Advice on a mild prerunner build

[BootsNTrucks]

Hey folks long time no check in!

 

Backstory 

Had an '88 Comanche almost 10 years ago and had to sell it due to life circumstances (Moving from SoCal to VA) and over the years I missed it. Now that we are settled in Ohio I bought another clean one owner '89 (Short bed, 2WD, 4.0L stick, under 100k) from SoCal and my dad drove it out to me. It made the trip no problem with a motorcycle in the bed of truck. Unfortunately the second time I was driving it (First time being to the BMV to register) a deer came sprinting out of the tree line and clipped the front corner of the truck. I was more than a little disappointed to say the least, but ultimately this gives me a reason to be start building the truck a little bit earlier than I was originally planning. I did a couple searches on here and there are a couple forums about folks that were trying build much more aggressive trucks than I am looking to build. I was already thinking about building this truck into a mild prerunner to bring some of the SoCal culture to Ohio. I'm not looking to launch this thing off dunes (Remember Ohio) or crawl it (I have a Rebel on 37s for that kind of offroading) but rather, bomb the occasional dirt road. 

 

I was thinking about this parts:

Body

Replace both front fenders with (pictures of these don't look too ridiculous): https://advfiberglass.com/products/1986-1992-jeep-comanche-fenders?srsltid=AfmBOoqC8d1jyVwthywPcpytK6Up6kbpwWnTiJhIT2jOKoEi_-X8dWrD

(Eventually) Replace the bed sides with: https://hannemannfiberglass.com/product/jeep-comanche-short-bedside-3″-bulge/

Replace cracked header panel with:https://www.jegs.com/i/Crown-Automotive/077/55055233AEK/10002/-1

I do remember from my previous truck that the unibody "Frame" on the front is very weak, I am planning on adding some of those premade weld on kits. 

 

Suspension/Wheels

I'm thinking a 4.5" lift kit that will eventually be upgraded to a set of single bypasses down the road (Rusty's 4.5 spring pack kit? Open to suggestions) and some 33s. 

Since the front is a tube axle I was thinking about sliding a second reinforcing tube inside for extra strength. 

 

 

TLDR: Looking to build the truck for the prerunner vibe and can handle a few hits without welding tube through out this whole truck. Its a run around town toy that has no ambitions of competing in Baja or KOH. 

 

[89 MJ]

Check out @Comanche SS’s pre runner build. He has those fenders and bedsides you want to run I believe. 

[BootsNTrucks]

8 hours ago, 89 MJ said:

Check out @Comanche SS’s pre runner build. He has those fenders and bedsides you want to run I believe. 

I’ll hit him up, he’s going much further than I intend to with that twin I beam build 

[pizzaman09]

As someone that lives in western PA, I'd definitely be surprised if you find much more than a hill to drive up and down in OH, it's a surprisingly flat state.  Good luck with the build!  Looks like a clean truck.