'86 Comanche 2wd

[PacificEd]

I found a 1986 comanche truck for sale and was thinking it might make a good commuter rig to and from work.

The truck is a long bed, 2.5L fuel injected engine with a manual transmission (I don't know if it is a 4-speed or 5-speed). Axle is a D35. It is a 2 wheel drive.

What kind of gas mileage might this combo get? How many gears did the manual transmissions have back in 1986?

The body is almost rust free and straight, minus one dent in the passenger door. Interior is pretty good with a nice vinyl bench seat. It is a base model with no A/C. It also has 4 brand new tires.

The price is less than $1K so I'm thinking it is a screaming deal, almost too good of a deal.

Thanks for any input you might have to share.

 

[MoparManiac]

My MJ was a 1990 2.5/AX4. Not sure what mandated an AX5, but I bought it off my friend Sam (ktmracer419) as a shell.

He said he loved it as a DD and got decent mileage (somewhere in the mid 20s IIRC?).

 

[PacificEd]

Oh I like the sound of that. Mid 20's would be smokin'.

 

[043500]

I'd jump.

My 2wd XJ 4 bngr 5spd 2 door got 22 city 25 hwy...granted it was a '99 but it had over 100K miles on it when I got it.

If it's the AX-4 it should have 3.73's...AX-5 should be 4.10's.

UNLESS you have the 'fuel miser' edition which would mean 3.31's I believe. Wouldn't get out of it's own way but mileage should be even better (hwy anyway).

 

[Mnkyboy]

My 89 MJ 2.5l AX4,4X4 with 3.55s and 31X10.50s got 17-18 so a 2wd should do pretty good.

 

[FlexdXJ]

As long as its not a 2.8 i say buy it.......i put maybe 3 miles on my 2.8 and the knock was so bad i put it on the back burner and now its for sale. Also its kinda tight for me in mine Ed, might be something to think about for you.

 

[kastein]

Stuff a 3.4 in it and forget about it...

As for the MJ, Ed I'd buy it. Wish I could find a longbed up here in that condition for that kind of price, actually.

 

[cruiser54]

I had the 86 longbed 2WD with the 4 speed. Had 3.54 rear end. Ran strong at mile high elevation and gave 24 MPG on 25 mile commute to work.

 

[xjtrailrider]

Ed, I'm kinda tight fitting in our MJ and I'm only 5'10", medium build. My son is bigger than me and complains how tight the cab is for him.

Drive a buddies and see how you fit in it for a DD. If your not driving far it may not matter and for that price, I'd buy it anyway!

 

[PacificEd]

I'm 6'-2" and 385 lbs. Probably be tight for a 84 mile a day roundtrip commute.

 

[xjtrailrider]

I'm 6'-2" and 385 lbs. Probably be tight for a 84 mile a day roundtrip commute.

You would be miserable, for that kind of a commute you need something much more comfy than a MJ.

I'd still buy it though!

 

[PacificEd]

I had been driving a 1994 Ford Ranger std cab 5-speed and that is a tiny truck with the old short cab (they made the std cab 3" deeper starting in 1998). I need to find one to sit in or go look at the one I found.

 

[shortxjdoug]

I'm 6'-2" and 385 lbs. Probably be tight for a 84 mile a day roundtrip commute.

im 6'1" 205 and an xj is a tight fit for me...... if your looking for a dd i would look more at the extended cab rangers, every one ive had i loved and its comfy for a big lank like me.

 

[043500]

I must be a small 6'3" 250#...? LOL. I agree MJ's and XJ's are on the small side but I've had 2 drs, 4 drs, and MJ's and long drives were no problem for me. Although...for 6'3" I have short legs...my inseam is only 32" so that may be part of it.

 

[kastein]

I'm 6'4" and 190 with long legs and fit in my MJs perfectly comfortably :dunno:

I don't know how you guys don't fit. Maybe it's because I have hands down the most comfortable bucket seats ever produced for MJs/XJs in them

 

[Cottontail]

6'6"...230# with a 38 inch inseam and I fit just fine.

Actually guys, Ed got to answer his own question today (as did I and about 4 other guys). BigAlpha had his MJ at a wrenchfest today, and we took turns sitting in it...just like a bunch of 10 year olds climbing in and out of cars at a new car lot while mom and dad are looking for a replacement to the old family truckster!

 

[bigalpha]

I was about to ask why nobody went and tried out the MJ.

So what was the conclusion?

 

[PacificEd]

I was about to ask why nobody went and tried out the MJ.

So what was the conclusion?

I fit just fine (at least it seems to have plenty of room to me). If it is there on my way home, I think I'm going to call and get more details about it.

 

[bigalpha]

I rocked a 94 Ranger, regular cab for a while and I freaking hated it so much. It felt so tiny, even for me.

The MJ is like a regular cab truck with the extended cab all rolled into one cab.

 

[Cottontail]

Headroom was deceiving since you don't have a headliner in it.