Newton Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Please help Guys...First Comanche, first jeep, first truck Where do i begin??? Bought this 89 comanche for $500 would love to restore it...it runs drove it home brakes are bad..Starter is bad or going bad had to give a few taps before it fired up needs a new battery as soon as i got home it wouldnt start again.. :doh: As for the body i get an instant headache flooring is terrible serious rust down there especially over by the pedals doesnt have carpet on there no roof molding mirrors are broken back door doesnt open and the list goes on and on...as for the engine even though it runs it look like its in need of a serious overhaul electrical looks ok for the most part would love to have the air condition working one day if possible...will need new hoses and stuff man i just don't even know where to start asking myself if i made a good decision in buying this truck but since i already have it i figure i might as well try to get it up to par with those bad boys on here give her a nice lift and some nice paint and all these other sweet conversions that i have no clue about but so any advice would be greatly appreciated... where to start what i should do first.. calling on all the MJ wizards on here I need you now... :bowdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickinmule Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Best advice I recv' when I started my MJ was to go thru cruiser's tips and get it mechanically sound. Of course you already know about your floor boards. Turn your frustrations into challenges and have fun. You will find good knowledgeable folks here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickinmule Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Oh and add the particulars to your signature line in your profile settings. That will keep ya from being asked "what year, trans, rear end, etc." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Thanks kickinmule guess I better get to work.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Kickinmule said it best. What I usually do with basket case builds where a lot of work needs done is write out a list of everything wrong, and then prioritize that list based on safety, logical order, and realistic financial ability. I follow that order exactly. Make it run and make it safe to drive. Then start tackeling the bigger stuff as your money allows. Having a plan of attack to follow makes a big difference in getting a project done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted July 5, 2015 Author Share Posted July 5, 2015 Kickinmule said it best. What I usually do with basket case builds where a lot of work needs done is write out a list of everything wrong, and then prioritize that list based on safety, logical order, and realistic financial ability. I follow that order exactly. Make it run and make it safe to drive. Then start tackeling the bigger stuff as your money allows. Having a plan of attack to follow makes a big difference in getting a project done. Exactly what I had in mind gonna start by pulling this engine think it's time it gets an overhaul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted July 9, 2015 Author Share Posted July 9, 2015 Have never did this sort of thing before but managed to do a little bit toward pulling out that motor... Noticeable problems so far steering gearbox is leaking very bad also valve cover is leaking noticed some water leaking under the engine don't know if it's the water pump or a hose or something my guess is the water pump..needs new starter as well and alternator doesn't look pretty either all hoses might need replacing saw a few broken wires maybe the guys on here can help me identify and repair them.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Before this truck i didnt even own a tool box lol :teehee: got a small craftsman tool kit from home depot for about $50 and got this Cherry picker off ebay and Started pulling out the engine..ended up using the sawzall on the piping for the exahust cause i couldnt get the bolts off the header it was too heavily rusted.. i'm the only one doing this so learning as i go along..took me a couple days lol but got her out eventually... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 After a Few cans of ''Easy-Off oven cleaner'' That stuff is the best degreaser ive used btw and some pressure washing this is where i'm at... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Started painting after cleaning up the engine and after a few cans of Rustoleum High Heat from home depot was very pleased with how it turned out...was the first time i ever painted any thing..YAY Meee!!! :banana: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Ok Picked up a small mig welder of ebay with the condition the truck is in i decided that welding is something i wasnt getting away from so i was ready to try my hand at it.. so decided to give it a go.. :teehee: Wanted to paint inside the engine bay so i could start putting the motor back in So my first attempt was some rust holes under the battery tray cut the rust out with the grinder and cut some pieces of sheet metal to to weld in... hehe :rotfl2: not sure if thats how its done but gave it a try .. Went ahead and paint the entire engine caompartment with POR-15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Started getting ready to put the engine back in.. Being that i don't have a garage this is being done outdoors and its difficult to move the hoist along the ground.. it rained a couple days the ground got soft and the engine and hoist fell over a few times while i was trying to put it in and doing this alone isnt making it any easier but anyway after a few days of trial and error i finally got this thing in and sitting properly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Started putting stuff back together..mostly all the engine components are brand new everything off ebay, Starter, alternator, waterpump, power steering gearbox, plugs, leads, injectors, all sensors..IAC, CPS, TPS etc.. new oil filter adapter o-ring, filters both engine and transmission, Felpro Gaskets.. New Dorman vaccum harnesses all rubber lines and hoses.. brand new a/c Condenser... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 When I swapped my motor out this summer, I threw down a couple sheets of 3/8" plywood to roll the hoist on. Worked out well enough, although it would have been nice to have more than two instead of constantly moving the floor around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 After putting in fluids hooked up the battery and decided to try to fire her up and to my surprise she started right up...i can't tell you how ecstatic i was to hear this thing started WooooooHooooo !!! :clapping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f45qO-imqMk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 When I swapped my motor out this summer, I threw down a couple sheets of 3/8" plywood to roll the hoist on. Worked out well enough, although it would have been nice to have more than two instead of constantly moving the floor around. Thanks for the tip gogmorgo next time i'll remeber that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 So after i was done with the engine decided to tackle the heavily rusted cowl panel under the windshield was way beyond a repairable state imo so ordered a new panel form tucson mopar parts.. started by pulling the dash...as you can see the cancer had spread everywhere.. :ack: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 After drilling out the spot welds got the old cowl out and had to do some repairs on the windshield frame before i could start putting in the new cowl panel... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 New cowl in and welded in place.. not factory but not bad for an amateur...i like :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 How she's sitting currently... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Nice work :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Nice work :) Good job! thanks guys..i appreciate it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buxmj Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Wow, that is some bad cancer most people wouldn't even think about touching. Great job! Buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newton Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Wow, that is some bad cancer most people wouldn't even think about touching. Great job! Buck. Yep that cancer was really bad thankfully that was the worst it...everything else is minor.. Thanks for the shout out Buck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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