chaz_88_yj

I used to have a 88 YJ but had to sell it a couple years ago. So back in April of 2008 I bought a 88 Comanche. Alot of things have happened between selling the YJ and buying the MJ and have not been on much the board a whole lot. I have finally got to a point where everything is stable again and I figure I would start a build thread. There is a large span of time though...lol

88 commanche short bed (started out as 2wd) 2.5L-AX5-NP231
D35 and disco D30 with 4:10 gears and lock rites front and rear,
5.5" coils and adjustable lower control arms and spring over in the rear, currently 31" tires
cost $600

To make it driveable i need to install the T-case and come up with drive shafts, Need to come up with some front shocks. The interior as no seats "completly bare at the moment". Doing those things should get it to the point so i can drive it.

here is a couple pics of it...

chaz_88_yj

So next I upgraded wheels and tires, not my first pick. But the price was right at the time... 33x12.50x15 on crager simulated beadlocks cost $290

chaz_88_yj

Then to do away with the vaccum disco...

after pulling calipers and rotors off


took off the vacuum actuator


outer axles removed "still working on that damn inner axle"


and the diff cover removed


At this point I was having lots of trouble getting the inner shaft out. Being the first time I had no clue what I was doing...But victory was mine, I had no clue that a d30 had a c-clip (well the disco 30 anyways...lol)

here is the lock-rite out of the carrier...




the inner shaft..


and here is the little bastard that gave me so much trouble..

chaz_88_yj

Finally managed to get TJ shaft installed. So on to put in T-case in and drive shafts...

t-case (hack and tap installed), rear and front shaft made and installed....




being that the MJ was 2wd there was not 4wd brackets for t-case installed, so I decieded that the Novak T-case shifter was the best route to go, here it is installed...

chaz_88_yj

Moved on to interior and misc stuff...

finally got the seat installed...




There was no heater what so ever, no heater or nothing. so i installed a new heater








and got the tunnel cleaned up and the huge holes fixed...

chaz_88_yj

Bought front and rear bumpers along with some rock sliders (all from JCR offroad)...

chaz_88_yj

Also got a rear window put in finally...this was fun to install...lol



fire extengisher mounted...


also got a CB mounted...


And finally was able to make it to the Badlands for its first test run...

chaz_88_yj

Got a sweet deal on some 35" MTR's and decided to spray bomb it....



Poser shot with the 35's


And a quick little video of it...its about 1 minute in...

YouTube - Jeeps making it look easy @Badlands

chaz_88_yj

That is pretty much how it sits now...other than a broken front and rear shaft (yea yea... I know 30 and 35) Even though it is broke right now, it held up very well for 6 trips to the badlands (6 hard wheeling trips).

Now is the time to upgrade the rear atleast. I bought 8.8 that will hopefully be installed by March.


Plans are keep the d30 with lock-rite, ford 8.8 with locker and 4.88's.

Hopefully more updates to come soon....

JOffroad

Cool jeep build! Looks like I'm the first one to post on this thread...
You did a great job transforming this jeep into an off-road machine...
Too bad to here about the carnage but I hope you could bring it back to life soon...

chaz_88_yj

thanks...started ordering stuff for my 8.8 swap and gears. Will hopefully have everything next week. Updates to come soon.

1993 XJ

nice jeep man, I wish I could find a nice Mj in newengland!

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Cote-
2004 Wrangler SE, 2.4L
1993 ZJ 4.0

chaz_88_yj

Thanks, its getting harder and harder to find a clean MJ anywhere you are these days...

chaz_88_yj

Rear axle is out, mocking up the 8.8 hopefully this weekend...

chaz_88_yj

Making progress... Gears are done (went with 4.88's) and the rear axle is in and put together. Need to do brake lines, rear shocks, and have the drive shaft shortened.