moparbrown Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 New to CC so sorry if this breaks any rules. I am considering buying a 91 Comanche 2wd 2.5L 4speed truck and wanted to get your advice before pulling the trigger. The owner said it "Does have an occasional lifter tick on and off mainly after the motor is warmed up. It was like that when I bought it and there is no issues with that other then the occasional sound of the tick on and off " https://springfieldil.craigslist.org/cto/5893122194.html Do you guys have any experience with this or any issues you know of to watch out for on a base model Comanche? It only has 85k miles and is priced at $3,600 with a small skyjacker lift. Also it is from Illinois so I wasn't sure if these have problems passing safety/emissions testing- I'm in Missouri. Plan to use it as a daily for 20 mins both way highway driving. And hopefully it's strong and healthy enough to haul dirt bikes a couple hours away. Thanks in advance for your input! Dillon the newb who really wants an mj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Looks like a nice low mileage truck. Someone has shown it some love, the woodgrain dash panel would not be factory and was probably junkyard sourced, and it looks to have clear (aftermarket) front turn signal lenses. If they have also kept up on regular preventative maintenance (like oil changes), it might very well be a good buy. An added plus is it's a 91, so it uses Chrysler electronics. Unfortunately it does not have the 4.0 six cylinder motor. While the 4 cyl is a good motor for what it is, my opinion is that is a significant hit on the truck's overall value. The 4.0 is the motor of choice on these rigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 2.5L, 4spd, 2wd... I'd try to talk him down. Even if that's really what you want, they just aren't worth as much. But it would be an excellent chassis to build, as long as it is as clean as it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 You many want to take a closer look at other indicators of wear than that 85K speedometer. I would have been easy to change the instrument cluster at the same time the "wood" cover was put on. I would check the title documents to see how long the current owner has had the car. A quick flip would tell me there is an undisclosed issue of some king. But the pictures look good for what they show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Get the VIN and run a Carfax report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airspeed Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I have an 88 2.5L, 4spd, 4x4 and it is a good little rig. Even at the high altitude up here in Colorado I’m giving up about 20 horsepower, it still gets around good. The big advantage to the 2.5 is they get pretty good gas mileage. Gas is cheap right now but could be back up to $5 gal real quick… There are really no performance upgrades for the 2.5, down the road you could do a 4.0 swap if you are up to the challenge. The ticking sound could be a cracked or loose exhaust manifold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airspeed Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Is it just the angle of the photo or is the instrument cluster no aligned to the bezel properly? It may have had a cluster swap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparbrown Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 Thanks for the input so far everyone!!! I am for sure going to run a car fax to make sure that mileage checks out. I got to talk to the owner tonight and he gave me a little more info: new rear drums: pads,shoes and springs, new steering stabilizer, new valve cover gasket. Has bedliner and previous owner used schaeffer oil. Current owner hasn't had it long-3 months and is selling because his new job requires constant travel and he'd rather have the cash. I'm not too worried about the 2wd or 2.5 as it's my starter Comanche (don't tell my wife) and I don't plan to do anything crazy with it. I think it could be a great future build with my future kids -4.0and 4wd if I get bored with it. Mainly just want to see if it's a decent price if the truck is rust free and running good. I love the look of it and see it as damn near turn key - no immediate mods so I'm willing to pay full asking price if nobody thinks it's ridiculous. Thanks again everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 MJ prices are all over the place and they vary alot by location. Around me that truck would sell for about half what he is asking,even a 91 4.0l truck would be $1000 less than that. But in your area it might be fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 MJ prices are all over the place and they vary alot by location. Around me that truck would sell for about half what he is asking,even a 91 4.0l truck would be $1000 less than that. With only 85,000 miles on the clock? What would a used Ranger or S-10 with that many miles, and rust-free, cost? (Regardless of year - just considering mileage and condition.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 My 89 4cyl 4spd 4x4 was $400,i bought it and put it straight into daily driver service. A buddy just bought a super clean running and driving 91 2.5l 5spd 2wd at right around 100k for $1200,he drove it home and ripped the engine out for a 4.0l swap,he sold me the complete 2.5l mpi and wiring for $120. MJs just aren't that expensive out here,my buddy has a 91 4.0l,AW4,2wd with a small lift for sale for $2700 and isn't getting much interest,its got around 200k but he is throwing in everything for a 4x4 swap with it at that price. I don't really watch the S10s and Rangers but I gave $400 for my 94XLT extended cab 4.0l,auto,2wd. It's a decent condition driver with 200k though. I'm sure low mileage examples would bring more,assuming they can somehow back up the claim,mileage isn't reported at DMV after 10 years here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Dillon, welcome to the club! I think that truck could be a decent buy, only if it passed my personal inspection. I'd first do my best to find documentation verifying the mileage. The clusters are exceptionally easy to swap out or alter in the MJ and XJ. The steering wheel cover and seat cover also don't resonate with 85k miles in my opinion. The clear side marker lights and shiny speaker grills on the doors are also alarming to me, makes me think a teen may have owned or operated the truck. The rear bumper is a cheap Fey replacement, I'd be curious to know why the original was replaced. Rusted or wrecked? Rust would be my biggest concern with the truck, especially coming from Illinois and having what looks like a relatively fresh coat of paint. The J e e p stickers are missing on the tailgate,the fuel door is painted black and the radio antenna is missing. Check those bed sides, rockers, cab corners, frame between the front and rear spring mounts and floor. It is a non AC truck, in case you missed that. Don't fear the 2.5l. I daily drive my rusted out 86 with the 2.5. At 191k miles she gets me to work and back (17 miles one way) and has even climbed up to 13,500' in Colorado on Mount Antero and did trails like Black Bear Pass without an issue. Just don't expect it to do anything real fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Keep in mind that 91 has the 2.5l MPI which is up about 15 HP and 15lb ft over the 2.5l TBI most of us got. Not a huge difference but they are noticeably more peppy,it can also be hopped up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparbrown Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 It is a non AC truck, in case you missed that. How can you tell it's a non AC? The dash looks like it has it and the guy said the AC needed recharged. Is he just feeding me bs? Sorry I'm completely new to mj's so bear with my incompetence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 How can you tell it's a non AC? The dash looks like it has it and the guy said the AC needed recharged. Is he just feeding me bs? Sorry I'm completely new to mj's so bear with my incompetence.Whoops, my mistake. The HVAC controls have a different layout than my 92 and the blurry picture posted in the ad made it look similar to my non AC 86 HVAC control. I see it does have AC, but I wonder if it is aftermarket. Here is a new Mopar HVAC control: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 It is a non AC truck, in case you missed that. How can you tell it's a non AC? The dash looks like it has it and the guy said the AC needed recharged. Is he just feeding me bs? Sorry I'm completely new to mj's so bear with my incompetence. Just looked at the pics, and yup, "260 AC", dash controls have no "AC" settings. Sorry, didnt fully read earlier post, looks no AC to me in the pics, Now I gotta go trudge threw the snow to go look at a 91 XJ in the yard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Dillon, welcome to the club! I think that truck could be a decent buy, only if it passed my personal inspection. I'd first do my best to find documentation verifying the mileage. The clusters are exceptionally easy to swap out or alter in the MJ and XJ. The steering wheel cover and seat cover also don't resonate with 85k miles in my opinion. The clear side marker lights and shiny speaker grills on the doors are also alarming to me, makes me think a teen may have owned or operated the truck. The rear bumper is a cheap Fey replacement, I'd be curious to know why the original was replaced. Rusted or wrecked? <snip> The electronic speedometer is much harder to roll back than the mechanical speedometer. But when the wood bezel was removed from another vehicle by me, I took the full instrument cluster from the same car. NOW, the truck for sale has the base instrument cluster - not the full gauge cluster. That tells me perhaps only the wood bezel was changed - wood bezel came on the "limited" up market models, not base trucks. I would want to see what is under the seat cover - could be near mint original seats or it could be trashed original seats. The Fey bumper could have been a nice find in a junk yard that was better than the OEM bumper. Many of us have found better looking parts on our trips to the junk yard and simply used the better looking parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparbrown Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 Update: may have found a new love interest! http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5919841707.html Seems like most are saying the 4.0 is a more reliable engine and of course 4x4 will come in handy. Just hate the red interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 The 86 V6 is the worst MJ ever made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparbrown Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 The one from Indy has no ac and you guys talked me out of the 4cyl so it's back to searching. Does anyone know of any 4.0 mjs for sale anywhere around the St Louis area- willing to drive 4 or so hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Dillon, welcome to the club! I think that truck could be a decent buy, only if it passed my personal inspection. I'd first do my best to find documentation verifying the mileage. The clusters are exceptionally easy to swap out or alter in the MJ and XJ. The steering wheel cover and seat cover also don't resonate with 85k miles in my opinion. The clear side marker lights and shiny speaker grills on the doors are also alarming to me, makes me think a teen may have owned or operated the truck. The rear bumper is a cheap Fey replacement, I'd be curious to know why the original was replaced. Rusted or wrecked? <snip> The electronic speedometer is much harder to roll back than the mechanical speedometer. But when the wood bezel was removed from another vehicle by me, I took the full instrument cluster from the same car. NOW, the truck for sale has the base instrument cluster - not the full gauge cluster. That tells me perhaps only the wood bezel was changed - wood bezel came on the "limited" up market models, not base trucks. I would want to see what is under the seat cover - could be near mint original seats or it could be trashed original seats. The Fey bumper could have been a nice find in a junk yard that was better than the OEM bumper. Many of us have found better looking parts on our trips to the junk yard and simply used the better looking parts. While you are correct that it is much harder to adjust the mileage on the electronic speedos, it can be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87MJTIM Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Two issues/questions re: speedo Wasn't the 91 an electronic mileage odometer? The one shown is an analog odometer. My 91 XJ has e-odometer, but it was a 4.0, 5 spd. Isn't the speedo from an earlier model? The 0 mph is at the 8 o'clock position. This was on the early model MJ/XJs (my 87 MJ). Later model speedos have the 0 mph at the 9 o'clock position. With the wood grain bezel and the speedo, it looks like it has been changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Two issues/questions re: speedo Wasn't the 91 an electronic mileage odometer? The one shown is an analog odometer. My 91 XJ has e-odometer, but it was a 4.0, 5 spd. Isn't the speedo from an earlier model? The 0 mph is at the 8 o'clock position. This was on the early model MJ/XJs (my 87 MJ). Later model speedos have the 0 mph at the 9 o'clock position. With the wood grain bezel and the speedo, it looks like it has been changed. Just plain old numbers. No digital display until 97. The speedo and odo are controlled electronically after 91, but the displays are analog. That's exactly how my 91 idiot light cluster looked. The red and black full clusters rest at 9 o'clock regardless of era. The cable driven pre 1991 "blue" clusters (idiot light, 3/4 and full) sit a little bit below 5 when the vehicle is stopped and the electronic 1991+ ones sit at exactly 5. Doesn't mean it hasn't been tampered with, but that is definitely the correct idiot light cluster for a 1991. I don't think the mileage is suspect just because the cluster bezel has been changed. I think an owner probably just liked the woodgrain better. The numbers on the odometer line up nicely, so I don't think that particular odometer has been altered. I'd expect to see the numbers not line up correctly if it had been rolled back. Of course, there's no way of knowing if it's been replaced with another low mileage cluster except for a Carfax report or similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccannan Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Which one did you buy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparbrown Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 Still searching! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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