what is a bastard pack lift
 

I have heard alot about doing a bastard pack but what exacally does that mean

It involves taking different leafs out of other vehicle's leaf springs packs and swapping them with certain stock leafs to get desired lift.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bud...herokee-58797/
Under "Suspensions and Lifts" #8

so basically what i do is pull the leaf pack off a s10 and bolt it in my xj then im done besides shocks and stuff

You need u bolts too

A bastard pack is when you add leads from another vehicle to achieve cheap lift. Generally this is about as cheap as you can get. But the ride is not going to be what it was. The alternative to a bastard pack is an AAL. Add a leaf. Both of these options are going to increase the spring rate and make a stiffer ride. If your leafs are that worn out, or you want to lift your XJ, then new leaf packs with the desired lift are obviously the best option. Not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for..

x2! Never reuse hardware like u bolts etc. besides needing longer bolts to accommodate extra leafs, the old hardware is worn out and possibly compromised..

Both XJs I have lifted with stock mains and Dakota packs have rode much better then any name brand lift pack Ive rode in.
If you do some research and match spring rates this isnt an issue.
New leaf packs are not the best option.
Normally I would agree with you but not in this case.

Most lift packs have a slightly higher spring rate then factory springs to help prevent sagging.

how much lift would i get with s10 or dakota leafs

Depends on your configuration and the condition of the packs. If you are looking for a quick recipe then you shouldnt go with a bastard pack. There can be a lot of trial and error to get the correct height that you want.