After recently renting a house with an expansive two-car garage, my wife and I decided to take on a new project: a 1988 Jeep Comanche we bought from a friend. Although the truck had been out of service for some time, it had already undergone the necessary rust repairs that are common with these vehicles. The 4.0-liter straight-six engine was running a bit rough, but I figured it just needed some tuning. With our upcoming move and the requirement for a vehicle that could accommodate larger items, the Comanche seemed like a perfect addition, especially since my Subaru BRZ couldn’t handle much beyond everyday essentials.
Additionally, this particular Jeep was equipped with the Big Ton package, boasting a payload capacity of over a ton and capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds. With robust tow hooks installed at both the front and rear, it had the potential to be an ideal support vehicle for stage rally events.
However, before I could unleash this beast, I needed to move into the house. I registered the Jeep on the same day I was vacating my apartment, using a one-week grace period to get it inspected, allowing me to use the truck for the move while postponing any repair concerns. Wrenching was prohibited in my old apartment—one of many reasons I left—and since my tools were still there, I couldn’t prep the Jeep ahead of time. Nonetheless, the 4.0 engine has a reputation for durability, so I was confident things would work out and that I could address any issues after the move.
Once settled in, the engine’s performance worsened significantly, with noticeable power loss. Upon inspecting the valve cover, I discovered a misaligned rocker arm, along with a second rocker arm that was loose, suggesting two lifters had failed. Further investigation revealed that replacing the lifters would require removing the head—which was not feasible during our hectic moving period, especially as we still had to get my wife out of her apartment.
I want to clarify that I do not hold my friend who sold us the Jeep at fault for this situation. We understood we were taking on a project vehicle rather than a fully operational truck, and I know I should have conducted more thorough maintenance before driving it extensively. My advice to others: always change fluids and perform essential maintenance before using a project vehicle that has been sitting idle.
We wrapped up the move using my wife’s Ford Flex. I managed to purchase new gaskets, lifters, and head bolts for the repair, but we were also focused on buying the house we were renting, which consumed our time and finances. As someone who had never removed and reinstalled an engine head before, I was apprehensive about causing further complications, especially if we needed to vacate the house and ended up with a non-functional Jeep.
Reluctantly, I decided to sell the Comanche and minimize our losses. Although we would still take a financial hit due to the truck’s condition, this would help us direct funds toward purchasing our home. We could always find another project in the future. (Fortunately, we successfully bought the house last year and took on a VW Jetta project this past winter, which worked out in our favor.)
The Jeep eventually found a new owner in a nearby town. He had an XJ Cherokee with a bad engine, making it easy for him to repurpose parts from the Comanche. I occasionally ride my motorcycle past his place and have enjoyed watching his progress as he transformed it into the reliable daily driver I had hoped for. While I’m glad it ended up with someone who appreciates it, a sense of loss lingers over letting go of a truck that held such potential. Perhaps that’s part of the reason we’re now converting a perfectly good Jetta into a truck.
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