I'm not overly knowledgeable on Bullnoses, ('72-'73 Commandos), but you will need to be on the lookout for rust by pulling up the floor mats and thoroughly crawling underneath the vehicle with a good flashlight to inspect for cancer and any other damage and/or defects. Poking rust spots with a screwdriver can tell how substantial the rust is. Floor pans and lower tail gate is the most common areas to look out for.

I would also pay special attention as to how good the Chevy installation is. The original motor was an AMC and modifications were made to motor mounts and adapting the transmission/transfer case package. Did he or previous owner adapt to original TH-400 with another adapter on top of the adapter Jeep used or did he use a Chevy cased TH-400 and if so, what transfer case, (stock xfer was Dana 20)?

Stock axles were Dana 30 front ans Dana 44 rear and should be fine if they have been maintained.

From the pictures, it looks like the spring shackles might be hokey. They are not original and not quality aftermarket from what I can see.

The light bar on the windshield looks like it would interfere with allowing the hard top to be installed. Be advised that the hardtop is a PITA to re-install and the majority of people that remove it never put it back on. Most get a soft top to replace it with, (not an inexpensive item).

The first thing I'd do with that rig, if it found it's way to my place would be pitch that exhaust system that dumps out the sides. Unless you like lots of noise, it'll most likely not be popular with the Mrs. A good exhaust can also cost a few bucks. I prefer using a single exhaust that dumps to the outside behind the rear tire. With the gas filler on the driver's side, it's best to have the exhaust dump out the right side of the vehicle, as fuel is known to slosh past the gas cap and down the side, (don't want it running onto the exhaust). I like the Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers for a fairly quiet performance exhaust. Dynomax® Performance Exhaust | Mufflers | Super Turbo™ Mufflers

If the wiring is original, plan on a new harness, which while being very labor intensive when done properly, can be done by yourself. A good harness runs in the $200-up range, depending on what you want.

As to the price, it seems that over the years these things are getting more expensive to buy. Used to be fairly easy to find them in the $500-$1500 range. If it is mostly rust-free and in good mechanical condition, then I guess it could be worth that. Just be advised that Jeep is an acronym for Just empty every pocket and you won't be surprised when something needs fixing.

I have spent time on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii, (the big island) and have seen both Jeepsters and Commandos on all three. I don't suppose there are many, but Jeeps in general seem to be plentiful there.

Let us know how it turns out and thank you for your service. :cheers:

 

Thanks Tim

Tim,
Thanks for the advice. This is precisely the sage counsel that I was looking for. I have been all over Craig's in the last few months looking at Jeeps in Oahu and no doubt there are many there in all states of repair. I kind of fell in love with the Jeepster/Commando's as I saw them being more my style. I just can't afford to buy a resto due to what I do for a living. When I'm not deployed, I can't justify spending a lot of time turning wrenches in the garage while ignoring my family. So I was looking for a Jeepster/Commando that was in-between a completely restored way out of my price range and a complete rust bucket that would take all of my time and provide many headaches trying to get parts in Oahu.
You have more or less confirmed what I have been thinking in the back of my mind. Maybe I should let this dream go and buy a beater like I was planning to do in Hawaii anyway (After I bought this Commando, I would have had to pay to ship it to Hawaii since the military only pays to ship one car and this would have been my second).
I'll put this on the list of fun things I will do when I retire (buy a boat, buy a Harley) and in the mean time keep my head down, nose to the grind stone and continue to march.
I may still drive by and look at it just for fun or just to see if it surprises me with its state of readiness. Then again, that might be a bad idea too. If nothing else, I will hit the owner up by email with the things you have pointed out to see what his response is. Thanks again for the help.

Semper Fidelis,
HoJo
:usflag:

 

So where you gonna be? Pearl or Kaneohe? Ever been over there before?

 

K-Bay

I am gonna be at K-Bay. I haven't been permenantly stationed there before but I have spent about 6 months on Oahu for TAD. Never been to the other islands but I am certain I will go to the big island for training some.

 

Well then you already know why they call it Paradise over there. Tough duty, but someone's gotta do it. If you make it over to the big island, make sure you see both the Hilo and Kona sides, if possible. Hilo is like being in a rain forest, (rains every day) and Kona is like being on the moon, (minus the craters).

Let us know if you go look at the Commando.

If it doesn't work out then you could always buy a newer Jeep on Oahu. If you don't mind square headlights, a '91-'95 YJ Wrangler with six cylinder engine and manual transmission should deliver a fairly reliable rig at a reasonable price, if you find one that's not trashed with low miles, (they all should be low miles on an island). They should be abundant, but I'd avoid the ones with four bangers. :cheers:

 

I do enjoy Hawaii but I expect to deploy probably twice in three years while I am there and with a pre-deployment training preiod before both, I suppose I will have to get the wife to send me post cards and let me know what living in Hawaii is like.

I have heard about the diverse sides of the big Island and I hope that our training periods over there allow us some free time.

I am sure that I will wind up with a Jeep. YJ's don't bother me. I expect that I will get something that will last for the time that I am there and then sell it when I leave like all of the military folks do (same concept on Okinawa). Out of curiousity, why do you recommend against the 4 bangers? I gotta say, I don't see myself doing a lot of serious offroading time over there. Mainly enjoying the scenery with the top down. I do like to go camping and hiking though. I'm not sure what areas on Oahu allow a lot of offroading but I am sure you know better than me.

I fired off a series of questions to the owner of the Commando based on the advice that you gave me. I will see what he has to say and post the responses here.

Thanks Tim

 

Out of curiousity, why do you recommend against the 4 bangers?

the transmission behind them, the AX-5 is a piece of crap... synchros go out easily, begins to slip out of gear while driving, the trans behind the I-6 is the AX-15, which doesnt have the defects of the AX-5 that cause the above symptoms and is more sturdy for highway and offroad use. My dad has a 91 with a 4 cyl, and he's getting ready to rebuild the trans for the 3rd time in 60k miles...

 

The reason I'd avoid the four banger is it makes for a gutless turd. The later I-6's with fuel injection are kinda peppy and should get within 1-2 mpg of the I-4.

I'm not familiar with where one goes for off-roading, but there are 4WD clubs over there that could be a good place to start finding out.

I have a friend that lives in Kaneohe. Nice place. Gets a little cold sometimes in the winter and seems to rain more compared to Honolulu/Waikiki, but a nice area to be.

 

Thanks, I will certainly keep that in mind (both the club and avoiding turds). K-Bay to me seems to be more of the best of both worlds. Face the west and you have a great mountain view. Face the east and its the beach. I have been on that side and you are right about the rain. It is a little more jungle like over there. I can remember going through the tunnel and almost always getting a little shower.

I have seen a few chili days over there in the winter. It being the winward side (without the mountains to block) the wind chill does drop it a little bit. I am supposed to deploy next spring so I will get to enjoy the first summer but not the second.

 

The AX-5 & AX-15 transmissions were never used in Jeepsters or Commandos to my knowledge. I suspect Jeep used those transmissions some time after the last year of the Jeepster, (1971), and Commando, (1973).