April 2016 ● JoeLAW's '89

[neohic]

So, here we are in April. In the past I think I've posted up some real doozies when it comes to April. You know... "April Fools" and whatnot. Not this year! This year's April is no joke. This truck has had quite a life getting to where it is and its done it all in style. It's clean... it's well thought out... and yet, it's kind of a little b*@$£. Yup! April's MJOTM goes to...

 

 

 

YEAR/MODEL ● 

1989 Jeep Comanche Eliminator

 

ENGINE/PERFORMANCE ●
4.0L I6 from a 06 TJ Wrangler with about 18-20K miles on it. Banks Headers, K&N CAI, Jeepers and Creepers 62mm Throttle Body.
 

DRIVETRAIN ●
Mostly Stock, AW4 transmission with 6 row Derale Transmission cooler, NP231 Transfer Case, D30 Front Open Diff with new Moog Ball-joints SKF Wheel Unit Bearings , and D44 Rear Limited Slip, with 3.55 Ratio.
 

COOLING ●
2 Row Griffin Aluminum Radiator, with 3 10" Maradyne Perfomance E-fans sitting on a custom made shroud, and a Flowkooler Pump. Also a custom overflow Tank made out of an old Vodka Bottle, and to monitor Things at the Cab an AutoMeter Mechanical Temp Gauge.
 

ELECTRICAL/IGNITION ●
Odyssey PC-1750 Battery, with heavy duty battery cables. MSD Ignition 6AL Ignition system.
 

SUSPENSION/STEERING ●
It's an array of different components, but consists of mainly a 4.5" Rough Country lift, with the exception of the front 2.5" Spacers (to level things up) and adjustable UCAs and LCAs. Poly Bushings at the axle for the UCAs. Steering is the stock Saginaw Steering Box, with the Off Road Only (ORO) U-Turn Tie Rod and Drag link system, and Core 4x4 Heavy Duty Track Bar and Track Bar Mount.
 

INTERIOR ●
Mostly Stock, with the stock bench seat in place, except for the Alpine Stereo with Polk Audio speakers, and the Autometer A-Pillar Dual gauge pod. And a Little Trees Coconut Air Freshener.
 

BRAKES ●
Rebuilt Stock Brakes, with Stainless Steel Crown performance front brake lines.
 

LIGHTING ●

Stock with auxiliary Rigid Duallys with a spot pattern.

 

EXTERIOR ●
Bought it with the paint job that it has on there right now and just added the BFG stickers on the side of the bed, (which came from the very first Baja San Felipe 250 in '86, my dad got them and was saving them so I put them to good use). Also Added the OR-Fab Heavy Duty front bumper with the grille guard, and modified it to fit the Warn 9.5ti Winch. Rear bumper is a "Wanna-be stock" makeshift bumper, with a tow hitch that will soon be coming off.
 

WHEELS/TIRES ●
16" Rubicon Moab Wheels, with 295/75 R16 BF Goodrich All Terrain KO2s.
 

MISCELLANEOUS ●
Pep Boys window tint done at home, and some Ricer mods under the hood like a set of Russell Stainless Steel Braided fuel hoses with their respective Anodized AN Fittings to fit into the new fuel rail, and also a small Spectre Breather filter for the Valve Head. Also Custom Heavy Duty Power Steering mount, battery tray, overflow tank mount, Motor Mounts, and Fuel line mounts.

 

 

 

 

 

FULL BUILD THREAD

Remember That One Time?... Tell Us Your Best MJ Story ●
Well one of the first times after I bought her, I took her out to a local DownHill riding spot where in order to shuttle you drive up an unmantained dirt road which is absolutely necessary to have 4WD since it's loose rocky and ledgy. So I drove her up a couple of times, and spent half the day out there, because we had a party to go to afterwards. Well as we're going to the party we find out that both my brake lights, and passenger side turn signal were not working, so no biggie we decided that a friend of mine was gonna drive behind me and one up front. After we get to the party, I was lucky to find a parking space close to the entrance, because since I had all the bikes and gear on the truck I wanted to take a peak at it from time to time.

Well as time passed by, beer started flowing and people started leaving. and Before I knew it it was already very late, and my friends had left. So since I knew that basically my taillights were not working, I decided to take the back streets instead of the freeway back home. But oh Surprise! Right after I take off on one of the streets with the least traffic I get pulled over.. And I was for sure a bit more than buzzed, so anyways the Cop stops me and asks me the question and I explained to him what happenned, and the he looks at the bikes on the truck and he's says "nice bikes man", to where I respond "thanks", and then he starts looking at the truck and starts asking me all this questions, "What year is this?, I've never seen this type of Cherokee.." So I get off my truck and start telling him all about it, and the bikes and stuff, and then after a while of admiring the truck, He says "Well you know it i very dangerous for you not to have any taillights, and I responded "Yes I know but I live somewhat close by, and it's getting very late and need to get home", to what he responds "all right I'm gonna escort you home, just follow me close by". At this point I couldn't believe it, I was like Jessica you saved my @$$! Anyways.. We get home I park my truck on the driveway I wave and yell "Thanks!" to what he responded "Oh and by the way, I know you're @#$%ed up, Have a Good Night!" My reaction was priceless jaw all the way down to the ground! I was like all right this guy just made my day! so I left the truck all loaded up and didn't even bother to lock it up.. Because I was thinking nothing can really happen after this.. haha and that's how this is my Best MJ Story.

 

CC is Awesome!... Why Do You Think So? ●

Because it has a lot, and I mean a lot! Of great info and very helpful people, everytime I see a fellow Comanche Driver on the Road, I always try to stop him so I can talk to him about it, and try to make him join CC. I mean now that I just went to Moab for the 50th Easter Jeep Safari, I talked to a few guys which some of them where already on here, and some of them weren't and I told them just join man, and start posting because you don't know which post that you'll do will help out somebody else, and vice versa. This is a badass site and online community that is always looking to lend a helping hand to the one in need for tech info, or just different ideas. 

 

 

 

This truck is really something special, I think. I totally dig the two tone paint and the big BFG decals... kind of nostalgic looking! That mixed with the updated front end and it really turns some heads. Add in the Moabs and... well... Moabs on an MJ... perfect! Way to go, man! Beautiful truck and congratulations!

 

-Ben

This post has been promoted to an article

[ScottJeep]

Great truck, AWESOME Story, Congrats!

[Minuit]

Ooh, I like this a lot. I like how specific the parts list is, even down to the air freshener :D

[buxmj]

Awesome mj! Congrats on mjotm, well deserved.

[HOrnbrod]

Way to go Joe! I've always liked this truck with all the tasteful modifications you have done. Keep 'em coming.

[daking]

I've seen this truck in person. Joe has done an awesome job with his MJ!  I'm glad to see it driving around. 

 

Joe, we need to take our MJ's on a play date :) 

[xjrev10]

Also got to meet Joe briefly at the Quadratec dinner in Moab a few weeks ago! Wish we could have gotten a pic but the weather was miserable. Congrats on MJOTM!

[JoeLAW]

Thanks for the Props Guys! She´s a work in progress, and will be getting only better from now on!

[500 MJ]

Congrats! Great MJ!

[89eliminator]

awesome looking MJ!

[grayghost rob]

Man great looking truck

[beto_24]

i see you have picture of where your truck got painted do you know where thats at because i would like to know thanks.

[Pancho975]

Yeah Comanche's are a special truck, even the cops know! I get asked about mine all the time. Nice work, enjoyed your post.