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Converting from long to short arms

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Old 05-03-2016, 02:07 PM
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Default Converting from long to short arms

Hey guys, new to jeeps and this forum so HI. Been getting more interested in offroading the past year and went to a jeep offroad even with a good buddy of mine. He has a 98xj that im getting from him for cheap but the downside is hes taking his rough country long arm kit over to his new xj, now the downside to this is currently i cant afford to buy his kit so that it stays on the jeep but i can pull unused parts like the lowmilage short arms off of his new xj; dow. Side to that is the lower arm frame mounts are gone and ive been trying to find some replacements but am coming up dry. Any recommendations?
Old 05-03-2016, 03:06 PM
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Give a call to Brian at B. Lee's off-road and just get his 3 link.

http://www.bleeoffroad.com/

You'll thank me in the end.
Old 05-03-2016, 03:26 PM
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Wait till you can afford long arms, can't really put control arm brackets back on cost effectively and safely.
Old 05-03-2016, 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by dano17
Give a call to Brian at B. Lee's off-road and just get his 3 link.

http://www.bleeoffroad.com/

You'll thank me in the end.
If he can't afford Rough Country long arms, he sure as hell can't afford that.

Also, tell Brian the pictures on his website are absolutely terrible.
Old 05-04-2016, 06:32 AM
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I don't see any way to reattach the control arm brackets safely. Going long arms is a process that you can't step backwards from. That's why it is a big commitment. Tell your buddy that you won't buy his XJ without the long arms under it.

Also if you do buy a long arm kit for the XJ you are looking to buy, I'm thinking it's going to need to be Rough Country because you already have the holes drilled in the uniframe in the exact spot for the Rought Country crossmember. Prob wouldn't want to be drilling additional holes in the same area for another brand crossmember.
Old 05-04-2016, 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Hopkins
I don't see any way to reattach the control arm brackets safely. Going long arms is a process that you can't step backwards from. That's why it is a big commitment. Tell your buddy that you won't buy his XJ without the long arms under it. Also if you do buy a long arm kit for the XJ you are looking to buy, I'm thinking it's going to need to be Rough Country because you already have the holes drilled in the uniframe in the exact spot for the Rought Country crossmember. Prob wouldn't want to be drilling additional holes in the same area for another brand crossmember.
personally wouldn't go rough country. I'd go b lees 3 link or the cav fab guy. Both 3 link long arms, cheap, and well made.
Old 05-04-2016, 09:22 AM
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Yup tell your buddy no sale if he takes the long arm kit you will find another XJ to build not worth the problems and the RC kit is the cheapest made.
Old 05-04-2016, 09:31 AM
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I agree with Fred.
Let your friend buy a new kit,and you pony up some more cash to make the deal work.
Old 05-04-2016, 09:58 AM
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X2 You'll save yourself a lot of headaches
Old 05-04-2016, 07:19 PM
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Another vote for getting some B. Lee Long Arms, I bet that Rough Country uses the exact same 6 holes, be silly not too, as 4 holes are the original, the other two are already drilled from the factory, just need to be drilled bigger.
Old 05-05-2016, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by bryweb
Another vote for getting some B. Lee Long Arms, I bet that Rough Country uses the exact same 6 holes, be silly not too, as 4 holes are the original, the other two are already drilled from the factory, just need to be drilled bigger.


I agree with the quality but you missed the part about him NOT having the money.
Old 05-05-2016, 11:46 AM
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Well he will need to just save up and do it right, he either needs to pay the guy for the Rough Country's or buy himself a set of long arms elsewhere, and I don't see them coming up used ever.
Old 05-05-2016, 12:26 PM
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Unfortuantely you are going to be very hard pressed to make a safe mount for LCAs again..you really are stuck with needing to buy long arms.

CavFab is running their 3 link pre order sale...729 for a 3 link setup with Currie joints...


http://cavfab.com/CavFab-Jeep-Cherok...Link_p_61.html
Old 05-06-2016, 01:23 AM
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Really you can't put the short arms back on with out welding on new brackets to the jeeps body.Unless he leaves the long arms on the jeep i would pass on buying it if it was me.
Old 05-06-2016, 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by andrewmp6
Really you can't put the short arms back on with out welding on new brackets to the jeeps body.Unless he leaves the long arms on the jeep i would pass on buying it if it was me.
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