Low Cash Comanche
 

Picked this 1990 MJ with the 2.5, Two wheel drive for 300$. It had sat for 8 years but was surprisingly still sitting on 4 fully inflated tires and to this day( I got it in May). My original plan was just to clean it up do a 97+ front end conversion and drive it until I got out of the Marines this coming May and move back home where I could build it into the truck I wanted it to be. Well that idea didn't last long. So this is the start to my build.

After bringing it home I figured I'd throw a battery in and see if I could get it to turn over. But as my luck goes that didn't happen, the key in the ignition was for a Ford, so I ordered a tumbler. That installed I started getting a short somewhere when I turned it over. So I rebuilt the batter cables and grounds which solved my problems with that issue. Then I put fresh gas in it only to find out my tank was completely rotted and there was nothing coming from the fuel pump.

After I put a new tank, pump, and filter in I tried again only to have it run on starter fluid. So I bought an injector mine was rusted out and not sending fuel.

Finally I got it running! I had fresh oil, distributor cap and rotor, plug wires, and plugs sitting in the cab of my other truck and by the time I got back to the Comanche it had decided it was done, and locked up. Guess that's what I get for not changing the oil first thing.

I then decided on doing a full 97+ swap. So I first got what was supposed to be a running driving 98Xj but we will get to that later

I guess first things first year apart the MJ. As you can see it had some professional electrical work done to it under the dash

The floors ended up being a bit rusty, and by a bit I mean I had to cut almost everything out. I ended up putting the tranny tunnel from the 98 in the Comanche. I then was trying to be cheap and use patches from the XJ for the Comanche floors but I didn't like how it turned out so it's getting cut out and I bought floor panels

Then I stripped the XJ down. I wasn't hoping the bucket seat brackets would be alright but they where petty rusty crusty. Which is just how my luck has been working out on this thing

Got the 4 banger pulled and also pulled the motor and tranny out of the parts jeep. While I was at it I cut the drivers side wheel well/core support out of the Comanche(it was pretty smushed) and put in welded in the one from the parts jeep. Cleaned the engine bay swapped over the master cylinder and also swapped the axles(keeping it 2wd) I just wanted the 98 axle and steering it was cleaner had the power steering gear box and everything looked tighter and better than the old. I also cut a coil and a half out of the stock coils. Trying to find a good height since I'm leaving it 2wd I figured I'd lower it a couple inches and put some nice wheels and tires on it. Now it sits at the same height without the motor as it did before with the motor. Still have some cleaning up todo on the engine bay before I give it a final paint job and start running the wiring.

All of that work brings me to the present status of the build. I have the 98 motor in the garage. Upon getting the motor in the garage I drain the "oil" what I ended up draining was 12 quarts of oil mixed antifreeze.

Now that I got that drained I could take it apart... Popped the valve cover off only to find rust and more sludge.
Popped the thermostat housing off only to find rust and no thermostat.
Popped the head off only to find. You got it rust seized pistons.
Only when I thought hey I'll just have it stroked and make this a sweet little street truck did I find the crack in the block :brickwall:

Now I have a bunch of engine rebuild parts and no engine
Water pump
Thermostat
62mm Throttle body
Bosch 4hole injectors
Speed daddy header
Hoses
Gaskets
I have everything but a motor.
If anyone in the North Carolina area has a HO engine that's running they want to get rid of please let me know, possibly interested in a stroker too

So the parts Jeep after being completely stripped got sent to the bone yard

Dang man that would have been a nightmare for me. That's alot of work haha...you have some dedication to this project man! I would have quit and be bummed out haha.

Well I might as well see it threw. I built my dream XJ over the past 3 years it was a 2 door 5 speed three link with a whole bunch of goodies but I got divorced and it had to go so she wouldn't take it. So this is the redemption build haha

Staying 2wd?

Yea going to keep this one 2wd, kinda going for a Shop truck style. I have an 01 XJ that is my daily for now that once I finish the Comanche will be my Offroad toy

I like the work you are putting into this. Sucks about the motor, hopefully you find one in much better shape.

Nice concept on a Comanche street truck. Never thought of one of those. What part of NC are you at? I was stationed at New River for a year. Sadly having to abandon my project XJ for something newer that runs and isnt going to cost me 10 grand to complete... Oh yeah, Semper Fi brother