88 Sport Low N Slow

[Flexj]

Got a little 1/12 on 1/1 action going on. All pictures taken on ohv class 2 trails. No property was damaged. 😂😂😂 Started snowing so I said @#$% it it’s cold. 

[JMO413]

That is awesome!

[Flexj]

Oh the joys of HVAC. I didn’t want to drive my 2018 ford 150 transit work van in the snow so I took the Comanche to work. It’s earning its keep today. 

[Pete M]

good o' hvac.  never seems to break on a nice pleasant day.  

[Flexj]

[Flexj]

I can believe its been six years since I have updated this thread! I am posting pictures off my phone and updates like this off my keyboard, so the story of what I did may come after the pictures themselves... After the picture of me using my truck for work it snowed to the point of no work for a couple weeks. After the snow melted I went and purchased a cargo trailer to haul behind the MJ for camping trips. Its 6x12 and weighs about 1400 lbs.. Its an easy pull and stop. 

[Flexj]

My slave cylinder died… purchased a pre bled assembly from Napa and had it back up and running the next day. 

[Flexj]

So at this point the Comanche actually ended up sitting for like 2-3 years… I was working on my own company and just didn’t have time to do anything to it… long story short I didn’t wanna run my Own company anymore, I moved to Texas and started working at SpaceX. I think in the picture you can see the Comanche being towed behind my gmc Sierra. 

[Flexj]

Bought another toy. 🤩 this is one purchase I have zero regret over, it’s so much fun to ride… literally polar opposite experience to drive from the Comanche. 🤣

[Flexj]

This was like December of 22’ I want to say… with the Comanche sitting and me doing ok for myself I decided to start finishing the 97 swap (doors and fenders) which kinda escalated to an LS swap…. 🤣

[Flexj]

Made sure to get all the seals and consumables replaced while the engine was out…. Figuring out what clutch and flywheel to use for this setup was like pulling teeth! The nv3500 5 speed is out of a 95 k1500 and the engine is from a 03 express van… I used a clutch and flywheel from a 2003 Chevy Silverado 2wd. I’ll need to find the part number for the throw out bearing as that was the most difficult part to find. Also pulled a few broken header bolts… dunno why Chevy always gotta be breaking the header bolts. 

[Flexj]

Pulled the bed and got it loaded up to go to the paint shop 

[Flexj]

Got that stinky old 4.0 and ax15 the @#$% out of there. 🤣 everything is bigger in Texas, including me, and not in the way I would have chose if I had the option. 🤣🤣 there is like, literally nothing to do here in Brownsville except eat and drink… luckily I’ve lost most of that weight now hahahaa 

[Flexj]

Started getting the LS fitted in there. The overkill by design mounts are 10/10… I love being able to source motor mounts at any parts store, they are well built and I couldn’t be happier with how it placed the motor. Honestly it’s more comfortable working on this v8 in this engine bay then the 4.0 was.  I ended up taking a break after being “attacked” by this huge man eating spider… dang Texas with its snakes and spiders, I miss the bears and cougars of Oregon. 🤣 truthfully I love Texas but I wish I was in northern Texas. 

[Flexj]

Started getting some parts back from the paint shop! I tried my best to match the factory grey.. the previous owner had a maaco red painted over it and it’s always bothered me. I hate red and love that stock grey. Luckily paint is super cheap when you live 4 miles from the border… the entire truck was 1800 to have painted including the bed liner. It’s not great quality, I’m not saying it is. But it’s good enough for a jeep. 

[Flexj]

Cool picture I got to take at work. I think that was the starship from flight 3? I don’t remember for sure, you stop paying attention when you work there. 

[Flexj]

I'm just gonna put this one picture here and let you all know it was a horrible mistake… I do not recommend. 

[Flexj]

Alright so the LS is running from these pictures forward. I tried to upload the startup video buts it too large. I’ll try to edit it down and get it in here. Long story short I ended up finished painting the cab… between the quality of the work he did do, and the reputation from his son taking customer rigs out when they have cool motors in them I decided it was in my best interest to finish it myself… so out a little on that part but not much. Kinda wish I just did it all myself with how easy it is… I had a feeling, I do rc car bodywork for a hobby and just had a feeling I shoulda done it myself. I was also a little disappointed in how much hardener he used.. he said he wanted to make the paint tough for a jeep, but what I learned is it just cracks.. if you lean on it, try to cut it, anything it cracks.. so whatever you do the more flexable The paint the better when it comes to jeeps imo. Also you can see what the factory color was with the bed removed. Thats what I was trying to match. 

[Flexj]

Finally I get to start putting everything back together! This is by far the most motivated I’ve been since starting this huge project… $#!& has been laying everywhere in my way for months and I’m tired of it. Now I have an assembled truck and nothing to trip on. 😍. Painted the rear frame with rust preventative paint. I have what I would consider to be as close to a rust free Comanche as you can get and I’m going to keep it that way.. 

[Flexj]

I ordered a kit of stainless pipe to run my exhaust. I’m very impressed with the quality! I’m 300 total into the exhaust with the borla muffler. Not including the headers, I think those were under 200 shipped. Also pictured is the mostly completed engine bay minus a few odds and ends. You can also see where the shift tower is going to end up. 

[Flexj]

Your eyes are not deceiving you… that is a wheel adaptor on top of a wheel spacer. 🤣🤣🤣 I have a super88 kit on the way which will eliminate the need for spacers on the rear axles… and honestly I could see myself going to a different set of axles in the future so I could have the 5x5 bolt pattern. Like some rubicon jt axles or something 

[Flexj]

Edited the first startup video for you all as promised. 

[Flexj]

My brother and I started teaching ourselves to tig for the stainless exhaust. He gave up after a few attempts but I actually really enjoyed it! I know I was burning way too hot, these were my first attempts. There will be better ones to look at further down. Also started modifying my badge to say 4.8 instead of 4.0 🤣

[Flexj]

Removed my low oil sensor and plugged it. This was the only modification needed to fit the Chevy slave cylinder. 

[Flexj]

Making sure my offset is where I want it. Zero rubbing on flat ground, I’m sure I’ll need some bumps tops and limit straps for wheeling.