assman603

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forums so bear with me as I get used to the format of things. I've been working on jeeps since I was about 13. Started out by helping my step dad with his '97 XJ rock crawler build. When I turned 14, I got my first XJ. A 1989 Cherokee Laredo, 200,000 miles, complete with rotted out rockers and floors front to back. Thus began my XJ/MJ addiction. I worked on that thing day and night until I got my license. I fabricated my own floor pans out of 90 wall, built rock sliders out of box tubing to replace what was left of the rockers. Built custom front and rear bumpers, along with a roof basket/light bar. Not to mention the interior roll bars, 5 pt harnesses, TJ fender flares, custom lift and so on... Unfortunately, about a year after getting my XJ on the road, I was run off the road and did a pretty good number to the ol' Cherokee. I ended up blowing the transmission about a week later and it's been pretty much sitting ever since. It got to the point where it was too depressing to even look at it.

Thanks to my newest purchase, an 89 Comanche, I've finally found motivation to start working on my XJ again. So this thread will be split between My XJ and MJ so whoever wants to can follow my progress as I resurrect my first XJ and bring my MJ to the next level.

Here's a few pictures of the XJ:














A little bit about the Comanche... I recently purchased a 1989 Comanche with 47k original miles on it. 4.0 I-6, 5 speed manual, 4WD. 4" Lift, with tubular lower control arms, extended swaybar links, upgraded steering stabilizer, and dropped pitman arm. Front end out of a newer (97?) cherokee, completely rebuilt. Chrysler 8.25 rear end out of the same rig with the shock mounts and spring perches relocated to the top of the axle. Unfortunately it's got the Peugot trans instead of the AX-15, but I'll be swapping that out eventually. Has some minor rust on the bed, top of the frame under the drivers side rear wheel well, and the rockers are starting to puss through in a few spots, and the floors have already been repaired once. Truck has a new radiator, thermostat, water pump, and coolant temps sensor. Fairly clean for anything I've seen in the Northeast.

So far I haven't done a whole lot to it, changed the gear oil in the trans, ATF in the TC, oil change, threw on a light bar and a manual gauge cluster with a tach. Eventually, I'd like to build a full bed cage, custom front bumper, lockers, and bigger rubber. Along with a few other body/armor mods.

And a few pictures of the Comanche since I first got it:















Any constructive compliments, criticisms, etc will be greatly appreciated. Progress on both of these will be slow but steady, as the Comanche is my new DD and I don't want to modify it too heavily until I have another car to beat around in.