• NAXJA is having its 18th annual March Membership Drive!!!
    Everyone who joins or renews during March will be entered into a drawing!
    More Information - Join/Renew
  • Welcome to the new NAXJA Forum! If your password does not work, please use "Forgot your password?" link on the log-in page. Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if we can provide any assistance.

Comanche 87 to 97

Knkn90

NAXJA Forum User
Location
El Paso
hello all!
i'm planning this swap since a long time, this is my first project of this kind and I am learning in the process, hope you like it...
 
IMG_3935.png
IMG_3935.png.html
 
Last edited:
THE DONOR:

I paid $ 900Dlls on craigslist for This 2wd 97 Cherokee With a nice running engine, bushwacker fenders, new tires, 17 "american racing wheels, 1" 5X4.5 to 5X5 spacers, new tires, stereo, and the tank full of gas...
IMG_4065.jpg
 
I like that front bumper on the Comanche
 
Frustrated by not finding the original taillights at a reasonable price, I began a early project:

CAD design for the stainless steel tail light housing,

IMG_4644.jpg


IMG_4642.jpg


Then CNC laser cut the stainless steel

IMG_4643.jpg


And making the final folds and measurements

IMG_4276.jpg

Jeep Comanche tail light housing
IMG_4275.jpg


So I finally decided to leave this project to the end and start the real work
 
Last edited:
Start the teardown

IMG_4092.jpg



IMG_4085.jpg


looking for rust

IMG_4088.jpg


IMG_4086.jpg


IMG_4087.jpg


After seeing the rust that had the Comanche I decided to take a local paint shop and pay for an awful job, they only rivet a plate on top without removing the rust, For now I will leave it like that but in the future will remove the poor job that the paintshop did and I will remove the rust and put a new floor panel.
 
I buy the Comanche with the engine running perfectly even do the engine harness was not connected and instead of injectors it was running with a Holley carburetor

IMG_3981.jpg


Start removing the Comanche front, fenders, hood etc...

IMG_4609.jpg


IMG_4622.jpg


Just buy this 1 ton shop crane at harbor freight for $100Dlls with a coupon that I have, it works great!

IMG_4623.jpg


After a while I remove the screws from the transmission, a couple were hidden,
Next time I do this I will remove the engine and transmission at the same time

IMG_4635.jpg


Engine, brake master cylinder, engine harness, heater box, power steering box, battery box and everything out

IMG_4689.jpg


Also the interior was removed from the Comanche

IMG_4730.jpg


And the pile of scrap is growing

IMG_4701.jpg


IMG_4702.jpg
 
Then I paint the engine bay with 3 cans of Duplicolor Engine Enamel with Ceramic and I will use one more can for the final touches

IMG_4696.jpg
 
Then I paint the engine bay with 3 cans of Duplicolor Engine Enamel with Ceramic and I will use one more can for the final touches

IMG_4696.jpg
 
A few modifications in the firewall will be made in order to fit the new dashboard to the old comanche

This is the comanche firewall

IMG_4866_1.jpg


and this is the cherokee firewall

IMG_4868.jpg


The most notable difference is the location of the steering hole, this will have to be cut in order to fit the new 97+ steering wheel

Also this conversion is from standard to automatic transmission, so the clutch holes are no longer needed
 
Cut the plate in half for better manipulation

Then I use the brake master cylinder as a reference

IMG_4896.jpg


Then I paint the difference with a black sharpie to cut it later

IMG_4898.jpg


IMG_4900.jpg
 
Cut the plate again in 3 pieces

After a while thinking in the method of doing this job I decided to use rivets instead of welding

Grey stuff is seam sealer, this works great!

IMG_4914.jpg


This is how it looks from the outside

IMG_4909.jpg


I apply more seam sealer in both sides after taking the pictures
 
Last edited:
Back
Top