96XJ2Door

Well why not? I might as well get a few pics up here before I have to many and lose track of the order and what not.

I LOVE 2 DOORS,,, I don't know why but I always have. So when I saw this one in an alley behind a surveyors business with a for sale sign on it I knew I had to have it. One owner,,company owned since new and had all maintenance records since new. At 130000 miles on a 96 is not too bad, even for a 4 banger. I was really hoping for a 6 cylinder but oh well,,,gears work.

So I am starting this one with a 1996 2 door, 2.5 engine, and the 5 speed.

After driving it for a coupla months I fabbed tube rockers and a hoop for the front as I knew I would be lifting it. I also shot it rattle can flat black. Coz I like flat black.

96XJ2Door

So ,, I began to look at "store bought" lift kits and after seeing the prices for what I wanted I decided to look around for other options. This search led me here,,, by chance. And I decided I wanted 6" or so as the wheeling we have around where we live is pretty rocky and whatnot. I liked the long arm stuff but then I saw the CAD brackets and the Cheros runnin em and decided that is what I was gonna do.

Trust me,,, I have a full notebook of ideas and stuff I printed from various sources while deciding on which way to go. Here ya go if ya don't believe me.

PLANNING IS EVERYTHING GUYS,,, especially the new guys,, PLAN and make a plan in case the original plan fails.

96XJ2Door

So while deciding on what parts to start accumulating I did a few things to it. Along with the regular maintenance. Ya saw the tube stuff in the original pic but here is the latest I have done. I added the hand throttle with new stuff from the bike shop.

Oh yea,,, if any one wants to know or needs to know anything specific,,, all ya gotta do is ask.

Also while under the hood I had my neighbor come and dump the freon from my AC. I then removed all the AC stuff and sold it.

96XJ2Door

Here is the gauge swap I did finished. I ran into a speedometer issue and had to swap the old speedo back into the new cluster. I lost the trip meter but hey,,, I can add..

Any questions on the sensors I used,,, just ask

96XJ2Door

Just for grins and giggles here is a shot of the 33 x 10.50 Swamper radials on Canyons that will be on when I am done.

The leaves you see are CJ spring under leaves I pilfered from a buddy who went SOA. I think they will get me close to the 6" I want.

Also here is a pic of my current leaf pack as I got it from the PO. It has 6,,, yea 6 leaves and was 2 inches higher than stock. FYI,, a stock XJ is 17" from hub center to the bottom of the flares. The front was at a "racecar" angle down so I put in a 2" puck to level it out. So I really have only 4" to make up for the rear lift.

96XJ2Door

SO,,, this all brings me here,,, to the front. Here is a shot of some of the stuff I have been gathering up for the front lift. Shown is 6.5" springs I got from another member here. 2 different track bar brackets, and the dropped pitman. Hopefully Saturday I will have an early Christmas and get the dropped control arm kit from another member here.

Good stuff man,,, I am having a blast doing this one. I also have a box of "smalls". Like longer brake lines, leaf spring grade 8 bolts for center pins, leaf clamps and stuff.

NEW GUYS,,,DON'T FORGET THE SMALL STUFF WHEN PLANNING A LIFT.

96XJ2Door

Well crap,,, I did not get one thing done to my heep today. I got the yard mowed and when the better half got home from her excursions I went ahead and hooked up her speaker pod lights and got did her hand throttle. We have the mountains literally at our back door and we spend quite a bit of time tooling around up there.

We have one dirt road that actually runs almost 35 miles with trails on each side. Some are gated and some are posted and some are not. Ya GOTTA respect those that are pretty visible and not go.

Tomorrow is another day.

96XJ2Door

Had a great weekend. My Control arm drop brackets arrived on time. I need to get some grade 8 hardware for it. But hey,,, for 90 bucks,,,, I was VERY PLEASED.

Only a few more parts to gather up then it's WRENCH ON.

Man I am crapping myself with the anticipation.

96XJ2Door

Well,,, Saturday is the DAY I have been waiting for. I have everything I need to install a 6 inch lift on my XJ. Gonna get an early start and try to have it all in by 5 or so. I have a few friends that are gonna help too. And enough jackstands to do the front and rear at the same time.

While im under it I think I will also remove, cutdown and reweld the rear lower shock mounts a few inched up the axle. I might even put them on top.

Any ideas from anyone on this?

The rest of the install is pretty much a bolt on so it should go pretty smooth. And yes,,, I HAVE been soaking everything down with PB and WD to hopefully avoid breaking anything.