Have too many projects going at one time, and can't dump a couple hundred into the XJ at the moment.

I'm looking to lift it about 3" in a few months but desperately need front shocks. If I buy 3" shocks, and run them at stock lift height, will it damage them? I'd rather just buy those instead of stock height shocks, then 3" shocks.

Any help would be appreciated

 

Put a hockey puck or 2 inside the front springs. This will prevent the shocks from bottoming out. You will need to lengthen the bumpstops anyway as part of the lift. Slide the pucks between the coils, glue them to the perch and each other with silcone, so they don't rattle around.