Angel - 89 Long Bed

[Park13]

Howdy!! 

 

Time for me to start a thread on this build!

 

I picked up this Comanche in Sacramento a few weeks ago from a gentleman named Angel. I flew from Vegas to check it out.  The flight was only $28 one way. Good timing.  He was nice enough to pick me up at the airport and bring me to her.  Pretty friendly if ya ask me.  Angel and his friend drove an hour with 2 cars to show the Comanche.  It was his Dad’s hunting and work truck. He said it’s in pretty good shape, but the electrical needs some work. She runs clean. Takes a little extra priming and long crank to start up, but other than that she’s solid in motion! 

“And thats the way the cookie crumbles. Back to you Jan”

 

Drove her from Sacramento to Simi Valley with no problems! Other than No AC or audio, she drove like a dream. Made sure to get the oil changed and check the fluids before the first leg of the trip. At one point, I used a physical paper map to drive through California, and I asked the gas station clerk for directions. Don’t remember the last time I did that.  This truck reminds me of Oklahoma.  Five hours later and I’m in the LA area to stay a night at Grammas and Lil bros for a day at the beach. 

 

Next leg of the trip was also good, headed 5 hours from Simi to Vegas. No hiccups there either! Really got lucky having no problems for 10 hours driving on a 30 year old truck.  107k miles though!!

 

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Build Plan:

 

I’ve been taking my time researching and considering keeping most functional for what I want to do.. 

 

This is my daily driver at the moment, with some Saturday Sunday 4 wheeling and light trailing. 

 

 

 

Going for a 4.5” ish lift.  Yes, I’m that guy. Lol. 

 

 

 

Completed:

 

Brake pads / rotors

 

Fuel Pump / Fuel Filter

 

Fuel Pressure Regulator. Replacing this and the fuel pump/filter made her start up quick! No more long crank.

 

Upper interior lights: (here’s the video i referenced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq5bE81rQpI&t=134s)

 

Painted Front Clip

 

Cleaned , clear coated, bondo'd the tail lights

 

Tried on 3 different wheels because I am having fun. I am having fun. I am having fun. Lol

 

Heater Core re-rout to stop floorboard leak. (didn’t work. Still leaks oil into the driver floor. Got new gasket set to fix. Need to install)

 

R12 recharge. Only a couple places in Vegas that still do R12. Not cheap either

 

Did a wack job on the headliner. Quite embarrassing. 

 

Having trouble with the interior electrical... The Radio gets power but the speakers aren't working. And neither is the cigarette lighter. Maybe I should check the ground again.

 

 

 

 

 

Specs:

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Exterior:

 

 Keeping her Patina look for now. I like the old paint style. Plus I don’t have to worry so much about keeping her spotless with the old paint. There are a few marks here and there, clear coat is faded. Rear bumper is dented, and a couple small dents on passenger side. But 99% rust-free. The paint makes it look rusty. But that’s just the absence of paint maintenance over the years. She’s a dry country desert jeep.  

 

East coast jeepers, I have mad respect for your rust bucket restorations!

 

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Engine & Transmission:

 

 To-Do: All the little things. Hoses and lines, O-rings, seals, etc. Exactly what you’d expect for a 30 year old vehicle. But everything functions right

 

4.0 Litre Inline 6 cylinder  (AKA straight 6,  Renix) (stock) definitely keeping.

 

 AW-4 Automatic (stock) keeper

 

 

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Differentials & Suspension: Again, Everything is pretty much stock.. For now! 

 

I noticed the read leafs are a bit more beefy than others? Can you guys verify if this is a long-bed characteristic?

 

Rear Diff:

 Dana 44 (stock) keeper. 

It’s my understanding that not all MJ’s have a Dana 44 rear end. Another one I saw had a Dana 35 (less beefy). Maybe since this one is a long bed, it came with a bigger rear end. Or maybe the Dana 44 was an option when it was built. Either way, I’m happy its a D44 :) 

 

 

Front Diff:

Dana 30 front (stock) keeper.  

 

Stock Shocks and Coil springs. 

These are going bye-bye with the lift. I have been researching and looking for a good deal on shocks and springs for ones that I will never need to replace.

 

 

 

And a bunch of other parts.. Control arms, track bar, tires, bumper, and a bunch of other... stuff.... One day at a time I guess. Going to wait to do the whole suspension the same time. In the meantime, I accumulate the pieces:)

 

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P.s. 

 

Working on a little write-up for these 2020 Gladiator OEM Mopar Fox Shocks if they fit in the rear. Will keep y’all updated !

 

 

 

Anybody know the best way to get 4.5" lift in the back, with these leafs, while keeping in mind the right pinion angle? 

 

Cheers!

 

Seller's photo from Sacramento area

 

Dana 30 front diff

 

Dana 44 rear

Ma

 

Made it to Simi Valley

 

Brake job. Should have cleaned those two little push pins better. Oh well. I noticed these brakes are different than 97+ Xj

 

Backyardigans

 

Interior Floorboard Leak (wasn't heater core)

 

Interiors

 

Patina:)

 

Fuel Pump FUN. Pieced together a few different pump pieces to make it work right. The right parts aren't always easy to find. No biggie

 

Cleaned up the tail lights with headlight restore, light sanding, and then hit it with a few coats of UV protected clearcoat for plastic

 

Tail lights shining. Got the reverse bulbs working also. There are 3 different bulbs in the tail light, but they look the same. The electric bulb harness is a tad bit different on the inside if you look closely. 

 

Whats that?

 

SUPRISE!!!

 

Took way too long to paint the front clip. But I learned everything about it. Down the road i'll probably do chrome. Label your screws!!!

 

Front clip after paint. Not bad for my first spray job. 

 

Rear Leafs. Looking to add 4.5ish to the rear

[jdog]

welcome,

sounds like a lot of plans, keep us updated.

be sure to put your yr eng and trans in your signature, makes it a lot easier

pull your carpets.

other members will be able to chime in on your other questions, but i think the easiest way would be a spring over in the rear, but i'm not positive.

again welcome

[89 MJ]

That’s my dream MJ right there. 

[fiatslug87]

Your leaf spring are the metric ton version.

[Fernando87mj]

Nice mj friend ! You live in Vegas ? 

[Park13]

4 hours ago, jdog said:

welcome,

sounds like a lot of plans, keep us updated.

be sure to put your yr eng and trans in your signature, makes it a lot easier

pull your carpets.

other members will be able to chime in on your other questions, but i think the easiest way would be a spring over in the rear, but i'm not positive.

again welcome

Luckily there was no carpet!! only the rubber liner. Also updated my signature. :) Appreciate the warm welcome

 

 

3 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

That’s my dream MJ right there. 

Thank you kindly, We can enjoy it together over the webbernets

 

 

3 hours ago, fiatslug87 said:

Your leaf spring are the metric ton version.

OooOoOo LaLa, information. Thank you. *Researches metric ton leafs*

 

 

41 minutes ago, Fernando87mj said:

Nice mj friend ! You live in Vegas ? 

Yup I sure do. Big thank you

________________

 

 

Got her shining today. Secret to preserving patina while keeping the oxidized look and no more rust: BOILED Linseed oil and Mineral spirits from Home Depot , in the wood finish section

reference video: Patina Preserve youtube reference

 

 

 

[Fernando87mj]

That’s awesome, I hope I see your mj around one of these days ! What area are you from ? 

[Park13]

2 hours ago, Fernando87mj said:

That’s awesome, I hope I see your mj around one of these days ! What area are you from ? 

Paradise  hbu?

[Fernando87mj]

Sunrise manor ! 

[Pete M]

7 hours ago, Park13 said:

 

 

SUPRISE!!!

 

 

 

 

you win the internet for today.  

[Park13]

Got a super deal today on axles and steering.  Chrysler 8.25 rear with 4.10 gears, and Dana 30 w 4.10 front with 1 ton steering, WJ knuckle swap, big double piston brakes, and adjustible Track bar with a drop bracket (some not pictured). I am a lucky man to say the least

 

Now I'm pondering the leaf over axle or leaf under... Didn't want to go higher than 4" lift.  But if I go leaf over, i'll probably be pushing 5 1/2 tall".  Original leafs are still in real good shape. Extra clearance would be nice though..

 

Hmm... Any thoughts on this pickle?

 

 

[MiNi Beast]

Is the 8.25 setup for mj already? Id would suggest regearing the 44 but thats dependent on your needs i gather. Weekend warriors can go either way. Spring under for comfort spring over for cheap lift and clearance and again depending your goals and tire options. Great buy no doubt. 

[Park13]

20 hours ago, MiNi Beast said:

Is the 8.25 setup for mj already? Id would suggest regearing the 44 but thats dependent on your needs i gather. Weekend warriors can go either way. Spring under for comfort spring over for cheap lift and clearance and again depending your goals and tire options. Great buy no doubt. 

 

The 8.25 came off a 98 XJ,  setup with leafs over axle and left side rear shock / right front shock mounts.   

 

[Park13]

Well.. I got another deal on a pair of axles that i couldn't pass up!    JK Dana 30 and 44 with 4.88 gears and grizzly mechanical lockers.

 

I like the idea of JK axles, but 4.88's are too big. Only want to be at 32" tires I'm thinking 4.10 is right. 

 

 Hmm...

[Park13]

This should fix folks flashing brights at me :) best $20 i've spent so far

 

Rear lightbar underneath the tailgate, hooks up to trailer light.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/49inch-LED-Rear-Brake-Signal-Reverse-Tailgate-Park-Light-Strip-Bar-Truck-Pick-Up/312834918587?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Attached behind the tailgate on the frame and tacked to a sturdy piece of drywall cornering for $3 at home depot.. Rattle canned the drywall cornering black.. And thats it!

 

 

[Park13]

Pretty much finished with the headliner. Turned out pretty good. The piece i found on amazon was perfect size to curl around the edges.

 

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VMBN2DR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

i like the quality on this material.I used extra tape around the folded edges to make sure it doesn't peel again

 

Also put a thermal insulation piece and glued it to the roof, above the headliner. Got a huge roll of it for $16 at home depot. It's not dynamat or the expensive vehicle material stuff, but I think it will do the trick. And have a bunch left over

 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Reflectix-16-in-x-25-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-Roll-with-Staple-Tab-Edge-ST16025/100012574

 

 

Used one whole can of adhesive too

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HBNU9K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1