Jump to content

The Onion - 1989 Long Bed, 2.5 TBI


Recommended Posts

Here’s the start of the blog that I’ll be using to track everything that happens to this little truck. I picked it up in Fort Collins, CO on January 24, 2026. It was not running and the PO told me it was likely the fuel pump. Loaded it up, headed back towards home. About an hour away from home the snow picked up, making for a sketchy drive, but made it safely. 
 

IMG_9158.jpeg.8420527ba694bed8b8cefc672fadd16b.jpeg
IMG_9330.jpeg.3a1234b2cab71a43623b500cfc5cff94.jpegIMG_9331.jpeg.dccc45cac661684c3a69d3945d81a7b9.jpegIMG_9334.jpeg.a38ad13a3bc96d3e7946aaa973fe9dac.jpegIMG_9335.jpeg.f54856a3a904778015d99aa8e69028db.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 89 MJ said:

Looks like a very straight and solid truck. What are the long term plans with it?

Well for now, leave it stock and use it to haul my dirt bikes around. I’ve already LS swapped my Cherokee and not sure I wanna go down that road with this one or not. A TDI swap has crossed my mind, I like the idea of having the excellent fuel economy. May just end up putting a 4.0 in. Who knows, that’s a ways down the road. 
 

Highly likely to at least get it to be 4WD. I can’t even get it up my driveway when it snows with its current 2WD state :laugh2:.

 

Eventually would love to get the paint redone. I love the retro look. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was having some electrical gremlins inside the cab and went searching. Found a leaking clutch master and very corroded fuse panel. Replaced the clutch master to solve the leak. 
 

For the fuse panel, I pulled a replacement from an 88 Cherokee from the junkyard. I ordered a bunch of bus bars and single connectors from connectorkits.com and went to work refreshing every single wire. I found a broken wire going into the dome fuse and repaired that while I was there. 

IMG_9268.jpeg.e0aa01242992c3daa4f3dfe839626046.jpeg
 

IMG_9277.jpeg.e4a909f0f1e4130c7e09bea1137295d0.jpeg
 

I also had the C100 connector apart, thoroughly cleaned out all the black tar stuff and replaced the firewall gasket with one from Casper Electronics here in CO. 

IMG_9267.jpeg.b97d0926501dc6deabe91519ff98cf1f.jpeg
 

These repairs fixed my brake light and turn signal issues, as well as my dash lights. The headlight switch still needs replaced as it has to be turned all the way counter clockwise for the dash lights to work. My interior courtesy lights are still not working, and neither is the radio. So I’ve still got more work to do. 
 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I purchased this truck it was a non-runner. The previous owner had claimed that fuel pressure before the filter was 3-4psi. So as soon as I got it home I pulled the pump and found this disaster.

 

IMG_9167.jpeg.9922a066e755616536d5fd728c6c3c0c.jpeg

 

IMG_9171.jpeg.c0e32030fed56a874d5d9743967c6d27.jpeg
 

IMG_9172.jpeg.ef23777b606054e467e152f8e37d60a4.jpeg

 

IMG_9174.jpeg.b6970bff57a53f9826c76d1be479bdf5.jpeg

 

Replaced the pump with a Delphi FE0054 from Amazon which came with the hose, O-rings, and new wires as well. Installed it and the truck fired right up! 
 

IMG_9176.jpeg.b4c2483e1f8deb815752b42fd9840aa8.jpeg
 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Mitigated some fire hazards this week with the battery cables. Since I plan to keep this truck stock, I just went with 4AWG welding cable. Added in a mega fuse off the alternator cable. 

Before:

IMG_9365.jpeg.9bce1882bad77bfd1e32709a675aa92b.jpeg


After:

IMG_9366.jpeg.c4b4e082e71beb6979fa16b266528bf9.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If anyone cares to see my other rig, the LS XJ, here it is. It’s a 2001 with an LQ4 6.0, 4L80 trans, NP241C t-case, ford 8.8 rear factory LSD, Dana 30 front with spartan helical LSD & WJ knuckle swap with Stinky Fab Aluminum steering, 4.10 gears, ~5.5” lift, frame stiffeners, icon rebound pro beadlocks, 35” BFG KO2s.

IMG_9258.jpeg.3781f51440853288320e38762314ac96.jpeg
IMG_9031.jpeg.7a4b38beaf485aa6eeda9bd63e5eeb0e.jpeg

IMG_8997.jpeg.c26532b292781ab78e0c183590eebddf.jpegIMG_8955.jpeg.e0c86f252f6ed51a778bb29d558cb93e.jpegIMG_8010.jpeg.cf0756389acac99e584b23b6cc6cb710.jpegIMG_8292.jpeg.c22c7d2bfe2035c203a52555874264a2.jpeg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Doc Payne said:

If anyone cares to see my other rig, the LS XJ, here it is. It’s a 2001 with an LQ4 6.0, 4L80 trans, NP241C t-case, ford 8.8 rear factory LSD, Dana 30 front with spartan helical LSD & WJ knuckle swap with Stinky Fab Aluminum steering, 4.10 gears, ~5.5” lift, frame stiffeners, icon rebound pro beadlocks, 35” BFG KO2s.

IMG_9258.jpeg.3781f51440853288320e38762314ac96.jpeg
IMG_9031.jpeg.7a4b38beaf485aa6eeda9bd63e5eeb0e.jpeg

IMG_8997.jpeg.c26532b292781ab78e0c183590eebddf.jpegIMG_8955.jpeg.e0c86f252f6ed51a778bb29d558cb93e.jpegIMG_8010.jpeg.cf0756389acac99e584b23b6cc6cb710.jpegIMG_8292.jpeg.c22c7d2bfe2035c203a52555874264a2.jpeg


Heck yeah!… I know your rig! You just had it at my buddy Ian’s shop where I got to see it first hand. Very nice!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/14/2026 at 8:21 PM, neohic said:


Heck yeah!… I know your rig! You just had it at my buddy Ian’s shop where I got to see it first hand. Very nice!

Oh no way! That’s awesome. Yeah Ian is a cool dude and did a killer job with the bumper. Need to get it back into him once I get the rear stiffeners done so we can add a couple more supports. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This week’s Comanche update: clutch pedal went flat coming off the interstate on the way to work. Clutch master is empty so I’m guessing the slave cylinder gave up. The master is new and lines are dry going to the bell housing. 
 

I’ve ordered a new LUK clutch kit and slave cylinder. I’ll have a local shop resurface the flywheel.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...