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Commando is home.. now have to decide

Discussion in 'Jeepster Commando and Commando Tech' started by DanStew, Jan 21, 2006.

  1. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Well here are pics of the commando as it is on my trailer and in the backyard. It is very beat up. Unfortunately where it has been siting for the last year or so was right next to the salt water, probably 20 feet from a very salty estruary. So it really did rust pretty good as it layed dormant :( My realy main concern is the driver side cowl. right where it meets the door frame. it pushed back and the doors will not close. No so much worried bout the doors, but it is pushed back a good bit and the windshield lays back too far. And the backside of it, the side of the tub is stretched out so the tailgate has a gap between it and the tub side. I really want to ask is, is the commando salvagable? I can clearly say i hate body work and it is a body work special. I am used to little stuff, but not sure about the cowl piece. I thought it was just the cowl was pushed down, which it is, but it is more than that. I know it is not going to be pristine but i am jsut not sure if i can make the windshield seal agaisnt the cowl. So give me your opinion guys. After looking at it, i almost just want to part it out and sell the waggie, and wash my hands of it, but i really realy like the commando and getting new tubs this far south is not very easy. tell me your observations and opinions about it all.
     
  2. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    More pics
     
  3. Jan 21, 2006
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Uh - looks like quite a bit of work there...maybe it's time to supersize the Bus using the Commando frame?
     
  4. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    yeah that is an option, but that would probaly be more work than getting the commando banged together.
     
  5. Jan 21, 2006
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Mar 30, 2004
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    1,745
    Anything is possible with enough work Dan, I think I would at least keep one eye out for another body. Frame is good?
     
  6. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    yeah the frame is good shape.already setup for a V8. just have to add the waggie stuff.
     
  7. Jan 21, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Lot of work there. Honestly I'd ask myself if it would be really worth the effort.
     
  8. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Yeah that is what i am going throguh right now. Just not sure. It is sitting tight on the traielr right now, will put a cover on it. I just got the m416 trailer stuff back so i have to get on that real quick so it doesnt rust. It is alot of work. i am thinknig if i get the doors off it, it may give a better canvas, right now with the doors hanging off, it looks really really bad
     
  9. Jan 21, 2006
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
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    I don't know Dan, that is pretty tweeked.....
     
  10. Jan 21, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
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    Mar 17, 2003
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    2,706
    Dan even I would think twice about that body. To me everything is easy fix except cowls, if they are gone then I won't touch it.
     
  11. Jan 21, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    i also wish i lived closer. trying to find another tub close to be is the most daunting task :(
     
  12. Jan 21, 2006
    Aaron

    Aaron Got Primer?

    West...
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    Aug 20, 2003
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    I thought that id never get a cab for my GMC but eventually i found one. Look around theres alaways something out there waiting to be bought
     
  13. Jan 22, 2006
    ljspop

    ljspop Lurking Bronco Dude

    San Diego, CA
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    Jan 29, 2003
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    394
    I dunno that supersizing the bus would be much less work than fixing that. It just means you'd be sans jeep while doing it, so you might be in more of a rush than if you worked on the Commando as a seperate project.
     
  14. Jan 22, 2006
    xtrm4xjp

    xtrm4xjp Member

    Kenosha, WI
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    Aug 10, 2005
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    70
    X 2 on this. Get the commando frame ready to go (axles motor so on). Mean while you can still drive the "bus". Once the frame is ready cut the back half off of the body and transfer them both to the commando frame in the appropriate location. Fill in the missing sheat metal an add a little wiring, presto new super sized bus (would be nice if it went that easy)

    Anders
     
  15. Jan 22, 2006
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
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    Jan 21, 2004
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    Dan Timmy has a buddy that was our lat Tellico run.
    He took a FSJ frame and made a rock buggy out of it, it looked good.
    How about doing that instead of killing yourself?
     
  16. Jan 22, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Jerry,
    I am also entertaining that idea. I was pondering cutting the rest of the waggie body off behind the front door and making a flatbed for it.

    I am still back and forth on the supersize bus issue. Only thing is i will not be using the waggie driverain for it, i like the V6 and will keep the bus with the V6, that motor is just very suitable for the bus :)

    Possibly later on today i will take a hammer to the corner and see what destruction i can do. Fortunately with the commando not much is there, i can sell off the axles and some bits and pieces from the body and put the frame aside. For some reason i am thinknig again about getting rid of both and getting the samurai from my dad. I still have the soft spot for the little sammi ;)
     
  17. Jan 22, 2006
    speedbuggy

    speedbuggy Looking for a Jeep now

    Living the Good...
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    Dan-
    I don't mind body work. Infact, I kinda enjoy it. I would find a new tub for it. It just looks too far gone to be worth the effort. Just my humble opinion. YMMV
     
  18. Jan 22, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Unfortunately i decided. I am going to sell off the commando. And the waggie. And just talked to my Dad and he is going to keep the sammurai for a bit, since he just started tinkering with it again ;) So looks like i will just have to concentrate on the jeep and trailer right now. Oh well, probably for the better.
     
  19. Jan 22, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I think that's a good move Dan. :beer:
     
  20. Jan 22, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Hey glenn, did you give that guy a call about the power wagon?
     
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