1986 Jeep Comanche, A change in path
06-09-2013, 02:37 PM
#16
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
Did some work on the radiator core support. Mostly fitment and figuring a new mounting bracket(s).
Fab thread for the progress:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/up...upport-171683/
Fab thread for the progress:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/up...upport-171683/
08-03-2013, 08:50 PM
#17
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
Finally got some garage time and space!
finally got the donor dismembered. Took it down across the scales and after some aluminum and brass goodies I got $379 back.... So my investment in my donor vehicle just went from a $650 purchase to a $271 purchase. I don't think thats too bad a price for a complete harness, steering column, complete dashboard, motor/trans/tcase, front and rear axles, driveshafts, pair of 6" pioneer speakers and a set of 4 15x8 cragar d-windows in pretty decent shape!
made a stop by an unfamiliar parts yard nearby and scored 2 complete door panels out of a 96XJ with the matching "woodgrain" dash trim. It even had a factory skid plate up front so i nabbed that as well. $60 for the whole deal.
Also managed to install the interior air box, wire harness, dashboard, steering column, brake booster and pedals. The engine bay harness will need some securing and a hole cut in the firewall but i'll picture that when it gets done
finally got the donor dismembered. Took it down across the scales and after some aluminum and brass goodies I got $379 back.... So my investment in my donor vehicle just went from a $650 purchase to a $271 purchase. I don't think thats too bad a price for a complete harness, steering column, complete dashboard, motor/trans/tcase, front and rear axles, driveshafts, pair of 6" pioneer speakers and a set of 4 15x8 cragar d-windows in pretty decent shape!
made a stop by an unfamiliar parts yard nearby and scored 2 complete door panels out of a 96XJ with the matching "woodgrain" dash trim. It even had a factory skid plate up front so i nabbed that as well. $60 for the whole deal.
Also managed to install the interior air box, wire harness, dashboard, steering column, brake booster and pedals. The engine bay harness will need some securing and a hole cut in the firewall but i'll picture that when it gets done
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84-xj-DALIL1 (08-14-2023)
09-14-2013, 07:13 PM
#20
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
so after a long break i've finally gotten some time to get things done. Donor motor; finally got the head removed and surfaced. All good no warpage and now its shiny clean. Will be getting a valve job done real soon. Checked the cylinders and one of them has worn beyond spec. So the donor engine is now gonna be rebuilt 
Not such a bad thing as i actually picked up my rebuild stuff today with a total cost of $475. That's a master rebuild kit (all bearings and gaskets), .030+ pistons, new cam w/lifters, timing set and oil pump.
Now unfortunately while wheeling the short bed toy "DD" i managed to break both my main leafs. Passenger side split right at the centerpin and the drivers side just an unhealthy crack in the same spot. So i had to rob the leaf springs to keep me mobile. After some research i found i can pickup the Jeep MJ metric ton leaf springs for $175 ea. Once the funds are available they'll be promptly added to my shopping cart.
Engine block will be going to the machine shop next weekend and hopefully within the next two weeks will start building the motor.
Also got a lot of the body work for the top of the fenders on the bed done today. A pair of donor front fenders off some of my old jeeps and an afternoon with a buddy of mine and the metal work is finished. Should be smooth and primed by tomorrows end, pics to come.
Not such a bad thing as i actually picked up my rebuild stuff today with a total cost of $475. That's a master rebuild kit (all bearings and gaskets), .030+ pistons, new cam w/lifters, timing set and oil pump.Now unfortunately while wheeling the short bed toy "DD" i managed to break both my main leafs
. Passenger side split right at the centerpin and the drivers side just an unhealthy crack in the same spot. So i had to rob the leaf springs to keep me mobile. After some research i found i can pickup the Jeep MJ metric ton leaf springs for $175 ea. Once the funds are available they'll be promptly added to my shopping cart.Engine block will be going to the machine shop next weekend and hopefully within the next two weeks will start building the motor.
Also got a lot of the body work for the top of the fenders on the bed done today. A pair of donor front fenders off some of my old jeeps and an afternoon with a buddy of mine and the metal work is finished. Should be smooth and primed by tomorrows end, pics to come.
10-27-2013, 07:45 PM
#23
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
rebuilt motor almost finished! (gotta install the push rods and rocker arms then valve cover.
01-13-2014, 07:18 PM
#24
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
new motor installed, also did some work with the shifter(s). toying with the idea of mounting one of my deactivated grenades to the t-case shifter... Radiator mounting is kind of slowing me down but pics will come...
I've now narrowed down a few points to consider when doing the 4.0 swap to an 86 or older MJ...
Its been stated before, the trans tunnel MUST be modified for clearance...
Also again, Mounting the radiator will need some cutting of the front of the engine bay and brackets made.
Lastly the track bar bracket is different from the 87+ MJ models, XJ also. 87+ MJ/XJ track bars are actually "taller" in mounting bolts... You could probally re-drill holes in a newer bracket to fit it to the older frame.
I've now narrowed down a few points to consider when doing the 4.0 swap to an 86 or older MJ...
Its been stated before, the trans tunnel MUST be modified for clearance...
Also again, Mounting the radiator will need some cutting of the front of the engine bay and brackets made.
Lastly the track bar bracket is different from the 87+ MJ models, XJ also. 87+ MJ/XJ track bars are actually "taller" in mounting bolts... You could probally re-drill holes in a newer bracket to fit it to the older frame.
02-23-2014, 08:16 PM
#25
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
had to modify the firewall a little bit... motor installed... (though i've installed and removed it atleast a dozen times now... and i still need to remove it Again!
also found my new set of leaf springs.
currently working on the new crossmemer mounts and picking up another tank and pump assembly to rob the sending unit from.
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84-xj-DALIL1 (08-14-2023)
03-24-2014, 07:39 PM
#26
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
Been slow going lately, super cold weather and a lot going on hasn't left me a whole lotta time but progress is progress.
rear axle is mounted up under "new" leaf springs. Chrysler 8.25 rear axle for now. also got my crossmember mounted up and the motor/trans/tcase are finally Installed. Came across a small hiccup with the firewall and trans tunnel again. However with a little more adjusting everything is all good. Intake and exhaust manifolds mounted up. Another small hiccup, i had cleaned up a spare intake laying around instead of running the old greased up one original to the motor. Only to find out it was from a newer XJ which meant i needed a newer style power steering pump/bracket and idler. $40 trip to the you wrench it and we're back on track. Bed is set on the MJ, not bolted up yet but it does look good on there.
In a funny arrangement of circumstances i also now have 3 MJ tanks of which i can use none of them
. 1 tank leaks, the other 2 have severe rust in the tanks. junk junk junk. Hoping to salvage the sending units and get rid of what remains, considering the sending units are impossibly to find new anymore, a few spares laying around couldn't hurt.
rear axle is mounted up under "new" leaf springs. Chrysler 8.25 rear axle for now. also got my crossmember mounted up and the motor/trans/tcase are finally Installed. Came across a small hiccup with the firewall and trans tunnel again. However with a little more adjusting everything is all good. Intake and exhaust manifolds mounted up. Another small hiccup, i had cleaned up a spare intake laying around instead of running the old greased up one original to the motor. Only to find out it was from a newer XJ which meant i needed a newer style power steering pump/bracket and idler. $40 trip to the you wrench it and we're back on track. Bed is set on the MJ, not bolted up yet but it does look good on there.
In a funny arrangement of circumstances i also now have 3 MJ tanks of which i can use none of them
. 1 tank leaks, the other 2 have severe rust in the tanks. junk junk junk. Hoping to salvage the sending units and get rid of what remains, considering the sending units are impossibly to find new anymore, a few spares laying around couldn't hurt.
06-11-2014, 08:46 PM
#27
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
I recently found another MJ at the you-wrench yard and have been picking at it every week... I snagged the headliner, both interior floor trims, both B-pillar interior trims the tailights and also the seatbelts. All for about $80...
I managed to recover the headliner (mossy oak woodland camo). I've also gotten alot of under the hood stuff done as well. Basically all i need to start it up and break it in is a couple vacuum hoses, oil pressure sending unit, distributor, exhaust. and plug wires...
just finished up the trans lines, fuel lines, most of the vacuum lines, under hood wiring/harness and ground wires tonight.
I managed to recover the headliner (mossy oak woodland camo). I've also gotten alot of under the hood stuff done as well. Basically all i need to start it up and break it in is a couple vacuum hoses, oil pressure sending unit, distributor, exhaust. and plug wires...
just finished up the trans lines, fuel lines, most of the vacuum lines, under hood wiring/harness and ground wires tonight.
06-11-2014, 08:56 PM
#28
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 l6
Dude thats so bad *** lol, I cant wait until I can afford to do a project, I m7ght have picked up a second job at my local Muffler man as a mechanic trainee...so excited
07-25-2014, 10:39 PM
#29
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Year: 1987 MJ, 1998 XJ, 1973 J2000, 89 waggy
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
Very cool ClegSGE. The more MJ's on the road and out of the back yards and tall grass the better...
I've been picking up little things here and there to finally break in the motor but yet again i'm delayed by possibilities...
Finally found a cheap factory Jeep TJ intake (airbox and intake tube). Ive always wanted to try routing the intake to the passenger side and away from the heat of the exhaust manifold. $25 was too nice a price to pass up for something new to try out. I also I found someone parting out a project MJ and scored grey bucket seats and grey carpet Finally! $60 and they were all mine.
Will post pics when i get some progress on both!
I've been picking up little things here and there to finally break in the motor but yet again i'm delayed by possibilities...
Finally found a cheap factory Jeep TJ intake (airbox and intake tube). Ive always wanted to try routing the intake to the passenger side and away from the heat of the exhaust manifold. $25 was too nice a price to pass up for something new to try out. I also I found someone parting out a project MJ and scored grey bucket seats and grey carpet Finally! $60 and they were all mine.
Will post pics when i get some progress on both!
