AreWeThereYet Posted July 10 Share Posted July 10 A buddy of mine rescued this Comanche with some cool ideas in mind, but ended up pursuing other projects. After I started casually browsing rock crawlers, several hints were dropped that the MJ would be a great candidate, and I couldn't resist. From what I've been told and am able to find out, it's a 1987 base model short bed that came with a 4.0 and a 5 speed manual. Currently it has a 4.0 out of an 88, automatic AW4, NP231, and a low pinion D30 from a YJ on leaf springs up front. It runs well, shifts, and the 4x4 engages, but it's still a project. VIN Decoding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 10 Share Posted July 10 Looks like a good project. What do you have planned for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AreWeThereYet Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 The goal is to get it on the trails by the end of the year. I'm currently regearing the axles that will go under it to 5.13. The front is a HP Dana 30 trussed with WJ knuckles/ brakes, high steer, 4340 shafts, Spartan locker, and Warn lockout hubs. Rear is a 29-spline Chrysler 8.25, 4340 shafts, Spartan Locker, and will be converted to disc brakes. Going to run 35s for now, build basic bumpers and sliders, 3-link the front, put coil springs back on it then just new shocks/mounts in the rear. It has a set of doors and a bed from another truck, but the bed is too nice for off-road, so I'll try to sell it and intend to build a simple flat bed similar to the one below. Dana 30 Flatbed idea Doors and the short bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AreWeThereYet Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 I got to drive it a bit last week after I found a deal on some Method MR 105 beadlocks with decent tires. 2936291304904052732.MP4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 10 Share Posted July 10 I think you've got a great plan there. Especially putting a 3 link in the front and ditching the leaf springs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Mark Posted July 10 Share Posted July 10 89 MJ beat me to it, leaf springs are not good for rock crawling, unless you like to hammer down all the time, which has it's place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AreWeThereYet Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 Made a little progress and got the locker swapped to the new carrier and put the new ring gear on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatJeepGuy Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 The traction bars on the rear (or what's visible of them atleast) is intriguing. Looks like a great start regardless the missing bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AreWeThereYet Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 6 hours ago, ThatJeepGuy said: The traction bars on the rear (or what's visible of them atleast) is intriguing. Looks like a great start regardless the missing bits Thanks. The rear bars are Definitely intriguing, but a lot about this truck is. For now they’ll stay, and I’ll find a way to mount them to the 8.25 that’s going in the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 Seeing that pic of the rear suspension has me thinking there probably was a bad axle wrap problem. Those spring perches are awfully tall, but good for a little bit more lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AreWeThereYet Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 I was poking around over the weekend and found the engine date code: 801M20. If I understand correctly it was built January 20th, 1988 which means it came out of another Jeep, probably whatever YJ the front axle is from. Ultimately it doesn't make a difference other than I know someone put a good drivetrain in it at some point, just unsure of the mileage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89 MJ Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 On 7/29/2025 at 4:59 AM, AreWeThereYet said: If I understand correctly it was built January 20th, 1988 which means it came out of another Jeep, probably whatever YJ the front axle is from It would’ve had to be from another XJ or MJ. The YJ didn’t get the 4.0 until 1991. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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