Newly acquired Comanche questions

[Krieger82]

ALready been trolling the site, but have not found the answer to some of my questions. Thanks in advance!

 

I am not a fan of the dummy light instrument cluster, will an XJ cluster plug in and function (so I can have tach, voltage, oil pressure, etc), or should I just buy a three gauge aftermarket dash setup?

 

Saw several posts on seat replacement, but are there any particular other auto makers or aftermarket that bolt up better? I have limited fabrication skills (well, skills I have, no workshop or tools), so new brackets might be a pain unless I can armstrong a buddy or two. 

 

Is it possible to have the windshield resealed? I called some autoglass places and they told me where the sun don't shine, would only do full replacement.

 

At 246k miles are there any EMERGENCY heavy repairs I should do (Timing Chain, Water Pump, head, etc)? Now that I got this thing, it is going to become a family heirloom, so I want her around for the long haul. Know my way around a 4.0, but never had one this high before.

 

Hot air blows out from under the shifter console. I am guessing it is coming off the transfer case. Is there any fix for this?

 

Is there anyone out there that makes hard headliners? Never was a fan of the cloth/cardboard combo.

 

It came with 3.07 D35c gears. Easily one of the most anemic gearings I have felt from a 4.0. Would the liberty 8.25 be the best swap option?

 

Should I just not mess around and install the 4 port injectors immediately?

 

Thank you so so much. Everyone said this is the group to come to for this stuff, so I really appreciate it. 

[Eagle]

1 hour ago, Krieger82 said:

I am not a fan of the dummy light instrument cluster, will an XJ cluster plug in and function (so I can have tach, voltage, oil pressure, etc), or should I just buy a three gauge aftermarket dash setup?

 

An XJ cluster from the correct year will be a direct replacement for your idiot light cluster. You will need to replace the temperature sensor and the oil pressure sensor.

 

For a Renix-era MJ ('86 thru '90) you will need a cluster from an '84 thru '90 XJ. '84 thru '86 will need a different speedometer cable and the cluster must come from a vehicle with the same number of cylinders as yours.

 

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Saw several posts on seat replacement, but are there any particular other auto makers or aftermarket that bolt up better? I have limited fabrication skills (well, skills I have, no workshop or tools), so new brackets might be a pain unless I can armstrong a buddy or two.

 

You can use XJ seats if your seat brackets are in decent condition. XJ seats from the same year range are the same but the brackets are different.

 

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Is it possible to have the windshield resealed? I called some autoglass places and they told me where the sun don't shine, would only do full replacement.

 

It's certainly possible to have a windshield resealed. Whether or not you can find a shop that's willing to do it is another question.

 

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At 246k miles are there any EMERGENCY heavy repairs I should do (Timing Chain, Water Pump, head, etc)? Now that I got this thing, it is going to become a family heirloom, so I want her around for the long haul. Know my way around a 4.0, but never had one this high before.

 

Probably no "emergency," but it's time to start thinking about bearings. That can be followed up on when you have full gauges and you can read your oil pressure.

 

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Hot air blows out from under the shifter console. I am guessing it is coming off the transfer case. Is there any fix for this?

 

Open up the console and look at the condition of the lower boot.

 

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Is there anyone out there that makes hard headliners? Never was a fan of the cloth/cardboard combo.

 

Not that I know of.

 

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It came with 3.07 D35c gears. Easily one of the most anemic gearings I have felt from a 4.0. Would the liberty 8.25 be the best swap option?

 

What's your idea of "best"? The Liberty 8.25 is a good choice if you also want disc brakes, but an 8.25 out of any Cherokee would be an improvement, and the late model Cherokees with the larger axle shafts is better. If you have 4WD, don't forget you'll need to change the front axle ratio as well.

 

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Should I just not mess around and install the 4 port injectors immediately?

 

Is there anything wrong with the injectors you have now? If not, there's no immediate need to change.

[cruiser54]

I didn't notice a year in your post. Still on my first cup of coffee. 

If it's a 90 or earlier, check out my website. www.cruiser54.com. 

[Pete M]

3.73 gears is by far the most common ratio in the Libertys.  great if your truck is 2wd, but 3.73 is one of the least common ratios in MJ/XJs so finding a front axle with it can be a challenge.  fortunately 3.73 is common in ZJs and TJs and those axles bolt in.   

 

be sure to add some basic tidbits about your truck in your signature.  

[75sv1]

Gear ratio: Auto or manual and tire size info needed. 3.73's are OK with 31's and an auto trans. A bit sluggish on steep inclines through.  I used a Dana 30 from a ZJ and a Ford 8.8. 

I have a 2000 XJ with 270K on it. I replaced the harmonic balance, water pump, thermostat, front seal. Needs rear crankshaft seal. Oil pressure on mine is good, 25 hot at idle and 50 psi at RMP.  

[pizzaman09]

12 hours ago, cruiser54 said:

I didn't notice a year in your post. Still on my first cup of coffee. 

If it's a 90 or earlier, check out my website. www.cruiser54.com. 

This, best thing you can do if the 4.0 is a Renix era one.  Just do everything your skills allow you to do on the list.

9 hours ago, 75sv1 said:

Gear ratio: Auto or manual and tire size info needed. 3.73's are OK with 31's and an auto trans. A bit sluggish on steep inclines through.  I used a Dana 30 from a ZJ and a Ford 8.8. 

I have a 2000 XJ with 270K on it. I replaced the harmonic balance, water pump, thermostat, front seal. Needs rear crankshaft seal. Oil pressure on mine is good, 25 hot at idle and 50 psi at RMP.  

I'm at 256k miles, oil pressure is similar.

[Krieger82]

Sorry, should have said, it is a 1992 Base model 4x4 4.0 HO with 5 speed......

[luckycamper]

22 hours ago, Eagle said:

An XJ cluster from the correct year will be a direct replacement for your idiot light cluster. You will need to replace the temperature sensor and the oil pressure sensor.

 

For a Renix-era MJ ('86 thru '90) you will need a cluster from an '84 thru '90 XJ. '84 thru '86 will need a different speedometer cable and the cluster must come from a vehicle with the same number of cylinders as yours.

Hey Eagle, just to clarify, since I’m planning on swapping out my instrument cluster too.

 

-What is the reason to replace temp/oil pressure sensor? Is it bc we’d have to get an XJ temp and oil pressure sensor?

-and do you mean we’d have to get an XJ speedometer cable too? 

 

[75sv1]

5 hours ago, Krieger82 said:

Sorry, should have said, it is a 1992 Base model 4x4 4.0 HO with 5 speed......

OK, changes things. With a manual trans, 3.55 gears should be good up to 31's. Maybe a bit sluggish with 31's on steep inclines. I have done some 'mods' on my '98 and 2000 XJs that help. Bore TB, Header, 2.5 cat back. Not miracles but helps on some hills in WV. 

      As for 4-holes or even 12 holes. I have run the Ford 4-holes and the 12 hole injectors.  The Fords 0n two '98s. No power or MPG increase that is noticeable.  Engine seemed to run smoother. I have installed 12 holes in one of the '98s and my 2000. Initially on the '98 I really notice and increase in power. But with in a week it was back to stock. On the 2000, I was doing coolant flushes etc. So, I didn't really drive it for over a month with the 12 holes installed. I do wonder if the EMC adjusted to stock levels. Also, if a fuel pressure increase would help. 

[acfortier]

4 hours ago, luckycamper said:

Hey Eagle, just to clarify, since I’m planning on swapping out my instrument cluster too.

 

-What is the reason to replace temp/oil pressure sensor? Is it bc we’d have to get an XJ temp and oil pressure sensor?

-and do you mean we’d have to get an XJ speedometer cable too? 

 

If you have the dummy lights, the necessary temperature and oil pressure senders aren't there to run the new gauges. Dummy lights and gauges use different sensors.

 

Speedometer doesn't have to be from an XJ, they just changed how it was connected over the years. Just need the proper year speedo cable dependent on which year cluster you get.

[Eagle]

20 hours ago, luckycamper said:

Hey Eagle, just to clarify, since I’m planning on swapping out my instrument cluster too.

 

-What is the reason to replace temp/oil pressure sensor? Is it bc we’d have to get an XJ temp and oil pressure sensor?

-and do you mean we’d have to get an XJ speedometer cable too? 

 

 

Okay, Krieger82 has a '92, so he needs a '91 through '96 XJ cluster with the electric speedometer.

 

Lucky camper, you need new sensors because the senders for the idiot lights are simple OFF-ON switches -- they won't run the gauges.

 

THe '84 thru '86 speedometer cable attached to the back of the speedometer with a metal clip and a screw. The '87 through '90 speedometer cable attached to the speedometer with a nylon clip. The cables are not interchangeable (you can't use an '86 cable with an '89 speedo), but you can swap in the other type of speedometer by swapping in the matching speedometer cable.

[ghetdjc320]

Fortunately, the 91-96 XJ full clusters seem to be much easier to find than the renix era full clusters 

[DesertRat1991]

On 9/7/2022 at 3:23 AM, Krieger82 said:

It came with 3.07 D35c gears. Easily one of the most anemic gearings I have felt from a 4.0. Would the liberty 8.25 be the best swap option?

 

Should I just not mess around and install the 4 port injectors immediately?

 

Thank you so so much. Everyone said this is the group to come to for this stuff, so I really appreciate it. 

 

When considering regearing, remember to factor in the extra weight you are carrying. With a long bed canopy onboard, your truck already FEELS more anemic that most others. 

 

When other people say 3.73 or even 4.10 worked great for them, remember that the effect on your rig will be slightly dampened. Then, remember to factor in future upgrades... steel bumpers... sliders... etc. Then, passengers and equipment.

 

In your other thread you mentioned moving up to to 33's. IMO, you should be aiming for 4.56 or even 4.88s. That's noting that I am currently on 32's with 4.10s and a canopy.