welcome from CO!! i hope that you see all of the lifted jeeps in this forum and maybe have a change in mind. i don't know who said this but being that his jeep is lifted 5.5" and his wife is taking a 3 year old in and out, i don't think she would have any problems doing it. I'm sure you could get away with a basic 3" lift easy! just my .02

 

I changed my water pump with the radiator in it, but then again my motor's 2 cylinders shorter.

A little bit of lift won't hurt anything! Your wife might even find it easier to lift the little tike in and out since she's not having to bend down any (depending on how short she is). No, really! My mom finds it easier to get in and out of my Jeep than her Ford Focus, or even her Dodge Dakota, cuz there's nothing to it. You hop up in, and you sorta fall right out.

 

Welcome, my wife helps our 7 year old into my tank. Just keep working on her about a lift

 

I have changed a water pump both ways and radiator out was easier. I don't have very big hands but did get them scraped up a bit with the radiator in place. If you do pull it out then you may as well put in new hoses. There are silicon hoses and were I replacing mine I would spend the extra money for the silicon ones. Don't fail to put a spring beck in the lower hose when you re-assemble everything. Keeps it from collapsing when the pump is in a mood to pull a lot on that hose.

BTW this should be in tech not intros so if a mod wants to move it I won't have my feelings hurt.
Blue

 

Thanks for the info there bluexj, I 'll probably start with the easier stuff just to get those things out of the way then on to the more difficult one's, so I can be 100% positive the xj is to my liking...
thanks,
shaner

 

Welcome from COS!!