UpstateMJ Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 So back sept of 2021 after over 100 xjs I finally got the chance to score a Comanche. Drove 2.5 hours one way and drug this 1988 off the side of a mountain literally. Factory 4.0 5speed 4x4 with tcase skid and gas tank skid so from the get go I knew I wanted to do a full 97+ swap. So I got it home and started going to town then proceeded to rip the entire interior out and found some rust :/ booo also picked up a rust free bed for it for 300 bucks Fast forward a couple months had a baby moved blah blah Picked up manual 98 doors and a Comanche Lund visor for CHEAP then got to work. Cut the bad floor spots out and installed some c2c floor pans. Had to cut some relief cuts but other than that they fit pretty well forgot to mention picked up a 98 donor and got the front clip fenders and wiring harnesses and dash from.(forgot to get s couple brackets so I’m buying another donor this week) yesterday I used the cut out steering column hole thing whatever you call it. And got that in. Still gotta do the wiring harness hole too. The Comanche whole is square as the xj one is more oval. as soon as I get the donor I’ll cut out the steering column bracket mount on the xj dash and a couple other pieces. So today didn’t really have time so I installed some kilmat in. so next I’ll start swapping in the dash brackets and steering column mount as soon as I have the appropriate mounts. I’m not good at write ups but I do take a lot of pictures so ask away if you have questions cause I have read every single 97 swap thread there is to learn this swap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Forgot to post but bought a complete xj and pulled the motor trans and tcase out and sold the rest for almost exactly what I bought it for. used the trans for my wife’s xj and put the motor is storage for the manche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 that's a killer deal on that visor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Sounds like a good project. Always good to have another South Carolinian in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 On 3/13/2022 at 9:44 PM, UpstateMJ said: Forgot to post but bought a complete xj and pulled the motor trans and tcase out and sold the rest for almost exactly what I bought it for. used the trans for my wife’s xj and put the motor is storage for the manche. Exactly how these projects should work. Great advantages to having the skills and experience as you grow in this hobby or way of life. A Jeepers life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 6 hours ago, scguy said: Sounds like a good project. Always good to have another South Carolinian in here. Yea man where you located? 5 hours ago, MiNi Beast said: Exactly how these projects should work. Great advantages to having the skills and experience as you grow in this hobby or way of life. A Jeepers life. I’ve learned a lot from just reading! 21 hours ago, Pete M said: that's a killer deal on that visor! Yeah guy posted it and I was like I can be there in 20. Also he threw in a nice taillight off a bed his goats played on in his yard for free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 Picked up an affordable off-road bumper with tie ins for cheap the other day also pulled the ba10 out to hopefully replace with a ax15 if I can freaking find one. 👎🏻 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 @89 MJ had an ax15 available i think? Also recommend getting a reinforced steering box spacer as well to go with your tie in plates as that will help strengthen the inside frame rails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 14 minutes ago, MiNi Beast said: @89 MJ had an ax15 available i think? Also recommend getting a reinforced steering box spacer as well to go with your tie in plates as that will help strengthen the inside frame rails Good idea. I know on xjs the unibody rail is prone to cracking there. Good idea 👍 I’ve had over 100 Cherokees but this is my first Comanche so I’ve been learning a lot. But yeah I’m looking for a external slave ax15 I’m in upstate SC if anyone has a lead. I can travel a reasonable distance if need be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 @UpstateMJI'm down in Barnwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 29 minutes ago, scguy said: @UpstateMJI'm down in Barnwell Gotcha. Might have to make a trip down that way once I finish this thing. I go to isle of palms at least once a year so i should be that way this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scguy Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 We should have a SC/NC/GA meetup sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 16, 2022 Author Share Posted March 16, 2022 37 minutes ago, scguy said: We should have a SC/NC/GA meetup sometime. I’m down with it. I’m supposed to be picking up another donor xj this weekend to get two brackets I forgot to get off my first donor 😭 so hopefully I’ll be getting the dash mounted this weekend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 9 hours ago, MiNi Beast said: @89 MJ had an ax15 available i think? Also recommend getting a reinforced steering box spacer as well to go with your tie in plates as that will help strengthen the inside frame rails My AX-15 has been spoken for. Thanks for the tag though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 17, 2022 Author Share Posted March 17, 2022 My floor “drain plugs” came in. Don’t really fit too perfectly but I did seal them with silicone to be safe. also picking up a ax15 tomorrow. anyone have the Comanche ax15 plate that mounts above the trans mount??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Few people been looking for that offset mount, hard to come by these days, novak has a universal mount that may help if can't find one. Novak ax15 universal trans mount Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 17, 2022 Author Share Posted March 17, 2022 10 minutes ago, MiNi Beast said: Few people been looking for that offset mount, hard to come by these days, novak has a universal mount that may help if can't find one. Novak ax15 universal trans mount Appreciate it. Also I think I scrapped a ax15 Cherokee cross member so I need to find one of those too. 😭😭😭😭 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, UpstateMJ said: Appreciate it. Also I think I scrapped a ax15 Cherokee cross member so I need to find one of those too. 😭😭😭😭 I have tossed many of "stock" parts that I didn't think much about. Sometimes you just don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 Picked up a ax15 external slave tonight. Supposed to have around 100k on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 full control! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 2 minutes ago, MiNi Beast said: full control! I have a problem. If I’d never ever bought a jeep or a jeep part I’d have a nice savings account lmao! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Just empty every pocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpstateMJ Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 Hopefully picking up another donor xj this weekend so I can get the dash bracket I need to hold the steering column mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 I just grinded the old mount off and welded in the right spot..i think.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 No i see now newer dash then mine was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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