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First Comanche (need some help)


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I just bought my first Comanche. It's an 88 4x4 with an 89 4.0 and automatic transmission and in great shape. It is my dd but I will take it off-road some as well. I am wanting install a 3" lift with 245/75/17 tires with rubicon wheels but I don't know what brand or type of lift I should get it if I should change the gearing. I also want some performance upgrades but I don't know what is worth upgrading and what is a waste of time and money. I have already purchased some injectors and will install them as soon as they come in. I am sorry for all of the questions but I haven't figured out how to search on the site yet. I would post a pic of the Comanche how it sits now and what I want it to look like but I don't know how to post pictures. Thanks in advance.

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To post pics you need to use a hosting site. No direct picture attachments on site. I like imgur.com just make an account t and upload pictures to that and on the right you'll see the link codes for forums. I've found if you also select large thumbnail rather then original size it works best on this site.

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Lift brand is all personal preference. Everything on the main market is pretty on par with itself. From the front doors forward everything is pretty much identical and interchangable with a Cherokee. From the doors back practically NOTHING is the same so watch when getting kits and things

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You need to use a picture hosting site to make pictures work here.  I use photobucket.  With the transmission being swapped in the ratio in the axles are toss up.  Most likely 3.07 or 3.55.  If you're going to run the Rubicon wheels off a JK you'll need wheel adapters.  As far as performance upgrades imo I don't have a desire to spend money in that area.  Others have and they could chime in on that.

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There's not really performance upgrades for these. Gears change most of anything with these trucks. Injectors can help but millions of 4.0 run great without them. Other then a cracking issue I find the exhaust headers to work pretty darn good. And really don't see much benefit to "upgrading" and so forth

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Thanks guys. I have always wanted one these jeeps and I can't wait to start making it my own. I have 3.07 gears right now. Is there a specific brand of lift most of you guys have on your jeeps. I have lifted pickups before so I know you get what you pay for. As far as performance mods go I know these pickups don't make a lot of power but I was just curious if an exhaust system, header, or an aftermarket head was was going to be worth the money. Mainly I am looking for something that can still be my daily driver with pretty good mog's but I can also take to the lease.

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I have a budget 3 incher that the PO installed from rough country and its ok. it squeaks. and to post pics, it took my awhile, just make an account of photo bucket. then download the pics to that account. then you can copy and paste the image address toin the thing on the too bar on this website that looks like a paper clip with a green plus underneath it and then push enter. you won't see the photo until you actually post it. all it will be is a link thats blue. 

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I use a mix of Rusty's, Rubicon express, rough country, hell creek, unknown eBay brand, no issues with any one product. Its all whatever got the best deal

Same here, it's best to mix and if your not in a rush you can buy parts as they go on sale! Hell creek in the rear is the way to go IMO you won't find them on sale ever (you get what you pay for) but you do get a CC discount. BDS, and RE is nice stuff for front some people have luck with RC I personally never have there is a reason it's cheap! As far as engine mods nothing is really worth it take it from someone that has almost every mod you can do to a 4.0 without stroking it(does make it noisier). Very minimal gains across the board, now a dyno might tell a different story with a few HP gain but if you can't feel it what's the point. I agree with mike that there are a lot of 4.0's without upgraded injectors but that is one mod I would do, it runs noticeably smoother no power gains that I can tell just smoother.
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For a 3" front lift,  I would probably go with OME 2" lift springs and a puck style spacer.  For the rear, lift leaf springs would be the easiest way to go.  It really depends on what kind of budget you are working with.

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My advice is to spend the first year with your truck doing regular maintenance and repairs.  Unless you have a four leaf clover growing out of your head, you can stay busy for a year chasing down issues with cooling, electrical, fuel, brakes, etc etc.  And if you get bored, you can always fix rust, replace bushings, clean the interior, polish lenses, or even preemptively replace brake and fuel lines.

 

Then, once the truck is tight and solid (and you've thought and read about modifications for a year) you can take it to the next level.

 

But of course nobody ever does that .... we all just cobble cheap lifts together and spend the following years re-doing everything two or three times .... then get frustrated and annoyed cause the darn thing won't run and drive properly and we sell it.

 

Point being, if you do maintenance first and mods second, you will be much much happier with your truck in the long run.

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I think it takes a year (even six months) of driving it and bringing everything up to snuff as MrSimon says above.  Unless you've already chopped up a few vehicles chasing the perfect set-up.  You'll really get a better feel for exactly what you want to do with it AND what it needs.  Some guys think the stereo is the most important thing, some the tires, some the height, mods etc.

 

It gives you some time to look at other rigs, how to get there, how much you want to spend, how other people got theirs that way.

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