December 2022-The Period Correct Custom

[89 MJ]

December 2022- @Dickinson County Comanche's Period Correct Custom

 

Build Thread-https://comancheclub.com/topic/62633-period-correct-custom-1989-comanche/#comments

 

 

Year/Model - 1989 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4x4 SWB

 

 

Drivetrain- ‘92 4.0 HO block with factory ‘89 Renix head & manifolds. All new gaskets & oil pump. Yellow Ford Bosch injectors. BA10/5 to AX-15 swap from a 93 XJ. All new ignition, Renix alternator/ mounts & oil filter adapter. (HO one impacts the EVAP canister on the pass. firewall.) Flushed Axle fluids.

 

 

FullSizeRender.mov11 MB · 0 downloads

 

 
 

Cooling-all new Open cooling system (water pump, fan & clutch, radiator, cap, thermostat, sensor, & hoses) flushed & bypassed heater core valve, coolant overflow/reservoir from a 2.5 MJ. Doesn’t get over 175° going down the road, even when it’s 110° out. (A lil cold, but I don’t mind.)

 

 

Electrical/Ignition- Refreshed grounds & fixed previous rat damage from sitting. Added wiring for Fogs & CB radio. 

 

 

Suspension/Steering- replaced shocks & front sway-bar bushings. The rubber is well-preserved, especially for sitting for 20 years. 

 

 

Interior- Added vent windows, a CB radio (helpful for farm work) an AMC radio, factory floor mats, + tidied up the previous 20 years of sitting & abuse.

 

 

Brakes- Rebuilt rear drums. Front pads, rotors, and rubbers were in good shape and have not needed to been replaced yet. Stops on a dime and gives back change.

 

 

Lighting- 90+ front lighting harness, + a set of cheap Auto-zone fog lights while I’m searching for a set of factory ones that aren’t rusted to pieces or ones that’ll fit the covers I have. Running basic halogen main lights for now. 

 

 

Exterior- Absolutely no rot. (There’s some surface rust from the lack of paint, but it’s just that, surface.) Still wears its Dark Vivid Red Metallic paint (kind of a rarity, it seems) Removed trim due to weak adhesive (still have it, it’s in great shape, just didn’t want to lose it) Repaired and reinstalled factory rear bumper, replaced missing front air dam, bumper guards, & license plate holder. Had the drivers door professionally reattached after the upper hinge welds decided to break. Added CB antenna with a long whip (over 9 feet tall including the truck’s height, it scrapes at most drive-thrus) Added a Draw-tite MJ-specific receiver hitch. 

 

Wheel & Tires- factory 15x7 steel wheels w/ a hodgepodge of center caps (I’ve lost like 3 of them already). Running a set of LT235/75/R15 Thunderer Ranger tires (cheap + 10 ply) Only complaint is that the tread doesn’t clean itself out quite as well as I’d expect it to, + they’re pretty soft and flat-spot easily if lock the brakes. 

 

 

Misc- In the process of trying to acquire a factory roll bar, install a set of V8 ZJ front springs, maybe a repaint, or given how rare Dark Vivid Maroon Metallic seems to be on MJs, a simple clear coat to keep the patina, but protect against rot. I’m also looking at piecing together a factory cruise control setup as I’ve been spoiled in my 5 speed ZJ recently. I’ve wanted it to look similar to these two brochure trucks:

 

Best MJ story- I actually sold this truck back in Nov. of 2020 due to some financial troubles I was having. Fast forward a few months and I wanted the lil beast back again and sent a message to the buyer and lo and behold he wanted to paint his J-10 so I got it back! He now owns an ‘88 MJ, although I’m not 100% certain if he’s on here or not. If so, thanks Don for selling it back to me almost 2 years ago! It’s much nicer not having to drive in only 4th gear. 

 

 

CC is Awesome! Why? 

When I talk to people who have other trucks of this era, such as Rangers or S-10s they always seem to have trouble finding info about the niche little quirks of their trucks, whereas I have access to one of, (if not the best) forum websites on the internet to find information, tips, tricks, and help with any little issue I’ve had with my trucks over the years. Honestly it’s incredible how much information there is about our trucks on here, but I suppose that comes with over 16 years of content. In an ever divisive  world we’re living in, it’s nice to know that there’s a little group (more like a family, really) that you can go to give/receive help & tips, or even just chat. It’s a good feeling. 
 

When first acquired (and quite dirty) (Mar. 2020)

 

Cleaned it up and got running! (May-July 2020)

 

Jeep: 1 Peugeot: 0 (Sep. 2020)

 

FullSizeRender.MOV11.26 MB · 0 downloads

Sold it, Nov. 2020

 

Bought it back! (Mar. 2021)

 

Engine swap time (Aug. 2020)

 

Got it all done and running great! (Aug-Sep. 2021)

 

Put 31s on (Feb. 2022)

 

Put Steelies + Halogens back on (May. 2022)

 

More cosmetics (license plate bracket, vent windows, & bumper guards) to where we are today (Aug, 2022-present)

 

 

Congratulations, @Dickinson County Comanche! I'm really glad to see that you got the truck back. I have to say, I think that you hit the nail on the head CC is like a family. I love these period correct trucks, as you can probably tell by my truck and I love to see that it seems to becoming more common to do these trucks with period correct modifications.

Side note, I just realized that I have been doing this since October 2019. The time sure flies fast. 

[Pete M]

love that color  

[87 MJ Chief]

Congratulations!

[buxmj]

Congrats and that is a cool story, so glad you were able to get it back! 

[majastee508]

congrats. always cool to see someone get a previous project back and keep the original build going. 

[Drahcir495]

Congratulations