Xjw51

Hey guys I’m new to building crawlers been turning wrenches for a while and I’m an Diesel technician. I got a 91 xj with a 4.5 inch lift on bk fab works long arms and leafs in the rear i got a set of Dana 60 Axles from a 2000 f250 and I’m wanting to swap and go 40s full hydro steer and still run leafs in the rear “as of now” until I get more into the hobby. I need as much dumb down info I can get as I’m wanting to stay low as possible but still have good flex and not have to cut the Jeep all to crap. I have no idea where to even start any help would be great thank you all in advance

4.3L XJ

Well, this will be interesting. You are going to have to do some cutting to run those 40s even if you go higher. The rear fenderwell is not large enough for that. You are going to at a minimum move the gas tank and the rear axle back and remake the rear fenderwell

Xjw51

the tank is relocated in the truck already and I plain on cutting straight across from the top of the rear fender well for the clearance I’m wanting to stay about 8 inch lift but with that being said I know I need frame stiffeners and a full hydro set up for steering but what would be other things I need to look into I want to build it in sections such as build axles then the steering and so forth?

4.3L XJ

You are going to have to figure out how you are going to get 8" lift in the rear or ditch the leaf springs. Don't use lift blocks. Better plan on linking the rear

But honestly you are going to be rebuilding half of your Jeep, and you had better be good with steering components or you will have a mess with the front

TrailerTrash

I agree with this.

I dont know much about axle swaps like this but i know alot about doing things the right way the first time when you build something.

Research, ask questions, measure 3 times, cut once, and take pictures to post here

Xjw51

sky jacker has 8 inch leaf springs for rear and coils for the front I’m going full hydro so that all I got to do it build two fairly short tie rods the rest is just 2 hydro lines and the kit form PSC comes with just about everything to go full hydro steer I been hearing lots of people getting Away with smaller lifts and I’m wanting to go as low as possible without cutting my Jeep to almost nothing I have the steering figured out and the gears figured out just having a really hard time on what size lift to clear 40s and still be low enough to have good center of gravity and enough flex

4.3L XJ

A word of caution about Skyjacker. Their springs are stiff. I have some 8" coils I took off because I thought they were too stiff. But to figure this out Summit Racing has a plate with a movable hoop on it to bolt on your axle and swing it and figure out what will happen with different size tires. I can't remember what it is called, but call them and a sales person will know

Xjw51

thanks for the heads up that would have been upsetting I may end up going air shocks all the way around if it’s that hard to get springs worth a crap

4.3L XJ

Now I realize you are wanting a rule of thumb about what lift to get. The reason I haven't given you one is that if you are going to have a low center of gravity, then you would have limited suspension travel unless you have a very soft suspension. Not sure what terrain you will be on, but there are three main things you have to consider. Tire size, which you already have. Lockers and articulation. Generally you want about half of your suspension travel taken up by vehicle static weight. Even with coilovers, you still have to answer the question of what type of suspension travel you want

Xjw51

Sorry about that I’ll be crawling such as wind rock AOP and places like that’s and I been looking at just welding the spider gears seems the Jeep won’t be road legal after full hydro I been looking at the fox 2.5 air shocks 16 inch for the front and 14 inches rear and then trying just bump stopping where it needs to make flex at and limit start for the most drop I want would that work I have no idea I’m just going off some things I’ve seen on line cause I know you can control the lift with how much nitrogen is in the shock

4.3L XJ

Welding rear gears works. However I would suggest you not weld the front. It will tend to go straight even when you turn the steering wheel. The best thing for a rock buggy is auto lockers. Just point and shoot. If you go coilovers in the rear you will need a hoop similar to a roll cage in the rear since the shocks will come up high through the floor. But all doable. I think either 6 or 8" of lift will be what you end up with to run 40s

Xjw51

Yeah that dose make sense seems I got a lunch box in my Dana 30 hp and I can tell when it binds up when I turn and okay I’ve seen the hoops your talking about I maybe able to build a set and just build them into the cage front and rear and what brand and style locker do you recommend?

4.3L XJ

well, currently I am setting up a Detroit (Eaton) auto locker in my rear axle and a lunch box in the Dana 44 front. I think a lunchbox might not hold up in the rear.

RCXJ

still running