Jeff-B Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Just for fun I ran my VIN through a decoder on a Jeep site, and it came up as a 2WD Cherokee with a Comanche truck body. Now I'm really beginning to wonder what the previous owner did to it before I got it. I thought it was just a parts store computer glitch when the 4WD front brake pads didn't fit, but the 2WD ones did. If you convert to 4WD, would you keep the 2WD brake calipers? I have a suspicion that the center console isn't original either, considering there's an ashtray on the back of it that's been used. Is there a way to find out if the bucket seats are original? BTW, I have no way of contacting the original or previous owner because I bought it from a used car dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 Console isn't origonal, buckets probably won't be either. Look at where the brackets bolt to the adjuster rails on them, they were rivited by the factory. If they're bolted instead, it's been messed with. Normally you'd not keep the 2wd calipers, but it is possilbe that the PO picked up an axle minus brakes and used the 2wd ones. Are you all about things being origonal? I swapped my bench for buckets, put a console in, and did a lot of other things... Oh, sometimes things don't match the VIN. But you can look 'inside' the driver's door for the buildsheet. It's a bit of a pain to pull the doorskin off to get it out, but it'll probably still be there. Unless somebody played with that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff-B Posted May 13, 2006 Author Share Posted May 13, 2006 No, I don't mind if it's original or not. Just curious. Now I'm wondering what the front axle and diff might be...Might be something better than the Dana 30 I understand would have came stock in it...Now I'll have to crawl under and see what it's really got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whowey Posted May 13, 2006 Share Posted May 13, 2006 I wouldn't trust many of those 'VIN decoder' sites. I just had to replate my MJ, and the DMV tried to tell me the VIN didn't match My insurance company also had problems with the VIN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Well, decoding Jeep vins is actually really easy... At least to a certain extent. My FSM has a section on it. And most likely you've still just got a plain jane D30, they bolt right in so everybody who swaps to 4wd uses them. (Other than weird guys like Pete, but he's jsut weird) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 I'm "creative". :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 I'm "creative". :D Or "destructive" :nanner: It all depends on your point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 Just for fun I ran my VIN through a decoder on a Jeep site, and it came up as a 2WD Cherokee with a Comanche truck body. Now I'm really beginning to wonder what the previous owner did to it before I got it. I thought it was just a parts store computer glitch when the 4WD front brake pads didn't fit, but the 2WD ones did. If you convert to 4WD, would you keep the 2WD brake calipers? I have a suspicion that the center console isn't original either, considering there's an ashtray on the back of it that's been used. Is there a way to find out if the bucket seats are original? BTW, I have no way of contacting the original or previous owner because I bought it from a used car dealer. The MJ you are talking about is the '90 Eliminator, right? All Eliminators were sold with bucket seats and long consoles. I believe '90 was the first year, and in the first year the Eliminators were all 2WD so if you have a '90 with 4WD, it was probably converted. VIN Decoder The third digit indicates the vehicle type. C="MUlti Purpose Vehicle" (XJ). T=MJ 4th digit indicates engine type: H=2.5L TBI, I'm finding conflicting codes for the 4.0L 5th digit is transmission/transfer case: L=5-speed w/ 231 x-fer case; W=5-speed 2WD; B=auto, floor shift w/231; E=auto, column shift w/231 6th and 7th digits are body type. I need to research the MJ codes, what I have here at the moment is an XJ FSM. Extrapolating from some vehicle titles I have here, it looks like 36=LWB/2WD; 66=LWB/2WD; 63=SWB/4WD; 64=SWB/2WD (info not perfect -- needs work) 8th digit is trim package: 2=Pioneer, 3=Chief, 4=Laredo, L=Pioneer 2WD, M=Laredo 2WD. Don't have a code for Eliminator 10th digit is MODEL year of manufacture: G=1986; H=1987; J=1988; K=1989 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burls Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 i've seen both 88 and 89 eliminators both were 2wd......i think i read somewhere that 90 or 91 was the first year eliminators were offered in 4wd models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catatonic Comanche Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 Just for fun I ran my VIN through a decoder on a Jeep site, and it came up as a 2WD Cherokee with a Comanche truck body. In VIN coding, all Comanches are labeled as "Cherokee" with a Comanche truck body. No-one chopped-up a Cherokee to make your Comanche... :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinacomanche Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 My 90 Eliminator was 4wd stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandysMJ Posted May 16, 2006 Share Posted May 16, 2006 ^^^Mine too. It also has a console and buckets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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