Jeep Cherokee Forum - Noob from Texas

Hello from Texas. Been a Toyota guy (4Runner, Tacoma, Tundra) my whole life, built many 4x4's. I have always been impressed with Jeeps through out the years while offroading and had many fellow offroading friends with Jeeps who we all wheeled together. I am looking at purchasing a 1998 or 1999 XJ 4x4 currently and taking the jeep plunge. This will be my 1st Jeep. I intend to keep it for the next 10 years minimum... maybe longer. I am already planning the build (Ford 8.8 in the rear, Dana 44 up front, 35" tires). I am not sure which lift to use yet, look like it will be a long arm kit and from what I am reading it seems 4.5" to 6.5" is the size needed (possibly with some cutting) to fit 35s. I know I want as much articulation as possible so definitely need sway bar disconnects or possibly toss them all together... guess it just depends on how bad the body roll is on the road. I do want to keep it street legal just in case we need a back up vehicle, but it will not be my daily driver... so it just needs to be barely street legal. I have no decided if I am going to go with a selectable locker in the rear or something like a Detroit. I just know I do not want a lunch box locker as I broke one of those in the rear of my 2004 Tacoma V6. Probably going to look very hard at the Yukon Zip locker if they make it for the Ford 8.8. Anyways, I am looking forward to building a Jeep finally as it is definitely new territory for me with a solid axle up front and completely different suspension/lifts.