ghetdjc320 Posted October 1, 2024 Share Posted October 1, 2024 1 hour ago, Comanche SS said: Been driving and enjoying the Comanche lately, there isn't really anywhere to take a 2wd jeep where I moved to, so it's going to be a street and show truck until I get the 4x4 going And on that note, I guess my winter project is decided for me. Decided to bust out the TTB axles and start cleaning them up. Just wire brushed a printed for now. There will be a ton of fit up, off and on, and sliding along the ground until these are final mounted, at which time I'll finish in black of course. IIRC Disney OK had some 2wd prerunner type stuff in some areas. Rush springs in Jane MO is also a great park and has a little bit of everything. Project is looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted November 26, 2024 Author Share Posted November 26, 2024 Just stopping in for an update... Been driving the trucks on the weekends here and there while I can. Soon enough the snow will be here and itll be put away until after new years. It is a menace on the streets, first is useless, second is almost useless, third finally gets some traction. But the 3.07 gearing needs to go, fourth gear will do 80MPH at 2200ish RPM. 5th isnt really achievable. Planning to go with 4.56 gears as this truck will probably end up on 35s at least, if not 37s. Have been dragging my feet, thinking I wouldnt be keeping the Dana 44 in the rear, but it is honestly doing just fine. Even the 250K mile LSD still locks both tires together with all 550+ HP. It feels really good to have some miles on this truck, after years of it having issues with the LS, this engine in it now is strong and healthy. I would argue this much power is too much, I don't trust anyone to drive it, but it is a ton of fun lighting up 33's like its nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted December 25, 2024 Author Share Posted December 25, 2024 Got my 35" beadlocks swapped onto the rig this weekend. Looks even better. Still roasts them with ease in 1st and 2nd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted December 30, 2024 Author Share Posted December 30, 2024 I'm sure it has to do with the 3.07:1 axle ratio, but also the fact these are newer, nicer quality tires....As I drive it more, the second gear pulls are getting more and more manageable to stay in throttle and not spin. Which is nice. First gear I fear will never hold traction. I spent some time cleaning the truck in the hour of sunshine I had left on my last vacation day of 2024. Was a good year for the Comanche, better than the last few for sure, it got some good road miles, a lot of quirks worked out, and definitely some fun. 2025 I want to get it 4x4 again, I have most of the parts, just need funds to come together (typical holidays) and that project will be underway. The 4x4 build will consist of: -All new front suspension, links, crossmember, braces etc. -All new steering links, swingers, mounts etc. -Front TTB rebuild (bushings, seals, brakes, etc) -Front TTB LSD Carrier (since its an NP242 rig, having a non locking front diff will be fun in the snow) -Front TTB 4.56 Gears I'm unsure about keeping the stock D44 Rear, its done fine so far, and with some beefing up it would likely live. -Rear Selectable locker or Detroit locker -Rear Chromoly axle shafts -Rear Disc Brakes -Rear 4.56 Gears -Rear seals/bearings etc. Its a costly next step, but is doable in 2025. Also tossing the idea around of changing the color, perhaps going white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 Had a freeze the last couple weeks...today was the first day in the 50's in nearly a month...so of course I had to pull the Comanche out. Then it doubled as a leaning post LOL Been working on my new toy lately, a 2004 GTO I am setting up for autocross and daily driving. Has a nice built LS, 6 Speed and LSD so its a fun driver. Still planning to work on the Comanche big time in 2025, but the car needs TLC done first so it can just be a cruiser and not require my attention as much since the MJ needs it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-man930 Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 I love those GTOs. Severely underrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Those GTOs are really cool. I’d love to have one as a daily someday. 04 since it doesn’t have the scoops on the hood? That make it a 5.7 too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 10 hours ago, 89 MJ said: Those GTOs are really cool. I’d love to have one as a daily someday. 04 since it doesn’t have the scoops on the hood? That make it a 5.7 too? Yep, it's still an LS1 block and heads but completely gone thru, supposedly has over 400whp. Definitely a healthy car especially for daily driving. 10 hours ago, A-man930 said: I love those GTOs. Severely underrated. It seems to be good so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A-man930 Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 4 hours ago, Comanche SS said: Yep, it's still an LS1 block and heads but completely gone thru, supposedly has over 400whp. Definitely a healthy car especially for daily driving. It seems to be good so far! I worked on one with a brake issue that turned out to be a failing master cylinder - unobtainium. Edit: I say that as my only reservation with those cars. There's odd parts here and there, being from Aussie land and all, but some are apparently impossible to find - likely the parts used for the LHD conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 6 hours ago, A-man930 said: I worked on one with a brake issue that turned out to be a failing master cylinder - unobtainium. Edit: I say that as my only reservation with those cars. There's odd parts here and there, being from Aussie land and all, but some are apparently impossible to find - likely the parts used for the LHD conversion. Yeah some parts definitely are that way...If it came down to it, I would hope rebuidling items like a MC or anything mechanical wouldnt be too hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghetdjc320 Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 On 1/26/2025 at 8:14 AM, Comanche SS said: Yep, it's still an LS1 block and heads but completely gone thru, supposedly has over 400whp. Definitely a healthy car especially for daily driving. It seems to be good so far! I think the 02+ GTO/C5/CTS ls1’s pull a little over 400hp at the crank stock from the dynos I’ve seen. Those versions of the ls1 are the premium performers. Stock ls6 intake and the 241 heads flow better exhaust than the 243’s in the ls6. Well balanced engine for performance & longevity imo. Even the accessories for those engines were top shelf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 36 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said: I think the 02+ GTO/C5/CTS ls1’s pull a little over 400hp at the crank stock from the dynos I’ve seen. Those versions of the ls1 are the premium performers. Stock ls6 intake and the 241 heads flow better exhaust than the 243’s in the ls6. Well balanced engine for performance & longevity imo. Even the accessories for those engines were top shelf. Yeah, that aligns with what i've read/heard too. The original engine up and quit 10k miles ago, so this has a fresh long block with some goodies already. Hoping its good for the life of the car now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghetdjc320 Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Love the design of the GTO. Feels like the culmination of early 2000’s late 90’s styling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 1 hour ago, ghetdjc320 said: Love the design of the GTO. Feels like the culmination of early 2000’s late 90’s styling Having been born in '98, it feels like home to me LOL All jokes aside, I tend to really like 95-05 era of vehicles, modern enough to have ECU's and functional electronics, but not new enough to be overdone and overcomplicated. A lot of simple and effective systems in these cars. My Denali, being a 2012 is about the newest vehicle Ill own for likely awhile, still a gen 4 LS, robust 6 speed, all the newer stuff across all mfr's have a big issue one place or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana Offroad Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Just read your entire thread. Very cool build! You must have quite the background in automotive to do everything you have. Quite impressive. Here I am changing out my starter thinking I’m a genius . Can’t wait to see your continued progression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 1 hour ago, Montana Offroad said: Just read your entire thread. Very cool build! You must have quite the background in automotive to do everything you have. Quite impressive. Here I am changing out my starter thinking I’m a genius . Can’t wait to see your continued progression. Haha I appreciate it! My background is in Mechanical Engineering and Welding, they both go hand in hand with my passion projects lol. There was a time I didnt know how to change a starter, we all started somewhere, nothing to be ashamed about! Just last night I refreshed my to-do list for this build so that hopefully in 2025 I can be "done" with this phase of the build. Until its time to make it a full tube chassis lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana Offroad Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 9 minutes ago, Comanche SS said: Haha I appreciate it! My background is in Mechanical Engineering and Welding, they both go hand in hand with my passion projects lol. There was a time I didnt know how to change a starter, we all started somewhere, nothing to be ashamed about! Just last night I refreshed my to-do list for this build so that hopefully in 2025 I can be "done" with this phase of the build. Until its time to make it a full tube chassis lol I'm here for it. Going for a more restorative direction with my Comanche so fortunately I won’t need quite the skillset you have achieved 😅 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 2 hours ago, Montana Offroad said: I'm here for it. Going for a more restorative direction with my Comanche so fortunately I won’t need quite the skillset you have achieved 😅 Nothing wrong with that either...If you click the link in my signature for my Wagoneer restoration youll see how thats going over in that build thread...full restoration, stripping, coating etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana Offroad Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 5 minutes ago, Comanche SS said: Nothing wrong with that either...If you click the link in my signature for my Wagoneer restoration youll see how thats going over in that build thread...full restoration, stripping, coating etc. Already went through it 😂 it’s coming along nicely. I’m going to be refinishing my turbines too. Looking forward to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Just now, Montana Offroad said: Already went through it 😂 it’s coming along nicely. I’m going to be refinishing my turbines too. Looking forward to it! Definitely a tedious but worth it task! I actually need to buy another as after all that work I found out one was bent...oh well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana Offroad Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 1 minute ago, Comanche SS said: Definitely a tedious but worth it task! I actually need to buy another as after all that work I found out one was bent...oh well Definitely my favorite wheel for the MJ/XJ’s 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 I started to price out what it would take to regear the rear Dana 44, and it quickly added up, to almost $1000 for just gears and a carrier before the install...and in the end it would still be a stock dana 44 with gears. Then I luckily thought about looking on my local marketplace...and where I now live there are a TON of Dirt oval cars and builders. Funny enough they run 60" WMS which is what XJ/MJ are. A used axle caught my eye It is a retubed ford 9'', with 3.5''x.25'' tubes, Full float unit bearings, 5/8 studs, 2 piece vented rotors, and chromoly gun drilled axle shafts...all for $300...which is a steal! Ill find a $3-400 pumpkin with 4.56 gears and an LSD or spool of sorts locally, ton of those available too. Throw some spring perches on and have about as strong of an axle as I can get for the price/weight. There will be some fun with the wheel bolt pattern, more to come on that later. As of right now, the axle just needs all the brackets hacked off, ground smooth, stripped, cleaned and painted. New seals, bearings are still good. Finally some fresh fluid and sealants, and itll be ready for its new home. Got more info, but thats all ill bore you all with for now, there will be some technical items to follow once I get into this axle. OH and the Rear Dana 44 is for sale, check the classifieds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 Racecar stuff always makes me chuckle at how little regular car stuff is. Nearly a 4'' bearing, and for reference, those are 5/8-11 studs...crazy stuff, a WD-40 can fits inside the bearing and the Dana 44 front bearings are aorund 2-1/2'' if I recall correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche SS Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 One side of the housing is cleaned up of all old brackets & welds. And wanted to see how the rotors would clean up, I think ill run them and see how they do...new ones are only $40/ea Going to finish cleaning the housing of all brackets this evening hopefully, get the new perches lined up and tacked. After that, fresh coat of primer/paint. In the meantime need to source a center section once funds allow. After that, itll be ready to go into the jeep. Hopefully only a month or so until it is in the jeep, as I have a vaction and other things to pay for, life in general lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Do you know what caliper is designed to work with that bracket and rotor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.809559baf7c47f3daaed1622c0992004.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now