KJ1H Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Hi! My fiancee and I just plunked a deposit down on an 88 MJ, and will be bringing it home once we figure out all the logistics. I've already learned a lot from reading this forum, so I figured I'd sign up and say hi now I'm "one of us." Here's the beast. It's a project in progress, and includes almost everything we need to finish it - front bumper, interior, etc. It needs a replacement driver's door due to rust (easy to find off an XJ) but that and a bit of elbow grease is about it. All the common rust spots have already been repaired - floorboards, rockers, frame, cab... We're getting it from a friend in the New England performance rally community. He was going to fix it up and use it as a tow vehicle, but got a Dodge Raider in much better shape instead. We hope to rally someday ourselves, but in the meantime we'll turn this into an awesome sweep vehicle (especially since it's a "Big Ton") and cargo hauler - especially since we're moving into a house in a couple of weeks. It'll also be my winter daily driver to keep my Subaru BRZ out of the snow and salt. Priority 1 will be to make it roadworthy and help us move. Then we'll finish the jobs that are already started. Headlights will be replaced with H4s (I do this on every sealed beam car I own), and we'll add some extra lights too. That roof rack on the cab might become a light bar. I'll add a ham radio, and replace the factory tape deck (!) with my CD/multimedia player I've used in a couple of Fords. I'm planning to bedliner the floor of the cab rather than reinstall carpet. For rally sweep we'll definitely need some solid tow hooks front and rear as well. I've always been a car guy. I race autocross and do track day events. But I learned to drive in my mom's 87 XJ, so the Comanche feels familiar to me. I'd like to give off roading a try, since despite all the other cool car stuff I've done, I've never tried it before. My fiancee is more of a truck person than I am, but we agree on our desire for a 4x4 truck, and this MJ is in the right place at the right time. It's also one of the best handling small trucks out there, which is a plus considering my BRZ and a past fleet of Miatas. So that's my intro. I'm looking forward to our new project, and appreciate all the great info that's already here. I'm sure I'll be back with questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Welcome to the site! I believe the only thing you find different on how a MJ drives differently than a XJ is that the rear end is more loose in the rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 welcome to the addiction! once you get your hands on it, I would first run through Cruiser's tips: http://comancheclub.com/topic/48463-cruisers-mostly-renix-tips/ and before you go for h4s, do the harness upgrade (older MJs and XJs suffer from a huge voltage issue in the headlight harness) (I swear there was a writeup on here somewhere but I can't seem to locate it :doh: ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buter1ma Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 KJ1H, good looking ride. I am new here too. I don't have a comanche yet but I am looking for one. I have had 89 cherokee, 2 2001 wrangler TJs and I currently have a 04 wrangler rubicon. I have been doing a lot of research on these. I can't wait to find one of my own. So if anyone knows someone selling one. Tell them to message me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ1H Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Thanks for the welcome and the advice! I have Cruiser's tips bookmarked and will work my way through them once I have the truck. Hopefully once I do that and run some fresh gas through it, it'll run as smooth as a baby's elbow. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acerocknroll Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Nice pickup! I just joined the club too, found an Eliminator a couple weeks back. If you're ditching the tape deck, would you mind shooting me a PM when you rip it out if you're interested in getting rid of it? I still have a lot of tapes actually lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ1H Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 I can definitely do that! Just for that, I won't "rip" it out, but carefully remove it. If you're lucky, I might even be able to find a tape to put in and make sure it still works. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ1H Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Much to my surprise, the first article I've written about my Comanche for Right Foot Down just got reposted not only to Truck Yeah, but the Jalopnik front page! I'm pretty amazed considering that I only wrote about my plans for it and haven't even brought it home just yet. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Everyone loves MJs. :D I'm an author on Oppo (who isn't) and spend a lot of time on truck yeah, and jalopnik. Haven't been on for a couple days because of work, but I'll head straight over and check it out. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 welcome to the addiction! once you get your hands on it, I would first run through Cruiser's tips: http://comancheclub.com/topic/48463-cruisers-mostly-renix-tips/ and before you go for h4s, do the harness upgrade (older MJs and XJs suffer from a huge voltage issue in the headlight harness) (I swear there was a writeup on here somewhere but I can't seem to locate it :doh: ) LOL. The write-up is #19 in my Tips!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 it needs it's own listing in the DIY catalog so I can find it. I'll go do that now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 it needs it's own listing in the DIY catalog so I can find it. I'll go do that now... LOL. They say the mind is the second thing to go..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit41 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 KJ1H, good looking ride. I am new here too. I don't have a comanche yet but I am looking for one. I have had 89 cherokee, 2 2001 wrangler TJs and I currently have a 04 wrangler rubicon. I have been doing a lot of research on these. I can't wait to find one of my own. So if anyone knows someone selling one. Tell them to message me. Where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acerocknroll Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I can definitely do that! Just for that, I won't "rip" it out, but carefully remove it. If you're lucky, I might even be able to find a tape to put in and make sure it still works. :) Thanks man! Nice article BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ1H Posted December 2, 2015 Author Share Posted December 2, 2015 Thanks! Been a little preoccupied with the new house. Just got in today. The MJ arrives Thursday, so I'll be moving all my tools and such over to the house so I can get to work on it when I need a break from moving! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteco Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 good luck, take a lot of photos if you do the thread. lots of great help here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted December 3, 2015 Share Posted December 3, 2015 KJ1H - I'm a couple of hours south of you, near New Haven. Let me know what you need -- I have "stuff" that may help fill in the blanks. (Like a rust-free, black driver's door ...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ1H Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share Posted December 9, 2015 KJ1H - I'm a couple of hours south of you, near New Haven. Let me know what you need -- I have "stuff" that may help fill in the blanks. (Like a rust-free, black driver's door ...) Ooo, definitely interested in the door! And a non-leaky gas tank, if you have one. I still have to go through all the parts that came with the truck (it was delivered last Thursday) but if I can't find the driver's seat belt that might be an important part to get, too... Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpdriver1 Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Welcome --- very nice looking rig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmoore1031 Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Looks cool but I say spend the money on Truck-Lites instead. So much light and amazing warranty made in America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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