Davidisaho

This involves using bits and pieces from dodges, fords, and other jeeps. The most expensive part are the shocks, and I have some tricks to get around that. This is pretty easy process if your jeep is rust free... (unlike mine) I will say that I did this on my 99 cherokee and it sat taller and would out flex my 95 cherokee with a 3 inch RC lift hands down. I will gladly list instructions and help anyone who is broke and wants a better cheaper lift.

jinxfactory

Cheaper lift!!! How?

Davidisaho

you get some coils from an 80ish F-series. ($50) and some 2 inch spacers for the front. I left the front brake lines alone and simply bought some shock extenders from autozone to last until I could Buy some New lift shock ($60)

now for the fun part. the back. you get the rear leaf packs off of a 4x4 dodge dakota. You use all of the leaves besides the main leaf and the over load. I at first used the over load and the main spring but it sat way to high. Then I took out the over load spring and it still sat to high. Some jeeps may need the over load spring though. So I will save you the trouble on that. Then on the rear you get a rear brake line from a jeep yj ($14) and simply swap that out. On the rear you can get shocks from a 1995 f15o ($40)and they work great. I will say that it flexed way better than I thought it would. I had to make a t-case drop. but not all jeeps will require this. I probably left some things out. Let me know if you find any holes.

Davidisaho

that was a pretty broad overview. But I will gladly help anyone because I think this should be a more popular mod to xj's. The man who bought the jeep from me could not believe how smooth it drove to sit that high up and have 31 inch km2's under it. It rides better than an add-a-leaf and def out flexes

djlarroc

Good thread.

91xj

i have heard that using f150 coils makes the front very stiff.

CRoading

Sounds pretty interesting. Hope you could post some pics of your finished craft so everybody can see the outcome.

nw-xj-scott

What about the trac bar and Control arms?

arsxj

The F-150 coils will make it stiffer. There made for a 5000lb vehicle!!!

gpXJ

Yeah I've heard the same thing about the F150 coils (and it only makes sense, since they are made for a much heavier vehicle).....if you still have your original teeth, you won't much longer if you use those on your XJ.

But perhaps it's all hearsay and common myth? You should be able to shed some light on this for us.....is it not a rough ride, and do you really get a lot of flex from the stiffer F150 coils?

PingPong

Wish I could get outside to show you all the difference between stock xj, lifted xj and stock ford coils. The stock ford coils are thicker and way taller then stock. The spacing on the coils is also tighter on the f150.

I always like looking at what other ppl do.


Not sure at this amount you need to do anything with trac bar, but I cant imagine the caster angle being all that great.

Abovetimberline

I tried to do my lift as cheap as possible,it would be easy except the cost of shocks,track bar,and control arms,in my opinion those are a must,the track bar can be relocated but I think an adjustable is the best approach in my opinion.
All I need now is the rear springs that I am taking from a Dakota,$50.

4.3L XJ

The only flaw in your plan is the front coils. The spring rates on those Ford F series trucks is much higher than the XJ. It will ride like a rock. You probably will not like it unless you are going to run JEEPSPEED.

RENIXBEAST

I heard using V8 grand cheroke springs will give the same amount of lift as the ford coils, but a much better ride.

gpXJ

Much better ride, yes. Same amount of lift, don't think so (at least not according to what I've read). I think you get about 1-1.25" out of the V8 ZJ coils...so you would still need some spacers on top to equal the 4-5" of lift he is referring to.