My 88 Comanche, "Project MJ"

[KJ1H]

Though I haven't brought home my Comanche yet, I'll start a build thread for it. I have a plan. We'll see if the plan actually comes true in the real world. :) You guys will probably understand the name Mary Jane. It's a Jeep MJ. 'Nuff said.

 

I wrote all about it on Right Foot Down, and it got reposted over to Truck Yeah and even the Jalopnik front page! I'll keep writing about this as I go, and as long as the powers that be don't mind I'll share links here, but I intend this thread to be more of the nitty-gritty day-to-day stuff that you care about and the general readership on the car sites doesn't.

 

So, jumping right in, phase 1: Put it back together and get it on the road. It comes with a new front bumper, so that and the tow hooks will go on. The interior is still in pieces because the floorboards just got replaced.

 

 

 

The interior pieces are currently stored in the back of the truck, along with a whole bunch of other spare parts. I'll have to work on little things like bolting the seats and seat belts back in. Rather than install new carpet, I plan to bedliner the floor and call it good. No need to trap all that moisture in the carpet and invite the rust to come back.

 

 

There are also some body panels to replace. The bottom of the driver's door is all rotted out. I know I can replace it with a 4-door XJ door, but I'm having a heck of a time finding a non-rotted example here in MA. To get a sticker, I'll likely bondo it up, paint it, and try to slide it by, just to get it on the road. That goes for any other rust spots on the body just now. But I'll definitely look to replace the door. The passenger door has already been replaced. The front fenders have some rot too, but the truck comes with a pair of clean XJ fenders to replace them, so that's no problem. The stick-on chrome panels visible on the driver's side of the truck are responsible for most of this body rust, so I'll take them off and clean up the areas underneath before it's too late to save them.

 

The 4.0 is running a little rough. It drives OK but it's down on power. It's been sitting for I don't know how long, so fresh fuel and maybe some Seafoam will be the first thing I try. Then ignition stuff - plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. I fully intend to work my way through Cruiser's tips as well, whether the basics fix the problem or not.

 

Phase 2: Rolling restoration over the winter. My current daily driver is a Subaru BRZ, which is awesome for the track but interesting in the winter, even with proper snow tires. Part of the Jeep's purpose will be to replace it as my daily driver during the winter. So once it's driveable and legal, I plan to drive it. An E-code H4 headlight conversion is high on the list because much of my winter driving is at night and sealed beams suck.

 

This is also where I'll get around to reinstalling most of the interior. But first I'll drill a hole in the roof and install a mount for my ham radio antenna. That way I can run the coax before I put the interior back in. I'll install one of my radios too - probably a Kenwood TM-621A of similar vintage to the Jeep. I'm very interested in adapting this hump mount with speaker for it.

 

 

I'd need to attach it more securely, but it would not only mount my radio nicely, it would provide a convenient speaker, and the cupholders the Comanche lacks! I'll just have to take measurements to make sure it won't block the 4WD lever.

 

I'm a big rally fan. I've driven and co-driven sweep and course opening cars at stage rallies around the northeast. One of the Comanche's jobs will be rally sweep duty. In addition to the ham radio (used at rallies but I'll gab on it regardless), I have the following mods in mind:

• LED light bar to light up those dark night stages (and roads on my evening commute).
• Reinstall factory tow hooks in front.
• Install trailer hitch receiver. I know krustyballer16 is selling hitch plates and assembled hitches. My Comanche has a custom made rear bumper, and I'm not sure if it'll work with that or not. I'm also thinking that if the custom bumper is strong enough, I can just add a receiver to it and call it good. We already have a D-ring shackle that slides into a receiver from running sweep in my lady's Jeep Liberty, so we'll reuse that here for a rear tow point.
• Tablet mount for the passenger/co-driver. We use apps instead of a true rally computer, so I want to plunk a tablet in front of the co-driver's face to track mileage and such while bombing down rally stages. Probably a RAM Mount X-Grip. I use a smaller one for my phone and love it.

Phase 3: Once warm weather returns in the spring, give it some better paint, even if it's just a decent looking rattle can job. The truck used to be red, but was painted black at some point, and the replacement fenders and doors will be other colors as well. I'm thinking of following the Rolling Stones' advice to paint it black and call it good. From there, we'll see what else it needs and what we want to do with it. I definitely want to try off roading - it's a Jeep, after all, and I've never done it. I don't see myself making too many modifications for that job, but I want to try. Mainly, though, it'll be our household junk hauler and rally sweep/tow vehicle. With the Big Ton package, it should do both of those jobs well.

 

This should be fun. I haven't had a project to tinker on in a while.

[shelbyluvv]

There are at least three project trucks named Mary Jane. Are you sure you want to stick with that name?

[gogmorgo]

I'm a little iffy on the name, too, but hey, it's your truck, call it as you like. I've kinda been holding out on naming mine.

I'm also interested in rallying. Unfortunately there's not much going on locally motorsport-wise at all. I like the direction you're going with this build, and look forward to seeing it come together.

[MancheKid86]

I'm a little iffy on the name, too, but hey, it's your truck, call it as you like. I've kinda been holding out on naming mine.

I'm also interested in rallying. Unfortunately there's not much going on locally motorsport-wise at all. I like the direction you're going with this build, and look forward to seeing it come together.

 

 

whats so wrong about mary jane? 

 my first comanche way back when was name mary jane as well!

 

diggin the truck lets see more pics!

[teamsmith]

Welcome, Justin. I read your article on jalopnik this morning and came looking for you. I look forward to seeing what you do with it. 

[KJ1H]

Thanks for the feedback so far! Though the truck is Mary Jane, my fiancee and I end up calling it MJ for short. Not too creative, but whatever.  :dunno:

 

I've posted a couple of other pieces to Right Foot Down about my Comanche project:

• Assessing and Planning
• Patching and Drilling Holes

tl;dr: Overall, the truck is solid. It steers and stops well. The engine is misfiring, consistently so I think it's a single cylinder out of whack, and I've acquired the bits and pieces for a tuneup. I discovered a leaky gas tank - the hard way.  :fs1: I'm going to try the JB Weld gas tank patch for now, and I also found a new replacement online for about $100, so that'll be the eventual fix.

 

 

I did some crappy bondo work to get it to pass MA inspection. I don't care that the driver's door is ugly. I'm going to replace it later anyway. I attached my rear plate to the custom bumper. I need to reinstall the front bumper, bolt in the seat and seat belts, and then it'll hopefully be on the road.

 

 

I'm also still moving to my new garage house, so it's been tricky working on the Comanche with everything I own scattered everywhere. I hope to get it running well enough to help me move. I just haven't had enough time to work on both projects!

[KJ1H]

More progress:

• Project MJ: Lights, Bumper, Action!

tl;dr: All lights are fixed and the proper color. Replaced crappy sealed beam headlights with Autopal H4s.

 

 

Installed the front bumper.

 

 

Yes, it's crooked. I'll also mount the front plate properly later. Found and installed seat belts. Then I used it to help me finish moving out of my old place. With my fiancee's two month old Certified Pre-Owned Ford Flex running out of front brake pads (they should never have passed CPO inspection) it was out of action most of the weekend, but the MJ saved my butt and let me finish moving on schedule.

 

I need to track down and fix an oil leak. I also need to install that muffler - this thing's loud! And I need to find time to go visit Eagle and pick out a replacement driver's door. This truck's previous owner can hook me up with a new gas tank at his cost, but that may wait until after the holidays because money.

[KJ1H]

Whoops, I forgot to post this update:

• Project MJ: Four Point Oh No

Long story short, I've lost both lifters on #2 cylinder.

 

 

Things have been on hold since that discovery, mainly to focus on getting my fiancee moved to our new house without the help of the Comanche. I've read up on replacing the lifters, and am planning on ordering the parts soon. I've never pulled a head before (at least with any intention of the motor ever running again afterward) so this is new territory for me, but the 4.0 is such a relatively simple motor I'm willing to take my time and dive in. If I'm lucky, I can get what's supposed to be my winter vehicle back together before the end of winter.  :laughin:

 

There's some good news that I haven't included in an article yet. I do appear to have good oil pressure, and after adding a little ATF to the soon-to-be-changed oil (a tip I learned here on this site), the oil warning light turned off. Aside from the obvious lifter issue, the engine appears to be fine, and well worth replacing the lifters (and the pushrod that bent). I'm hopeful that this repair, new oil, and new gaskets will solve a bunch of engine problems at once and let me get back to putting this truck on the road!