July 2023 - The Overland Build

[89 MJ]

July 2023 - @NorthwestMJ's 87 Overland Build

 

Build Thread-  87 Overland Build 

 

Year/Model - 

 

1987 LWB. To be honest, I’m not sure what trim level, but something tells me it might have been a Pioneer?

 

 

Drivetrain-

 

 Engine is a 4.0 from a 2000 Cherokee. All I’ve done to the engine so far is add a K&N cone filter. AW4 and NP231from the same Cherokee. Stock Front and rear driveshafts with 1310-1350 conversion U Joints on the axle ends. Axles are the wide Dana 44’s from a 2021 Rubicon.

 

 

Cooling- 

 

No name (but yet good!) 3 Core Aluminum Radiator. High Output electric fan from the 2000 Cherokee with auxiliary switch for independent operation.

 

 

Electrical/Ignition-  Stock ignition with XJ harness stripped of unnecessary stuff and lengthened for the Comanche.

 

 

Suspension/Steering- My suspension and steering are quite the Frankenstein setup. I have XJ/MJ ACOS spacers set up at 3”. 4.5” Zone offroad coils paired with aftermarket Fox Shocks from a 2020 JL Rubicon (Not the orange stock ones) up front with a Spring over setup in the rear with 4.5” Zone add-a-leafs with Bilsteins. Total lift is about 8-9” front and rear sitting on the ground. Steering is Steer Smarts YetiXD with the Drag Link modified to fit the Comanche and the Track Bar is an Evo JL one cut down to fit the Comanche as well. Currently running a stock steering box from the 2000 Cherokee but will more than likely swap that for the PSC Big Bore here in the next couple of weeks.

 

 

Interior-  Interior is a meddling of the dash and seats from the 2000 XJ and black trim from the Comanche. Door Panels are from another 2001 XJ because I liked the bad @$$ wood trim. Redid the headliner to black and dyed the visors to match. Also have the Dirtbound offroad comanche mole panel up top.

 

 

Brakes-  Brakes are the big brakes from the 2021 JL Rubicon on all 4 corners. These are paired with a stock 2000 XJ master cylinder and a ZJ proportioning valve.

 

 

Lighting-  Trucklite LED headlights with Rigid Cubes on the front bumper. Everything else is stock but converted to LED. Tail light lenses are the Key Parts ones.

 

 

Exterior-  RCI Bedrack with an iKamper skycamp 2.0 with a Dirtbound Offroad DIY kit bumper on the front (Manta Ray rings a bell but can’t remember.) Dirt Bound Sliders and Quarter Panel Armor I made myself. Flares are Napier Flares.

 

 

 

Wheel & Tires-  Rubicon Wheels from a 2014 Rubicon with 37x13.50 Patagonias.

 

 

Misc-  Lots of weird odds and ends on the truck. My favorite thing I made was a socket adapter that allows me to raise and lower the spare with a battery impact!

 

 

Best MJ story-  Finding this thing! Found it on Craigslist while I was at work. Emailed the guy as fast as my fingers would go offering to buy it sight unseen. Tuned out the seller was a good buddy from a while back that I had lost track of! He messed with me on the phone and I thought that I had found a Craigslist killer! Luckily he finally told me who he was.

 

 

CC is Awesome! Why?  I love the community aspect of Comanche Club. People have been very supportive and I even found a new friend on the forums (That’s you @WranglerMangler)!

[jpnjake]

Very nice clean build, congrats on MJOTM  

[WranglerMangler]

MJOTM Finally! More than worthy truck. This truck looks great in the pictures but amazing in person. Best MJ I’ve ever seen in person by far. Quite the transformation from digging it out of the bushes. Keep up the great work my friend. Congratulations. 

[NorthwestMJ]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it!!!

[Pete M]

    an epic build!   I love the "before" video of it hidden under the briers.   

[Car Enthusiast]

With your newer XJ seats, does it have you sitting up higher?

[NHMJXJ]

A fine choice for MJOTM.    

[NorthwestMJ]

2 hours ago, Car Enthusiast said:

With your newer XJ seats, does it have you sitting up higher?

A little? Maybe an inch or so

[Drahcir495]

Just an awesome truck! Well deserved MJOTM.