I actually thought about building a Xj with a frame when I had the black parts jeep here, but my landlord is not very understanding and I couldn't get the title straightened out so i just stripped it and scrapped the shell. The Bronco wheelbase was 104, XJ is 102 (101.9 if you get technical). I was going to cut the floor out and lower the XJ down over the Bronco frame until you couldnt see the frame from the side and then rebuild the floor.

Everyone always says "that's sooo much work", but it's really no different than the people who start off with an Xj with a completely rotted out floor and rebuild the floor and then start putting stiffeners and plating the front "rails"... You would end up knocking it all out in one swipe by setting it on a 78-79 Bronco (or 67-72 blazer, as the WB is also 104. 73-91 went up to almost 107)...new floors, real frame rails that are unquestionably stronger than a plated unibody, full widths, v8, gear-gear t-case, sye...

 

AS PROMISED

~3.5" lift

Used bronco coils and the shocks off the front of the bronco. Not sure if they were factory length or for a lifted Bronco, the Bronco was lifted 4.5" with some booty fabbed welded on spacers (bought it that way) but I am going to assume factory since they are only 2" longer than the factory XJ shocks. i put a 1/2" spcer on the upper shock mount to "fool" the shock into thinking it is 2.5" longer... Also made up some homebrew BPE's so that bought me about an inch of extra shock, so all in all I ended up with "3.5" longer shocks, and 3.5" lift, so that worked out.

Still need to align it and build a mid/long arm setup.

Pics:




Don't hate on the redneck ramp





Can't comment on the ride yet because my wife is at work and has the munchkin seats in the Escort, but I can say that my scientific test of pushing down on each corner says that it will be a firm, but tolerable ride... its not as stiff as a newer fullsize truck if that means anything...

 

Should also point out that there is no swaybars on this XJ. Took the rear out when I swapped the 8.25 in and I figured since these coils are stiffer, I will see how I like it with no swaybars. It only gets driven to/from the trails and occasionally to town when the wife has the Escort and I need to go somewhere

 

Did you install the lift with it that dirty?

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/ju...her-xj-125188/

Another XJ on f150 coils. Pics of the front flexxxing too...

 

Yep should have washed it but was working with a limited amount of time

 

I like it. It rides like a truck now, not like a car anymore... which honestly I think is why people complain about these springs so much. I think that they are used to the car-like ride and putting truck springs in it stiffens it up. I even took it down an old railroad bed (tracks and ties are removed, VERY rough) and I liked the way it handled and took the bumps. got up to almost 30, front stayed smooth and the rear started bottoming out so i slowed down...

 

I guess I don't understand. My rear is stiff, it just bounces around, doesn't absorb much.

I can't imagine the front being any different.

To each their own, tho.

 

My wife even commented that she likes the way it rides... It's REALLY NOT as bad as people make it out to be

 

My rear does the same I can make it hop off the ground if I hit a speed bump over 10mph :/

 

what are you guys running for rear suspension? box tube "shocks"? lol

 

Idk stock style shocks and aal it sucks big time

 

BDS AAL and bds shocks.

I think its the massive stack of leaves. I have very little travel from my rear, I want to go back to stock leaves with longer shackles and relocation brackets that give lift.

 

I agree with you. There is a company that makes lift springs that are very close to stock spring rate just cant remember the company off hand

 

You don't want the same rate as stock from a lift spring, you want more. You buy better parts, they will work better. I run the stiffest off the shelf springs available, and my leaf pack has 9 leaves in it. Works amazing.