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New proud member, will need your help with my 72 commando

Discussion in 'Jeepster Commando and Commando Tech' started by KeyserSoSay, Sep 3, 2017.

  1. Sep 22, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    thanks!, I had been just looking at NAPA, guess I should have expanded my search. For that price, I think I'll buy two- how long could one of these kits store if packaged correctly?

    As far as the PS- I just wanted to make sure there was no ambiguity to which PS I have in this jeep now or if it was even a factory installed item, or what to look for to determine all of that. I understand that this jeep was born in a period of flux between the Ross, Saginaw and no power steering and was hoping the earlyCJ5 gurus could catch me up on that saga and how my 72 fits in.

    the steering column is not that important to me right now, but I've seen several threads on others switching them out in early jeeps and was hoping that a "best option" had been established so I could keep my feelers out locally for a potential column for a future swap.
     
  2. Sep 22, 2017
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    More Information for A-1 CARDONE 277521

    This is what they are showing for a new steering gear box for your commando.

    Rockauto is always a good place to look for part numbers even if you don't buy from them. I typically look up part numbers there and then search for that number on Amazon prime. That is usually the cheapest way I've found.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
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  3. Sep 22, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    Thanks, in my layman's observation that picture looks like the "go-to" Saginaw one instead of the "get away from" Ross in the conversion threads I've looked at. I'll obviously have to study it more. Looks like my truck may already have the preferred PS OEM.

    I do like RockAuto, it's just that there is very little connection to the part # they have listed and the descriptive nomenclature used to describe these parts here and elsewhere- Although that wasn't the case for the (Motorcraft) "2100 carburetor kit", but you see my point, without the "model 2100" it'd still be hard to purchase the kit with confidence, knowing that NAPA has 5 different kits (3 Chrysler) listed for this jeep.

    I'll work to do more homework before asking newb questions here. My computer forum time and my hands-on-truck time are separated by hours and miles, so I'm just reaching out to you Jeep gurus to catch up my knowledge as best I can in abstract.
     
  4. Sep 22, 2017
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  5. Sep 26, 2017
    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude

    Nekaf&Jeepsterdude 1968 Jeepster Commando, 1951 M38a1C

    The Netherlands
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    Last edited: Sep 26, 2017
  6. Sep 26, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    It is indeed a Motorcraft 2100 2V. I may be able to come up with a tag number later.

    All the bullnose Commandos have Saginaw steering from the factory. The factory column may be a GM column - it's car-like and looks like a GM column, but I'm not certain. Factory power steering was a very popular option. Manual steering on a V8-equipped Jeep would be unusual. Power brakes were also optional.

    If you wanted a tilt column, and it's a GM column, I would look at some XJs in the yards as suitable donors. An XJ column might fit as-is, or could possibly be made to fit.
     
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  7. Sep 26, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    Thanks timgr, I'm slowly catching up to speed on some of this stuff on my own. I'ts amazing how often when I learn something reading the threads of this forum that it's from one of your posts.
     
  8. Sep 26, 2017
    kelleesimms

    kelleesimms Member

    College Station, TX
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    I've always wondered if it was possible to transplant a CJ-5 front end onto those late Commandos...
     
  9. Sep 27, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  10. Sep 27, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  11. Oct 2, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    I'm looking to replace (ha!, I mean create) the exhaust from the manifold back. I've the skillset but not the experience doing exhaust. I'm going to buy two Thrush Welded Mufflers (cause they're compact and inexpensive), and hoping to dump the exhaust out in front of the rear tires if I can (should be room enough with the 104" wheelbase, correct?)

    Is there an exhaust fabrication kit available that includes (dual) manifold flanges, pipes and bends, and exhaust hangers? I do have a HF hydraulic pipe bender that should work on bending exhaust pipe, and I have a friend with a real bender, so I might be able to fab up the exhaust from scratch but hoping a kit of some kind would save me time and trouble.

    Any alternative suggestions here? Aside from outsourcing- I'm not looking to pay someone else to run a hollow pipe.
     
  12. Oct 2, 2017
    chris423

    chris423 Sponsor

    greeneville tn
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    welcome from TN
     
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  13. Oct 7, 2017
    masscj2a

    masscj2a Member 2023 Sponsor

    Ware, Mass
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    Welcome from Chester Mass. A Cammando is also on my bucket list. Good luck and keep posting. We love pictures of other people's money pits.......oh I mean projects. :whistle:
     
  14. Oct 8, 2017
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    The bus is every kind of cool there is.. Oh yeah, the Jeepster is nice too.. BUT THE BUS!!!!
     
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  15. Oct 9, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

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    Yeah, I have two super-cool money pits, I mean projects, and am not willing to give up either(y). We are going to just alternate back and forth between the two . My kid has earned a pretty good little pool of cash recently and I've promised him I'd match him dollar for dollar and hour for hour so it looks like the Commando will be our focus for righ now.

    I'm still collecting parts and components for a rear bumper build on the van, so we'll not let it linger too long either :confused:
     
  16. Oct 25, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

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    Ok guys, so I bought a carb rebuild kit and removed the carb- but we ran into a little problem. I cut out a piece of plastic to cover the engine intake and then bolted back the plastic carb spacer to hold it in place. I actually had my kid do it, and he overtightened one of the nuts and broke it.

    I figured, no big deal, I can just buy a new carb spacer but turns out I cannot find this part anywhere.

    This plastic spacer hold a four-stack of thick identical phenolic spacers that add up to about 3/4" on the bottom.

    It was built by Krage motor sports (Jeepdoc.com) which is no longer around.

    So now I'm looking to find a phenolic carb spacer that can replace this whole deal, but I'm having troubles identifying one that will work with the mc2100 carb. Someone on another forum said that the Holly 17-72 spacer will work with the MC2100, but it's $70, ouch!! In that same thread there were several other common carb spacers that folks said would not work with this carb.

    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-17-72

    Do I even need to worry about a carb spacer? I assume it was purchased (it's an aftermarket item) and used on this jeep for a reason, so I'd rather avoid further carb heat problems by just going back with a phenolic spacer now. Am I making too much of this?

    I appreciate any help from those who have dealt with this type of issue.

    Also, note the little cover with two holes into the intake manifold below the carb spacer in the photo, two vacuum lines from the carb choke go down into those holes. These were loose in there and my instincts tell me they should be sealed with some kind of rubber grommet or something. Are these oversized and unsealed orifaces correct, or should I look to find some part to seal these properly?


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2017
  17. Oct 25, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    Here is a picture before I pulled off the carb showing the lines from the carb plumbed down into the intake manifold.

    My question is if those lines should be better sealed where they meet the manifold or if this loosy-goosy fitment is SOP.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Oct 25, 2017
    KeyserSoSay

    KeyserSoSay Collector of Hobbies and Vestigial Skills

    Edgewood New Mexico
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    Oh, and we also lost the title for the jeep before I could even get it registered in my name. Luckily the previous owner is a good guy and is helping out by getting a replacement title for me. Slow going so far with this jeep build as we've lots of other projects but we are collecting parts and funds for a big push to come in the coming months.
     
  19. Oct 25, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    BJ's has the spacer. Carburetor Insulator Plate V8 2BBL 1974-1991 Not sure it was used in '72, but you'd need that year's parts book (which I don't have) to check. If you want to put it together with that type of insulator, it will be fine.

    Likely available other places too. They also have the thick cardboard insulator ala carte. The thin paper gasket is common - used on Fords as well as Jeeps.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
  20. Oct 25, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Regarding the choke stove, I was going to write a bunch, but I suggest you read the TSM about the operation of the choke circuit, then ask more specific questions. The thermostatic choke needs both clean hot air (the system you are asking about) and electricity to function. Missing either, and it won't work right. The tubes supply clean hot air, and proper connection to the manifold is a slip fit... but not sloppy. Bend carefully so the air supply tube fits better. Current fitment is likely due to rough handling.
     
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