So this weekend I finally put my lift on. Let me say it was not easy at all...took about 16 hours and did it all by myself. I pieced this kit together over the past few months and only spent about $70. (patience is key!!)

3.5" RE front Springs - JY find $24
JK Stock Shocks - Free
S10 springs - Free (I had an s10 that I lowered)
YJ brake line - $17
TC drop kit - Ebay $15
Graphite Paint - $5
New 3/8" Ratchet - $10

Everything was a PITA to install by myself. Building a bastard pack was interesting because my jackstands didn't extend far enough to give me tons of room to work. Oh and it was very hard drilling the xj main leaf out to accept a bigger center pin. Other than that, it went well. I used the XJ main leaf and all the rest from the S10 pack except the overload. Got about 4.5" out front and about 5.25" out back (the s10 springs only had about 75000 miles on them. Absolutely no vibes at all.

Next step: TIRES!

 

Looks great!
Congratulations!
Bigger tires will fill out the wheelwells nicely and it is going to look AWESOME!
I'm still collecting parts to do mine..will be assembling my bastard pack with spare leaves this weekend.

 

Haha thanks...yeah it was worth the pain and suffering of waiting...and then I picked a weekend from hell to do it on lol...It was 90+ degrees both days (and that's going from about 60-65 all last week)

 

very good man.... where are you in nj? It's wierd I saw a xj just like your this weekend on the road

 

Nice now get the 33"s on! And on your leafs what year s-10 did the leafs come from I may do this on my 4-door and I would like to see if my pick-n-pull has any? Also the s-10 blazers are the same right? Do you have any pics of the packs being made?

 

thats sweet man i might have to put me a bastard pack together n save myself some money

 

If I had that much patience I would have saved enough money over the years to buy another XJ. Nice going!

 

The leafs were from a 1997 s-10 2wd. As for pics of the packs going together no...no pics sorry.. Basically all you do is cut the eyes off of the s10 leaf packs, clamp it and cut the center pins off, then cut the s10 leaf retainers off. Wire brush the leaves and then spray some graphite on them. Make sure you set them out in the sun like I did so you can't even touch them in an hour b/c they are so hot lol. Then go to the leaves on the XJ, clamp them and cut the retainers and center pins off those bad boys. (watch out because even after you clamp them, the center pin will FLY! wear a mask and gloves and a cup. Drill out the hole in the xj leaf to fit the 3/8" center pin. Use lots of oil and new drill bits because this is extremely hard steel. Throw the entire s10 pack under the xj main (except the overload) clamp it and tighten the new center pin. Bolt the axle back on and boom! s10 bastard pack.

 

Im down in south jersey...marlton/cherry hill area.

 

Really.... I live in Mt laurel. You prolly know where I work. Mt Holly Powersports

 

Nice Thanks for the info!

 

Oh wow thats not too far! Maybe we should go wheeling some time! I wheel alot out in Wharton state forest b/c my girlfriend's parents live out there...I work right at the Marlton Exec Park...I'm the only person there that doesn't drive a BMW or a Benz haha...a lifted cherokee will do for me!

 

Yeah I go out off caranza road all the time.... I'm picking up a radiator from trekkerjam wed so I hope I'm good for the weekend

 

Nice info. I am tempted to save some $$ and do the JY lift- there are a couple ZJs there I know (not sure if any had the V8 or upcountry though). Probably more than one F150... putting together a cheaper lift will leave me more $$ for some better shocks, although the price of the RC 3" is hard to beat with the shocks included. Either way I will be looking for a set of rear leafs to make sure my rear sits nice and tall.

Great information! Thanks again!

 

Yea I was this | | close to buying the RE 3.5" full pack kit. I saved well over $600 just waiting and constantly searching for parts. And those JK shocks are freakin awesome.. I'm very impressed haha