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dancome433
03-29-2012, 11:46 PM
I bought this truck in Sept of 08, and its been a very slow build, but its been speeding up lately and hopefully Ill have it on the road legally soon.

Its a 1989 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4x4, shortbed, Renix I6, Pukegoat BA10/5, np231, D30/35. I bought it with the intentions of redoing the truck completely. My plan was 6in lift longarmed, SOA rear, D44s front and rear, 35s, OBD2 swap, AX15 swap, interior swap for the 97-01 style, etc etc. But being a college student, with another jeep to build I quicly learned it wasnt going to happen any time soon. So now to present say, Ive done some of my original ideas, and some new ideas. I have down the complete body transformation from an 97-01 XJ, including, fenders, bumper, flares(still working with the rear flares), header panel, and doors. While I was at it, also founf a bed that was in better shape than the one I had, meaning body work wouldnt be as bad when Im ready for paint. So thats the body. As for the lift, my original idea was SOA rear, and 6in LA front. Well I started the SOA with a bolt-in kit from Rocky Road(horrible mistake but owell) and when I got to the front, decided I didnt like how it was going to be set up, so I lowered back to stock. Then I traded factory springs for some 4.5 leaf springs, also bought some 3.5in coils and 2in pucks, and used some adj lower control arms I had sitting around, and that is my lift today. Of course Im going to change the front springs and pucks for some bogger springs. and get some adj upper control arms.

So how it is today I have roughly 4.5 lift, which Im going to remodel, newer body style, new 265/75/16 BFG KM2s, on rubicon wheels. Stuff I have to install in the near future, bucket seats and center console, black interior, rear D44, and paint the whole thing. But for now, here are some pics of progress over the last couple years.

When I first brought it home
http://i42.tinypic.com/34eopkk.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2wqzfxk.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/21neik0.jpg
Ghetto tail light fix from the PO, went to the local junkyard soon after I got it and got a real tail light
http://i41.tinypic.com/2eyyzvq.jpg
After I started the first attempt in lifting it
http://i44.tinypic.com/9bdmkm.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/ftpzch.jpg
After I dropped it back down to stock, and installed my rubi wheels and roll bar on
http://i40.tinypic.com/2euhfso.jpg
Then I figured out my lift and is where its at now
http://i39.tinypic.com/2pybcdk.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/iogf13.jpg

Sneedle Vision
03-29-2012, 11:51 PM
Sweet 'Manche man. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

dancome433
03-30-2012, 12:06 AM
Now this is where the fun began, I gathered up all the parts for the body swap, and over a weekend I swapped everything out. Also had pulled my Rubi wheels off to swap tires and I was borrowning my friends wheels and tires in the mean time so I could move the truck around.
Off with the bed.
http://i40.tinypic.com/jg1jsg.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/mhyr7r.jpg
After cleaning the frame up from 20+ years of dirt and crap
http://i39.tinypic.com/2n8d36p.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/33mbd7c.jpg
Off with the Front clip
http://i40.tinypic.com/35c3dcl.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/vp956h.jpg
Bye bye doors
http://i42.tinypic.com/2jeryiq.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/33tmsyq.jpg
Hello new doors
http://i39.tinypic.com/jztshf.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/16745ro.jpg
New Front clip
http://i43.tinypic.com/2yuf5zs.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/ibc85z.jpg
Then I got my rubi wheels back with some used 285/75/16 swampers, didnt last too long
http://i41.tinypic.com/33z3fqg.jpg
Then Junkyard score!!! perfectly straight bed, couldnt pass it up,
http://i40.tinypic.com/oawwnq.jpg
Bed Installed(had my factory TJ wheels and tires on while I worked with my rubi wheels and tires)
http://i39.tinypic.com/24cz5u9.jpg

dancome433
03-30-2012, 12:16 AM
Now somewhat present day. I had to get rid of my TJ at the time, so why not throw my 33s from it on the MJ, looked great, but rubbed on a full turn.
http://i43.tinypic.com/157kxn9.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/dfagya.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/23jk10o.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/v8k77t.jpg
Then finally I got some decent tires for my rubi wheels, plus I got a new TJ and the 33s had to go back on it. I ended up with some 265/75/16 BFG All Terrains, pretty used up, but they worked as rollers for now on the MJ. Also got a new tailgate that was super clean.
http://i44.tinypic.com/ojo56h.png
http://i44.tinypic.com/33o4rkm.png
http://i40.tinypic.com/281txli.png

dancome433
03-30-2012, 12:19 AM
But wait theres more!!! In the last week, I got a great deal on some BFG KM2s, same size(265/75/16). So I got them and threw them on there. Also while I was at it I installed a new brake cylinder in the right rear drum, and ended up having to make a new brake line since the old one was seized onto the old brake cylinder. Also installed my front flares just to change the look even though I know I will have to pull it all apart soon to paint it:D Ill post pics of the KM2s soon.

dancome433
03-30-2012, 12:21 AM
Sweet 'Manche man. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

Thanks man, Im gonna try to keep this up to date as fast as I can, hopefully Ill have it somewhat done soon

XJ Wheeler
03-30-2012, 01:05 AM
Looks like youve already got a ton of work into it, and its coming along nicely. I especially like the '97+ XJ conversion on MJs.

4.3LXJ
03-30-2012, 11:32 AM
Man by the time you are done, you will have a new one

olds-cool
03-30-2012, 01:01 PM
You must have the market cornered on MJ junkyard parts. I haven't found a single one yet.

dancome433
03-30-2012, 04:28 PM
Looks like youve already got a ton of work into it, and its coming along nicely. I especially like the '97+ XJ conversion on MJs.

Thank you, Ive had the idea since before I bought my MJ, Ive always liked the look of the newer XJs, and I figured I do something different


Man by the time you are done, you will have a new one

Yea I thought that through, thats why Ive changed my plans so much from when I first got it, theres, nothing really wrong with the drivetrain at all, body was in decent shape, same witht he interior, I even had thoughts for a while to make it completely factory original, you just dont see very many facotry original MJs with low miles, but I wanted something a little more different, so Im going for a slightly built up factory look. Later on Ill probably get another one thats a little more basic, pretty much just to use the shell from it and build it up completely


You must have the market cornered on MJ junkyard parts. I haven't found a single one yet.

I would say since Ive owned the truck, roughly 3.5 years, Ive only found maybe 6 or 7. Some of them were complete gold mines, and some were just too trashed to save anything. I have a friend whos also building up an MJ that has helped me find a couple of them over the years, and Ive gotten quite a few parts from him also.

ezbuzzsaw
04-02-2012, 05:26 AM
Dan,
Does your friend still have his MJ, I thought he sold it?

bluedragon436
04-03-2012, 09:13 AM
Awesome progress on the MJ build!! I would love to find myself a shortbed MJ to rebuild along the same lines as you are, except I will pick up a 97+ XJ that had some rear end damage or something and pull the full drivetrain along with the front end and interior.. I love the look of the 97+ MJ builds...

dancome433
04-03-2012, 11:35 PM
Dan,
Does your friend still have his MJ, I thought he sold it?

Im pretty sure he does, I havent talked to him in a while, the friend Im talking about that Ive gotten parts from is actually another friend that is also building up a MJ

dancome433
04-03-2012, 11:39 PM
Awesome progress on the MJ build!! I would love to find myself a shortbed MJ to rebuild along the same lines as you are, except I will pick up a 97+ XJ that had some rear end damage or something and pull the full drivetrain along with the front end and interior.. I love the look of the 97+ MJ builds...

Thanks man, that was actually my plan was to find a 97+ XJ and use the drivetrain from it, but being a college student and have 2 other project jeeps at the same time, unless I find an awesome deal on one, its not going to happen anytime soon, but who knows maybe itll happen sometime in the future :D

bluedragon436
04-03-2012, 11:41 PM
Yeah that is why I am going to stick with only one Jeep project... well unless I can find a deal on a MJ or older Jeep to rebuild/build up... Then I will leave the XJ like it sits now, to build up the other Jeep to get it to where I want it, and just stick with the XJ as a DD... I wish there were folks around here that were willing to let MU's go, much less for a decent deal... Anyone here selling one thinks it is in perfect condition and wants to charge as such..

cantab27
04-04-2012, 03:39 AM
coolies,,,wish we got them down here...nice work mate

cantab27
04-04-2012, 03:39 AM
coolies,,,wish we got them down here...nice work mate

BlueXJ
04-04-2012, 09:37 AM
Veery niice.

dancome433
04-15-2012, 09:06 PM
thanks guys, heres some pics I took the other day of how it looks today with my new KM2s on and next to my dads J10. Thinking about lowering the rear an inch or so to level it out, xj shackles should do the trick

http://i39.tinypic.com/mndbs.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/34rxc05.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/ezlqua.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/25fk0gg.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/w004te.jpg