Comanche Fun-Runner (LS, Coilovers, Beams...)

[Comanche SS]

On 8/28/2022 at 6:15 PM, MancheKid86 said:

yeah... this is pretty sick!

 

great work

 

Thank you Sir!

 

On 8/29/2022 at 3:33 AM, 89eliminator said:

i can't believe you lifted a 2wd Jeep!!!! 

 

looks great can't wait to see it with some air under the tires.

 

 

Ha! Ill get some photos of that someday...in the meantime I picked up two more jeeps to build so the time will come...

[Comanche SS]

Updates...have not worked on the Comanche much other than small odds and ends that I didn't get to when thrashing to finish it...

In the meantime picked up two more XJ's. The lady and I will be moving to a southern state within the next 6mos-year and needed to get rid of our city cars (and there respective payments)

I opted for the golden year 1999, PW, PL, PM 4x4 4.0 NP231 Dana 30HP/8.25...Super clean AZ jeep, clean title and all for $2k

 

The lady is not much of a enthusiast so it came down to two options...the "Jurassic park" jeep or an old wood trimmed jeep. With no rush to find one, I just waited while checking the local market...eventually I found a 1987 Cherokee Wagoneer Limited, PW, PL, PM, 4x4 NP242, Dana 44/Dana 30HP and Power seats, has more options than my 1999. This jeep is also pretty clean, from CA, and cost me $1700

 

Got really lucky finding these two at the price compared to what my local market is asking...Normal run of the mill XJ's can be $10k in Socal. Both of the jeeps need or have needed small things like maintenance or cooling upgrades etc...nothing unusual, oddly enough they both have lower miles the the MJ did, and the Wagoneer has less miles than all of them!

The MJ will get some more small stuff for awhile, since we plan to move the large projects are pretty much on hold. But I'm still around just plugging away at little details among the three jeeps.

[Comanche SS]

This happened...Sweeet
 

On another sidebar note: Got my family heirloom down from the rafters and got it on the road again...With one dog recovering, my other dog is restless and getting rebellious so I need to burn energy. 

An original 1982 Redline MX-II, bought by my dad new, then hand me down to cousin, then my brother...then my dad and I restored it, and before too long it'll be a son of mine on it. 

[Comanche SS]

[Comanche SS]

Just dropping a photo 

[thecodemonk]

Looking good!

[Pete M]

nice!    how long before it takes flight? 

[Comanche SS]

On 1/12/2023 at 7:13 PM, Pete M said:

nice!    how long before it takes flight? 

Getting all the bugs worked out and doing/redoing some stuff I cut corners on during the mad dash to get it running...Soon!

Today got the hood cut out and installed, and got some photos of it and the waggy

[Comanche SS]

Well, I took a long break due to some big life changes. I moved from Socal to Northwest AR. We (fiance and I) were tired of the rat race that is Socal. Wanted a simpler life, more space, and a forever home.

We ended up buying our dream home, 10 Car garage, 3k sqft, less than 15 years old, 5 acres, and fully refreshed interior for us.


Not only that, in selling our old house in socal, we made some money, so there are some differences in my fleet now. Three can be seen in the photo above: a 1999 Dodge Ram cummins, Manual, 4x4. A gooseneck 20' trailer, and most importantly my White XJ that I sold to fund the comanche build. 

Its in my sig, but the main points are: Currie Rockjock Dana 44s, Method Racing Beadlocks, Filthy Addictions bumpers, 4:1 T Case, and a suite of armor, stiffeners, Rack. It is my dream build cherokee I did while I was in college and regretfully sold it. Not that it wasnt worth it to build the MJ, but I knew I would never have an XJ with that plethora of parts again. It also came with an MJ Trailer. See some photos of those new rigs below: 






Almost done: Here in AR jeeps are plentiful and cheap, not rusty, and the selection is large. I have obtained two new XJ's since being here. One is a 1998 Parts jeep (black) and the other is a 2000 that I pulled from a junkyard and got back on the road, it likely won't be around too long.:

 

Last big changes were getting engaged, getting a third puppy, and selling the RV (it was junk and caught fire)

Hopefully that explains the MJ hiatus...but it is finally in the workshop and getting worked on again. See this short walkaround I did before it gets some more work:
 

 

[jpnjake]

8 minutes ago, Comanche SS said:

Well, I took a long break due to some big life changes. I moved from Socal to Northwest AR. We (fiance and I) were tired of the rat race that is Socal. Wanted a simpler life, more space, and a forever home.

We ended up buying our dream home, 10 Car garage, 3k sqft, less than 15 years old, 5 acres, and fully refreshed interior for us.


Not only that, in selling our old house in socal, we made some money, so there are some differences in my fleet now. Three can be seen in the photo above: a 1999 Dodge Ram cummins, Manual, 4x4. A gooseneck 20' trailer, and most importantly my White XJ that I sold to fund the comanche build. 

Its in my sig, but the main points are: Currie Rockjock Dana 44s, Method Racing Beadlocks, Filthy Addictions bumpers, 4:1 T Case, and a suite of armor, stiffeners, Rack. It is my dream build cherokee I did while I was in college and regretfully sold it. Not that it wasnt worth it to build the MJ, but I knew I would never have an XJ with that plethora of parts again. It also came with an MJ Trailer. See some photos of those new rigs below: 






Almost done: Here in AR jeeps are plentiful and cheap, not rusty, and the selection is large. I have obtained two new XJ's since being here. One is a 1998 Parts jeep (black) and the other is a 2000 that I pulled from a junkyard and got back on the road, it likely won't be around too long.:

 

Last big changes were getting engaged, getting a third puppy, and selling the RV (it was junk and caught fire)

Hopefully that explains the MJ hiatus...but it is finally in the workshop and getting worked on again. See this short walkaround I did before it gets some more work:
 

 

Welcome back, Congratulations on your new house and your engagement 

[Comanche SS]

1 minute ago, jpnjake said:

Welcome back, Congratulations on your new house and your engagement 

Much appreciated! Excited to get back into my hobbies & projects

[Pete M]

congrats!!!   

[kansashogan]

Down around Rogers? We are in South East Kansas and we love going down there several times a year. Beautiful area.

[ghetdjc320]

On 9/12/2023 at 1:18 AM, Comanche SS said:

Well, I took a long break due to some big life changes. I moved from Socal to Northwest AR. We (fiance and I) were tired of the rat race that is Socal. Wanted a simpler life, more space, and a forever home.

We ended up buying our dream home, 10 Car garage, 3k sqft, less than 15 years old, 5 acres, and fully refreshed interior for us.


Not only that, in selling our old house in socal, we made some money, so there are some differences in my fleet now. Three can be seen in the photo above: a 1999 Dodge Ram cummins, Manual, 4x4. A gooseneck 20' trailer, and most importantly my White XJ that I sold to fund the comanche build. 

Its in my sig, but the main points are: Currie Rockjock Dana 44s, Method Racing Beadlocks, Filthy Addictions bumpers, 4:1 T Case, and a suite of armor, stiffeners, Rack. It is my dream build cherokee I did while I was in college and regretfully sold it. Not that it wasnt worth it to build the MJ, but I knew I would never have an XJ with that plethora of parts again. It also came with an MJ Trailer. See some photos of those new rigs below: 






Almost done: Here in AR jeeps are plentiful and cheap, not rusty, and the selection is large. I have obtained two new XJ's since being here. One is a 1998 Parts jeep (black) and the other is a 2000 that I pulled from a junkyard and got back on the road, it likely won't be around too long.:

 

Last big changes were getting engaged, getting a third puppy, and selling the RV (it was junk and caught fire)

Hopefully that explains the MJ hiatus...but it is finally in the workshop and getting worked on again. See this short walkaround I did before it gets some more work:
 

 

My project “Tomahawk” is siting in Pea Ridge right now . Though I live about 9000 miles away. I’ll be back early part of next year for a few weeks and plan to get a game plan to finish it up. Lived many years in Bella Vista and Rogers too. 

[Comanche SS]

On 10/7/2023 at 8:55 PM, kansashogan said:

Down around Rogers? We are in South East Kansas and we love going down there several times a year. Beautiful area.

Not far from Rogers, if you are in the area feel free to reach out if you want to swing by!

 

On 10/11/2023 at 2:32 AM, ghetdjc320 said:

My project “Tomahawk” is siting in Pea Ridge right now . Though I live about 9000 miles away. I’ll be back early part of next year for a few weeks and plan to get a game plan to finish it up. Lived many years in Bella Vista and Rogers too. 

Same goes for you, let me know if youd ever like to link up!

[ghetdjc320]

1 hour ago, Comanche SS said:

Not far from Rogers, if you are in the area feel free to reach out if you want to swing by!

 

Same goes for you, let me know if youd ever like to link up!

Will do! 

[Comanche SS]

Had to take a bittersweet path with this build.

With the accumulation and start of another LS Comanche (Can be seen in my sig), I really needed to get this one wrapped up. The problem I have had is it would never run right, it would idle, and thats about it. Multiple tuners couldnt figure it out, the IAT's were insane, and this really sapped the motivation out of me to get it finished and drivable.

 

I initially pulled it out of the garage after the big swap on 08/09/2022 today is 02/05/2024. It has been 18 months and it has maybe 20 miles on it.

So I sold the supercharger setup. And I am on the fence about the Holley Terminator Max Setup. The Holley hasnt inherently been the cause of any issue, but I was under the impression it made everything much simpler, and I'm not quite sold on that aspect. We will see what happens. 

Let alone the fact that IF I did get it running well, the stage 2 4L80E and the Dana 44 (and the Unibody LOL) would all be at risk with that much power. It was just too much, I needed to get back to basics.

I went out and purchased an LS1 intake, rails, injectors, and throttle body setup. It should be here this week, I will need to do some retrofitting with the fuel system, Throttle, vacuum and CCV systems. Nothing too much though. Using @Limeyjeeper setup as an example, he has great technical info on this setup as well as others.

I will likely get a new hood once the thing is running good and I can enjoy it. Maybe a cam swap once it's happy and has some miles.

Depending how it does with the new setup, I may pull the terminator off and either sell it or set aside for a future project. Hoping to really get some miles on the truck this year. Using it as inspiration for the other LS MJ build. 

[Comanche SS]

....11 hours later

 

Okay so patience isn't my thing.

 

Holley is off, it's way overkill for a basic cammed LS and a Basic upgrades 4L80E. I'll run something more reasonable, and vastly cheaper.

 

Selling this Holley will enable me to perform some necessary actions, AKA buying the harness and ECU for both this and my Street MJ, I'd like them to match. And some odds and ends for all my jeeps.

 

I had to pull the heads for two reasons, the freeze plugs popped recently, totally my mistake, I should have done a better job winterizing this jeep that's been in socal since 1989 Lol.

 

Second, when pulling the blower setup off, there was only 9/10 washers that were accounted for from the intake manifold, I fear it may be in the top end somewhere, so freeze plugs and a scavenger hunt.

[Comanche SS]

Crossposting this in both of my LS MJ forum threads...

[Comanche SS]

Had some Family in town, and then caught the flu. But I have been collecting parts for this round of upgrades.

Got the Car intake, rails, TB. Also got a new GM style Harness, GM ECU, F-body Throttle Cable, New head bolts, gasket set etc.

Going to start getting this one back together now that I am getting better, and so is the weather LOL

[Comanche SS]

Test for the new intake, all looks good.

 

Also, almost had to play "find the wrench that I threw" that was not a fun time.

[Comanche SS]

Just putting an update out...

I have put this truck into storage, it isnt going anywhere for now, but I won't be working on it for a little while.

It needs quite a bit of work:
-Steering lines
-Steering Links
-Piston rings
-Block & Heads machined
-New Engine harness/ECU

-New Fuel lines

-Shock Tower brace/Crossover
-Trans mount reworked
-New Hood
-Paint
-Intake tube

-Shock Rebuilds

-Steering Brace


Plus many other odds & ends

I have two other builds going on currently, a Wagoneer restoration, and the MJ Street truck. 

This Comanche needs my full, undivided attention to do all those things, and do them right. So for the time being while I wrap up the other two builds, this will be stored. I am too divided timewise, financially, and mind power lol.

Will update again as time goes on!

[Comanche SS]

Just dropping some stuff I have been pondering...

TTB was the initial desire for this build, and so I drew it up.

Also, the 5.3 and 4L80E are out of it.

[Comanche SS]

6.2 Gen 4 LS with a nice cam/Valvetrain upgrade going through a 5 Speed should help this truck be what I originally wanted it to be.

[Comanche SS]

Adding an update here:

Placed a few large orders the past couple days:

-Steering box brace with bearing shaft support
-Summit stage 3 Cam kit for the LS3 build
-Springs, gaskets, retainers, retainer plate, etc for the cam
-Remote oil cooler kit for the LS (repurposing my massive trans cooler that was on the 4L80E)
-C6 Corvette throttle pedal, seems almost bolt in for where the stock pedal was
-Entire new universal Chassis harness
-Entire new LS3/Manual Engine harness

-Grey Bucket seats (with our fellow club members seat brackets)

-I bought another dana 44 TTB (this won't be installed for a little while)

I have already mostly installed both of the Electric harnesses. Next is refreshing and upgrading the engine when parts come in. Hoping to have the engine in the truck and started by the end of July. After the truck is running and driving, I will start the TTB crossmember and get those installed. New steering links and suspension links will be part of that process. Welding that much in this July heat does not sound fun LOL.

For those that know, I sold off one of my other projects that had some parts that are now going into this truck

Mainly the Quickdraw AX-15 and NP-242 drivetrain 

Glad I can get back to this build, seeing it sit after the last phase of the build was sad...This new phase "2.5" will enable me to enjoy it more until I am ready for the TTB install "phase 3"