TDI Comanche Build

The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
Starting a thread for my Comanche.


1987 body and frame

AX15 transmission, 231, plans for a SYE

HP D30 front, plans for a 8.8 rear, 4.10’s

Engine plans:

01-03 ALH TDI

TDConversions adapter plate
 

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Greg

Make RME Rockcrawling Again!
Admin
I love the plan, always wanted to swap a TDI into a Jeep! I think a TDI XJ lightly built up would be a killer adventure Jeep.

Who's engine wiring harness will you be using? Any engine mods or tuning?
 

The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
I love the plan, always wanted to swap a TDI into a Jeep! I think a TDI XJ lightly built up would be a killer adventure Jeep.

Who's engine wiring harness will you be using? Any engine mods or tuning?
My own, I’ll just do a simple standalone harness. Since the Jeep is an ‘87, there’s not much I’ll need to interface, I’ll just use jeep sensors in added ports where needed, temp, oil pressure etc.

The earlier VW stuff as in pre common rail is pretty dang easy to weed down yourself. Or if I get lazy, I’ll have S&P automotive do it for me. But I plan to do it myself right now.


As far as tunes go, not really sure yet what I’ll go with, I’m thinking I’ll mess with that once I get it running and driving.



Overall I think it’ll work out smooth. I tried to decide between a 4.0 and TDI, either way I’ll have money tied into it, if I get a donor car I can try to recoup money, but then need to buy the adapter.


Speaking of donor, I’ve had my eye on this one for a few years, hasn’t moved. Lady says it doesn’t run, and her husband is supposed to call me after he returns from AK.



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The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
Well that was a fail….I installed my lowers upside down. Didn’t realize it til after I got it bolted together. I was wondering why I couldn’t get it together and had to crank out the uppers so far.

This is a learning moment for me, I’ve never worked on a link setup before!

And does anybody have a locker for a D30?


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The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
That looks better. Lowers will need more adjusting still. I bought the coils used, supposedly they’re 4.5” lift.


Edit: now I’m confused… is the bend in the lowers supposed to point up or down? Originally I thought up, but they didn’t fit right. Now I flipped them, and just noticed the graphic is upside down….am I just dumb?? Other kits I’ve seen the bend goes down.

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The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
Your lower arms are correct the way they are now. The bend is for clearance from the axle bracket, not from the ground.

Just as a side note, a 4.5" coil is quite a bit (tall) for a short arm setup IMO. It's not going to ride particularly nice with the angles the control arms are sitting at...
Good to know! I can’t recall for sure if they were 4.5” or what exactly, I bough them on KSL and the guy didn’t speak English. I’ll have to figure out if the number on them ties to anything I can find
 

The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
Cool part number, anybody know who might be the manufacture of these? Or where to look for interpretation? Googling the number yields nothing.


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1969honda

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
Cache
Try Rubicon Manufacturing?

 

85CUCVKRAWLER

Active Member
Location
Tooele
I think that's correct, at least with the old Rubicon Express springs long ago. I remember using 3.5" TJ springs and getting close to 1.5" extra or maybe more on my old XJ.

I owned a TJ for a long time, but that was many years ago. some things still banging around in my head
 

The_Lobbster

Well-Known Member
I know the open carrier Dana 35 gets a lot of hate, but I got a 35 with a limited slip here in my driveway. What’s the consensus on the trac lock vs open carrier strength? I was thinking about an 8.8 swap, but here’s my conundrum. I plan to do some light wheeling, but nothing crazy, maybe Hells Revenge level of wheeling. 31-33”s max.

Dana 35
Pros: 3.55 matching gears to my existing D30
Limited slip
Already have it in my driveway, just needs perches welded on

Cons: weaker than an 8.8
Drum brakes
Pretty sure a c clip axle (from a ‘96 Cherokee)
8.8
Pros: strong as heck
3.73 or 4.10 available with factory LSD
Disc brakes

Cons: have to regear my front axle to match unless I buy an open 3.55, the 3.55 didn’t have an LSD option, so then I’d want go lock/LSD later.
C clip axle

What would you all suggest? Kinda leaning towards just doing the 8.8 swap right off the bat.
 

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