That is a beauty of a Commando!!!! Toughest one I have ever seen and the first one that doesn't look like my grandpa should be doffing his hat from behind the wheel. NICE!!!
So my Scrambler looks a little rough but it is the culmination of 6 years of looking and a budget that asked me to choose. I chose mechanical issues over body and frame issues meaning I have faith in my mechanical skills but zero in my rust remediation skills. So, via Craigslist and sight unseen (had a member of Reno4X4 go look it over), I bought a Scrambler from Reno and had it shipped back here to South Carolina.
It had some issues when I received it. The PO had it since new, but made some changes to the drive train 13 years ago (I get that date from receipts he provided). He added a new engine, transmission and one piece axles. The engine has had some work done to it but the gearing is such that it keeps the tires mostly glued to the ground and about 2500 RPM at 80mph (which is exciting in an old Jeep). The one thing he messed up on was the wiring of the Mallory distributor, and is likely why he drove it very little once he did all that work. He wired the distributor and bypassed the required resistor block. Because of this you couldn't drive the Jeep around the block without it cutting out on you. You had to turn the key off and back on and it would start right up. I wiped the accumulated gunk off of the coil wiring contacts, found the correct wire, moved the wire to the resistor block (like the instructions read) and the Jeep has run like a champ since. Except for that awful timing gear noise!!!!!
Here is a picture. I was intentionally looking for a Jeep with a carborated Chevy V8 because I want it to be able to take to the highway and be easy to find parts for. Having a 1971 Gen 1 (possibly out of a Chevelle) is just good to know and how I ended up here. I have been a big fan of Chevelle's all my life but Jeeps are so much easier to work on. Now I have a little of one and a lot of another. Not bad. My wife will only tolerate one play car a piece; other wise our driveway would have every stray I could lay my hands on. There is a 72 Chevelle convertible down the road that I keep my eye on. The couple do not drive it but will not sell it either.
Below are the pics...It needs a paint job and some tires but is a blast to drive.
Thanks, Jeff
