Super Chief

[derf]

If you didn't notice it, I picked up a short bed 1987 MJ a couple of months back.  Turns out it is a factory Comanche Chief.

 

 

My CJ project is getting close to done and I'll have room in the garage for my next project.  I want to do this one before I get back to my truggy.

 

Plans for this one are straightforward.

 

Renix 4.0 from my parts truck

AX15 from an unknown donor

Atlas II - 4.3:1 low range

Axles from a 70s F150.

~5" long arm lift front with SOA in the rear

35" tires on 15" wheels

 

I'm in the parts accumulation mode right now.  First up will be the axles.  I currently have the axles.  The front high pinion Dana 44 is a drum brake axle.  I'm starting with Reid high steer knuckles that will let me build up stock disc brakes.  The rear 9" housing and brakes will stay mostly stock.  But I'm going to do 35 spline shafts as long as I'm doing the regear and locker.  Both will get 4.56 gears and ARB air lockers.  I have a truss for the front brackets and some anti-wrap spring perches for the rear.

 

I already have some bushwhacker flares to help make room for the tires and provide some coverage for the wider axles.

 

I also have a die on order for my tubing bender.  The biggest my bender can handle is 2-1/2" tube but I'm going to use it to make a roll bar that almost looks stock.

 

I'm thinking it'll get an ARB bull bar for the front and some kind of heavy duty rear bumper.  I'll make some rock sliders and custom skid plates.

 

I have two short beds, both with various damage.  Between them I'll be able to build one whole bed.

 

The paint on the base truck is beyond shot and the rest of the parts won't match so it'll get a full strip and paint.  I'm leaning towards a dark blue paint job with cordovan interior.  Best part is that I can get the chief stickers.  Most likely they'll be light grey.

 

It's likely going to take a while to get all the parts (budget constraints and all) and get the work done.  But it should be pretty cool when it's done.

[Smokeyyank]

fun times! 

[derf]

The first few parts are filtering in.

 

Got the knuckles and caliper brackets in.  The spindles and hub/rotors are here too but no.pictures.

 

[neohic]

[89 MJ]

I’m looking forward to this build. Seems like a good combination between a trail rig and a daily drivable truck. 

[derf]

Full knuckle, hub, and rotor.  I'm not going to assemble it all until the axle goes together. 

 

 

Brake parts are on the way.  It'll take me a bit for the budget to be ready for the gears, lockers and shafts.

 

Got the relay box wired up and ready for installation.  Set up for the lights, lockers, and compressor I'm going to install.

 

 

This is the box I used.  You can get it prewired but I wanted to customize it a little.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07MR64XK1?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

[derf]

The tax return showed up today.

 

 

 

All the parts to regear the axles going under this Chief.

[derf]

And as long as I'm remembering, here are the donor axles...

 

[derf]

Lots of goodies inside.  Better than Christmas.

 

[neohic]

Heck yeah!

[Smokeyyank]

Mmmmm sexy.....

[derf]

Not much work on the actual truck today.  But I did rearrange a bunch of stuff to get ready for when the CJ is done in a week or three.

 

The long bed I picked up at the junkyard got moved onto the truck that it's destined for.  It's sitting on the axles that are for the truggy with lift springs in the front and an SOA on a Dana 80 in the rear right now.  But the key is that it's not blocking my gate anymore.

 

 

Then I moved the parts donor grey MJ over to the gate so I can pull it around and strip it.  Then the chief is behind it.  Ready to roll in to the garage when the parts donor is done.

 

[derf]

Now that the CJ is mostly mobile, I'm going to get started on this project in earnest.

 

First step is to strip the silver donor for parts.

 

I'm keeping the engine and wiring, as well as some of the interior and at least part of the bed.

 

Some of the good metal is going to @aris_garage_builds for the 4.0 swap.

 

The donor is in the garage and I've started the tear down process.