The Dark Side MJ Build

72Rockcruiser

72Rockcruiser

LETS GO BRANDON!
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Location
Charlotte, NC
Was gonna put budget build in the title..but who are we kidding?

Thanks(again) to NC4x4, I got a smokin deal on an 86 Commanche. Well I think it was a smokin deal, anyway, but I AM a Toyota guy building my first Jeep, so maybe Ill find out.
I do Have some seriously awesome friends in the Jeep/4x4 scene, so I am confident I can get it built up well without too much hassle.

As for the Jeep:

Its an 86 Commanche with a TBI 2.5l thats "well broken in", a 5spd that seems perfect and a NP207(?) tcase? Everthing seems to work as it should. Some leaks and whatnot, but all minor stuff.

Stock D30/D35 axles with 4.10s
Having seen well more than my fair share of blowed up dirtyfives in my time, that SOB is definately gonna be short lived. I'm thinking a Toyota axle would make a wonderfull replacement.(duh) and I might even have one...but I'm not sure.

Its got a Rustys 4.5" kit on it and Generic 31 ATs on what look to be cherokee(grand?) wheels.

Drove the Jeep home from Denver and it drove pretty damn well for a lifted unibody Jeep. Ive driven some SCARY XJs before. There are some tie rod ends that need attention, etc. but an acceptable amount of slop for a beater, and it tracs, rides, goes down the road at 65 suprisingly well. I guess the alignment(caster) must be pretty damn good, I thought for sure a well used 4.5" lifted MJ would be at least a little wandery/dippy-divey, but not so much. I am very pleased with that. :D Prob get a cheap HD steering setup in the near future. Any reccomendations?

My absolute main focus is to keep this truck in street legal drivable condition,(with tags and EVERYTHING!!)and actually get some use out of it. No trailer-only stuff that seems to never get used for me anymore. I want to use it as a truck also, while my 12v is under the knife, and to drive in the snow if we get any again. Ever.

Future plans:
33s in more agressive tread.

This thing nees lower gears STAT. It will barely pull the 31's. Are 4.88s really the lowest gear for the front? I want somthing at least in the 5s. Whats a good easy cheap swap for the front axle to get some lower gears? As Stated before the rear will be a Toyota axle of some sort.

And then just general repairs and whatnot for now.

Oh, and the damn Flat black HAS to go. I will be buying a few cases of paint and throwing a paint party very soon. Who wants in? Pizza/beer/sodas on me. :smokin:

Heres the pics, I got a honey dew list to knock out and then i actually get to mess with it a little. I got it Thursday, but been sick and haven had time to mess with it.
Manche1.jpg
manche3.jpg
 
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And two questions.

The Headlights/Taillights/brake etc do not work. PO said it needs a fuse box? It looked fine when I just pulled it out? Not sure what I'm looking for. Id rather not redneck bypass that shit but I will if I have to..Im not scared.

And the 2.5 hiccups/bucks every now and then. Feels like low fuel pressure to me. Ive had a bunch of old Toyotas with crap in the tank and when the fuel filter just starts clogging up, its exactly the same. This fuel filter looks new? Guess I will be dropping the tank to check the sock. Anyone know any common problems to look for?
 
That thing is suhhh weet.

I think you should just rock a waggy 44 up front and a toy 8" out back geared 5.38/5.29 That solves the gear issue. Also with that fuel/sputtering mess, replace the sock in the tank anyway but I bet the TBI or the injector needs to be rebuilt.
 
while wider a hp44 from a ford is a pretty easy swap in these things. Can also get 5.38s in it also. It would be quite a bit wider then the yota rear though, unless going with a taco rear. Any other 44 unless from a TJ will require much more fab work to install.

Could always put a pair of fj80 axles under it with toy cases. There are a number of similarities with the 4cyl jeep trans and w/g series yota trans.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
while wider a hp44 from a ford is a pretty easy swap in these things. Can also get 5.38s in it also. It would be quite a bit wider then the yota rear though, unless going with a taco rear. Any other 44 unless from a TJ will require much more fab work to install.

Could always put a pair of fj80 axles under it with toy cases. There are a number of similarities with the 4cyl jeep trans and w/g series yota trans.
Click to expand...


Taco rear is an option..would be awesome with an elocker. But budget my dictate otherwise(welded). And I might have an 8" laying around. gotta check.

I would like to know more about this "similarities" anyone point me to a good thread. I got a lot of reading up to do already. I gotta do something with the tcase, anyway. 4.1s for a 231 are really over a gnote? :eek:
 
nosock.jpg
ANd there is no sock on the fuel filter? Thats bad, right?
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
while wider a hp44 from a ford is a pretty easy swap in these things. Can also get 5.38s in it also. It would be quite a bit wider then the yota rear though, unless going with a taco rear. Any other 44 unless from a TJ will require much more fab work to install.

Could always put a pair of fj80 axles under it with toy cases. There are a number of similarities with the 4cyl jeep trans and w/g series yota trans.
Click to expand...

I started reading somewhere..isnt this year 2.5 have a chevy trans bolt pattern?
 
cool build. what about using yota axles ft and rear? but if 33s is the largest tire you plan to run, I haven't run into any problems running a stock d 30 and giving it a beating. even with it locked and 35s.
 
72Rockcruiser said:
I started reading somewhere..isnt this year 2.5 have a chevy trans bolt pattern?
Click to expand...

The 2.5l does have the chevy 60* pattern, but you can reuse the ax5 bellhousing. If you have the ba10/5 then you are out of luck. If the trans case splits along the length its the ba10/5.

Here is a link to some aisin bellhousing and swap info: http://www.jeeps-offroad.com/showthread.php?t=4740. Yager also did a writeup on his swap: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/jeep...sion-aka-how-run-toyota-t-case-your-jeep.html


yota axles would work just fine, but they are going to be narrow. The stock jeep axles are ~60 wms and the yota ~55". Could always build a custom front or fj80 front, but those arent either budget friendly.

While the d30 will be fine strengthwise, it will not have the gearing you will likely desire to use it on the street with 33s.
 
72Rockcruiser said:
Taco rear is an option..would be awesome with an elocker. But budget my dictate otherwise(welded). And I might have an 8" laying around. gotta check.

I would like to know more about this "similarities" anyone point me to a good thread. I got a lot of reading up to do already. I gotta do something with the tcase, anyway. 4.1s for a 231 are really over a gnote? :eek:
Click to expand...

I have swapped a few mini truck rears into XJs (same width as MJ) and can say the leaf spring perches will be VERY close to the housing ends. Even with wheel spacers, the wires and leafs were uncomfortably close. A Taco rear would work much better IMO.
Waggy 44 front and a Taco rear will allow you the gearing you want. You could even go 5.89/5.71 if you need super low gearing.
Edit: 5.29 is lowest available ratio for Tacoma rear.
 
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Jody Treadway said:
I have swapped a few mini truck rears into XJs (same width as MJ) and can say the leaf spring perches will be VERY close to the housing ends. Even with wheel spacers, the wires and leafs were uncomfortably close. A Taco rear would work much better IMO.
Waggy 44 front and a Taco rear will allow you the gearing you want. You could even go 5.89/5.71 if you need super low gearing.
Click to expand...

Now were talkin...but 5.71 taco gears? I was gonna ask if 5.71/5.89 was too far apart.
 
Can always go 5.38/5.29 if need be. That's as low as you can with Waggy front and Taco rear. Shouldn't be too bad on the road.
 
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If a 93 4runner axle will work (58.5") Im thinkin I may just stay 488s.

I Can get a complete 95 4runner axle with factory 4.88s for $150. need to cut off coil junk and weld on perches, but no gear cost, no gear set up cost. Thats sounding good. 488s and 33s may be OK for what I intend. And I been thinkin today a d44 front swap is gonna cost me due to my lack of fab skills.
 
I wish, Sam. not gonna happen on my budget.

31s and 4.10s are not nearly as bad now. I been tinkerin with this thing and she runs pretty good now!!!

I swore your post was gonna be "I just saw that shit missle FLYING down Winget rd"

But seriously, new fuel pump and filter, a little wiring/grounds finagling and she screams. Feels like a good running 22R. I am happy! :D
 
Subscribed.

I would throw 4:88 gears in the front, 8.8 in the rear and roll on if you plan on 33's.
My 2.5 with 4:88 in 33's carried me down the highway at 70 with AC on.
 
It's cool now, has a Toyota part. Reliability should be better now, just might be slower. Should have ghost locker abilities as well.
 
Since last update:

Drained/inspected and resealed both diffs. Replaced the FAWKING torx bolts on the rear cover.

Dude, seriously, that guy who got Jeep to use Torx everwhere musta been smoking some good shit. Anyone know how to get ahold of him? :smokin::smokin:

Got that console mounted and the tool box mounted.

Removed the rear tailgate bumper/hitch in preperation for the bed bob.

Touched up the flat black(which WILL be changed when I have nothing better to do) Its doesnt look so much like primer now.

General clean up and elimnation of all unnessacary brackets.

Working on wiring to absolutely minimize/simplify. Looks much better already.

Picked up some 33 BFGs off Clist last night for 200 baloney skins! Fronts anbout 50% rears about #35% tread. They came with the same wheels I got already. So I even get to recycle those and the 31 A/Ts into something else for this pile. Shit has been working out good for me on this thing. I am really starting to like it.

Total investment so far is right around $800. And I could fire it up and drive it to the store right now. :D
 
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