Jacob Ochs Posted November 23, 2020 Author Share Posted November 23, 2020 I visited my dad today and realized I haven't touched my Jeep since September! I went to start it today and it started first crank! I usually start it weekly, but life got in the way. The Cab job seems super daunting so I haven't given it any thought since getting the parts Comanche. I need to relight my Jeep Fire I really really really miss driving the MJ. Its by far my favorite vehicle to drive around and its been over a year since I've had it fully up and running. I also noticed after reading through this thread that I've been super optimistic about the timing that I'm going to get things done 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Jacob Ochs said: I also noticed after reading through this thread that I've been super optimistic about the timing that I'm going to get things done 😂 aren't we all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 The Cab roof is all done! I also came across a 1996 Xj overhead console at a Salvage yard in St. Louis Missouri! Apparently these are pretty rare so we retro fitted it for the MJ cab somehow the original computer is still working, I had o buy a $40 ambient air temp sensor for the temp to work, but I think its super cool to have in a older vehicle! The Wiper motor didn't survive the submersion, so i picked one of those up too and swapped it out! The interior is completely redone now! I'm just waiting on some Cavfab steering parts to come in the main and she should be all road ready again! We reinforced the headliner with some fiberglass and fiberglass bondo and its holding its shape awesome! As for the Turbo, I've just been enjoying the whistle sound for now, I have a tuner close by that said hes ready to rock with it whenever I'm ready! I'm glad HP tuners now supports older Chrysler. I reached out to Ryan Hogan a few months back but he seems to be a busy man! Tuning is something I've always been interested in, but last time I tried it cost me an engine hahah! At this point the only original 1986 parts on this Jeep are the Body and Headliner! I never thought id be at this point 8 years ago when I was 16! Photodump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 score! it looks right at home too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 2 hours ago, Pete M said: score! it looks right at home too. Thanks Pete!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted November 12, 2021 Author Share Posted November 12, 2021 Here’s the Jeep as it sits now! Everything’s all patched up and running awesome Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted November 12, 2021 Author Share Posted November 12, 2021 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 sexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 So, I blew up a piston skirt on the 4.0 when i was having a fueling issue. It would backfire under boost and I think it stressed the piston too much. So I went ahead and had it bored .030 over and ordered a 4.6 stroker kit from Cleggs! (They were awesome to work with, Highly Recommended) Scat Forged Rods, Icon Pistons, MLS Gasket ARP Bolts for the main caps and heads (The head studs are on back order for 6 months as of now) All the fun stuff! I'm still at 6psi but working my way up to 10 with my tuner! I'm sure it could hold upwards of 20, but I have a 1.5 BAR Honda map sensor so i can't exceed 12psi and I don't want my tuner to have to completely remap all the tables! Its probably going to be far more reliable with 10psi as well! Here are the pictures, It took about a month from start to finish but most of that time was waiting on parts and the Machine Shop. Id say around 4 days of working time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted February 13, 2022 Author Share Posted February 13, 2022 Also, Could an Admin please rename my Thread to "1986 2.8L MJ to 4.6 Turbo Stroker" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 more power! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex06 Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 22 hours ago, Jacob Ochs said: Also, Could an Admin please rename my Thread to "1986 2.8L MJ to 4.6 Turbo Stroker" No, no, no.....I like this title. When you finally end with an LS we can talk about changing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 No, no, no.....I like this title. When you finally end with an LS we can talk about changing it Hahaha maybe one day! I considered it when I blew the skirts on the 4.0 but I don’t have it in me right now maybe in 5 years!Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted December 14, 2024 Author Share Posted December 14, 2024 Welp.... I'm 28 now as of the 11th. I still have the Comanche, its in pieces! I wanted to buy new Napier fender flares and saw that they went out of business... Sad to see. I started a business and the Jeep fell to the wayside and I really miss it. Time flies. Ill update once i have it mostly together :) Hope everyone is doing well!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 35 minutes ago, Jacob Ochs said: Welp.... I'm 28 now as of the 11th. I still have the Comanche, its in pieces! I wanted to buy new Napier fender flares and saw that they went out of business... Sad to see. I started a business and the Jeep fell to the wayside and I really miss it. Time flies. Ill update once i have it mostly together :) Hope everyone is doing well!!! Happy belated birthday! Glad to see you posted on this thread again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvagedcircuit Posted December 14, 2024 Share Posted December 14, 2024 16 hours ago, Jacob Ochs said: Welp.... I'm 28 now as of the 11th. I still have the Comanche, its in pieces! I wanted to buy new Napier fender flares and saw that they went out of business... Sad to see. I started a business and the Jeep fell to the wayside and I really miss it. Time flies. Ill update once i have it mostly together :) Hope everyone is doing well!!! Congrats on the business! Best of luck to you and the comanche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted Wednesday at 02:44 AM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 02:44 AM I just wanted to let everyone know I'm still alive and kicking and so is the Jeep! Life has been crazy growing into an adult. That is an understatement. I have so many updates. The Jeep is 10x cooler than when I have last posted. I will be significantly more active on here and would like to make an effort to revive the community. I went through a fire on Feb 19th, 2026 and lost everything... except the Jeep. I'm so excited for the next chapter of my life. I have a Youtube channel I have been uploading regularly on since 2021 I believe ill link here too. Everyone one here that has replied, I feel like I grew up with you guys, I'm the best mechanic I know now (in part thanks to all of you). Thank you everyone so much, I am 29 now. Closing out on my 20's and I've had my Jeep since I was 15. I believe I started posting on here when I was 18 or 19. Time flies. Hope someone I used to talk to on here sees this. I will update soon with a video but for now. Here is the current build list as it sits.... ;) 1986 Jeep Comanche Build Specifications: VEHICLE & ECU: Platform: 1986 Jeep Comanche Custom (originally blue) Donor Vehicle: 1996 Jeep XJ (engine, transmission, transfer case, wiring harness) ECU: Jeep JTEC PCM (from 1996 XJ), tuned with HP Tuners Rev Limit: 5500 RPM Fuel: 93 octane Target Boost: 16 psi Target Output: ~450 HP crank / ~380 WHP ENGINE – LONG BLOCK: Base Engine: Jeep 4.0L Inline-6 Displacement: 4.6L stroker Overbore: .030" Compression Ratio: 8.8:1 Rotating Assembly Crankshaft: Eagle 9000 series cast steel, 3.895" stroke Connecting Rods: Scat forged rods, ARP bolts, free-floating bushed Pistons: ICON 4032 forged dish (−27.5 cc, .030" overbore) Bearings: Clevite rod & main Rings: Hastings metric (1.5 / 1.5 / 4.0) Assembly: Balanced rotating assembly Valvetrain Camshaft: Cleggs Stage 3 Performance (CE-J4-CAM3) Duration: 273° intake / 279° exhaust Duration @ .050": 219° / 225° Valve Lift: .480" / .480" LSA: 114° Lifters: Howards (46 pcs) Valve Springs: Dual springs Retainers: Titanium Block / Head Hardware Head Gasket: Mahle MLS Head Studs: ARP Girdle Spacer Kit: Jeep 4.0 stroker kit (ARP CE-ARP-JGWK) Timing Set: JP Freeze Plugs: Brass Gaskets: Fel-Pro (1996 Jeep 4.0L) INDUCTION & BOOST SYSTEM: Turbocharger: T3/T4 T04E (.63 A/R, 5-bolt exhaust housing) Turbo Manifold: Boostwerks Engineering 4.0L Wastegate: TIAL 38mm Blow-Off Valve: Tial Q Boost Level: 16 psi (1.1 BAR - small Red, big Yellow Spring) Intercooler: Black aluminum FMIC (28" × 7" × 2.5") Intercooler Piping: 2.5" aluminum Typical IATs: ~100°F FUEL SYSTEM: Injectors: 47 lb/hr Fuel Pump: AEM Electronics 50-1000 (340 LPH) Fuel Pressure: 78 PSI (boost-referenced) Fuel Lines: -6 AN PTFE steel braided Fuel Filter: Inline Evil Energy ENGINE MANAGEMENT & SENSORS MAP Sensor: 2.7-bar MAP (custom scaled in HP Tuners) Tuning Strategy: Speed-density Ignition System: Stock Jeep 4.0L (factory coil/distributor via JTEC PCM) Spark Plugs: NGK BKR7EIX Spark Plug Gap: 0.025" Vacuum/Boost Lines: -4 AN PTFE Coolant Hoses: Red silicone Power Steering Lines: -6 AN PTFE high-pressure steel braided EXHAUST SYSTEM: Downpipe/Exhaust: 2.5" Connections: V-band clamps throughout DRIVETRAIN Transmission: AX-15 (manual, from 1996 XJ donor) Transfer Case: NP242 (from 1996 XJ donor) Rear Axle: Ford 8.8 (4.11 gears) Front Axle: Dana 30 HP (4.11 gears) SUSPENSION & TIRES: Lift Height: 9 inches Shocks: Bilstein 5125 series Tires: 35" diameter MASS/LOAD-AFFECTING HARDWARE Front Bumper: Custom (~120 lb) with 1,200 lb winch Rear Bumper: Custom (~60 lb) Batteries: Dual batteries (~60 lb each), toolbox-mounted opposite fuel tank ELECTRICAL/AUXILIARY: Dual Battery System Redarc Trailer Brake Controller On-board 6 gallon air compressor On-board 1500 watt power inverter 14" light bar 4x Reverse LED's 360 reverse camera Wilwood electric parking brake Bed lights Red silicone coolant hoses PLANNED MODIFICATIONS: Lighting Rock Lights: 4x (one per wheel well) Steering knuckle lights Performance Iron out tune Tremec Transmission Side of bed exit exhaust (flange mount) Muffler with cutouts for touring Gauges/Monitoring Replacing overhead console temp/compass: Boost Controller with Arduino control Knock sensor Oil temp gauge Oil cooler Oil level sensor Fuel pressure gauge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted Wednesday at 05:43 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 05:43 AM Welcome back, sorry to hear of the fire, can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. Please post some current pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted Wednesday at 12:38 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 12:38 PM Welcome back! Yours has been an awesome build from the start and I’m glad that you’ve still got it. Thanks for checking in! Looking forward to more updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicJames Posted Wednesday at 02:19 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 02:19 PM On 4/16/2021 at 6:27 PM, Jacob Ochs said: The Cab roof is all done! I also came across a 1996 Xj overhead console at a Salvage yard in St. Louis Missouri! Apparently these are pretty rare so we retro fitted it for the MJ cab somehow the original computer is still working, I had o buy a $40 ambient air temp sensor for the temp to work, but I think its super cool to have in a older vehicle! The Wiper motor didn't survive the submersion, so i picked one of those up too and swapped it out! The interior is completely redone now! I'm just waiting on some Cavfab steering parts to come in the main and she should be all road ready again! We reinforced the headliner with some fiberglass and fiberglass bondo and its holding its shape awesome! As for the Turbo, I've just been enjoying the whistle sound for now, I have a tuner close by that said hes ready to rock with it whenever I'm ready! I'm glad HP tuners now supports older Chrysler. I reached out to Ryan Hogan a few months back but he seems to be a busy man! Tuning is something I've always been interested in, but last time I tried it cost me an engine hahah! At this point the only original 1986 parts on this Jeep are the Body and Headliner! I never thought id be at this point 8 years ago when I was 16! Photodump Hi, congrats on all the progress, it's looking really nice. Can I ask you about the overhead console. I have 1990, and the compass works fine, but I keep getting OC for the temp reading. I'm guessing it means open circuit. I've tried a second temp sensor from a junk yard, but no change. Did you ever get an OC reading initially before you swapped the sensor? And would you mind putting the link to the one you bought. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago https://www.youtube.com/@ochszy3831/featured here is my youtube channel! What I will do is post the videos here one by one and give a deep dive as to that state of the project to keep the form updated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago On 4/8/2026 at 9:19 AM, MagicJames said: Hi, congrats on all the progress, it's looking really nice. Can I ask you about the overhead console. I have 1990, and the compass works fine, but I keep getting OC for the temp reading. I'm guessing it means open circuit. I've tried a second temp sensor from a junk yard, but no change. Did you ever get an OC reading initially before you swapped the sensor? And would you mind putting the link to the one you bought. Cheers Dude, Honestly the temp gauge and compass are horrible and finnicky. My temp does work now. But blinks. I have no idea how to permanently fix them so you're on your own. I plan to replace it with a 2"x 1" arduino board that shows my fuel pressure, outside air temp and then my boost controller settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago On 4/8/2026 at 7:38 AM, neohic said: Welcome back! Yours has been an awesome build from the start and I’m glad that you’ve still got it. Thanks for checking in! Looking forward to more updates. Great to see your name pop up!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago On 4/8/2026 at 12:43 AM, fiatslug87 said: Welcome back, sorry to hear of the fire, can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. Please post some current pictures. Check out here while I make time to get photos https://www.youtube.com/@ochszy3831/featured Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacob Ochs Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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