Looking good I appreciate a friendly budget build that any guy or gal can do with effort and time compared to throwing the check book out constantly Pleasure to watch keep up good work
This was really satisfying and fun to watch. It’s one thing to hear about people doing things themselves and it’s another actually seeing the planning, design and execution of such a project. Keep up the great work.
Watching you gives me more courage to tackle my K5 work. I watch people like Paul in his shop chopping with nice tools and knowledge. I see you doing the same with harbor freight tools and jack stands. We got this!
Comanche’s are fun. That brake thing you asked is a load sensor for the rear brakes. The more weight the more brake pressure goes to the rear brakes. Less weight less pressure. I just zip tie it up to simulate full weight. The 8 1/4 Chrysler rear diff is a decent axle. There are 2 different axle splines. 91-96-27 spline. 97 to 01 -29 spline. When you regear use a 97 and later locker/limited slip and use 97 and later axles. I’ve done the 35 to 8 1/4 swap like you. It’s a great upgrade. The high pinion 30”s as you know are stronger than people want to admit. I have only broken a shift fork on my 89 Comanche. I have only twisted the left axle shaft. Also FYI I believe it’s 96 and later 30’s that have the larger axle shaft joints or if the Cherokee had abs brakes it will have the larger 297? Vs the 260? Unjoints.
I had a 4x4 Comanche and loved it. It went everywhere I wanted. I only got rid of it because it literally rotted off the frame and there was no saving it.
I really like your creativity with things that people typically have or would be working on. I now know why you were sporting a shiny black rear axle on the morning of September 24 in Apple Valley. Up from southern California to view the Grand Canyon at Toroweap. We waved as we passed. That guy in front of you needed taillights and was driving slowly. We waved at Colin as well.
Looking good Rudy, you will have the front figured out in no time. If it were me i would extend the spring perches on the axle 2 inches and the shock mounts. Great video keep being you.
Easiest solution is a 2" spacer lift (AKA leveling kit) for the front springs and longer shocks. No need to alter the shock mounts; with that much lift, though, he'll need longer lower control arms.
It appears you and your dad and crew are still on a speaking basis. That makes me very happy. I enjoy his channel and I enjoy watching you test your wings.
I didn’t bother to move spring perching but great idea though because my rear spring wouldn’t flex well on trails like that. Your correct about 6 inches, I only lift 5 inches on front because rear will sag when carry tools, recover stuffs and camping gears.
Good job , Over the years I have done all of the same processes on various diffs . The 8 1/4 is actually an under rated diff , quite strong , the weak link is the C clip design .
I like watching you recreate your projects. I only have an issue with watching you do it without safety equipment. I'm not sure if you appreciate your vision and hearing, but I've welded, burned, and ground steel when I was much younger than I am now. My job required that I strictly follow safety protocols. I didn't like it at first because the safety glasses, earmuffs, hardhat, and steel toes were very uncomfortable. But I'm in my fifties now and my hearing is decent, I can still see, and I have all of my fingers and toes. I have no gashes on my head even though I have often hit overhead steel protrusions with my hardhat. Just a thought.
Nice of you to show how to improve on what your are dealt since it seems pretty likely you could well get exactly what ever you wanted under your frame. Glad that you think safety more than some within your sphere. Grinding still should be done with eye protection though. Interesting way to calculate rear end positioning.
Good stuff. Maybe it's just me, but i Would love to see more of the process. Maybe hear a bit of how you go about designing stuff. Thoughts. How you cleaned the leaves. Stuff like that. I really like how you keep it real. Keep it up.
The high pinion Dana 30 in the XJ is a pretty decent axle. I've been running one with 35 inch tires for years. I've done the gussets, heavy duty control arm mounts, and full circle u joint snap rings, but haven't broken anything, even with my air locker engaged.
I made superb spacers for my Cherokee out of polyurethane boat trailer rollers. They have the perfect angle already cast to fit against the body. I just cut them to length and drilled a 40mm hole down the middle. They cost £3 each and lasted more than 10 years
Rudy, you are the man. I love watching you work threw an issue and just getting things done. I really enjoyed watching you and Paul (fab rats) working on your dads Morrvair. That was epic. I hope you will do a collaboration with them in the future. Keep up the good work! The hard work!
Lovin' this series Rudy! I have an '89 Pioneer, same color and almost identical build from 2x4 to 4x4. I landed with 7" lift at the rear with a 8.8" Ford after the SOA. The D35 up front holds up a set of 3.5" lift springs and a 2" puck that gave me just the right rake that has settled in nicely. Keep up the great work from a 'real' perspective that a guy in a garage can relate to! (except for the waterjet table, that is... LOL)
Rudy (& Janelle and Collin)...you're doing great with your channel content...a little variety of everything motorsports and outdoors adventure like Robby Layton, Vice Grip Garage and Merlins Old School Garage do. Keep doing the basics like you are, good content, being real and honest, keeping it fun, a little adventure, showing your projects and how you do them, doing recoveries and rescues and doing things with your brother, Robby, Paul, your Dad, Merlin, Rory, Chad, etc. Thanks for your videos.
Rudy, nothing you're doing is "crap", your dad and Paul are exactly where they are because of all the "crap" they've probably built or dealt with over the years. It's all learning and experience. I think they'd agree, you'll be where they both are, or even ahead, when you're their age. Great stuff!
@@henkoosterhof5947 feeding a horse is just as expensive as driving a truck because they need to eat even when you aren't going anywhere even if you put your own hay up by the time you figure fuel in the swather and tractor to bale the hay and move it off the field into the barn I have a few small 5 to 10 acres patches I cut rake and bale with the team so they earn their meals horses aren't cheap but when I'm in no hurry I'll either ride a quarter horse the 8 miles to town or hook up my Clydesdales to the wagon and take the grandkids to town for a change of pace and enjoy the scenery
Saw a sneak peak in your dad's video when Trevor visited. Looks good, really like watching the process. I also appreciate that with your set up it's more like what most people would have to do without a lift.
I can appreciate a clean weld like you do, nice work! I'm not a ticketed welder (journeyman mechanic) but have welded lots of steel when fabricating projects at home as well as light duty welding like exhaust etc. I thought there were special techniques to follow for cast iron though like those axle housings/knuckles? Guess time will tell how long it lasts.
I think you have the advantage of the PU is really lightweight. How bad ass does a axle housing really need to be? If the R&P holds up I think your good. May not be the sexiest axle at Sand Hollow but it’s affordable.
Biggest risk of breakage is the front axle shafts and u-joints. Everything else will be pretty stout up to ~35" tires... Also depends on if he re-gears and installs lockers.
@@chrisstephens6957 really all three play a factor, you can use a lot more skinny pedal with little street tires than you can with sticky 35s before you break something
I'm a sucker for a disc brake conversion. Was hoping to see you swap them out on the rear. Pretty cool though gonna be a fun little commanche, my uncle had one and I always wanted it 😄
While they are cool, they aren't really necessary on these trucks. It'd be a better upgrade to install a Grand Cherokee master cylinder and brake booster, as well as remove the rear load sensing valve. Also upgrading to WJ front knuckles/brakes would be more worthwhile than rear disc conversion.
slightly more robust definitely a good idea. Anything more too much 💥 I like pick Ups with old school rake ~ my ram 4x4 has 2.5". Wish truck had lockers for overlanding Great job filming, telling story, and then doing the work!! GREAT fab parts/work & welding
Looks good brother. Just got done doing a 3 link swap on the front of my 99 XJ. Hope I don't have to go through all that measuring anytime soon. Looking forward to seeing the MJ up on its new wheels....🤓
Have a ZJ project that I focused on the axles 1st. Put a Dana 44 from the v8 in, (TruTrac dif). Put new control arms with track bars, front and rear to get rid of the death wobble. I do plan to put in RCV front axles. My crazy dream with the ZJ, is a Cummins R2.8 crate engine and a ZF-8speed. I like the room of the ZJ. The ZJ fits places our Ram diesel pickups won't go. And I plan to tow the ZJ behind our camper, for long range adventures. I do enjoy the projects on RAD and Matt's Offroad Recovery. I am sure glad that 5 years or so ago. Lite Brite got me watching Matt!
Rudy, looks like this is turning into a nice build project 👍 Gotta give you credit on filming this video by yourself with no camera man/woman helping you…👏
I mean for a commanche they are definitely an upgrade haha its gonna climb way better especially if you get a set of air lockers or something to lock them up ❤️
Nothing wrong with using the Dana 30. It may not be a hard core axle but it will work and if anything breaks you know where to fix and strengthen it. Love the Comanche.
Your fabrication and welding skills always amaze me! Especially having seen how fast you do it in real time. Keep up the great work Rudy!
Shout out from the man, myth and legend himself!
Hey, Trevor.🤘
Hope you are doing good.
Building a dirty 30! Most people don't have the tools or money to run tons. I'm glad you're showing people what's possible with what you have on hand!
Looking good I appreciate a friendly budget build that any guy or gal can do with effort and time compared to throwing the check book out constantly
Pleasure to watch keep up good work
This was really satisfying and fun to watch. It’s one thing to hear about people doing things themselves and it’s another actually seeing the planning, design and execution of such a project. Keep up the great work.
looks like a game show thing to bend the metal over the pipe. A design and build channel like yours is always a favorite to watch
I would prefer putting it in a vice. Less random where its bending. Or an h or i profile. But it came out neatly.
@@henkoosterhof5947 exactly. win $1,000 for bending it in the right spot. Also, creates lot of comments when do stuff the goofy way
@@henkoosterhof5947 Exactly. A vice and big crescent wrench is much more precise.
Watching you gives me more courage to tackle my K5 work. I watch people like Paul in his shop chopping with nice tools and knowledge. I see you doing the same with harbor freight tools and jack stands. We got this!
Comanche’s are fun. That brake thing you asked is a load sensor for the rear brakes. The more weight the more brake pressure goes to the rear brakes. Less weight less pressure. I just zip tie it up to simulate full weight. The 8 1/4 Chrysler rear diff is a decent axle. There are 2 different axle splines. 91-96-27 spline. 97 to 01 -29 spline. When you regear use a 97 and later locker/limited slip and use 97 and later axles. I’ve done the 35 to 8 1/4 swap like you. It’s a great upgrade. The high pinion 30”s as you know are stronger than people want to admit. I have only broken a shift fork on my 89 Comanche. I have only twisted the left axle shaft. Also FYI I believe it’s 96 and later 30’s that have the larger axle shaft joints or if the Cherokee had abs brakes it will have the larger 297? Vs the 260? Unjoints.
I had a 4x4 Comanche and loved it. It went everywhere I wanted. I only got rid of it because it literally rotted off the frame and there was no saving it.
Nice job on the gussets. The art of the possible and practical.
*You're a " One Man Show ", Rudy. Your Fabricating is amazing and it's definitely a Gift.*
I gotta say, learning to weld has been an amazing skill and probably the most useful one yet.
I really like your creativity with things that people typically have or would be working on. I now know why you were sporting a shiny black rear axle on the morning of September 24 in Apple Valley. Up from southern California to view the Grand Canyon at Toroweap. We waved as we passed. That guy in front of you needed taillights and was driving slowly. We waved at Colin as well.
Keep them videos coming Rudy really enjoying them. compliments from Cairns Queensland Australia 🇦🇺
Good morning everyone
Good morning to you to Sir
@@alanlarson4375 Good Day to all...
Thanks For Sharing Rudy And Co....!
That custom bracing was very useful indeed...the detail made the Dana Axel look badass
Looking good Rudy, you will have the front figured out in no time. If it were me i would extend the spring perches on the axle 2 inches and the shock mounts. Great video keep being you.
Easiest solution is a 2" spacer lift (AKA leveling kit) for the front springs and longer shocks. No need to alter the shock mounts; with that much lift, though, he'll need longer lower control arms.
Pretty cool axle truss and gussets. I like the way you set it up.
FYI We use receiver hitch box tubing for leaf spring axle mounts
Dude! Those welds are some pro quality right there!
It appears you and your dad and crew are still on a speaking basis. That makes me very happy. I enjoy his channel and I enjoy watching you test your wings.
I didn’t bother to move spring perching but great idea though because my rear spring wouldn’t flex well on trails like that.
Your correct about 6 inches, I only lift 5 inches on front because rear will sag when carry tools, recover stuffs and camping gears.
Good job , Over the years I have done all of the same processes on various diffs . The 8 1/4 is actually an under rated diff , quite strong , the weak link is the C clip design .
Nice job Rudy that baby Dana should be fine for that litle truck
I'm happy you are staying the the D30 and 8.25 Watching your build out will help me were I need to go as I attempt to upgrade mine. Great video
That sneak peak of the Comanche I just saw on MORR has me pretty exited for the future videos on this. Glad I watched this video first.
Excellent job Rudy....now that's how 80 percent of people can do it at home !!!!.... thanks for sharing !!!
I like watching you recreate your projects. I only have an issue with watching you do it without safety equipment. I'm not sure if you appreciate your vision and hearing, but I've welded, burned, and ground steel when I was much younger than I am now. My job required that I strictly follow safety protocols. I didn't like it at first because the safety glasses, earmuffs, hardhat, and steel toes were very uncomfortable. But I'm in my fifties now and my hearing is decent, I can still see, and I have all of my fingers and toes. I have no gashes on my head even though I have often hit overhead steel protrusions with my hardhat. Just a thought.
I love watching your fab skills and look forward to the rest of the build. I have always wanted a Comanche.
Looking good! I wouldn't say no to longer videos!
Thanks! I need to do a 4x4 conversion so really looking forward to this project.
Nice of you to show how to improve on what your are dealt since it seems pretty likely you could well get exactly what ever you wanted under your frame. Glad that you think safety more than some within your sphere. Grinding still should be done with eye protection though. Interesting way to calculate rear end positioning.
Good stuff.
Maybe it's just me, but i Would love to see more of the process.
Maybe hear a bit of how you go about designing stuff. Thoughts.
How you cleaned the leaves.
Stuff like that.
I really like how you keep it real.
Keep it up.
Nice fabrication! Those rear axle webs look like a real professional product (which, of course, they are!)
Love the fact that you are using the Dana 30.Great little axle for a light weight dual purpose rig.💪👍👍
The high pinion Dana 30 in the XJ is a pretty decent axle. I've been running one with 35 inch tires for years. I've done the gussets, heavy duty control arm mounts, and full circle u joint snap rings, but haven't broken anything, even with my air locker engaged.
Those gussets look great. So glad you a
Started your own channel with good fabrication.
I'm glad the content is coming out more often even if some are short.
I made superb spacers for my Cherokee out of polyurethane boat trailer rollers. They have the perfect angle already cast to fit against the body. I just cut them to length and drilled a 40mm hole down the middle. They cost £3 each and lasted more than 10 years
Always impressed with your creativity and skill in fabrication and welding.
Rudy, you are the man. I love watching you work threw an issue and just getting things done. I really enjoyed watching you and Paul (fab rats) working on your dads Morrvair. That was epic. I hope you will do a collaboration with them in the future. Keep up the good work! The hard work!
Keep up the good work Rudy!
Lovin' this series Rudy! I have an '89 Pioneer, same color and almost identical build from 2x4 to 4x4. I landed with 7" lift at the rear with a 8.8" Ford after the SOA. The D35 up front holds up a set of 3.5" lift springs and a 2" puck that gave me just the right rake that has settled in nicely. Keep up the great work from a 'real' perspective that a guy in a garage can relate to! (except for the waterjet table, that is... LOL)
Nice, I'm dying to see the door fix. Always wanted a Comanche.
I like your stuff Rudy!!! Want to watch the world that you do, can't wait for the outcome.
This is the type of build that doesn't start out splashy, but is interesting on its own merits. Should be a good series.
man im always impressed by your welds !!
this is such a good channel great job rudy
Rudy (& Janelle and Collin)...you're doing great with your channel content...a little variety of everything motorsports and outdoors adventure like Robby Layton, Vice Grip Garage and Merlins Old School Garage do. Keep doing the basics like you are, good content, being real and honest, keeping it fun, a little adventure, showing your projects and how you do them, doing recoveries and rescues and doing things with your brother, Robby, Paul, your Dad, Merlin, Rory, Chad, etc. Thanks for your videos.
Enjoying your new channel, looking forward to all your future projects, great crew as well!!!
New Rudy video = time to relax and enjoy the content :)
Edit:Comanche looking good!
Rudy, nothing you're doing is "crap", your dad and Paul are exactly where they are because of all the "crap" they've probably built or dealt with over the years. It's all learning and experience. I think they'd agree, you'll be where they both are, or even ahead, when you're their age. Great stuff!
Nice work Rudy. Nice have the Plasma table and CAD knowledge to draw everything out. Keep up the good work!
Innovative and instructive: love your work Rudy
I’m enjoying the heck out of your channel Rudy… I love the fabrication!
What a beautiful modification. Nice.
On the other hand if you leave the front lower than the rear the truck would be driving downhill constantly, imagine the fuel consumption 🤣
🤣 So important with fuel prices. If they continue going up he'll have to put a real lift kit in back!
Looking sweet Rudy keep up the good work 😎👍
Gents. I think its time to get back to the horse and wagon time? Or is straw more expensive as hay?😉😉😉
@@henkoosterhof5947 feeding a horse is just as expensive as driving a truck because they need to eat even when you aren't going anywhere even if you put your own hay up by the time you figure fuel in the swather and tractor to bale the hay and move it off the field into the barn I have a few small 5 to 10 acres patches I cut rake and bale with the team so they earn their meals horses aren't cheap but when I'm in no hurry I'll either ride a quarter horse the 8 miles to town or hook up my Clydesdales to the wagon and take the grandkids to town for a change of pace and enjoy the scenery
Not to mention the fact that the horses will like his girl better than him!🤣
If it bends, that’s how ya learn. Love your channel.
Loving this build! Those little trucks are too cool!
Great job on growing your channel so quickly, you’ll be at 200k before the end of the year!
Thats a nice truck Rudy, glad to see you turning it into something useful. You can never have too much bracing on a 4x4. ;)
You’re doing a great job with the rebuild. Enjoy your channel.
I agree, I can relate to a good budget build. I just can't get into the huge "money is no object builds" keep 'em coming!
I am really enjoying your channel! Watching you fabricate and weld makes me want to buy a welder and start learning how to fabricate too.
I'm really enjoying the channel and I love the fab work !!! It's what I do for a living.
Saw a sneak peak in your dad's video when Trevor visited. Looks good, really like watching the process. I also appreciate that with your set up it's more like what most people would have to do without a lift.
Keep up the good content.It goes to show you don't always need 14 bolts and dana 60s.to go Offroad.
Great fab work Rudy!!
Your doing great work Rudy!
Thanks for keeping it interesting and continuing the channel uploads
Beautiful welds as always!!
Definitely inherited your dad's engineering mind, great job on axles.
But as a Trump Supporter ?
You're welcome I'm glad to have seen and learn
I can appreciate a clean weld like you do, nice work! I'm not a ticketed welder (journeyman mechanic) but have welded lots of steel when fabricating projects at home as well as light duty welding like exhaust etc. I thought there were special techniques to follow for cast iron though like those axle housings/knuckles? Guess time will tell how long it lasts.
Those are cast steel, not cast iron. A bit of preheating can help but in this case not really necessary.
@@marvindebot3264 thanks! I honestly didn't know there was a thing as cast steel. A quick google search shows the main difference is carbon content
Luckily I got to see a glimpse of the finished product in Matt's video today
LOL
She’s coming right along! Wish these videos were longer!
You are very talented and fun to watch! Keep em coming! Love the channel!
Nice work Rudy. This is a fun project. Thanks for sharing.👍
I think you have the advantage of the PU is really lightweight. How bad ass does a axle housing really need to be? If the R&P holds up I think your good. May not be the sexiest axle at Sand Hollow but it’s affordable.
Agreed, if it does what Rudy wants, then it's a win.
Biggest risk of breakage is the front axle shafts and u-joints. Everything else will be pretty stout up to ~35" tires... Also depends on if he re-gears and installs lockers.
Tire size is the biggest factor
@@Iamthathillbilly Biggesr factor is skinny pedal and type of wheeling…
@@chrisstephens6957 really all three play a factor, you can use a lot more skinny pedal with little street tires than you can with sticky 35s before you break something
I'm a sucker for a disc brake conversion. Was hoping to see you swap them out on the rear. Pretty cool though gonna be a fun little commanche, my uncle had one and I always wanted it 😄
While they are cool, they aren't really necessary on these trucks. It'd be a better upgrade to install a Grand Cherokee master cylinder and brake booster, as well as remove the rear load sensing valve. Also upgrading to WJ front knuckles/brakes would be more worthwhile than rear disc conversion.
slightly more robust definitely a good idea. Anything more too much 💥
I like pick Ups with old school rake ~ my ram 4x4 has 2.5". Wish truck had lockers for overlanding
Great job filming, telling story, and then doing the work!! GREAT fab parts/work & welding
That bracing will help a lot and looks good, great job Rudy. Thanx for sharing.😃
Great job, well explained with just the right amount of detail. Really enjoy watching your fabrication projects.😜🇦🇺
I love using stuff that people say not to! Looking good dude 👍🏻 looking forward to seeing the rest of the build
Looks good brother. Just got done doing a 3 link swap on the front of my 99 XJ. Hope I don't have to go through all that measuring anytime soon. Looking forward to seeing the MJ up on its new wheels....🤓
Have a ZJ project that I focused on the axles 1st. Put a Dana 44 from the v8 in, (TruTrac dif). Put new control arms with track bars, front and rear to get rid of the death wobble. I do plan to put in RCV front axles.
My crazy dream with the ZJ, is a Cummins R2.8 crate engine and a ZF-8speed. I like the room of the ZJ. The ZJ fits places our Ram diesel pickups won't go. And I plan to tow the ZJ behind our camper, for long range adventures.
I do enjoy the projects on RAD and Matt's Offroad Recovery. I am sure glad that 5 years or so ago. Lite Brite got me watching Matt!
Rudy, looks like this is turning into a nice build project 👍
Gotta give you credit on filming this video by yourself with no camera man/woman helping you…👏
Awesome project! I love it!!
Super fun build, Rudy. Respect.
Sits perfect. Cant wait to see how capable it is. Keep it coming!!
I've seem some pretty cool beefed up Comanche before and can't wait to see this one done 👍
I mean for a commanche they are definitely an upgrade haha its gonna climb way better especially if you get a set of air lockers or something to lock them up ❤️
Looking good can't wait to see it done 👍👍
I'm not sure which is better.... your fab work or your video editing. Both very high quality!!!!!
Good job, Rudy, but don't forget eye protection while grinding. Your dad is such a great mentor, except in that, where he's a bad example.
good job bro it seems like alot of work but will totally be worth it
Good job Rudy snd I thing this going to make a MAJOR change in the look
Nothing wrong with using the Dana 30. It may not be a hard core axle but it will work and if anything breaks you know where to fix and strengthen it.
Love the Comanche.
Exactly the same axles under my ZJ, never had a problem and does what is asked of them 👍🏼
Good job Rudy, need more content more often.
Sounds Like Your Going To Be Making Some Spacers For The Front, Anyway it Will Be Cool, & A Little Extra Clearance Won't Hurt At All 😉👍👍👍