World's Fastest Comanche

[Pete M]

Most of you MJ guys have likely already seen this at the Comanche Club, but I wanted to share this little gem of forgotten Jeep history with everyone else. What you see below is the Worlds Fastest Comanche and holder or the land speed record from 87-89 when Gale Banks beat it in an S-15 (contracted by Chevy to do so). One of the members at the Comanche Club (who goes by the screen name of Worlds Fastest Comanche or W.F.C.) is doing a father-son project and trying to retake that record in the small truck 240-261 CID class. His research (and a ton of phone calls) turned up the original speedy MJ lost and tucked away in one of Chrysler's secret storage buildings. Many, many phone calls later, he was granted permission to come to Michigan to see and photograph the truck. I was given permission to tag along. Photography was strictly enforced, and so I only have photos of the MJ, but I about had a stroke when I saw all the other goodies stored in that unnamed, un-addressed building hidden away on Chrysler property. It really pains me that I have nothing to show you. But I will say that the last XJ, the first XJ, the 9-mile MJ, the surviving SCCA MJ, the ThunderChief MJ concept truck, and several other rare Jeeps are safe and sound.
I’ll try to answer any questions as best I can, but it’s all in the preliminary stages (he has purchased a longbed MJ though). Also I’m not the one building it (although my assistance is available for sure), so some questions are likely best answered by him.

My story of that day is here:

http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13074

The post from W.F.C about his desire to set the new record is here:

http://comancheclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12248&p=122400



First my photos of the photos they found in the truck:

Rumor has it that the block off covers aren't allowed in the official final run.

And now the 140 as she sits today:

 

[Pete M]

The windshield wipers were apparently removed and the air intake was routed into the drivers side housing.

Yup, that's a Dana 35 under there. Also there's a Peugeot backing the 4.0L.

 

[88manche]

I would hate to work on that. So many broken bolts......


But that is one bad arse little truck. I'd like to build an MJ mini truck - bags, fast..... different.

 

[GSequoia]

Damn those salt flats!


Notice the early 4.0 with a lack of a C101 connector! Also the built 4.0 with manual brakes!

 

[billyjp2]

maybe with the shape chrysler's in that baby will be for sale soon.

 

[RTicUL8]

Open throttle body - ahhh, so THAT'S how to make it go faster. :thumbup:

.

 

[BlueCuda]

Looks to me like they had that hooked to the cowl panel at one pointe in time. Does it run?

 

[GrimmJeeper]

thanks for posting this!

 

[Stihl029]

Is that a block I see on the EGR?

 

[srimes]

sounds like a good canidate for nitro :greensmok

 

[Pete M]

Yes that's a block on the EGR. Really isn't worth much at 144 mph.

Looks to me like they had that hooked to the cowl panel at one pointe in time. Does it run?

I assume so, but I don't know if it actually runs. They had it sitting out in the open area when we showed up. Yes, the throttle body went directly to the emptied cowl area.

I did find this quoted from an old magazine:

1987 Jeep Comanche ESL.
Top speed at Bonneville was 144.381 mph one way and a 141.381 two way average.
The Comanche was powered by AMC's all new 4.0 liter, it proved so reliable that a single engine was all that was needed to establish all 13 records. The Bonneville engine produced 284 horsepower at 5,500 rpm with a peak torque of 259 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm.

We're trying to track down some of the original people that worked on the project. There's no paperwork with the truck and since they won't let us unbolt anything, we have no idea what was done internally.

 

[BlueCuda]

Thanks for posting this, very interesting for sure. I will keep an eye out on Comanche club for that thread to continue.