Your opinion will be highly appreciated

[MJ Hammer]

Hello to you all

 

Let's say you know a dude that ended up owning two Comanches;

 

The first is a '90 / 2WD / 6 cylinder / manual transmission with little to no rust, complete with all original accessories and no modifications, running fine

 

The second is a '92 / 2WD / 6 cylinder / manual transmission rusty floor,  no mirrors, no interior door panels, cracked dash everywhere, moldy bench seat, missing almost any exterior accessories, painted over original paint (badly), lifted (badly), and leaking everywhere,  almost didn't make it home, but hey it's a 92 right? 

 

Dude is committed to keep both and restore them, one as a stock 2WD daily driver and to convert the other one to 4WD, lift, bigger tires, you know the regular stuff...

 

The question is which one would you pick to get the 4WD conversion and which would you keep stock and why?

 

All opinions are highly valuable

 

Thanks

[Jeep Driver]

HO doesn't impress me. 

Stock doesn't impress me. 

 

 

.....what was  your question again....?

[Dzimm]

Keep the 90 stock since it's got nothing wrong. 

 

The 92 sounds like a project as it is so swap that one to 4wd and fix everything else on the process.  Buy a 4wd XJ and just swap everything over it needs. 

[Longview]

90 stock and nice. 92 to wheel.



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[Goose_XJ88]

Wheel the 92. Sounds like it's already past the point of "restoration" based on your description.

[DirtyComanche]

I'd swap the superior Renix injection system into the 92.  Pick up a 89/90 4wd XJ for the donor and just stuff everything in.

[Dzimm]

13 minutes ago, DirtyComanche said:

I'd swap the superior Renix injection system into the 92.  Pick up a 89/90 4wd XJ for the donor and just stuff everything in.

Or go the other way and 97+ swap it.  It's a challenging swap but turns a lot of heads and is a blast to own. 

[DirtyComanche]

9 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

Or go the other way and 97+ swap it.  It's a challenging swap but turns a lot of heads and is a blast to own. 

 

But that wouldn't annoy HOrnbrod, so I just don't see the point.

[Dzimm]

2 minutes ago, DirtyComanche said:

 

But that wouldn't annoy HOrnbrod, so I just don't see the point.

[MJ Hammer]

1 hour ago, Dzimm said:

Keep the 90 stock since it's got nothing wrong. 

 

The 92 sounds like a project as it is so swap that one to 4wd and fix everything else on the process.  Buy a 4wd XJ and just swap everything over it needs. 

Yes that was my first thought but having heard about the ' 92 year models being the hardest to find my second thought was to make the effort and try to restore the 92

[MJ Hammer]

1 hour ago, Goose_XJ88 said:

Wheel the 92. Sounds like it's already past the point of "restoration" based on your description.

I really think the 92 could still be saved

[Minuit]

1 hour ago, DirtyComanche said:

I'd swap the superior Renix injection system into the 92.  Pick up a 89/90 4wd XJ for the donor and just stuff everything in.

Ah yes... the troll option. Gotta admit, the idea of someone doing that sounds hilarious in the worst way possible.

 

I don't have anything to say that anyone else hasn't said already. The 90 is the obvious choice to keep nice. The 92 sounds like a basketcase. If you're going to wheel any MJ, make it one that's in rough shape already.

[MJ Hammer]

1 hour ago, Jeep Driver said:

HO doesn't impress me. 

Stock doesn't impress me. 

 

 

.....what was  your question again....?

Well,  put like that,  I don't recall what was the original question,  the other question would be if the 4WD swap would be easier in any of the two

[Dzimm]

1 minute ago, MJ Hammer said:

Yes that was my first thought but having heard about the ' 92 year models being the hardest to find my second thought was to make the effort and try to restore the 92

They are hardest to find just because of the lower production numbers.  As long as it isn't in the junkyard, you are still saving it.  Yes the 92s are harder to find but they aren't going to become worth any more than a 91 or 90 so I wouldn't concern yourself with any potential higher value. 

 

You could always move everything from the 90 to the 92 then build the 90 into a wheeler but that is way more work than it is worth IMO.  

 

You could also just build the 92 into a nice mild offroader and keep it nice instead of go all out with a fully built crawler.  

[Jeep Driver]

10 minutes ago, MJ Hammer said:

Well,  put like that,  I don't recall what was the original question,  the other question would be if the 4WD swap would be easier in any of the two

Converting the 90 to 4W does not make it non-stock. 

 

I put my efforts and money into NICE, not rot. 

 

And 4W does not mean it has to be all jacked up and a trail-beater. 

[MJ Hammer]

7 minutes ago, Dzimm said:

They are hardest to find just because of the lower production numbers.  As long as it isn't in the junkyard, you are still saving it.  Yes the 92s are harder to find but they aren't going to become worth any more than a 91 or 90 so I wouldn't concern yourself with any potential higher value. 

 

You could always move everything from the 90 to the 92 then build the 90 into a wheeler but that is way more work than it is worth IMO.  

 

You could also just build the 92 into a nice mild offroader and keep it nice instead of go all out with a fully built crawler.  

OK then, gone the remorse of wheeling the 92 then, also I like your concept of the mild offroader

[Jeep Driver]

Mine was a 2W then converted to 4W and you'd not know the difference if I didn't tell you. 

 

[MJ Hammer]

8 minutes ago, Jeep Driver said:

Converting the 90 to 4W does not make it non-stock. 

 

I put my efforts and money into NICE, not rot. 

 

And 4W does not mean it has to be all jacked up and a trail-beater. 

I think you are right,  I won't try to fix what is not broken

[MJ Hammer]

6 minutes ago, Jeep Driver said:

Mine was a 2W then converted to 4W and you'd not know the difference if I didn't tell you. 

 

Very nice truck by the way, I like the color, is that the original paint? 

[HOrnbrod]

31 minutes ago, Minuit said:

Ah yes... the troll option. Gotta admit, the idea of someone doing that sounds hilarious in the worst way possible.

 

Si. Lots of troll replies to the OPs question. Must be a fool moon tonight. 

[bad_idea]

Build the 92.  Keep the 90 nice.  

 

When I bought my 90 XJ it was about worn out - suspension shot, brakes worn out.  But the engine was rebuilt w/ less than 45k miles on it.  Because of being worn out I only paid $400 for it and drove it home.  I then replaced the entire suspension and both axles, let alone the brakes.  I think it is ideal to build up a worn out jeep, because all of the worn out parts are the ones you would replace with a lift anyways.

 

Since the 90 is nice, leave it be.  Or better yet, 97+ swap the 90, drop it, and supercharge it.  Make a nice hot rod out of it.

[MJ Hammer]

1 hour ago, bad_idea said:

Build the 92.  Keep the 90 nice.  

 

When I bought my 90 XJ it was about worn out - suspension shot, brakes worn out.  But the engine was rebuilt w/ less than 45k miles on it.  Because of being worn out I only paid $400 for it and drove it home.  I then replaced the entire suspension and both axles, let alone the brakes.  I think it is ideal to build up a worn out jeep, because all of the worn out parts are the ones you would replace with a lift anyways.

 

Since the 90 is nice, leave it be.  Or better yet, 97+ swap the 90, drop it, and supercharge it.  Make a nice hot rod out of it.

Thank you for your advice, I'm not really the hot rod kind, but the general consensus seems to be building the already messed up 92 and leave the 90 be

[MJ Hammer]

Thanks all for your options but let me rephrase the question to you all, lets say that owning your two Comanches you will stand against untamable forces of nature (aka W.I.F.E.) that will force you, in order to avoid endlessly source of conflict and disapproval gazes, to part from one of your trucks would you all still favor the cleaner 90 over the messed up 92?

[Manche757]

How many miles on each truck?  If you are looking for a nice ride with less work, and costs, go with the 90 that is in good condition. Like playing the odds at the gambling casino.   If you are looking to spend a lot of money and enjoy getting down and dirty creating your masterpiece, then go for the 92.  Isn't it great to have choices?

 

There are too many MJs still rolling to boost up the values, but as far as vehicles go scarcities boost value. That said, the 92 and 86 (even with the funky engine) may likely become the high ticket ones in (many) years to come. Few MJs are listed above $12,000 or so even when dolled up. Decent ones in decent shape still can be found for less than $10,000. The highest list price I have seen on a restored MJ was $24,000 but all the others fixed up were not above the low teens.  A friend listed a Kaiser J series pick up for more than $75K but he had more than that in it. Seal up the bottom of the 92, throw a tarp over it and find it in 10 years.  It will likely appreciate more  than money in a savings account at the bank. And more than 87 to 91s. But then there is the monster in the room. Gotta make the wife happy.  Sell the 92 to one of the CC deep pocket preservationist guys for a profit. Wife will be happy and you have some bucks to make the 90 pretty.

[DirtyComanche]

2 hours ago, MJ Hammer said:

Thanks all for your options but let me rephrase the question to you all, lets say that owning your two Comanches you will stand against untamable forces of nature (aka W.I.F.E.) that will force you, in order to avoid endlessly source of conflict and disapproval gazes, to part from one of your trucks would you all still favor the cleaner 90 over the messed up 92?

 

Are you going to wheel it?

 

Then keep the 92.  It's already broken in.