keneaobi Posted October 10, 2017 Share Posted October 10, 2017 I have a 1992 manual and automatic transmission jeep Comanche. I had originally bought the manual transmission one to use around the property. I enjoyed it so much, that I wanted to have it converted to 4x4 automatic. I then found an automatic 2WD one that was an with low miles but low oil pressure. I couldn't help myself and bought it. My knee starting giving me trouble trouble and made driving the manual transmission one too hard. Since I haven't gotten the automatic one fixed yet, I wound up buying a reliable DD. Now I am trying to decided if I should still try to fix the automatic one and/or convert one of them to 4x4. I just have no idea how much it would cost to have someone do the work. Maybe I should just sell them and look for another one at a later date that is already a 4x4. Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Do you feel like you are physically capable of working on them? If so, I'd say fix them. But if you feel like you may not be able to do it, give it a try. If it becomes too hard or you don't think you'll be able to complete them, then sell them. It sounds like they both need work so it won't affect sale cost whether you sell now or later. I'd also say that if you can't drive the manual, you would probably be best off selling it to help fund the 4x4 conversion on the other one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keneaobi Posted October 13, 2017 Author Share Posted October 13, 2017 Thanks Dzimm. The manual transmission is pretty mechanically sound. I definitely can't do the work myself. It is an emotional attachment I suppose. I am wondering if I will be able to find one that I want later. If I could find someone to do the work, are we talking $10K to do the conversion or less? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankTheDog Posted October 13, 2017 Share Posted October 13, 2017 Where are you located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keneaobi Posted October 15, 2017 Author Share Posted October 15, 2017 I am in Fredericksburg, VA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 On 10/13/2017 at 5:08 PM, keneaobi said: Thanks Dzimm. The manual transmission is pretty mechanically sound. I definitely can't do the work myself. It is an emotional attachment I suppose. I am wondering if I will be able to find one that I want later. If I could find someone to do the work, are we talking $10K to do the conversion or less? I can't speak as to what labor would cost on doing this swap. It completely depends on who does it but I can't imagine it would be quite that high. As for the emotional attachment, it's definitely hard to give up something you are attached to, but you have to think logically about it. As they currently sit, you can't use them the way you want to and they aren't the truck you want them to be currently. Since you can't use them in the current state, and it would cost a lot to make them what you want, why not sell them to someone who can enjoy them and build their own emotional attachment to them? You can always find one out there that meets your needs and is what you want for less than you'd pay to convert one of these. In my opinion based on what you've mentioned so far, I think it would be best for you to sell the ones you have and use that money to buy an MJ that meets your wants and needs without having to do the work to it. That way you can use it and just enjoy it! Take that extra $10k you were talking about using on converting the MJ, and use it to better your health, try to get back to the point you can work on them again. If that isn't possible, spend it with your family and do something you've always wanted to do, or go somewhere you've always wanted to go and just enjoy each other's company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 On 10/13/2017 at 6:08 PM, keneaobi said: Thanks Dzimm. The manual transmission is pretty mechanically sound. I definitely can't do the work myself. It is an emotional attachment I suppose. I am wondering if I will be able to find one that I want later. If I could find someone to do the work, are we talking $10K to do the conversion or less? MUCH less than $10,000. A conversion to 4WD basically involves exchanging the front axle for a 4WD axle from a Cherokee, and exchanging the 2WD transmission for a 4WD transmission and transfer case from a Cherokee. Nothing more complicated than taking any vehicle to a transmission shop for a transmission overhaul. Don't sell. The last Comanche was made 25 years ago -- if you have one that's in good condition, it would (IMHO) be foolish to think that you can sell it today and find anything comparable at some time in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keneaobi Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Dzimm, you make good points but Eagle understands my fears. The bodies on both are in fairly good shape. Not a lot of rust. The manual transmission one has been a work horse and I wouldn't be afraid to take it anywhere if my knee would stand up to the clutch. The auto is an eliminator with low miles but has been not treated nearly as well. Eagle, you make it sound not so hard. If that is the case, I wonder if I can get someone to do it for me in exchange for one of the trucks. Then all it would need is a little body work (nothing major) and a paint job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 37 minutes ago, keneaobi said: Dzimm, you make good points but Eagle understands my fears. The bodies on both are in fairly good shape. Not a lot of rust. The manual transmission one has been a work horse and I wouldn't be afraid to take it anywhere if my knee would stand up to the clutch. The auto is an eliminator with low miles but has been not treated nearly as well. Eagle, you make it sound not so hard. If that is the case, I wonder if I can get someone to do it for me in exchange for one of the trucks. Then all it would need is a little body work (nothing major) and a paint job. This is very true. And it is very straightforward like Pete says, the only main thing he left out was getting a pair of 4wd drive shafts but that's the easy part. I just worry, as you mention the one you have wasn't well taken care of, if you pay to have the swap done, you may end up having other issues come up with it that you then have to pay to have fixed and ending up costing more than it's worth. Labor is the big killer on cost, the less work the truck needs, the cheaper it will be for you. Thats why I mention buying a truck that's already 4wd, in your case you need a truck that doesn't need work since you won't be doing it yourself. But like Pete said, these trucks are old and getting harder to find, especially 92s. It ultimately is going to come down to what you think is best to do. Only you know the true condition of these trucks. Without looking at them, we can't really say either way if you may have costly issues after the swap. I would gladly do the swap for you in exchange for the manual. I'm sure you are half the country away from me tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 What kind of timeframe are you looking at? And do you have a work area (garage) to do the work in? I'm right down the road in Richmond......I might could be able to help you. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 15 minutes ago, mjeff87 said: What kind of timeframe are you looking at? And do you have a work area (garage) to do the work in? I'm right down the road in Richmond......I might could be able to help you. Jeff keneaobi, I strongly encourage you to accept Jeff's offer. I doubt you will find anyone in your area with more MJ expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keneaobi Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Thanks for the offer Jeff. I do not have a hard time frame. Unfortunately, I also do not have a garage. However, I do have a blacktop driveway and shed. I would very much like to talk with you about it. Hopefully we could work something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Don....you make me blush, lol Kenea, I PM'd you back. If you're around on Sunday, I'll be passing thru your area. Maybe we can meet up and figure out a plan. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Hope you guys can work something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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