School me, not an XJ [Archive] - NAXJA Forums -::- North American XJ Association

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drifto77

July 22nd, 2006, 00:55

Thinking about this..........
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/z67Jeepster/67Jeepster007.jpg
more pics......
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/z67Jeepster/
(big pics)

I just looked it over pretty quick and took the pics.
IF i were to try to get it.. I would have to say good-bye to my 91 2-DR.
I have someone that is interested in my Cherokee. Thats why I was thinking about the Commando.

1967 Jeepster Commando with the Dauntless V-6 and a 3 (?) speed.
No bondo and only surface rust.
YES.. the funky front grill guard would go. The guy wants the stainless anyway.
The Commando does need a little work as you can see but does run.
(have not drove it)
Sears locking hubs on the front?????
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/z67Jeepster/?action=view&current=67Jeepster4L.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch14
Needs a top.
Guy said the clutch was stuck to the flywheel. (??????????????)
Like I say.. he said it runs. It has been sitting for some time on a deer lease and not tagged since 1996.
Thats really all I know about it.

Whats the good, the bad and the ugly about the Commandos?????
I know it will not ride the same or be as "plush" as my XJ and it has no A/C.
Any info on where to look for parts would be nice too.
(such as the top)
I tried JCWhitney but my search skills suck so I did not find a top on there.

Anyway...
School me on these.
I dont know the history on them. (weather they were POS's or good Jeeps)
BUT...
I do know I like the way they look when they are in good shape/fixed up.

Thanks. http://www.naxja.org/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

BTW...
if anyone is interested in buying the Commando...
let me know and I will PM a phone number so you can contact the guy that has it or let me know what you wanna know and I can get hold of him for you.
Hes just like 4 miles from me.
He is asking $1600.00 and is FIRM on the price.
Located in Sherman, Texas

woody

July 22nd, 2006, 05:54

One of the supervisors at a company we inspect has a 72(?) Commando (Jeepster?) and he was ALWAYS griping about either the lack of availability of parts, or the prices asked for them when he could find them. He was trying to restore his though... not mod it for hard-core off road.

Seems that those models have not really much in common/shared with CJs, FCs or SJs... they are the Platypus of the Kaiser era.

If one planned to replace the stock junk & upgrade to more modern (or at least more common) running gear, they would be easier to deal with IMHO

I always liked them though...

Good luck!

XJEEPER

July 22nd, 2006, 07:31

Commando on a stretched TJ frame/running gear?

shortxjdoug

July 22nd, 2006, 07:43

Commando on a stretched TJ frame/running gear?

yeahn thats basically what you end up doing, i've seen commandos on truck frames etc when they are built for the dirt, and then there are always the custom built ones, basically you are ripping out all the original stuff and putting in new engine drivetrain axles and a redesigned suspension, which i think would be a very fun side project, not worth gettin rid of the cherokee. then of course there is the resto route which i enjoy very much ( i did it to an 83 cj it sits a a road only vehicle at factory heigth with a blend of aftermarket parts, rims seats etc) but like i said it would not be worth getting rid of the cherokee for, if i had to drive the cj every day i would die of heat stroke. thats just my .02 if it were me it wouldn't justify getting rid of the cherokee, but it is a REALLY cool and classic jeep that would be worth the effort put into a restoration.

Matthew Currie

July 22nd, 2006, 11:41

Up here in New England they were notorious for rusting out practically overnight. CJ's were bad enough, but Commandoes were worse. They used to be pretty popular as plow vehicles in their day, because they were a little bigger and wider than a CJ, which can kind of get flung around by its plow, but still small enough to be handy in a driveway. As I recall, the V6, which was basically the 90 degree Buick without offset crankpins, was pretty bombproof, it had Dana axles, probably 44's, Dana transfer case, and (not entirely sure of this) the 3-speed tranny was probably a Warner T91, which could be used in a pinch for crushing gravel.

RichP

July 22nd, 2006, 12:08

Check the tailgate, they rust thru and are tough item to find.... I passed one up about 5 years ago and am kicking myself, it was mustard color, had a hard top and was in very good condition. Guy wanted $2500 and it had just passed inspection. I said I'd think about it, drove about a mi down the road, wife said 'go ahead, it would make a nice toy for you since you put away the bike' turned around and drove back, someone else was already there counting out cash ...%$%%^%%$(#(%_^($#*#* I hate it when that happens.. I don't hesitate anymore, every time I do I get screwed, happend at a swap meet, blew two sets of TJ fender flares... If you want it get it, I'd not give up the XJ till the commando was dependable again though... also check the cross members around the gas tank, they also rust on those frames.

Matthew Currie

July 22nd, 2006, 14:34

Oh, one more thing I forgot to add: if my memory serves, these still had the old style closed knuckles with kingpins. Durable but clumsy for maneuvering.

July 22nd, 2006, 14:41

Were those twin Dana 30s?

xjtrailrider

July 23rd, 2006, 16:32

My dad had a 69 Commando(red w/white top, Duantless V6, auto), a cool Jeep! Thats the one that got it all started for me. It was the first car much less 4x4 I ever drove at the ripe old age of 8, and that was in 1974. I learned to wrench on that thing. As I remember it was very durable other than my dad fried the tranny(turbo 350 I think) and we had to put one in. They really do rust bad even in the mild winters here in VA!

Matthew Currie

July 23rd, 2006, 18:57

Were those twin Dana 30s?Probably 44's.

July 23rd, 2006, 19:00

The front. (http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/z67Jeepster/?action=view&current=67Jeepster4H.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch12)
The rear. (http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i14/JeepPower/z67Jeepster/?action=view&current=67Jeepster3A.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch9)

Those don't look like 44s.

shortxjdoug

July 23rd, 2006, 19:02

July 23rd, 2006, 19:03

They do to me.
Just quick on the edit.:D:thumbup:

shortxjdoug

July 23rd, 2006, 19:07

They do to me.
Just quick on the edit.:D:thumbup:

you sly boots you.......