnect sway bar end links Adjustable Upper and Lower Control Arms Extended brake lines for the front and rear New N2.0 shocks front and rear Dana 30 with 4.10's from an 87 Cherokee with a 4 cyl. Ford 8.8 with 4.10's and a Limited Slip from a 1999 Explorer 33x12.50x15 tires on Cragar Soft 8's (used) New stickers from Spencer at jeepsticker.com Comanche Pioneer in the newer Cherokee Sport fonts The back 'Jeep' lettering and some miscellaneous 4x4 stickers and such I also purchased a Smart Eraser pad to take off the faded and cracker Pioneer decals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Empty Post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buxmj Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Wow, that was a great find and at an awesome price. Sounds like you have done this many times before with other jeeps, so you already know what you are getting yourself into. Keep the pics coming and welcome to comanche club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman6 Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Great looking MJ! I really like the look of the Olympic editions and that one is in great condition, looking forward to seeing what you plan on doing with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Nice truck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted June 30, 2015 Author Share Posted June 30, 2015 Wow, that was a great find and at an awesome price. Sounds like you have done this many times before with other jeeps, so you already know what you are getting yourself into. Keep the pics coming and welcome to comanche club! Great looking MJ! I really like the look of the Olympic editions and that one is in great condition, looking forward to seeing what you plan on doing with it. Nice truck! Thanks guys! I'll post pictures as much as I can. I know that I like looking at photos in build threads so I hope to extend that courtesy to everyone who may be interested in what I'm doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobles41 Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Good find. Are those American Racing rims? Turbines would look really good on that color of MJ. My brake fluid resevoir looks the same as yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 That is a nice truck. Is it sad that the part I am interested in most on this truck is that AC Delete pulley? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collkid Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Dang. Thats a GREAT DEAL. Just resell it now and double up! No keep it. That's better. Come over to NAXJA Colorado Chatper. We've got a pretty good thing going there. Side note, I'll be up in Deckers with my MJ this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 That is a nice truck. Is it sad that the part I am interested in most on this truck is that AC Delete pulley? lol Ha ha I'm interested in it for other reasons. I want to figure out how to replace it with an A/C compressor and all the goodies. Dang. Thats a GREAT DEAL. Just resell it now and double up! No keep it. That's better. Come over to NAXJA Colorado Chatper. We've got a pretty good thing going there. Side note, I'll be up in Deckers with my MJ this weekend. Believe me I've thought about selling it but I have wanted an MJ for so long that it would be stupid to do so cause I couldn't buy one in this condition for any cheaper. I've flipped plenty of Jeeps and you can make good money doing it but I have different plans for this guy. I'll check out NAXJA too. I've heard about it but haven't spent a lot of time on the site. Deckers is beautiful. Well I should say the Deckers area is beautiful seeing as how it's basically just a corner store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 That actually shouldn't be too difficult to get all the parts needed for an AC setup. When you get there, just remember me when you want to say goodbye to the delete pulley :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 I haven't even began to research the parts I need yet for the A/C. How much is involved in that upgrade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Well, in basic hard parts, Compressor, drier, evaporator, condensor, high and low pressure lines. May or may not need the HVAC box from an AC equipped MJ/XJ, some wiring, etc. Honestly, it would probably be easier to find a complete system at the JY and grab the parts. There may be someone here with more experience in doing said conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 Empty Post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 If you aren't looking for factory fresh at this point, one of the great things about white paint is that you can more easily get away with a gloss white spray paint to cover/conceal damage. It won't entirely pass under close scrutiny, but it's better than surface rust and exposed primer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckP Posted July 3, 2015 Author Share Posted July 3, 2015 Yeah that's what I was thinking. Would it be easier to brush on the paint or spray it? I don't want factory fresh at this point, i'll worry about that when I do the 97+ front clip. Looking at those pictures too the door dents stand out like a sore thumb. I gotta figure out what to do with those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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