Rear coil swap/ full Comanche rebuild

[1988gecko]

Hi guys, I have been working on this truck since I bought it back in high school (2015) and had it running and driving for a little bit a few years ago... but the work I did to it back in the day was not going to cut it, quite frankly it was pretty cobbled as it was my first time welding as well as fabricating anything. Not to mention it still had a Dana 30 Also I thought (and still do) Zone’s jeep Comanche was the coolest truck I had ever laid eyes upon hence why it looks similar. What I have been working on is re sheeting the entire floor, re building front long arm 3 link as well as all steering geometry to accommodate the new d44 front axle, and in the rear sits a ford 8.8 that I have 3 link/ panhard and coil converted. This is still a work in progress so I will update with photos as I go

[JMO413]

Sounds awesome how about some pictures.

[1988gecko]

Here is a picture of when I first brought the pile home and the other two are of midway through the cobbling

[1988gecko]

Here is what I have been working on the past couple months.. cut the floor back out, built a trans x member, arms, knuckle brackets to creak the wheels etc. oh I also replaced the cab unibody with 3.5x 3/16 square tube. 

[1988gecko]

I will get some more photos tonight for you guys, I didn’t realize I had this little

[1988gecko]

Here is what I have going on for the front axle. I had to bend the links to get a little extra clearance for the tires as well as bend the upper to clear the starter at full bump. As far as the brackets I built for the steering knuckles they serve 2 purposes; 1- somewhat of a high steer and 2- corrects the clearance issue I had with the backspacing on the wheels. Also pictured is the custom cross member I built as well as the bracketry for the frame side link mounts. And yes the pitman arm and knuckle brackets are still receiving gusseting

[MiNi Beast]

chop, cut, rebuild!! 

You painted same color as well. 😆 

I like it 👌 

[1988gecko]

As far as rear suspension goes I did a slightly triangulated three link with a track bar and used heavy duty front xj coil springs. I had to notch the frame out about 2.5 inches to make more room for the springs and used Clayton off-road spring isolators for the axle side spring cups

[1988gecko]

4 minutes ago, MiNi Beast said:

chop, cut, rebuild!! 

You painted same color as well. 😆 

I like it 👌 

Yessir😁 I just loved it too much! It’s too nice of a paint job to change also. My little bro has a Comanche that my twin brother and I are helping him with I will do a detailed write up on that one too, but that one is going to be a one off design, it’s going to be tight🤙🏻

[MiNi Beast]

Ive been wanting to coil the rear myself but can't justify it yet. Did you remove the 'x' from the rear of the framework? 

[1988gecko]

I cut into it but did not remove it yet, I’m on the fence whether to leave what’s left of it in or cut it the rest of the way out, I’ll get a picture of that eventually

[thecodemonk]

Looks awesome!  The Zone MJ is what got me inspired too (though I'm not quite as dedicated as you to taking all of the pieces of it).  Your work looks awesome!

[Smokeyyank]

Things is pretty sexy. Interested in learning why your choose a 3 link rear verse a double triangulated 4 link?

[1988gecko]

1 hour ago, Smokeyyank said:

Things is pretty sexy. Interested in learning why your choose a 3 link rear verse a double triangulated 4 link?

To keep it simpler and to keep the fuel tank in stock location

[JMO413]

Amazing build!

[Park13]

SOLID!!!! Thats a beefy build my friend. I'm taking notes

[1988gecko]

4 hours ago, JMO413 said:

Amazing build!

 

31 minutes ago, Park13 said:

SOLID!!!! Thats a beefy build my friend. I'm taking notes

Thanks guys, I am very happy with the way it is turning out. I really wanted to start this thread as I haven’t came across many at all or even seen any coil swapped Comanches 

[1988gecko]

Didn’t make a whole lot of progress tonight.. I was able to get a frame side rear track bar bracket built and then started measuring for the axle side bracket but am debating what I want to do... I really would like to keep the track bar straight but if I keep it straight the brackets are going to stick out 5.5” off the back end of the rear axle, but I could put a bend in it to clear the diff cover to keep the brackets a bit more low profile. Any opinions? 

[Smokeyyank]

Do you have a pic? 

 

Trying to track it in my head. Looking through some 3 link rear seems like it's big with the yota crowd.  And most are landing the 3 link on top of the diff and then track bar is going to the furthest point on the axle and using a tower to bring it up. But I guess there might be some clearance issues. 

 

 

 

 

[1988gecko]

I will get a few tonight, I appreciate the input, I will probably try to make it similar to that third picture. I don’t want too tall of a bracket as it well cause the axle to “swing” when being flexed on one side

[neohic]

Are you keeping the fuel tank in the stock location?

[1988gecko]

Yes 

[1988gecko]

Here are the brackets I came up with, axle side bracket on the left and frame side on the right. They should position the track bar at a slight angle at ride height

[1988gecko]

Got the brackets welded on, I made the frame side bracket long in case it had to be trimmed shorter... I ended up cutting it down about 3 inches to keep my TB angle fairly flat at bump. Track bar came out to 43” long so it shouldn’t push or pull the axle very much at all

 

[Smokeyyank]

Coming along nice!