86 Jeep Comanche, Herman

[Jim_Z]

I have been working thru various systems on my 86 Jeep Comanche.  So far I have worked on the following systems

1. Serviced front axle with new u joints on both sides, new brake pads and new gear oil in the differential.

2 .Serviced rear axle with new wheel bearings, brake shoes and brake slave cylinders and new gear oil in differential.

3. Changed engine oil and filter twice.

4. Changed oil in AX5 transmission and NP207 transfer case.

5. The truck came to me with steel wheels mounted 31x10.5-R15 BGF All-terrain tires with about 20% tread left.  These rubbed a little bit at certain suspension conditions.

6. Replaced wheels and tires mentioned in No. 5 with set of Jeep alloy wheels mounted with 30x9.5-R15 BFG All-Terrain tires with about 90% tread.  No cracks on tires and No clearance issues.

7. Replace plus lead to starter and wire from starter relay to starter solenoid.  Originals had burnt on exhaust manifold and shorted together....

8. Greased every zerk I could find.

 

The oil pressure seems a little low on the 2.8, but there are no knocks and pressure meets the 10psi per 1000 rpm rule with Shell Rotella 15w- 40.  The engine leaks oil enough to coat the bell housing and transmission.  I think this might be coming mostly from the back of the intake manifold as verse the real main seal as there is more oil towards the top of the bell housing.  All things considered, the engine runs pretty well, I have done a couple of 250 mile trips with no issues.

 

Reducing the tire size reduced the overdrive aspect from about 11% to 8% which makes 5th gear a little more usable.  The speedo is about 4 mph slow at 55.  I usually shift into 5th at about 60 mph.  The mileage on a recent long trip was about 16.5 mpg running at about 65 - 70 mph with about 1200 pounds in the back (2 motorcycles and a drill press).

 

Overall,  the old truck rattles and one has to slam the doors to get them to latch, but it drives OK.  Reminds me of my maternal grandfather, old, cantankerous, and played a mean game of Cribbage.  His name was Herman.  My grandfather passed away a couple of decades ago, but I think I will apply his name to this old Comanche.  Herman.

 

There is a 94 Carmro 3.4 engine waiting in the wings.

 

[JMO413]

Love the name and the story to go with it!

[Minuit]

Good start to a build thread. Sounds like you're well prepared for what you're getting into. Look forward to seeing more!

[Green Mesa XJ]

Nice.

 

Strangely enough when I got my old 2.8 XJ it reminded me of my grandpa and his old trucks. The old XJ was old truck like, closer to the 1940-50s size trucks and basic mechanics. The smells, gear oil, stale gas, burning motor oil, musty air from the vents. It was a lot like his old trucks on the farm.

 

The newer MJ/XJ with fuel injection and 4.0 are not that different but for some reason the old carbureted jeeps feel so much closer to the trucks and classic designs they were based on.

 

That and at times they are grumpy as hell. :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Jim_Z]

Herman goes to a Jeep event.

I took my 86 Comanche, Herman, to a Jeep event this weekend,  Jeeps On the Farm at the Denton FarmPark in Denton NC.  Herman was not as fancy as some of the newer tricked out Jeeps, just rattle can black with some assorted base colors showing thru on door edges.  Herman took 1st place in the Silver category.  We got there early in the morning and were the 1st jeep parked in the row.  Not to bad for an old survior truck.  Herman was the only MJ at the event.  Heard a couple of fellows saying, "I miss my old Comanche" and "My MJ was my favorite Jeep".

 

Jim_Z

 

[Pete M]

everyone loves the old iron