OldSch88L Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Hello everybody, glad to be a part of your club! Bought a 1988 2wd last summer. The last owner had it as a project to convert it to 4x4 and swap a Mercedes diesel in it. I bought it with the front diff already put in. Also came with various mismatched parts. Since then, I've put in a Dana 44 rear diff that came with the parts statch, swapped the tranny with a TJ ax5 with external slave and replaced a feel work parts. Also came with a 242 transfer case for an auto trans... So I bought a short 21 spline input shaft only to find that it was an early gear cut, and the t-case being a '97, was a late cut... Apparently, Novak discontinued the 21 spline late cut shaft, and I couldn't find any pre-94 242j at the junkyard. So I bought an early cut 231 and took the ring gear and swapped it in the 242... For the naysayers, it CAN be done, although it's not for the faint of heart!!! Just finished putting it back together, so the next steps are to put it in the truck so I can get some mesurements for the rear driveshaft, repair some engine wiring that the P.O. hacked up, and fix a few things on the old 2.5 to get it running. The frame had been bent and cracked behind the cab, but had been repaired without straightening, so the bed looks a bit tweaked from the rear. Once the truck is a runner, I'll repair the frame properly at work (I work at a collision/body shop), then a bit of bodywork, and eventually, I'd like to swap in a VW tdi with mechanical injection! Sorry for the long read, here are some pictures!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 Transfer case ring gear swap!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 That is a nice looking truck. I'm a sucker for black with gray interior. You don't see allot of black Comanche for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 54 minutes ago, JMO413 said: That is a nice looking truck. I'm a sucker for black with gray interior. You don't see allot of black Comanche for some reason. Thanks a lot! Now that you mentioned it, I haven't seen a lot of black ones either... If I remember correctly, the only ones I saw were a few Eliminators, going through Auto Trader in the late 90s- early 2000s when I was a teen looking for my first ride hahaha!!!😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I looked for along time for a Comanche anywhere near me. I think mine was destined to find me. Not many people are okay with a hole in the frame and plenty ofrust. It was black with gray interior and a 5 speed. It was love at first sight. I am just now realizing how rare it is. Pioneer with buckets, full console, the skid plate package, tilt, cruise, intermintant wipers, and full cluster. Exactly how I would have ordered it in 88. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 A little bit of love for the MJ this week! A good wash, buffed with Meguiar's Ultimate compound, and wax! Turned that faded orange peel of a paint right around!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 looks good! can you do a separate writeup about the 242 mods for the DIY subforum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted July 18, 2020 Author Share Posted July 18, 2020 Recent interior pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Finally got some new shoes!!!! Firestone Destination MT2s in 31X10.5-15. I was hesitating between these and some Goodyear Duratracs; I was getting tired (no pun intended) of always seeing the Goodyears everywhere, but never seen some Destinations on an XJ or MJ so I was unsure about the look. Turns out it's exactly what I wanted! They even ride better than my Winterforce snow tires, like they have a softer sidewall or someting. I love 'em!!! Got them mounted on my freshly painted Ravine wheels, in DupliColor Anthracite. Had some paint left over, so I painted the grille the way it was supposed to be according to the VIN, and turns out the color is pretty close. Now to finish restoring the sport bar to send it to the powdercoater, find some 5x7 KC HiLites, and I should be happy with the look! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 that's a sexy truck right there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 On 6/29/2021 at 1:25 PM, Pete M said: that's a sexy truck right there Thanks a lot! It's slowly getting there! I painted the wheels and grille so that they complement the charcoal and silver Pioneer stripes I'll put back on when it gets repainted in a couple of years; can't wait!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Probably my favorite MJ that's not mine. That is still a beautiful truck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 Time for some updates. Got some progress on the roll bar restoration. Parts are held in with sheetmetal screws and will be ready for welding. My original dash started cracking a year ago, so I was actively looking for one. Stumbled on an unassuming ad on marketplace for an XJ dash with no price and 2 bad photos. Chatted with the guy, and long story short, he's a total Jeep nerd, and the dash was pristine and came with a Renix full cluster, unmolested dash harness with as-new fuse panel, and sentinel module. Even better, turns out the guy also had a R.E.M. II+ for sale that he forgot to mention! I tried to buy a new one a few weeks ago but Nick said he was out of stock and waiting on the chips for the next batch, and couldn't give me an E.T.A. So, to find a used one is a Godsend! All those goodies for 250$CAD (197$USD)!!! So, I'm already solving engine gremlins thanks to the REM, and getting ready for the dash and harness swap. More pics to come! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 Dash swap is underway!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 23, 2021 Share Posted September 23, 2021 that one is pretty dang rough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 Well, the new dash is in for a short while, I just didn't take the time to take pics. So here whe are; while the dash was out, I also took the time to route and hide the REM wiring behind the dash, coming through the passenger side firewall grommet, and coming out in the cubby under the glove box. That dash is a real site for sore eyes, and I really love that new headlight sentinel function!! Now I just need to keep an eye on the incoming Jeeps to find an intact lower dash panel to replace my broken one, then the only remaining thing will be some minor seat cover repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Very nice. Such a rad truck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 21, 2021 Share Posted October 21, 2021 how broken is the lower dash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted October 23, 2021 Author Share Posted October 23, 2021 On 10/20/2021 at 11:12 PM, Pete M said: how broken is the lower dash? It's got a few cracks, and one of the ashtray's hinge tabs is broken, so the ashtray won't stay completely closed and sits crooked. A 1993 XJ just showed up at my local U-Pull yard, so I'll take a look asap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted July 2, 2022 Author Share Posted July 2, 2022 Finally added a bit of lighting; Hella 450 fogs on the bumper, and 550 driving lights on the sports bar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted July 2, 2022 Share Posted July 2, 2022 I ran both 550’s and 450’s. Really powerful lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 2, 2022 Share Posted July 2, 2022 perfect in so many ways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majastee508 Posted January 1, 2023 Share Posted January 1, 2023 any updates on this truck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted January 1, 2023 Author Share Posted January 1, 2023 6 hours ago, majastee508 said: any updates on this truck? I'm going with a 4.5" lift, but I'm still waiting on a few parts. I also was planning to borrow my stepdad's garage to repair/straighten the rear frame as well as put on full length frame stiffeners this winter, but got delayed after a surprise visit from an insurance inspector, that said that the garage wasn't up to code enough for his taste. So I'm currently working on bringing the garage up to snuff so I can finally bring my truck in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSch88L Posted April 23, 2023 Author Share Posted April 23, 2023 Found out the original brake booster leaked vacuum pretty bad, making the engine run rough. Perfect excuse to upgrade the booster and master the '96 Cherokee one! I was also running the stock-style clutch master with a TJ AX5 and external slave, and the MJ master kept leaking, my last one not even lasting a year. And it never felt right, like it was missing a bit of travel to properly disengage the clutch, making shifting difficult. So I modified and installed a proper TJ (or '99 4-cylinder manual Cherokee, same part #) clutch master, and all is fine now. The following weeks will focus on finally installing the 4.5" lift kit, with Rancho adjustable shocks, stainless extended brake hoses, extended sway bar links, adjustable track bar, and putting back in my reconditioned RC-style, longer tubular lower arms. Stay tuned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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