junkyard lift questions..
 

Alright, Im going to end up finally doing my junkyard lift. :head: Im going to get s10 leaf springs for a bastard pack, than try to find some thunderbird front coils.Now this is where my questions start.

What do I need to do to use the thunderbird coils??

I plan on using f350 swaybar links for the front. I'll also be using shocks out of a f150. What else would I need for this lift? I got a full shop at my disposal with a welder if that becomes necessary. Thanks. Suggestions are very appreciated.

I also know I need longer brake lines. I'm just mostly concerned with the front end.

Thought about zj v8 coils (taller, stiffer)?

up front, there so far hasn't really been a definitive answer to which thunderbird coils to use, and what supposedly need to be done to them. only hearsay. (bla bla my buddy's uncle's friend said he used them bla bla bla)

the older early 80's F150 coils give ~4" of lift but are crazy-stiff (too-high spring rate, no flex)

and the ZJ V8 coils are the same free-length as stock XJ coils but have a higher spring rate so they compress much less and IMO ride better since the 4.0L weighs within 50lbs of the V8

out back, it is my experience that a mix-n-match from a 5-leaf durango pack can be a better lift than alot of S10 mixes i have tried (especially an old 80's S10) it's just that S10's are gonna be way more common at the JY.

no need to go crazy with the brake lines just yet, they can work up to ~3in of lift no sweat.

also on the shocks, there will be much better/easier options, the ZJ V8 shocks are a good match up front for ~3" and JK rubicon shocks out back. or if you remove your rear sway bar and make rear bar pin eliminators from it, your XJ shocks will still be fine.

XJ country springs are 0.75" to 1" above stock

ZJ front v8 springs are +1"

ZJ Country front v8 springs are +2"

70s f150 front coils are stiff but are +2"

another option for the front is this (I built a pair of 1.75" spacers for only $8)
http://www.madxj.com/MADXJ/technical...oilSpacers.htm


as for the rears

use s10 rear springs and build a bastard pack...

also consider a $30 shackle set from superior automovite, can be purchased at autozone, o'reillys, and advance auto (they are adjustable for 1.6" and 2.6" lift)

I already know about the bastard pack so I dont really need any more info on that..

on the front I still want some spring so the f150 coils isn't an option.
the zj springs are a little too short. I would like about 3" or 4" up front.
I think Ill try the thunderbird coils, and let everyone know. What would I need as far as steering components and LCA's?

I got a used pair of 4" lift front coils off a TJ and got 3" and late 80's rear sway bar links work great for front XJ with 3"-4" lift Brake lines off a CJ napa has them new for $16.00 a pice for the front and 14.00 for rear I think. SYE?? I dont have yet but its on the list:rockon:

russian, you are gonna need a plate of some sort that sits between the coil and the spring isolator.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=68842

about halfway down the first page is a picture of what you would need to make.

THANK YOU BOTH!!!!! you guys are gods to me right now! lol

i did the thunderbird coils you will need the strut plate for the top to fit, and j bolts to hold the spring in the strut plate if your gonna flex it alot. the plate with need to be drilled out to a bit over 2.5 inches for the center hole. my springs came of a 94 v6. stiff ride but for the price i am not complaining.

very cool!

[QUOTE=onespeedpaul;892432]

no need to go crazy with the brake lines just yet, they can work up to ~3in of lift no sweat.



I call bs. stock xj at full stuff n' droop will stress the stock break lines. so with 3" lift, guess what.... POP! then :brickwall: if you lift it, get longer breaklines. no sence in saving $60 if it's gunna cause you to get trailered home cause you've got no breaks. (hell you'll probably have to give the $$ to your buddy for gas for trailering you home). do yourself and your buddies a favor, and just get the breaklines, you'll need em.

coil springs are cheap on ebay. ranging from $110 to $140 for almost any height. thats shipped price

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-...Q5fAccessories

call BS all you want, doesn't make you right...

the stock lower control arms only allow for a around 5" or 6" max down travel before they max out...

at 3" lift they have even less down travel before they smack the axle mounts...

honestly if the hard lines are moved down they are more than safe...

that being said I would really recommend getting new ones... you have no clue how old the old ones are, and if you are going to replace them you might as well get some longer lines anyway

I have a 3 inch with stock brake lines. I had my jeep balancing on the driver front and the pass. rear tires. My other two tires were just hanging in the air. The jeep was as flexed as much as you could possibly get it. I still had a little bit of slack in the break lines.

good to hear some one talking from experience and not from what they think, or what they guess...

i paid $25 for my tbird springs after the jy pulled them out for me. if you can live with a slightly stiffer ride, much cheaper to use.

my original lift was v8 gc up counrty coils, 2in puck, bastard pack rear, and some jk shocks. think i had $80 and some trades in all of it and netted 4 in back and 3.5 in front.

i just think its smarter to start with buying a 3.5 to 4.5in coil right off the go and working from there instead of putting crap up front just to change it out later.

ive also put rear springs from a big block chevelle malibu under the front a buddys jeep and netted 3.5. they worked well and werent to stiff, just had problems seating.

im a big fan of using what ever is handy and cheap but money in coils springs is a good investment. same way with shocks

Besides your coil and leaf springs the only things you really need is some square tubing at least 3/16 thick for a tc drop and extended sway bar links.

Sorry its not a better picture but this a pic from when I was teeter totering on my two wheels. Its the white one with me in the black standing next to it. If you look closely you can see the passenger side front tire hanging. It may not look like it but the tire was about 8" off of the groundAttachment 39939

mine were $11 thats with the core included :cheers:

i got my coils yesterday from a 96 v6 t-bird... also got a v8 zj alt.. and 2 235/75/15 rugged trails that were only on a car for a year..

with a 4" lift would i need a longer pitman arm, or drag link or anything of that matter?

also for those of you that have done this lift, what did you use for shocks? front and back..