Hello Everyone, I have a question or two.

I have visited here some in the past and have decided to join up.

I just bought a 'new' '71 Commando (DOM: Nov 1970), does anyone have a wiring schematic for it?

A PO had swapped out the 4 cyl for an AMC 304, it was done OK, but the engine bay is cut up a bit to fit it.
Anyhow, he bypassed the original wire and added aftermarket guages.
I would like to get the original instrument running as well.

I guess the real question is, should I swap a 225 back into this or keep the 304?
Either way I need to swap in power steering, and an automatic. I am partially handicapped and using the clutch requires me to open the door so I can put my foot on the pedal

Does anyone know the the production date the Ross steering was replaced with the Saginaw? My '71 with a build date of November 1970 has Ross steering, my other '71 with a build date of May 1971 has Saginaw.

Also, I am looking for factory wheels that I can use the moon style hub caps on, and a center console w/linkages for the automatic trans swap.

Any info would be apreciated.

thanks everyone
Mark
:driving:

 

Did you happen to buy this from a Grumpy in Detroit?
I have a link for the schematics somewhere if I can find it, I also have hard copies I could scan if I can get my printer/scanner fired up. All else fails I could get them photo copied and send them to you .
I was under the impression Saginaw was available on some late 70's and all 71. If you're familiar with the Hurst edition the earliest build date on those are May 70 and they're all Saginaw. I've never checked the parts manual and although it won't give the build date cutoff it will sometimes give the serial number break when a major change came into effect, have to check that out.

 

I'm partial to the 225, but that's just me. I like to have the original running gear under the hood. Funny, I don't feel that way about the suspension though- I have lifted 4" with 33-12.50s....

Search on power steering- I recall a recent thread that had a link to pirate forum I think- good step by step instructions on how to do the steering swap.

My 70 was built in feb 70, and it has manual saginaw. It maight have been replaced by the PO though.

I have a 67 with the TH400, and my console is missing also. I saw one go on ebay a few weeks ago for about 50 bucks.

Welcome to the site!

 

Welcome from Boston!

I'd wonder if your Jeepster has Ross steering because it came with a F134. Don't know for a fact, but I'd be suspicious.

Regarding the 304, I also expect that the F134 Jeepster came with a T-90. That's a lot of engine for a T-90, though many (roughly similar) small block Chevy and Ford conversions were done in the day and lasted fine if treated right. I'm not sure how you'd adapt a 304 to a T-90, but if you have a T-90, I'd be looking to replace it with a T-15 (better) or a T-150 (good).

<edit> Oh - I read your post a little more closely and you're wanting to convert to an automatic. The 304 will work just fine with a Jeep TH400; ask around, especially on the Wagoneer sites like www.ifsja.org - I expect if you explain what you need and why you need it, you'll come up with a Jeep TH400 for the 304 pretty easily, more easily than you can find one for a GM pattern engine. Nothing wrong with the 304, unless you are worried about fuel economy.

 

Thanks for the welcome.

Yes I did, Very nice Commando, Very solid body, needs some body work, but not much.
I just need to swap in a D30 frt, w/disk brakes and pwer steering. (Man that Ross lets it wander around ALOT!)
All the lights and stuff works, but someone put the horn switch on the column becous the one on the wheel stopped working, and the factroy gauges dont work, so they added aftermarkets.
I want to fix all that.

If you can find the schematic, it would be greatly appreciated.

After diving it yesterday over 100 miles, I think I will replace the 304 with the 225, it was thirsty

I noticed the other day that the rear axle has 2 pc shafts, I suspect as well the 4 cyl models got all the older equipment.

To swap in the 304, they cut out the steel fan shroud, and the top of the frt crossmember. so i'll need to fix all that as well.
It will be alot of work to put it back together, but it should be worth it.

Do you guys think it would be bad to install the 225, with a T-14/D18 Combo with a Saturn OD from a CJ-5?
I have that setup on the floor now, along with the offset 30 spline D44 rear.

That should give me a good driver till I can get the autmatic parts. (the trans in it now is mostly dead thats in it)

BTW....Why do people put shocks on that have the helper coils? this one had that, rode terrible! I pulled them off and replaced the with gas charged shocks (low preasure) and the ride and handling improved immensily!
I understand the spings in the front becouse of the 304's extra wieght.
Just curious if you guys are running them and why.

thanks for the input.
Mark

 

That's very interesting that it has two piece rear axles, do you know if it's a 30 or a 44? Other than my 4 banger 70 which has a 30 and an older one parted out which had the 30 I've never seen another Jeepster with a 4. Does t have mono or multi leay rear springs?
Only a couple of reasons it would have helper springs on the front, either someone wanted a cheap lift, the front springs are sagging, they had a snowplow on it at one time or they figured they needed to beef it up because of the 304.
Only problem you might run into with the D18 is the offset to the passenger side. Might give that rear shaft a little too much angle.
Oh ya, 304 sure do like their gas. Last time I drove my 73 to North Carolina it was stop for gas, two hours or 100 or so miles, whichever came first, which is why I now have one sitting down there when we go down :twisted:.
*** Timgr, all 4 banger Jeepsters got the T86, non synchro'd, the one thing I can say I really dislike about my 70.

 

any chance you would give up the last 5 of your vin for the vin project? the Commando build date stickers are very few and far between.

 

Yea, no problem....I need to do that yet.
I have the build stickers on both, so its not a problem.

I looked, and I have a Dana44 rear with two piece shafts (well the housing sure looks like a D44 at least)

I am not woried about theoffset D18 t-case, I have the matching D44 offset rear (30 spline 1-pc shafts) that matches it.

The rear leaf springs are multileaf pack, with two extra leaves installed (it came this way)

I suspect the helper coil shocks were becouse of the 304 install...thats alot of extra wieght up front. But i had them on all four conners...it rode like a Buckboard.

I found that i have t150 trans in it right now, with a D20 t-case behind that 304...Its all getting pulled and swaped out for the 225 Buick/T14/D18/Saturn combo with the offset D44.....Not becouse of the gas or anything, but becouse it wont let me add the saginaw P/S box without hittng the drivers exhaust.

I need to build the matching my D30 frt to add to it as well when I add the Saginaw power steering. This really needs disk brakes.

Does anyone have any pictures of the factory steel wheels and hubcabs that were available?

 

Found these schematics, forgot I had them. Courtesy of Badbrad over on the JCCA board. I also have two specific to 72/73 Commando if anyone needs them.
Click on to enlarge.

 

Thanks fro the Schematics!!!
Your schematics come at the perfect time. the wiring done by whoever has a major problem, its heating up and melting under the dash.
I looked and the altenator charging wire is only 12 guage and runs to the aftermarket ampmeter and then to the battery and stays hot with the key off!!
it so badly melted I am suprised it did not start a fire.
I am glad this was caught befor something bad happened.

On to annother topic:

Who is running the GM HEI distributer rather than the stock one?
I have both for the 225, I am leaning towards the GM. Should simplify the install some.

thanks agian for you help, I'll keep it updated.

mark

 

I'm working on one off and on with a buddy of mine in North Carolina that was wired pretty much the same way. Maybe the same guy wired them both .
If I ever get around to getting the engine in the wifes HC fired it'll be running a GM HEI. You'll have to do some grinding on the front of the intake, get one of the later Torx head front intake bolts off a 231 and more than likely have to change the vacuum advance but well worth the effort.

 

i was driving my 69 to the paint shop, so everything was gone pretty much just wat was needed to run. when i hear a crackle and then instantly blinded by smoke , well with no door handles it was quite hard to get out of my smoke filled box. all my wires under the dash melted.EVERYTHING. took me about 10 hours to re wire the entire thing original cluster switches and all my aftermarket stuff. turns out that the PO thought u could connect two wires by stipping them, then hooking them together and covering it with masking tape.... so everyone some time just look at your loom and just give it a check