Lowrange2 Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 First off.... I'm back. I'm not new to Jeeps but I'm fairly new to halfway decent MJ's. I've had several MJ's in my possession but they've always been beat up 2.5's and I always sell them or part them out to good homes rather than put in the work to fix them up. This one may prove to receive a different fate. Over the weekend I just happened to stumble across a Craigslist add that had been up for 6 days. "1989 Jeep Comanche. 4.0, auto, 153k miles - $600" I thought, there's no way this thing is still available... After 2 days of suspenseful txt messages I pulled up in the guys yard to find this fine specimen of MJ with my name on it. He had a camper top that I gave him an extra $50 for. 1989 MJ Pioneer, Metric Ton, Column shift auto, LWB, 2wd, 153k miles. It was cheap because it doesn't run. He was driving it and it shut off on him. He parked it and has been throwing parts at it trying to make it run. He mentioned replacing the distributor, ign coil, starter, alternator, ign switch, etc... Now, I have to figure out what to do with it. For now, I think the plan is to make it run, general maintenance and drive it as-is for a little while. I part out XJ's as a side job so I have everything in my possession for a 97+ swap and a 4wd swap so that'll probably come along eventually. I have 3 kids so I can't really make it my primary vehicle. I also have 2 other XJ's I switch between driving. What would YOU do with it? Now, here's the fun part: This is what I see when I get to the guy's house. Nice leaky Dana 44 and 5 leaf packs. Aweful red interior but soooo clean. If anything, this terrible red interior will be what sparks the urge to do the 97+ swap. Headed home. Pretty sure the only thing this truck has ever hauled in the bed is pillows: Needs some door locks. I've never even seen one of these still in place. Much less working. Pretty clean engine bay. Needs some touch up and a few gaskets. Holes where the Old guy PO had cab lights mounted to the hood. lol A few more pictures I snapped when I got home before I called it a night. New tires. Cheap tires but new. Old man mud flaps must go. Of course the bumper is bent. Remnants of Pioneer stickerage: Botched flair painting job. He didn't even try to paint the other side, Thank god. Anywho, more pictures will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 I already know I'm looking for the knob that goes on the end of the column shifter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I saw Lowrange2 next these pictures and immediately was horrified thinking you bought this to part it out. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw star Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Andy, I might have that shift knob. I'll have to check my barn this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 I saw Lowrange2 next these pictures and immediately was horrified thinking you bought this to part it out. :P lol, Not yet. It's gotta make me real mad first. Andy, I might have that shift knob. I'll have to check my barn this weekend. Sweet! I need a few other things but that'll get me started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 $600 for something in that kind of shape is an absolute steal and it even has the metric ton rear suspension! After seeing the first couple of pics I was about to jump down and write about how you had a set of front mud flaps and that they're rare, etc, then I saw they were diamond plate... yuck. I don't guess the PO got the memo on the "stick 3x5 index cards under the fender flare" masking trick. If he screwed up something that easy I'd be worried that there might be other scary hackjobs hiding under there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 $600 for something in that kind of shape is an absolute steal and it even has the metric ton rear suspension! After seeing the first couple of pics I was about to jump down and write about how you had a set of front mud flaps and that they're rare, etc, then I saw they were diamond plate... yuck. I don't guess the PO got the memo on the "stick 3x5 index cards under the fender flare" masking trick. If he screwed up something that easy I'd be worried that there might be other scary hackjobs hiding under there. Yeah, not sure what else I'll find. Though, it looks pretty much untouched. My goal right now is to simply make it run. Then I'll go from there. I have a ton of things I need to try when I get time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 IT LIVES!!!! Turned out to be a typical CPS failure. It purrs like a kitten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Rode around the property in it today. Runs pretty good. I noticed a little misfire every now and then. The belt is also squealing like a stuck pig. Pulled the camper top off for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revmaynard Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I'm loving those tasteful splash guards! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Man, I called, text, and emailed that guy several times from within 6 hours of the ad being posted, never got a hold of him. Good score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm loving those tasteful splash guards! I'll pull them out of the trash and sell them to you. :) I'll have Stump deliver, even. Man, I called, text, and emailed that guy several times from within 6 hours of the ad being posted, never got a hold of him. Good score. Idk how I got lucky. The ad had been up for 6 days when I saw it. I txt him and he txt me back within about 1 hour. I never could get him to call me. I managed to get an address out of him. I told him I'd be there at 6pm and never heard back from him. I showed up at 6pm and knocked on the door and he took me back to look at it. He was a MAJOR pain to communicate with via txt. Turned out to be a younger dude. Maybe 20. He'd replace the truck with a Malibu. lol Where in SC are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 Cleaned the over spray off the fenders and bed, replaced the fixed windows with some minty wing windows I had laying around, slapped some late model mirrors on it so I can see, replaced the harmonic balancer and belt, window seal, bent the rear bumper back up, replaced the glove box latch, drivers side door lock cylinder, etc... Lots of little things. Nothing major. For now, I'd like to find a set of nice looking factory aluminum wheels to stick on it and drive it. I'm fairly certain the TPS needs to be replaced. The engine stumbles any time I have the throttle pedal in a certain spot. I can make the engine misfire on command by pushing the pedal to that spot. It also has the typical oil in the air box issue and I think it's puffing a little smoke but not sure why yet. Gotta get that fixed... I need the plastic trim piece that sits on top of the rear bumper. Window seal: Late model XJ mirrors... Ahhh, I can see so much better now. I have dummy gauges, bought a cluster to swap the real gauges from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm down in Barnwell, but I visit Abbeville and Due West frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm down in Barnwell, but I visit Abbeville and Due West frequently. Nice. I went to Highschool in Due West. I live about 4 miles from the highschool. You're from this area? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 Saw this guy at LKQ. Never could figure out who owned it. Harmonic Balancer "installer" tool. Didn't know such a thing existed. This stuff did a fine job cleaning the over spray off the factory paint. (Already had it sitting on the shelf) Gave it a bath: It sure is nice to have a truck bed again! Now, if I could just make the OEM paint a little shinier... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted November 30, 2015 Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm down in Barnwell, but I visit Abbeville and Due West frequently. Nice. I went to Highschool in Due West. I live about 4 miles from the highschool. You're from this area? No, I'm from down around Barnwell/ Blackville , but I've got several friends that live in Due West. Gotta love that Waggy. I miss my 89. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted November 30, 2015 Author Share Posted November 30, 2015 I'm down in Barnwell, but I visit Abbeville and Due West frequently. Nice. I went to Highschool in Due West. I live about 4 miles from the highschool. You're from this area? No, I'm from down around Barnwell/ Blackville , but I've got several friends that live in Due West. Gotta love that Waggy. I miss my 89. Gotcha. Who are they? I'd imagine I know them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrange2 Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 Yay! Baby deathwobble at 60mph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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