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1973 Commando

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by garage gnome, Mar 3, 2022.

  1. Mar 4, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I would agree if it was a kaiser era c101 and not a bullnose....
     
  2. Mar 4, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I meant specifically nobody restores the bullnoses. It would be unique.
     
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  3. Mar 4, 2022
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
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    x2
     
  4. Mar 4, 2022
    dozerjim

    dozerjim Member

    western New York
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  5. Mar 4, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    This is my plan for now. Get it mechanically back up to where it should be.
     
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  6. Mar 4, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I adjusted the clutch today. Wow, that thing was so far out of adjustment. I can't believe it drove like that. It's much happier now.

    [​IMG]
     
    Stakebed, fhoehle, Danefraz and 3 others like this.
  7. Mar 5, 2022
    bigjohn

    bigjohn Active Member

    Kelso Wa
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    This commando is rad! The interior is in incredible unrestored condition.

    In terms of direction, with that wheel base it’d be very tempting to go ax5, or any overdrive, and just make it a great driver/mild trail jeep.
     
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  8. Mar 5, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Played with the Commando in the snow some today. It did pretty well!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. Mar 7, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    I have been driving it around quite a bit and getting to know the jeep. I have decided on a plan.

    1) fix the power steering
    2) disc brakes in the front with the vacuum booster I found
    3) 2" lift with some white wagon wheels and all terrain tires
    4) Get all the lights working
    5) body repairs
    6) low range kit in the transfer case

    I just want to keep it simple, but fun. I don't want it to be a super crazy build, just something fun on the road or for the occasional trail.
     
  10. Mar 7, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I like that plan!
     
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  11. Mar 7, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Here's a video I put together of the commando.

     
  12. Mar 7, 2022
    givemethewillys

    givemethewillys Been here since sparky ran it. 2022 Sponsor

    New Kent, VA
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    I sure like your new commando, but those bullnoses are definitely an acquired taste. It's so ugly it's cool hahaha.
     
  13. Mar 7, 2022
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    X2
     
  14. Mar 8, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Like Glenn said here or in another post, the yellow kind of hides the ugliness. I think the color combination helps.
     
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  15. Mar 8, 2022
    RATTYFLATTY

    RATTYFLATTY I think you need a little more throttle

    Central MN
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    This sounds great but you seem more like a T-18 guy vs a deeper low range guy. Unless it's the early Bronco/Dana 18 parts swap you are referring to.
     
  16. Mar 8, 2022
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    The 258/T-14 combo drives nice and easy for a manual transmission, and you'd lose that with the T-18. My '72 book shows 3.73s or 4.27s in the Commando, and this is likely 3.73s. Just me - I'd keep the factory 6" wide wheels and near-factory-sized tires. You won't be able to go much larger without losing the factory rear wheel openings, and there are very few of these out there that have not been cut. There were fiberglass flares available for these that were very popular, just like the EBs. JMO - an EB with factory wheel openings and original wheels/tires is really cool. Same here.

    Tera gears (if they are still available) will give you a 3:1 reduction? This will give you something like a 35:1 crawl ratio, and the short tires will help. Would be fine for me.

    Which rear springs do you have? I believe the fronts are 2" wide and the rears 2.5" - maybe the fronts are the same as the '76-up? The rears are outboarded and could be single leaf. SD Spring shows a 5-leaf front and a 6-leaf rear for this application; these are probably from Eaton, and likely available widely.

    Interesting to think about the origin of this design. I would guess it owes more to the EB than any other influence. For '72, Jeep could have extended the '71-back sheet metal, like the CJ, and kept a more conventional Jeep look. I'd guess this is the AMC design center doing its thing; they brought us the Gremlin, Pacer and Eagle, why not this?

    Back when I was working for Chuchua's in California, Brian used his connections with Jeep to order a '72 true convertible Commando in Canary Yellow. Maybe to only one of these that existed, since the convertible was not normally available by then - I did not realize it was special at the time. Automatic, V8, PS/PB, nice car - nominally his wife's car. I drove that around in the area chasing parts and other errands quite a bit. Seemed just like another car to me.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2022
  17. Mar 8, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    It has multiple springs in the rear. All the springs are clapped out, it sits on the bump stops. That’s why I was thinking of a small lift.

    Yes it has 3.73s.

    The transfer case leaks like crazy, that’s why it was thinking of a low range kit for it. Tera doesn’t make low range gears anymore. But I think there is someone else making them.
     
  18. Mar 8, 2022
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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  19. Mar 8, 2022
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    If I put a t18 in it, then it would want to build it like crazy. If I don’t, it will stay pretty stock.
     
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  20. Mar 8, 2022
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    You can put D18 gears in it, for a 2.46 low. The one oddball Bronco D20 gear that you need to do the swap is being reproduced now.
     
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