Articul8 Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Hey Everyone, Hows it going. I'm new to the forum. I joined the jeep world back in 2010 my first being a 04 5spd Tj Rubicon, then a 06 6spd Lj rubicon, finishing off with a 04 TJ Auto Rubicon. i always had a eye on the Comanches but never really know much about them. I sold all my jeeps Aug 2016 regretting it 9 months later. So Nov 9th i found a 88 Comanche. i put down deposit site unseen. I'm glad i did it has to be one of the cleaned unibodys underneath ive ever seen. On the 11th i bought the truck and rented a uhaul and picked it up. Its a long bed and i love it for multiple reasons. I think done right they are sexy, Also I'm a motorcycle track day rider and my bike on its PITBULL trs mounting system fits perfect with the tail gate up. Whats unique is that i live in a apartment complex so i rented 2 single car garages just for this build. Deming this thread the (IMPRACTICAL) Comanche hauler The Build vehicle; 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer factory 4.0 Auto 2wd truck. 121472 miles on the clock. Super clean rust free underneath. top side does have surface rust but nothing that can't be easily addressed. Previous owner started doing a 94 HO swap but never finished. truck isnt running The Diesel swap; 1982 Mercedes Turbo Diesel 300 SD 3.0 auto 82108 miles on the clock. The Notorious OM617. The Donor/Parts Getter; (Sold) I will be using a 00-01 to acquire all the parts for the Comanche build leading up to the front end conversion and tail light conversion. The Blue Prints; Pull both engines out the Mercedes and the Comanche. Physical Exam kit the Om617 by Mercedessource.com Swap in Om617 5spd swap.. NV3550 4wd conversion HP30 front, 8.8 Rear Transfer Case 241OR out of a 03-06 Rubicon 97+ front end conversion Paint - once all mock up is done + Color choices are, 2018 Calvary Blue, 2018 mustang R3 code red. Acura Cl type S front leather seats. 00-01 interior swap with Creature Comforts- Modernized Electronics, 120 volt plugins for fast changers, heated steering wheel, heated bucket seats. ETC.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 The Diesel Swap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 The Donor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 On December 5th before the snow storm we just had. I found a 04 Jeep Liberty Renegade at LKQ. With 3 hours till having to be a plus one at a wedding, i made it to LKQ dropped the Nv3550 with a hour 40 mins to go. Stock shifter which is uniquely bent seems perfect i might keep it that way. I will admit it was sketchy as hell crawling under this dropping a trans and transfer case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac8 Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Subscribed. Be very interested to see Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanLemons Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 That shifter seem unique. I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 moving this to Epic for obvious reasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 4 hours ago, Pete M said: moving this to Epic for obvious reasons haha thanks .. i wasn't sure if i qualified to be Epic.. this is a learning curve for me. ive been stalking builds inquiring much needed intell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 complex engine swaps qualify for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Yup, I'm in on this one. It's got all the makings of something "Why did you do that????" "because it can be done." Shifter is epic. Carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kansashogan Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Interesting, ready for more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stark Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 Cool project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I'm not sure I would have been willing to get under that Libby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted December 14, 2018 Share Posted December 14, 2018 Nice project! Here is a website that has some useful pictures on Cherokee/Mercedes engine conversions: http://www.northwestdieseloffroad.com/index.html Northwest Diesel has been advertising these diesel conversions on Craigslist for a number of years. As part of their conversion process, the Mercedes engine is rebuilt - that is the reason for the high price of their turnkey conversion. Below is their ad. https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/d/jeep-cherokee-diesel/6748540997.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 Still sorting out parts and building a list. Found a comanche 4wd front axle for 120 bucks should i get it? or just run a high pinion 30 from a cherokee . Also found a 8.8 posi 3.73 for the rear, 150 thinking I'm gonna have to check that out. Since the Snow. i was finally able to pick up my mercedes sd300 but its sitting in storage now since the Cherokee dropped a cylinder. Did a compression test on it showing 140s across the board and 32 on cylinder 2. Since the weather has been crappy and ive work the last 10 days on 12 hour shifts I haven't had a chance to pull the valve cover to inspect the cylinder 2 rockers and valves.Hopefully its just that and i don't have a cracked skirt or a broken ring. that would put a wrench in this being aparts getter and she will have to go. Plus I'm thinking 00-01 solid black interior instead of the tan and brown but i do still like the over head console. So for tonight since its raining i decided to do a little test fitting to see how much room i have and what kinda bracket I'm gonna have to develop on the bottom side of the bed.there is a bracket that attaches to the latches that isnt pictured.. The Suzuki is gonna fit nicely. See that dent on picture #2, its ugly!! but thats literally the only big dent / body damage other then surface rust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC0GFG Posted December 24, 2018 Share Posted December 24, 2018 for sure use the xj's dana 30 high pinion, but double check the rear axel as well i'm not sure but i think some came with an 8.25 rear. Something about it being a "country" makes think its a good chance its got a beefier rear axle. and if it is you should be able to run it with out re-gearing. my memory is foggy but i seem to recall that that you want to run higher gear s with a diesel an account of them having more torque Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted December 25, 2018 Author Share Posted December 25, 2018 Yes sir it will be geared 4.10s like the rubi and that is true these om617s do like the upper end of the rpm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 So i havent posted in a while but been busy. Lots of trips to LKQ, but the diesel is on hold AT the moment.. Its still going in but i need the truck running as of yesterday track session is upon us and i need the bike hauler. So.. with that said. I started taking the necessary procedures to get this truck running in its current state with the HO motor. Sold the 97 green xj it fail at its roll as a parts getter and had a dead cylinder so i sold it as is, not extra time to piston slap a 4.0 and I made 200 profit. I needed to accuire some renix parts that didnt come with the truck. So i purchased a renix Distributor, and C101 harness from a CC member. That will be removed once installed 🤣 following Criusers video. Also found a youtube channel Nickintimefilms..... found the 99+ intake swap is a great idea. So i went to LKQ thE weekend of 2/25 with two items in mind.. well that went to $#it in a handbasket quick... My inner child was foaming at the mouth the moment i entered the yard I found a 2000 patriot blue cherokee, .. (favorite color) needless to say i bought both doors complete, entire front facia/header with harness, Drivers fender, washer bottle, intake with throttle body, ps pump, along with odd and end parts. I got to the register and he was like 586. I was like whaoo bro i can buy a whole parts jeep for 800 I'm not doing that . So i went to put back the extras minus the intake and ps pump. He said wait ill give you a discount but i need cash.. 250 gets it.. Sold. March 3rd rolls around and i get a LKQ alert. My leather power heated seats just rolled in on a 2001 Acura Cl type S . So i get off nightshift and went straight to the yard to score a set of nice seats.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Getting real when the motorcycle is pulled off the table for it to be converted to a work bench.. also in Jan 7th i (traded my blue 2014 gsxr 600 for a white 2018 gsxr 1000r) not yet pictured its so nice!!!.. so anyways.. Electrical 101 for this guy. I'm horrible at it but with the help of alldata aka Somedata and orileys i was able to get the diagrams to test the controls with a make shift fuse box... every thing works.. very happy . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Shout out to MeanLemmons for the awesome cables. And they are compatible for the diesel when i start that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Shout out to Blaine.D for the renix distributor and harness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Lastly shout out to 500 MJ for the renix cover with clips. Pete M for the CC sticker with Dons truck on it. can't put it on the window yet because my slider needs replacing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 As she sits from last night. Out with the HO harness, intake, ps pump, radiator ( which turned out to be rusted out on the bottom ) converting to Open coolant system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Articul8 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 Also learned the idler pulley has play. And the Alternator is seized up . Which is a Pita by the way. As mentioned in another post the bolts are badly corroded due to the drain in the battery pan being stopped up. And i just realized i don't have the factory harness for the renix alternator and distributor. 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeWManche Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Super exited to see how this build goes!! keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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