Again, for those who either have lowered their jeep xj's or are in the fabrication field that can offer an 'educated' real world, response without the flaming or snide comments..
From what I've read on various forums is that the control arms have been altered and would like to get some new tubular HD control arms, BUT how much did you have to shorten/lengthen "YOUR" arms?
Just brought home a '96 2wd, 4cyl, 5spd with big plans for a V8 swap.

It will mostly be a FUN point A to B work vehicle while messing with peeps around me.
Also, I don't need 4wd here where I live. (the posi 44 should be enough)

I just don't want to get a set of arms for a LIFTED, 4wd XJ and find out that there isn't the adjustment that I NEED for a lowered XJ.
And, if there isn't the adjustment that I need, I can always cut the original ones to size and box them in with new bushings.

I've been messing with all sorts of cars/machinery for decades so this shouldn't be all that hard

In addition, for those who have lowered their jeeps, what is the largest size tire that will fit under/inside the stock wheel-well?
Mine looks to be a 8.25 but as the Jeep-wikki said that most likely a 27spline.
Won't really know for sure what it is until I flush the diff. (wanted to swap in my dana44 from an older J-10 that I have laying around)
And yes, I know the 44 is offset and 6-lug..

For those wondering, the engine choices are a modified/rebuilt '62 Chevy 283, a rebuilt Dodge 5.2 from a Grand Cherokee, a baby 4.8 LT-1 (of unknown history) a Fleetwood 5.7 LT-1/4L60e and a 430hp chevy 408..

Personally, I like the 4.8 with a adapter for a 3550 from a '01 Dakota. It's just that the reliability of the opti-spark is kinda iffy..
If it can push a mid-90's Caprice, it should liven up up this little xj.

Errol

I have never seen shorter arms for lowering an XJ, and modifying the stock flimsy arms isn't a good idea. I would think the stock length would be ok. The 4.8 LS motor will have plenty of power to blow some people's minds, but the 5.3 would be even more fun.

I haven't seen a shorter set either. As far as the motors go, the engines he is referring to are "LT" series engines, not "LS".

OP, is there any reason you are leaning towards the "baby" 4.8 LT motor instead of the LT1? If you decide to go that route, you would be doing the same amount of work with either one, so why choose a smaller displacement?

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/ho...-racing-72580/

did you see that thread?

there is no 4.8 liter LT series engine. he is most likely referring to the LS truck motor. and clearly you've never owned an LT1 to suggest one over ... any engine.

Thank you very much aroundincircles.. I'll give it a look-see.

The LT-1 (not the 70's LT1) was supposed to go into a '98 328i convertible a couple years ago.
I was going to start with the earlier 4.8 (like in the Caprice) and get the wiring bugs worked out and the fleetwood engine was supposed to be made into a 383 and I was going to weld up my own intake that would drive the LT peeps nuts.
And, yes I did look into the 5.3's but the cost of custom headers was up near $$2K! And a low mileage is running around 25-4000 with complete harness and trans.
I got 3 LT-1 engines and 2 4L60e tranny's for under 500.oo

I personally don't know where these people say that they get LSx motors for 500-800 dollars..

I was retired for almost 5yrs and during that time, built a few and bought a few motors and just wanted to use one in this jeep.

As I see it, I can drop in a carb'd 283, 200r4 and be running in about a weekend with those Novak mounts.
I can weld up a trans crossmember in no time. The only 'time' factor would be if I need a lengthened drive shaft, waiting for it to be balanced..

I was under it a little bit ago trying to find the exhaust leaks and it looks to be a ax15 with the dual clutch slave boss's
I didn't have time to look to see if it's the same as the Dakota 5spd that I got.
If it IS and actual ax15, I may swap the NV3550 bell and see if that magmun motor will drop in..

Thanks again guys.
E

I never made a suggestion, but you are right, there is no 4.8 LT motor. The "baby LT1" was a 4.3, but I'm sure you already knew that.

Unless a mid-'90's Caprice with an opti-spark had an LS series engine in it (it obviously didn't) then the OP was referring to the LT series,which he already confirmed in his later post.

And yes, I currently own 2 LT1's. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend one over an LS series engine, there are clearly..........worse choices that could be made for a V8 swap.

I've noticed the same thing. LT1's can be had for a dime a dozen. I've even found an LT4 for a pretty cheap price, but it seems like every 150k mile LS is worth it's weight in gold. Supply and demand I guess. Good luck picking your engine though. That's a horrible problem to have....

Around here you can get a ls series motor for like $1k-$1500 and an older Lt for like $500-$800. But there is 1 junkyard not too many people know about and I can pickup a ls2 for $250. Complete with wiring harness

I had a set of tubular 'stock length' upper and lower control arms made using poly bushings. Could use adjustable arms like RC or RE or JKS and just adjust them to stock length.


18x10" mustang cobra rims, spacers, 265-35x18 tires.


Check out here- http://www.jeepm62superchargerkit.bl...-racejeep.html

...Such heated discussion of a 4.8?
I'll have to go out there and look at the rear D/S bell housing flange.
Maybe the casting blobbed over and it 'looks' like 4.8 and maybe it's a 4.3
... Here ya go:------- http://www.hpsalvage.com/lt1.htm

Regardless, it's what I have that can work. (I have 2 5.3's but they've been sitting outside (got them cheap that way) and bores are rusted up to where I don't think an .030 would clean them up (but they did come with harnesses) and even building a LS6 by using the 5.7 pistons is kinda out of my price since peeps sell the piston/rods for big bucks USED.. Also, from the books I've bought, It looks like you can only bore them ONCE!
It would probably cost around another 800-1000 for me to get it built and harness stripped down, let alone have the trans 'checked out' and re-flashed..
The 200r4 has been sitting rebuilt for 5yrs, a early cable, non-computer, 700r4 sittin for 3yrs

Also, on reading about the guy that did the supercharger on his xj (to which I have one of those here too) I think looks dope sticking out from his hood.
The 'truck' plastic intake wouldn't look as nice
I also have a Buick 4.1, forged crank, self ported heads etc but it's all apart and gathering dust for the past 10+yrs. (that would be the nutz, to drop in a GNX drivetrain!) I'd do that in a heart-beat. But it's N/A and unless I pop for custom flat top pistons, I'm stuck at 8.0cr. (if I mill the heads, I'd have to change the intake angles and pushrods too)
I also dabbled in Mitsubishi's for a while and have a 4g61t (1600 turbo from a Colt) that can be pushed to over 600hp. And a truck 2.4 that one can swap the DOHC talon/eclipse head and make it rwd. They're getting OVER 1000hp from those. Truly amazing little motors, and support but they get thirsty..

I'm just wanting something rock reliable and hope to get around 20-25mpg.
I had a '67 Camaro vert back in College that got 31mpg going 60-65mph with the top down! (283, 2bbl, powerglide, 273 gear)

I NEVER heard of ADHD when I was a kid.. I just thought I was REALLY good at multi-tasking!!

Anywho, After reading all that, if any of you kids have any GOOD info on lowering and or suspension mods, post them up And links if you can.

Thank you for your help and support. From what I see on other threads of the acknowledgments and kudo's there might be enough of a presence to warrant a whole nother section here for the 2wd crowd.. Waddya think?

Thanks E

Similar here. The last LT1 I picked up was $400 (computer, wiring, acc.), but the cheapest 5.3 I've seen is $1200 (no computer or acc.). I really wish I had one of those secret junkyards though! $250 for an LS2 is crazy cheap.

GNX drivetrain would be awesome! It'd be a T-type/Typhoon like/Jeep hybrid. Would be a fun/interesting build.

Typhoon or Syclone is the turbo'd 4.3 GM. (and that brings up another project I thought of. Guess what set-up is in the AWD Astro van? Yup, almost the same as the Typhoon/Syclone) Makes me think of a 5.7 swap to one of those. I just don't like vans all that much. TOO hard to get the motor in and out. But would be fun. (I wonder if anyone here knows of the Astro van Hydro-boost they have..)
And the '89 trans am pace car did get the GN drive train. Kinda cheaper for one of those vs a GNX, and the T-type is cheapest but usually a beat up pos by prev owners.

I feel like I'm thread-jacking myself.

E

Getting back to the front suspension, I'm thinking of welding 1/4" thick angle iron
under the fr axle, on the back to make the bottom 'flatter' while strengthening it for notching for oil pan clearance.
Then pie-cutting twice. On outer sides of the upper control arm towers to get the caster.

Trying to get in touch with the builders on those links, but it's been a few years since they've posted.

I'm reading more of the ZJ front disc 'upgrade'..
Is all that work just plug and play?
Just that the drivers here in the Memphis area are mostly morons..
I thought they were the worst until I drove the youngins to Orlando..
OMG. just IDIOTS.. kinda makes you wish GTA was real and one could dis-appear as soon as you get to your garage.

E