Here's what I have. Jeep #1 87 XJ pioneer edition 4.0 with a rebuilt motor, less than 20,000 miles. All stock suspension. Jeep #2 97 XJ sport, 4.0 with 196,000 miles. Roughly 6 inch coils up front and leafs in the back. T-case drop too. Everything else stock.
My options, sale one to fund future building of the other, but which do I sale?
Keep both, make one a daily and the other a hunting/off road rig?
Is there any way possible to swap the 87 block into the 97 since it has less than 20,000 miles?

 

Did you buy the 97 as is or did you build it?

 

Bought it as is, it's the one in my bio. If I build it, an SYE and upgrading steering is a must.

 

Any one have opinions or ideas?

 

Idk why you have to choose between them. Keep em both. DD the pioneer and build the 97 or vice versa.

 

What would I do? Sell the 97 and build the 87. I have a 90, so I am a bit biased to the older ones. Is the 87 a Renix? I forget what year Renix started. I like the Renix years, they are simple to keep going once you figure them out.

If the lift components on the 97 are good quality and in good shape, you could swap them over to the 87. Basically trade the suspensions between the two and sell the 97 as a 'stock' XJ.

 

Ideally I would keep both, but I think I'm going to have to sale one to fund the other.

Yep, the 87 is a renix. I've thought about swapping the suspensions. Problem is neither one is really any good. I'm leaning towards selling the 97 as is and get what I can for it since it has a lot of miles. Keep the 87 and replace the suspension, so might as well lift it. Thinking of around 3 inches. Thought of doing a cheap jy lift, but by the time I find and pull used parts it might be easier to just order one.

 

At three inches you can piece a 'kit' together using stock parts from other vehicles and smart shopping fairly cheap. Not junk yard parts, new parts from Advanced Auto. Takes some searching for part numbers, but thats the fun part.

 

Ive given that some thought too. I've been looking into the zone, rustys, and a few other kits with full leafs, coils, shocks and hardware for around 500. That doesn't seem unreasonable when you add everything up individually. Good shocks alone would run in the 250 range. I'm all for piecing a 'kit' together if it saves money though.

 

Keep in mind those $500 kits don't include some of the items many folks consider 'optional'. Things like longer brake lines (2500 Chevy lines for front and YJ rear line IIRC, please verify), double shear adjustable track bar, LCAs (might be able to adjust your camber w/ the stock shims, might not). Next question, are the shocks in those kits 'good'? Many of the kits include generic white body shocks. You can use Monroe Sensatracs for different models (Comanche rear and YJ front IIRC, please verify) for that lift level. With the $40 off $100 Advanced Auto coupon code split into two purchases, you're at $120 or so for shocks. A set of Bilsteins will run you about $280 on Amazon, but I'm fairly sure those kits don't include Bilsteins.

BTW, where in VA are you? I'm in VA Beach out by Stumpy Lake.

 

I'm in between Roanoke and Martinsville in the mountains. I've got extended brake lines and LCAs on my 97 right now. Question though, I believe it's almost 6 inch springs in the front. Will the LCAs work if I go down to the 3 inch mark? The PO did the bare minimum on lifting this thing but I'm hoping to find some parts reusable.

 

I assume the LCAs on the 97 are fixed length? Measure the length center to center of the bolt holes and compare to the below chart. I cut and paste this from another forum. I will say there is a bit of wiggle room on the lengths, especially if you install adjustable UCAs to dial in your caster. Shifting the axle forward a bit isn't a bad thing, you'll notice the tires rub the back of the wheel well first. If you are unfamiliar with setting the caster on the front axle, check this link out. Gojeep details the alignment process pretty good.

Control Arm Length Application Chart

Lift...........Lower Control Arms/Upper Control Arms
********Decimal**Fraction**Decimal**Fraction
Stock........15.75.......15 ¾........15.00.......15
2”.............15.92.......16............14.88 .... ...15
3”.............16.09.......16............14.92 .... ...15
4”.............16.33.......16 3/8......15.03.......15
4.5”..........16.47.......16 ½........15.11.......15
5”.............16.62.......16 5/8......15.21.......15 ¼
6”.............16.97.......17............15.44 .... ...15 ½
7”.............17.36.......17 3/8......15.74.......15 ¾
8”.............17.81.......17 ¾........16.09.......16
9”.............18.30.......18 ¼........16.50.......16 ½
10”...........18.82.......18 ¾........16.96.......17