Comanche Pre-runner Build

[TJDukit]

I may be incorrect but your steering box mount seems insufficient to me. It looks like you just have it butt welded to the angle iron. Do you have more support than that?

It is still bolted through the frame. Thats just the support welded to that clamp. A little added strength.

 

[Tan Comanche]

I may be incorrect but your steering box mount seems insufficient to me. It looks like you just have it butt welded to the angle iron. Do you have more support than that?

It is supported much, much more than a butt weld.

It it a triangle shaped plate that is 3.5" wide at the weld surface, which is welded on top (where it looks butt welded) and then the plate extends under the angle iron an inch and is welded again. This was done to give lateral stability and vertical stability. Plus the plate is angled down slightly so it is perpendicular to the steering shaft.

It is still bolted through the frame as well. The 1/8" plate is on the inside and out and the extension pieces are DOM.

I think the steering shaft would shear off before the box ever moved...

You're right though, the pics describe this poorly.

 

[BlueWolfFab]

Making good progress

 

[Tan Comanche]

Finally got the antirock mounted. It has a matching dimple died plate in the back side as well.

 

[Tan Comanche]

Strike plates and bumps are in! What a task.







First time the hood has been shut in months. Also the grill was set back in place to measure up for a bumper.

 

[Bart]

Looking good. Are those FOA bumps? If so and unless they've changed them you'll need a strap over the top to keep them solid in the can.

 

[Tan Comanche]

Looking good. Are those FOA bumps? If so and unless they've changed them you'll need a strap over the top to keep them solid in the can.

They are foa bumps, good eye. I don't think moving will be a problem, because the lower nut is machined .050 larger than the body. Perhaps it is a new thing?

 

[Tan Comanche]

This is how you get a B pillar into an absurdly small cab!





Got a little bit of the cage done...shooting to have it complete by weeks end.

 

[Tan Comanche]

The main cage is complete. The door bars are on hold 'till the cage is dropped down and fully welded. The holes are drilled for the engine cage tie-ins as well. Here's some pics...

 

[Deleted member 12904]

Looks great!

 

[Tan Comanche]

The majority of the cage is gusseted.



Here is the start to the engine cage. It has direct tie-ins to the junction points on the a pillars.



The seats were shoe horned in...what a task. The seat sliders and seat tie-ins, to cage, are still pending. Oh yeah, the gaping hole in the floor is where the motor is going.



And last but not least the rear bed rails are tacked in. The c pillars are going a few inches in front of the axle and the triple bypasses will be leaning forward ~20*. It seems to work really well in the space.

More to come!

 

[Tan Comanche]

The swaybar finally works correctly. I had to extend the links to ~20" so that it could cycle 18" travel and not bind or collide with any of the front end components. The first picture shows the angle of the arm at ride height. The second picture is where the arms will travel into the motor compartment, about three inches. Unfortunately my original design for the engine cage no longer fits in the space 'cuz the swaybar needs that real estate. So a redesign is in the works...

The rollcage is 80% welded, so that is exciting. Shootin' for a Monday completion on that task. Then the body needs to be plated to the cage, which will likely take the rest of the week.

New coilovers showed up this weekend so they will be test fit by midweek hopefully.

Spent a bunch of time today removing excess sheet metal in what is left of the cab. She lost nine pounds, not bad for an afternoon. Too bad it will all go back in as plating [emoji45]

 

[Tan Comanche]

Main cage welding is complete. Here is a shot of my metal squirt gun skills.



The floor plates went in tonight. Don't worry, the bolt are just some junk laying around. They'll be replace with grade 8's.



Steering stabilizer is tacked in and it cleared everything. Woot woot.

 

[Tan Comanche]

Busy night...lots-o-plating and yet it still needs more.

 

[Greg]

The fab work is looking great, nice work!

 

[TJDukit]

Those speed holes look fantastic.

 

[Tan Comanche]

Just got back in town after a week, it is good to be back in the saddle. Here we go...





The C pillars went in tonight along with the C to B tie-ins. It really completes the back of the truck.



Disk brake swap, partially complete.



Also the model 20, yes a model 20 (more on that in a sec), is cleaned up preparing for a truss. So the metric ton version of the model 20 is awesome! It has 1/4" wall axle tubes, a huge R&P, and it comes with semi-float 1.25" (at the narrowest diameter) 29 spline axle shafts. Plus it is 5 on 4.5 from the factory. Does it really get better than that? Well yes, yes it does, with the truss and disk swap of course. [emoji41]

 

[Tan Comanche]

This is the upper coilover mount. It comes directly off the a-pillar. It will have another tie-in after the motor is in place.



A little more plating in the dash area.



Here's another shot of it. A row of curvy holes is just that much cooler [emoji41]

 

[Bart]

I love learning new things and wasn't aware of the metric ton 20. Very cool. Keep the updates coming.

 

[jmaxj]

Abused the metric ton for a bit over 11yrs. Never one issue. Great bolt in axle if can be found. I only sold it cause of a great deal on a 609 but it's under another XJ still going strong.

Love the build, can't wait to see it done.