86 Beater to Better

[BeaterComanche86]

Starting a build thread after 3 months of owning my 86 Comanche, had a TJ a few years back and ended up having to let it go. Since I sold it I knew I wanted another Jeep  and now needing a truck I stumbled across this gem in Lancaster PA. Drove it home to Baltimore MD in poring down rain with a decent driveline vibration and dry rotted tires, safe I know. But this is a strong truck or so it seems. Here’s a pic from the craigslist ad:

 

1986 Jeep Comanche X 4x4 Lwb

2.5 l

AX-5

Np 207

Dana 30 front 

Dana 35 rear 

3.53 gears

31x10.5r15 BFG Long Trail 

 

Seems mostly stock besides some pocket flairs, d window wheels, snorkel, JKS sway bar disconnects, add a leaf, and a homemade front bumper. 

 

 

[BeaterComanche86]

I’ve done a few things since owning her starting with a H4 relay harness, a new headlight switch, and connector. Glad I did this before it caught fire.Threw some leds in the dash while I was at it.

 

New U joints in the rear drive shaft, had the exhaust patched and re attached to the trans bracket.

Put a new trans mount in, cross member bolt broke but I’ll fix that at a later date.

80w-90 in the diffs, fresh fluid in the Np 207 and a new output shaft seal, for some reason it was impossible to find until I went online.

And a oil change after a sea foam treatment. Gonna pull the trigger on some redline soon

[BeaterComanche86]

I plan on doing as much as the work I can myself as I want to really learn how to wrench on her properly. Here is how she’s sitting currently:

 

 

[BeaterComanche86]

 

Please delete

Edited July 4, 2019 by BeaterComanche86
Irrelevant post

[BeaterComanche86]

Picked up some wheels last weekend for $50 so I threw them on the mj. They have maybe 30% tread left but have no dry rot unlike my old tires. Pretty much running these till I can afford some 31’s. Then I’ll have to decide which wheels to go with, I like the 16’s but as you can see with the stock backspacing the flares look pretty bad. 

 

Old vs “new”

[BeaterComanche86]

Flares are off but the PO hacked the fenders a bit.

[Pete M]

fenders are replaceable  

[BeaterComanche86]

Finally got around to putting in my gauge cluster with actual gauges. It doesn’t have the clip for the speedo cable but works just fine. 

 

Oil pressure sensor

 

and the temp sensor

 

Oil pressure seems pretty high which doesn’t seem like a bad thing and the temp sensor seems to be very sensitive since I can see when the thermostat opens up via the gauge dropping the temp.

[BeaterComanche86]

Pulled my front bumper off to paint it and install some Harbor Freight fog lights.

 

 

Oem switch I used for the lights

 

Also scored some chrome windshield trim that looks pretty sweet. Need to purchase some clips from teamcherokee since quite a few of mine were broken or missing, but there’s enough to hold it on for now.

 

 

Also got some rugged ridge mats and loose fitting bench seat cover off amazon.  It will work till I can get the bench  reupholstered.

[Pete M]

how well do the lights work?  are they LED or regular?

[BeaterComanche86]

2 hours ago, Pete M said:

how well do the lights work?  are they LED or regular?

They’re okay for the $10 I spent on them, and there regular incandescent. The light output isn’t super impressive and the included wiring harness uses a pretty small gauge wire but with higher watt bulbs and some larger wire I think they could be improved.

[BeaterComanche86]

Been working on paint the last weeks with slow progress but I’m about a 1/3 of the way there. Think I’m gonna have to wait for spring to finish up.

 

Also loaded some dirt and whatnot for a dump run this coming weekend, not to much sag.

 

[Pete M]

need to change your signature to "mostly black"  

[BeaterComanche86]

Successful heater control valve delete

 

Was able to use the original lines, and now my truck blows hot air.
Win win!  

[BeaterComanche86]

Swapped in some redline and got rid of the grinding in 2nd gear. And I found this tailgate net a few weeks ago at Ollies for $3. 

 

Repurposed the tailgate while it’s in storage

 

Lastly installed the clock I picked from a 85 xj and it actually works  

[BeaterComanche86]

So I made a few discoveries that I’m not to happy about but at least I can address them. First off my floors have been patched...

 

 

Yes that is a “for sale” sign in the first picture riveted in and then sealed with spray foam. Also I removed my bench to install the rear carpet piece and found I had 3 of the 7 nuts holding it in place along with the torx bolts that hold the seat belts only finger tight  safety first I suppose (heavy sarcasm) 

On a positive note it did find what’s left of my build sheet under the bench and fixed the slider under the seat.
 

 

Enough of the complaints  and now back to work.

[BeaterComanche86]

Also done a few things the last few week in my free time. New fan clutch which helped with my engine running hot but hasn’t complete solved the issue, fresh fuel filter, installed the steering skid plate, and FINALLY got some new tires. BFG AT 31x10.5x15 
 

 

[Pete M]

those new shoes look great! 

[BeaterComanche86]

2 hours ago, Pete M said:

those new shoes look great! 

Thank you sir, feels good to be able to drive around without fear of having a blow out. 

[BeaterComanche86]

Took care of my leaky valve cover by ditching the plastic and upgrading to a metal one.

 

I took about an inch off the flutes inside (sorry no pics), destroyed the gaskets for those, sanded for what seemed like and eternity, and put on a fresh coat of paint.

I managed to use the old valves from the plastic cover, but the fronts cobbed together so that will be temporary. Just as a note 4.0 valve cover bolts work for the 2.5 and I finished it off with a Felpro gasket for the Dakota.

 

Also installed some footwell lights with new male and female Metrapak 150’s.

 

Finally purchased the Nickintimedesign Renix Engine Monitor 

[BeaterComanche86]

Had some free time with our job site shutting down last week after having 6 people test positive with the corona. 

First was putting on these JK shocks and man was it a pain pressing out the sleeves, I could have rented a ball joint press but with a big C clamp, the right combination of sockets, and a few choice words I got it done.

 

 

I went ahead and got the bar pin elimators so I could avoid pressing in the old bar pins. can't say I notice a huge difference in ride quality but it is better. Changing out my clapped out front springs will probably show a real improvement but that’s for another day.
 

Here’s the DIY I used:

I also spruced up the front with a chrome grill and ditched those Harbor Freight fogs. My father in law had these amber fogs in his shed for many many years so on they went.

 

[BeaterComanche86]

It was a long day but I got paint 95% done, just need to do the tailgate and break up the red alittle but here it is.

 

 

 

Not perfect by any means but till the budget allows a professional job this will do. Got the bed sprayed along with flares (Rather have oem) and clear and black trim on the taillights. Still gotta buff and clean up some overspray but after 12 cans of red and 6 clear it’s done.
 

Some after thoughts on it: damn is it RED, by that I mean it came out a lot brighter than I planned. And this will be my first and last paint job of an entire vehicle. I had a fun time doing it and I’m happy with the result but that was a lot of work and I’m glad it’s done. I’m not gonna lie I kind of miss the two tone.

 

 

 

[BeaterComanche86]

Progress has been slow since going back to work but I’ve still been plugging away on small things.

Started off by installing some door speakers and the foam baffles; Crutch field was nice enough to send me the connectors rather than having to splice to the factory wiring. 

 

Old:

New:

 

 

 

Sadly I forgot to take pictures of the new speakers installed but overall I’m happy with my purchase. They pack a nice punch for there small size, and fit like a glove with zero modification. 
 

Next up was replacing the driver door jam switch. My footwell lights only worked when I opened my passenger door so it was safe to assume the drivers door switch was bad. I’m terrible at taking pictures but the old one was corroded so I cleaned it up the best I could but still had no lights. In the trash it went and put one of these bad boys in: 

 

 

[BeaterComanche86]

Next up and my current project is tracking down my issue of running rich, according to my REM. I started with the O2 sensor since mine would occasionally work but more often then not would either stay at a low or high value. Also tested to Ohms on the old one and was around 2.6 so I picked up one of these Ngk sensors, tested for the 6 Ohms and in it went.

 

 

So it definitely helped but still doesn’t have her running 100%. I moved on to adjusting the TPS by following nicks/ “factory” process and got my idle at 1000 RPM’s give or take. Here’s the video I used but I’m sure there’s a safer way to do this:

Again she was running better but still not all the way there. Next I moved on to the CPS and I wish I took pictures because that thing was caked in clutch dust and oil. Must have been at least a 1/4 Inch of gunk built up on that thing, I’m surprised my truck even ran. After cleaning it off it made a difference but it only got me to 75%. So I will press on and take a look at the fuel pressure regulator ,injector spray pattern, catalytic converter, ISM, distributor, spark plugs and wires. If anyone has suggestions feel free to share, I’m all ears. 
 

And some poser shots from one of the few unpaved roads around my way:
 

 

 

 

 

 

[MiNi Beast]

progress looks good.