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Newbie with a Comanche


KJ1H
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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."

 

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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!

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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: )

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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.

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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. :)

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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!!!!

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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?
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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  

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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!

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