AMC_FAN Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Long time XJ enthusiast checking in with my newest addition to the family. Always wanted a Comanche, but haven't seen many for sale around me. While looking for OEM wheels for my 2-door XJ, FB Marketplace recommended this old girl to me. 1989 4cyl 5speed 2wd short bed. Absolutely rust free on the bottom, however the floor boards have a bit of rust from the windshield leaking. The interior had already been stripped and have every piece of interior trim in the bed of the truck. Also have the original bench seat and the original jack/handle and a mounting clip for it that I haven't quite figured the orientation for. One of the things that convinced me on the purchase was the spare rebuilt AX5 4wd with the external slave housing and a 231 transfer case. Also a front driveshaft and a front Dana 30. Everything needed to swap her to 4wd other than a new rear driveshaft and a 4.10 regear on the front axle. Even got both the 2wd and 4wd shifter boots. I guess I should mention she runs perfect, and was drivable when I got it but was missing 1st and 2nd gear. More on that later. After a bit of haggling, I got the truck and 4wd swap for $1200. Haven't seen deals like these since before 2019. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Congrats and welcome, sounds like you know what you’re doing When you get a chance add it to the registry and someone will provide a build sheet. https://comancheclub.com/forum/32-1989/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 Welcoming her home and playing around with my wheel options. Not sure if I want to convert her to 4wd or keep her 2wd and just fix the transmission. Test fit the bench seat, had to bend the brackets around to get them back in position and adjusted the rod on the bottom between the sliders. Fit well, pulled it back out to start on the rust. After a bunch of sanding and grinding back to metal, I sprayed some rust convert primer on the bad side for now until I feel like welding up the holes Before, during, and after cleaning up the seat belts as best I can. Gonna polish the chrome whenever there are less pressing issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 2 minutes ago, fiatslug87 said: Congrats and welcome, sounds like you know what you’re doing When you get a chance add it to the registry and someone will provide a build sheet. https://comancheclub.com/forum/32-1989/ Thanks! Will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 Got about 10% of my sockets organized preparing for the new project. Also decided I should upgrade my safety equipment for once and bought 2 sets of high lift jack stands. Really like the little pads on their feet for working on gravel. Decided to clean out my lawn mower carport so she can live inside for awhile. We've had a lot of rain, and the water absolutely pours into the front windshield. My other Jeeps are jealous, they've never been inside before lol. Skip forward a bit, pulled the 2wd transmission with ease. Popped the case apart and the fork end of the shift shaft fell out with the tailhousing. Guess that's why you couldn't even feel the detents for 1st and 2nd. I ordered another one for $85 on Quadratec, but couldn't wait so tore apart the 4wd tranny to see how she looked. Both transmissions look pristine as far as the gears and syncros and bearings go, just a simple shift shaft break. Pulled the 1+2 shaft from the 4wd and currently reassembling the 2wd transmission to reinstall. She will probably be 4wd in the future, but for now I just want to get her sealed up from the elements and back on the road. Actually kinda like the little 2.5 4 banger, so much room for activities in the engine bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 Found a guy on marketplace parting out a 91 Limited XJ right down the street from my house. Snagged a tan leather 3 spoke wheel, wood grain dash bezel, bottom trim piece that matches my interior and has the ash tray instead of just a blank plate. Also found a roughed up Haynes manual. Best part, got it all for $20! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 I'm liking that collection of jeeps you got going on. One thing you got me interest in, I'll be looking at the back of my seat belts for the Bendix logo - so cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 2 minutes ago, Drahcir495 said: be looking at the back of my seat belts for the Bendix logo What’s good about this is both ford and GM used these buckles so they’re abundant to rebuild if your internals break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 They can be rebuilt?! That is good to know. 1 minute ago, eaglescout526 said: What’s good about this is both ford and GM used these buckles so they’re abundant to rebuild if your internals break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 On 8/29/2024 at 7:54 PM, Drahcir495 said: They can be rebuilt?! That is good to know. Oh yeah they can! The drivers side is a challenge so long the contact isn’t broke or damaged but yeah they absolutely can be rebuilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted November 8 Author Share Posted November 8 On 8/29/2024 at 7:58 PM, eaglescout526 said: Oh yeah they can! The drivers side is a challenge so long the contact isn’t broke or damaged but yeah they absolutely can be rebuilt. that's some pretty neat info, never really thought about taking apart seatbelts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted November 8 Share Posted November 8 6 minutes ago, AMC_FAN said: that's some pretty neat info, never really thought about taking apart seatbelts Yeah the Bendix belts are very rebuildable. The AMC ones are not and are very fragile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted November 8 Author Share Posted November 8 Been a hot minute since I've worked on the MJ. Recently decided to redo my old daily XJ interior. Added some heating elements and pneumatic shiatsu massage inserts under some premium covers I modified to fit the WJ seats. Turned out way better than I was expecting. The rear cover wasn't nearly as nice, so I ordered another set of fronts to modify for the rear in the daily. Thinking about making some more WJ fronts fit in the back, but that's for another day. On the bright side, the old Comanche bench seat got some extra seat foam and after a bit of modification the rear cover, the MJ has a matching interior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted November 8 Author Share Posted November 8 10 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said: Yeah the Bendix belts are very rebuildable. The AMC ones are not and are very fragile. Idk if you're interested or anyone else that might see this, but I'll have a 160k 2.5 tbi engine with the 2wd and 4wd trannies and transfer case, the computer and wiring harness available pretty soon. Basically all the drivetrain listed above. Swapping a 6.0 into the daily and the ole Comanche is getting the 4.6 stroker and 4wd setup from the XJ. I'd love for someone in the MJ community to take it all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted November 8 Share Posted November 8 I’d love to hoard such. I try to let others get the opportunity first before I take up anyone in their offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted November 8 Share Posted November 8 Where did those seat covers come from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC_FAN Posted November 8 Author Share Posted November 8 20 minutes ago, Drahcir495 said: Where did those seat covers come from The brand is Coverado and they're a modern universal fit. I had to let in a lot of material, add foam, sew in extra listing rods to hug the curves, the rear is nowhere near as well made as the fronts. IDK if I'd recommend them unless you have a sewing machine and a lot of time lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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