Ethical Conundrum

[R1.]

What to do.  I bought a great 89 Comanche, but it is missing a lot of parts.  I found an 86 Comanche that a guy quit on, that is in good shape other than he didn't finish the 4 cyl install.  Seems almost wrong to strip the 86 down to fix the 89.  

 

First the 89

 

Now the 86

 

 

 

What do you all think?

[krustyballer16]

Finish the 4 cylinder and drive. It looks in good shape. And looks like the 89 drives. Just source parts for it. Then you'll have 2 good Comanches

 

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[johnj92131]

You have not told us what you need to finish the 89.  Your 89 is a short bed.  86 is a long bed.  86 is a one of year, lots of differences between 86 and later trucks.  Especially electrical differences, I think.  So what is the price for the 86?  That will help assess the problem.

 

But - if you are thinking about an ethical problem.  You know the only ethical thing to do .....  Fix both of them.  Who can turn down a Comanche in need of care??

[Pete M]

there's no way I could ruin a clean MJ. :(  just get what you need from the junkyards.   :thumbsup:

[Minuit]

there's no way I could ruin a clean MJ. :(  just get what you need from the junkyards.   :thumbsup:

 

This. I even feel bad pulling parts off of junkyard MJs sometimes.

[buxmj]

I agree with all the opinions already given.  Keep the '86 as is, finish it, drive it and enjoy it.

 

Buck.

[R1.]

You have not told us what you need to finish the 89.  Your 89 is a short bed.  86 is a long bed.  86 is a one of year, lots of differences between 86 and later trucks.  Especially electrical differences, I think.  So what is the price for the 86?  That will help assess the problem.

 

But - if you are thinking about an ethical problem.  You know the only ethical thing to do .....  Fix both of them.  Who can turn down a Comanche in need of care??

I bought the 86 last night.  Its no where close to drivable, it's missing parts too.  The title is "less than clean".

 

Here are the parts I need for the 89:

 

Front driveshaft

Rear Bumper

Brake booster

Emergency brake assembly

Windshield

Window regulators / window wings

Shift console / inner shift boot

Miscellaneous dash / interior parts

Window washer assembly 

Transfer case linkage

Instrument panel switches

Fender flares

Back window catch

Tail lights

[DesertRat1991]

If that 86 is a (relatively) rust free south-west truck, I say restore it, or leave it be.

 

[Dzimm]

 

 

You have not told us what you need to finish the 89. Your 89 is a short bed. 86 is a long bed. 86 is a one of year, lots of differences between 86 and later trucks. Especially electrical differences, I think. So what is the price for the 86? That will help assess the problem.

 

But - if you are thinking about an ethical problem. You know the only ethical thing to do ..... Fix both of them. Who can turn down a Comanche in need of care??

I bought the 86 last night. Its no where close to drivable, it's missing parts too. The title is "less than clean".

 

Here are the parts I need for the 89:

 

Front driveshaft

Rear Bumper

Brake booster

Emergency brake assembly

Windshield

Window regulators / window wings

Shift console / inner shift boot

Miscellaneous dash / interior parts

Window washer assembly

Transfer case linkage

Instrument panel switches

Fender flares

Back window catch

Tail lights

Ok so what do you need to finish the 86? Is it possible to buy a single donor XJ and use that to save/fix both? At least mostly? If so then I would go this route.

[DirtyComanche]

It sounds like you need very few MJ specific parts. Hit the junkyard. You will have most of what you need without even trying.

[johnj92131]

 

You have not told us what you need to finish the 89.  Your 89 is a short bed.  86 is a long bed.  86 is a one of year, lots of differences between 86 and later trucks.  Especially electrical differences, I think.  So what is the price for the 86?  That will help assess the problem.

 

But - if you are thinking about an ethical problem.  You know the only ethical thing to do .....  Fix both of them.  Who can turn down a Comanche in need of care??

I bought the 86 last night.  Its no where close to drivable, it's missing parts too.  The title is "less than clean".

 

Here are the parts I need for the 89:

 

Front driveshaft

Rear Bumper

Brake booster

Emergency brake assembly

Windshield

Window regulators / window wings

Shift console / inner shift boot

Miscellaneous dash / interior parts

Window washer assembly 

Transfer case linkage

Instrument panel switches

Fender flares

Back window catch

Tail lights

 

Sounds like you got 5 MJ specific parts:

Fender flares (Rear only)

Back window catch

Tail lights

Rear Bumper

Emergency brake assembly.

 

The rest of the stuff can come off any 96 and below Cherokee.  I have found all the Comanche specific items you need in junk yards.  Yes, it did take time.   Also, you may want to look very closely at the 86 window regulators and wing windows.  May not be much better than what you have.

 

But, right now you have two trucks that need work, so do what you need to do to get 1 running properly.  Keep up the progress posts!

[Pete M]

use this opportunity to go with the dual brake booster  :yes:

[R1.]

 

 

You have not told us what you need to finish the 89. Your 89 is a short bed. 86 is a long bed. 86 is a one of year, lots of differences between 86 and later trucks. Especially electrical differences, I think. So what is the price for the 86? That will help assess the problem.

 

But - if you are thinking about an ethical problem. You know the only ethical thing to do ..... Fix both of them. Who can turn down a Comanche in need of care??

I bought the 86 last night. Its no where close to drivable, it's missing parts too. The title is "less than clean".

 

Here are the parts I need for the 89:

 

Front driveshaft

Rear Bumper

Brake booster

Emergency brake assembly

Windshield

Window regulators / window wings

Shift console / inner shift boot

Miscellaneous dash / interior parts

Window washer assembly

Transfer case linkage

Instrument panel switches

Fender flares

Back window catch

Tail lights

Sounds like you got 5 MJ specific parts:

Fender flares (Rear only)

Back window catch

Tail lights

 

Rear Bumper

Emergency brake assembly.

 

The rest of the stuff can come off any 96 and below Cherokee. I have found all the Comanche specific items you need in junk yards. Yes, it did take time. Also, you may want to look very closely at the 86 window regulators and wing windows. May not be much better than what you have.

 

But, right now you have two trucks that need work, so do what you need to do to get 1 running properly. Keep up the progress posts!

That what I started thinking today.

I will take some stuff off the 86 to get me going but I'm not going to gut it.

The 89 runs and runs strong. I am in a time crunch so I will get what I need to get it into shape. When time and money allows I will put the 86 together.

The window regulators in the 89 are in bad shape, the 86 are good. The 89 has very little surface rust, while the 86 is rusty in the usual places.

I kept looking for a parts Cherokee but it's crazy what people out here want for them. Anything at the junkyard gets bare quick. With so much blm land 4 wheeling is a big deal. Plus living in the foothills of the Sierras almost everyone has some kind of 4 wheel drive, and you can't swing a cat without hitting a lifted rig.

Thanks for all the input, I'm going to be careful to not "ruin" the 86.

 

 

 

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[R1.]

use this opportunity to go with the dual brake booster :yes:

Ok, I'm to look that up.

 

 

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[moos]

Find a wrecked 97 cherokee an do a swap

 

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[Eagle]

I'd sell the '89 and keep the '86. That truck is beautiful.

[R1.]

If that 86 is a (relatively) rust free south-west truck, I say restore it, or leave it be.

 

Sad to say it's not, it was brought to Northern Nevada from Iowa a few years ago and has a fair amount of rust. It's already missing parts, just not the ones I need.

 

 

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[Jeep Driver]

Now here's a Conundrum-

 

[R1.]

Now here's a Conundrum-

 

 

I like it.  It's got a good beat and the kids can dance to it. :banana:  :rock on: