VixJeep Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Hi everyone, I was going to update my pics today when I realized that I never posted any. That has led to a search through phones and old files, and I posted a few from 2015 and 2016. More coming. I bought my Comanche new on December 17, 1987, and it was my first new vehicle. It is older than two of my three kids, and a part of the family now. Although it still needs paint and interior done, I have made great strides toward getting it back in good running order. I'll run through some of the things I've done toward that goal a little later on. My finished Comanche should look almost exactly as it came off the showroom floor, with the exception of the hockey stick stripes. No lift, no mudders, no winch, just a fully restored beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Great to see another original owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Here are a few pictures from more recently. I just put the front bumper, bumper ends, and new grille on this week. This is a Mopar "old new stock" grille I found and bought. I don't know if any of the Comanche trucks came with a chrome grille, but the after market ones fade really bad, so I bought it. Honest opinions guys, (guys being a term to include anyone reading this post - we aren't excluding anyone here), is the chrome grille too much? The only things remotely chrome looking on the truck are the front Jeep emblem and the side Comanche emblems. I kinda like it - not sure yet. The paint color will be the original metallic dark blue. Eventually. I also realize that till I get it painted its like putting lipstick on a pig. The Comanche doesn't get cranked and driven often, so I've been charging the battery a lot to start it. Battery was 5 1/2 years old, so I bought a new one last week. Hooked it up and it fired off great! Then I saw the voltmeter at 9 v. Well crap. Then I realized that the alternator is the only thing run off the belt that has never been changed. It lasted 32 years and about 400,000 miles. It looks like almighty hell since this truck spewed oil out the ccv for many years, and I'm impressed that it has hung in for so long. Any tips on which amperage alternator is most suited for a 4.0, stock everything? The 61a, 85a, and 100a are all priced within about 8 dollars on Ebay. Go with the bigger one? Advantages, disadvantages? In the 2015 pictures posted above, that is Pee Wee, the one-eyed cat. He inspects my work and is a real taskmaster. Here are a few recent pictures. Pics are 1 Window wiper trim before 2 New trim, channel, door seal 3 After installing 4, 5 New bumper and grille Chrome Grille, yes or no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 Fiatslug, I don't guess there are a lot of us left. Now you have me wondering. I'm sure that being one-owner trucks has made both our Comanches worth tens of more dollars, for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted October 20, 2019 Share Posted October 20, 2019 Is your truck in the registry? If so did I provide a build date? I can give a build sheet for ya too if you would like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted October 20, 2019 Author Share Posted October 20, 2019 eaglescout526, I am in the registry. I added it after your post yesterday. I'll have to look up how to check the axles and gearbox and add that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buxmj Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 Well there are at least 3 of us original owners now, your mj is looking great! I got rid of the hockey stick stripes the first time mine was painted and liked it better without. When I got it painted the 2nd time I didn't even think about the stripes. Keep the pics coming and keep it running! I only drive mine about 1 to 2k a year any more, it earned its retirement. Buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted October 25, 2019 Share Posted October 25, 2019 dang that's a clean engine bay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Nothing really picture worthy this week, but a great productive week. I found and repaired the problem in the parking lights and blinkers. I was fuse box residue from the brake fluid spil from the master failing. Got the headlight lighting harness upgrade installed today. My daughters bought me a nice hood to fix the sagging old hood hitting the cowl when it opened. I'm getting it ready to change that this week. I vacuumed a ton of leaves out of my blower fan, got the interior lights ready to hook up, Greased the chassis except one in back of the drive shaGt. gotta get a slimmer nozzle. Hopefully I'll have a running A/C next week. Got an o-ring kit ready to go and new compressor, dryer, and evaporator. we'll see how that goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted November 5, 2019 Author Share Posted November 5, 2019 On 10/24/2019 at 10:42 PM, Pete M said: dang that's a clean engine bay Thanks. It s a little dirtier now, but I've done a lot to tame the loose wires with wire loom. I spent many hours getting the oil and gunk out of the engine bay and off of the hood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VixJeep Posted November 5, 2019 Author Share Posted November 5, 2019 Success! After years of high idle issues, I decided to get serious and fix the problem. I had done a few of the Renix tips years ago, but I started back at the start and got the ones in my signature done. Bought a new TPS, set it, and the idle came down, but was still too high. What to do? There was only one idle related item on the Renix Tips left to do: The Butterfly adjustment. When I read It was never intended to be adjusted in the field. But, Uncle Bob didn’t know that, did he, I knew exactly who my "Uncle Bob" was. After adjusting the butterfly, she purrs like a kitten. Jackpot! Only downside is that the chirp is louder......it never ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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