New jeepster owner...

New jeepster owner... My '70 Commando

Hi everyone. Just picked up a new to me jeepster commando. Seller said 69, paperwork says 70. I'll have to check the vin. Not sure what I'm gonna do with it yet but I wanted to say hello and get some pics up. PO did a SOA lift but it looks like new springs would be a good idea.

 

Welcome. Nice looking Commando. May be a late 69 manufacture for the 70 model year (check to see if the build plate is still in the drivers door sill). The fenders, if original, are 70's style with the reflectors.

 

Howdy from Wisconsin.

Nice looking Jeepster.

 

The guy I bought if from had a service manual to go with it. There was a plastic tag inside that looks like it could have come from the door jamb. It says MFD by Jeep Coroporation May 1970. The title also says Jeep 1970

 

Alright, so I guess it is time for a little more detail. It does have the odd fire v6. Seems to run really well. PO installed a Delco HEI so I'm sure that plays a big part. It pretty much fires up with one turn of the key. As far as I can tell, still the original carb and such. It has a lot of exhaust leaks, so I will need to tend to that once I get her up and on the road. The lights work, but the rocker is loose so the lights will flicker unless I hold the button down. I'll need to get a new rocker soon. The wiper motor works, but the wipers don't so I'm thinking that the connection is broken between the two. The fan works. I haven't really tested the heat, but from what I have read, I don't expect much in that department. Speedo does not work, but the cable is there so I will need to replace it or see what else is going on there. PO also installed oil pressure and engine temp gauges so those are useful. After a few minutes of checking and re installing, it even has a working radio.

Someone did a SOA lift, but it's not quite done right so I will need to put some attention in this area. Rear seems to be fine but the front springs are flattened down very badly and the front axle is tilted with the pinion too high. I will need to get on the ball in regard to replacing the front springs immediately. Stock drums have recently been redone, so it has decent brakes, but I would like to do a front disk upgrade in the future for safety purposes. I believe the front axle is a D27. It has a nice little leak that I need to address and a front drive shaft that looks to be shot; it's very wobbly near the midpoint. Steering is OK but very unfamiliar. It is a little sloppy, but does not seem to be loose if you get what I am saying. PO installed new Cooper Discovery AT's 32x12.50x16's so I have good rubber on the road.

The main thing keeping me from driving it right now (got it home this past Thursday) is that the PO installed a power seat on the driver side. That seat is way too far forward for me to drive safely. I've got to get the electric seat working again but I'm afraid the motor is probably shot. If I can't get the seat to move on its own, I will have to pull the seat to see if I can manually make the seat go more rearward. I'm going to work on that and getting the rest of my bulbs replaced so I can have her inspected. Did some odds and ends today including changing the oil.

 

Nice find, looks to be solid. Disc brakes are always a good upgrade whether you use the D27 or swap in a D30. Front drive shafts are kind of a pain because they're two piece with a support bearing and it's hard to find good used ones any more so most people just get a one piece made to replace them. Usually this is done at the same time as they replace the front diff with a 30 .

 

Not sure that I'll be replacing the front axle. My main goal is to get it more street worthy as soon as possible. I'm really looking forward to riding my son around in it. I have to verify the front and rear axles though. Not exactly sure what's under there

 

If stock the front will be D27, rear most likely D44 one piece axle. There was a D44 with splined axles but not many of those around and mostly 69/70. The D30 rear was only used in a few of the early 70's.

 

Got the driver seat moved rearward so I took her on the maiden voyage around the neighborhood last night. Now I have to get my light switch fixed and fix the windshield wipers in order to get my state inspection.

 

Here you can see some of the issues that I am facing with the springs. The rears still have a nice arch to them BUT it looks like there are two monoleaf springs together. Not sure if this looks like a normal spring pack for a Jeepster, but it doesn't look quite right to me but at least the *** end is still up in the air.



Up front the springs are going the other way, which I guess would be a normal case if you were using stock springs. You can see that they bow upward from the weight. It's also putting my pinon angle way out of whack. That would probably improve with some proper springs.



In this last picture you can really see the spring deformed. I'm going to have to find a decent affordable option for the front.

 

Yup, most definitely looks like somebody twinned a set of mono leafs in the back. The fronts? Just wow. I'd say they were slightly off when they welded the perches on for the spring over. They are welded on aren't they?

 

The spring perches are welded on. If you look at the third pick though you can see that both sets of springs are bowing upward. I don't think the perches are on that bad and they seem to be even side to side, I think the majority of it is in the springs causing the axle to rotate forward.

 

My main priorities right now are to fix my wipers, fix my light switch, replace bulbs, and front springs. I will also be replacing all the fluids and possibly replacing some gaskets and seals. I'm going to try and keep the work to only the necessities so she will be ready to drive for the spring. Forgot to mention that's it also has Saginaw steering as well, which apparently is a good thing and bodes well for the possibility of adding power steering down the road. Hopefully I can get this first few goals achieved and then start planning for more major undertakings next winter.

 

Any updates?

 

X2

 

I was going to guess mid to late model year 1970 based on the fender reflectors. My OCT 69 build date, 70 model year, has the reflectors mounted on raised plastic just behind the hood latches. Only other place I have seen this is on jeepsters.
AMC took over Feb 1970 and things changed after that. not sure if the changes were in the works or not.