1990 Comanche Eliminator

[pizzaman09]

The Comanche has been running great.  Used it at the property the other day cleaning up brush and dragging the utility trailer up and down the hills to the burning pile.

 

[pizzaman09]

Managed to catch a picture of the Comanche in the middle of a sundog.

 

Also random other view

[Drahcir495]

On 5/13/2022 at 10:53 AM, pizzaman09 said:

Had to get a replacement new expansion tank.  First one from Rockauto had a crack at the molding seem.

I never noticed that the coolant was jetting out of the bottle . You have done quite a bit since I replied earlier. Great work

[pizzaman09]

14 hours ago, Drahcir495 said:

I never noticed that the coolant was jetting out of the bottle . You have done quite a bit since I replied earlier. Great work

Thanks!  The Comanche has been quite reliable since I got the cooling system sorted.  

[pizzaman09]

Changed my engine mounts today, they had definitely met removal criteria.

Original mounts from 1989!

 

The new mounts were factory style replacements and they are awesome!  So much smoother.  Most noticeable though is that it shifts into gears so much nicer!  

[JZLAJeep]

18 minutes ago, pizzaman09 said:

Changed my engine mounts today, they had definitely met removal criteria.

Original mounts from 1989!

What the?!? Having owned an XJ for the last 23+ years, changing motor mounts has become routine maintenance after that time one motor mount failed completely and the shifter was over in the passenger seat...

[Salvagedcircuit]

17 hours ago, pizzaman09 said:

Changed my engine mounts today, they had definitely met removal criteria.

Original mounts from 1989!

 

The new mounts were factory style replacements and they are awesome!  So much smoother.  Most noticeable though is that it shifts into gears so much nicer!  

Mine looked exactly like this when I removed em

I replaced them with used genuine motor mounts from a ~00 TJ. Who knows how they will hold up, but they may outlast the clone mounts of unknown quality. I really wish keyparts would clone the motor mounts. I'd grab like 4 sets for keepsies.

[pizzaman09]

Upgraded the breather to have a GM style PCV and replaced the air filter.  I did this same PCV mod on my first Comanche and it completely fixed the oily filter issue.

[Salvagedcircuit]

On 11/20/2024 at 5:52 PM, pizzaman09 said:

Upgraded the breather to have a GM style PCV and replaced the air filter.  I did this same PCV mod on my first Comanche and it completely fixed the oily filter issue.

 

Woah, you have some details about this?

My new dorman PCV tube expanded at the valve cover after 1 year and I had to add heatshrink to the tube to pickup the sloppy fit. It works fine but I don't mind learning about alternatives Thanks

[pizzaman09]

47 minutes ago, Salvagedcircuit said:

 

Woah, you have some details about this?

My new dorman PCV tube expanded at the valve cover after 1 year and I had to add heatshrink to the tube to pickup the sloppy fit. It works fine but I don't mind learning about alternatives Thanks

This time around I simply cut the doorman  Renix 90 degree elbow off about 0.08" above the upper flange of where it goes into the valve cover.  The hole in that remaining piece is the perfect snug fit for the GM style PCV.  https://www.autozone.com/emission-control-and-exhaust/pcv-valve/p/duralast-pcv-valve-pcv1214dl/830774_0_0?spps.s=1843&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:FLT:19489353541&&CATARGETID=120054150001289815&CADevice=m&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9IC6BhA3EiwAsbltOIUXIZGsQ4onUxbn7kMhR6ywKLHTWANKi4vz2KkVlGceaMG6DrMoYBoCHNIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

The barbed fitting is for a 3/8" ID hose.  The Renix plastic tube is 1/2" OD. I took a piece of 3/8" ID hose and slid it over the barn, then a piece of 1/2" OD  hose on that and connected it to the plastic line.  I used silicone spray to lubricate everything to get the hoses on all fittings.  Everything was pretty snug.  

 

My first Comanche was an interesting story, it had pumped the intake full of probably 1 quart of oil driving from Colorado Springs down to Kansas over a 4 hour drive.  We swung into a small town auto store and I asked for a PCV, rubber grommet and air filter for an 88 Comanche.  The guy handed me a GM style PCV, some grommet that fit perfectly and an air filter (totalling $6 in 2017).  I knew nothing about the crankcase ventilation on a Renix 4.0L, but it already had something like the GM PCV, completely clogged and a very ill fitting grommet involving electrical tape.

[Salvagedcircuit]

Cool! Thanks for the info. That's a good alternative in case mine fails

[pizzaman09]

On 11/22/2024 at 10:08 PM, Salvagedcircuit said:

Cool! Thanks for the info. That's a good alternative in case mine fails

So, apparently this PCV idea was not a good one.  It does indeed prevent oil from getting into the filter.  However it prevents vacuum from the back port from being pulled by the intake and has caused my rear main seal to leak substantially more.

 

I've decided to modify the PCV a bit to prevent it from blocking off the flow of air in to the engine.  I did this by pounding a 1/4" square drive into the bottom of the PCV so it won't seat and seal off entirely.  

See photo:

 

Now of course it is the end of the season with snow in the forecast tomorrow, so the truck was washed up and is parked for the winter.  The PCV fix probably won't get tested until spring unless I have a major need for a truck this winter.