Lowering a Comanche
 

Plan to drop a Comanche as soon as I drag it home. Right after I get it running. Looking to lower it 3-4". Have the front planned. It is the rear axle I am still sorting out. I do not like blocks. I know XJ shackles are good for 1". I have read on the forums it suggested XJ spring pack with a MJ main leaf is good for some lowering. But no hard data. Has anyone actually used a MJ main leaf with a XJ leaf pack to lower an MJ? If so, how much did it lower it? I have an 89 XJ in my yard I am parting, so I will likely make the bastard pack to see how it works. Would be great to have some info before hand. If I do make the bastard pack, then I will report back how it functions. I imagine it would be useful for folks doing a SOA swap that do not want 5"+ of lift.

What are you hoping to accomplish beyond making it lower?

Springs from a 80's C-series GM truck should work. They're a hair short but the shackles won't care. And they would actually have enough rate to not put you on the bumpstops constantly. Of course that's assuming you shorten the bumpstops a bit.

Goal?

Trash Hauler. Bit of a story, but you asked. I live out in the sticks (recently moved there). We don't have trash pickup. I own a 95 F250. I left town for work and told the wife to use the truck for hauling trash to the dump. She is short, she can't lift the can into the truck. Dropping the Comanche scratches an itch (have always wanted to lower a mini-truck) and serves a purpose. Could pay for trash pick up for less than cost of truck and operating cost, but where is the fun in that. Long story short, I want it to be a comfortable cruiser. Do not need load capacity, trash can weighs 20 lbs maybe. Will use the F250 for bigger loads. Handling would be nice, but comfort is more important for the wife. I may drop a SBC in it that I have laying around, not sure yet on drivetrain. Currently has a 4 cyl in it. Could be fun to take to the drag strip occasionally.

I plan to do some extensive welding to provide clearance where needed. I work in fabrication and enjoy the work.

If you're not afraid of fabrication I'd just move the spring hangers. French them into the frame.

I'm curious what you plan to do to the front.

But since you have the XJ springs I guess you could try them as a bastard pack.

I don't think they will lower it as much as you want unless you omit a leaf, which will be terribly soft.

I'll try the bastard pack first, considering I have the parts laying around. I was thinking about frenching the spring mounts into the frame, but it would be a lot of work (compared to easier options).

As far as the front. Plan to notch the center of the axle beam for oil pan clearance and lower the UCA and LCA mounts about 2.5-3" to maintain stock geometry. Will then have to shorten sway bar end links, make a new track bar, and swap in a TJ pitman arm. Not original ideas, copying a build I saw on one of the forums.

XJ Shackles are a good 1.5" shorter than MJ Shackles.

Which gives you a 3/4" drop.

Are you wanting it lower than stock or is it lifted already and you want to bring it back down?

He wants it lower than stock.

Terrible idea, it's a Jeep not a S10, lowering it would be blasphemy LOL.

There's a handful of MJs out there that are. Some just for looks, some for use on the track. Probably half the MJs sold were 2wd, it was a slightly different market they were trying to appeal to.

The one that set a land speed record back in the early 90s was lowered 3-4". They cut up a couple 2wd beam axles and welded them back together to effectively raise the front spindles. I forget what they did for the rear, it might well have just been blocks.

correct

I dragged (drug?) it home tonight. Will hit it with the pressure washer tomorrow and see about getting it to run decent. $400 and a couple hours of welding on a 1929 Model A hot rod. Runs ok but the radiator is shot.

Any updates? or A build thread?