Originaly I did a 2" BB with trimmed fenders. I used 3/4 spacers up front with V8 ZJ coils. In back I cut the eyes off a stock main leaf to add to my pack and a 3/4 shackle. At the time I figured I gained 2.5" in back and 2" up front. Pro Comp 3000 all around (pieces of crap) with JKS discos. Real happy with 265/75/16 (31.6) No rubbing with 1" bumpstops F/R
I decided to go bigger to fit 285/75/16s (32.8) and regear to 4.88s (soon). I didn't want to go more than 4" total because of various reasons. I thought I didn't have far to go. I measured using the info in this link
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26622
I found out I had 1" at best over stock F/R
Must have settled some. So, I decided to buy a used 3.5 RE lift. LCAs, brake lines, DTs, and coils. In back, I was going to do a mutt pack. I looked for suitable candidates. A lot of leaf packs I though were 2.5", were actually 2 3/8, 2 3/4,.... Saw a MJ and it had nice thin leafs that were spring under. I wasn't thrilled at first, but after looking, I saw why people use them. So I gave them a shot. At $9.99 each from the u-pull yard and a center bolt, I figured I didn't have much to loose.
I used the whole MJ pack. Cut down the main leaf, put it under my main leaf, put my XJ overload leaf under that, and bolted it up. Very happy with the ride, and got 3.5" more than I started with. With the 3/4 shackle, and the 3/4 spacer up front, I am sitting at 3.75"/4.5" F/R. A bit more than I wanted, but I figure it will settle. It's been a week and it is still 1/2" higher than the front with full tank. I can live with that.
Had to do something about my rear shaft. Had vibes w/ first lift, did homemade TC drop. Took that off. I have a 242 and not many options other than RE HnT, or TW HnT. Decided to go this route.
http://www.gloeco.com/drive_shaft_SYE.htm
I cut it down and machined out the end to press fit to the shaft by the seal for more strength and so it won't wobble.
Inside there is still 1.25 of spline contact. I bolted up a 99 front shaft that I got from a parts yard for $70. Figured the late model was worth it. A month later there was a 98 in my u-pull yard (very rare) and I got that shaft for $15.
All said and done, 4" lift, SS brake lines, CV shaft and SYE, with spare DS......$510! And trust me, I am no mechanical/fabrication genius. I just took the time to learn. Using homemade BPEs, and bumpstops. Still have to redrill trackbar mount, zero bumpsteer, no death woble (thank god) and still need alignment. Tires soon. Next up, regear my Isuzu 44 to 4.88, throw in ez-locker, and throw it under the XJ. Regear front to 4.88 and install Trutrac. Will be done by the end of the month. Can't wait to break it in!!!
I decided to go bigger to fit 285/75/16s (32.8) and regear to 4.88s (soon). I didn't want to go more than 4" total because of various reasons. I thought I didn't have far to go. I measured using the info in this link
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26622
I found out I had 1" at best over stock F/R
Must have settled some. So, I decided to buy a used 3.5 RE lift. LCAs, brake lines, DTs, and coils. In back, I was going to do a mutt pack. I looked for suitable candidates. A lot of leaf packs I though were 2.5", were actually 2 3/8, 2 3/4,.... Saw a MJ and it had nice thin leafs that were spring under. I wasn't thrilled at first, but after looking, I saw why people use them. So I gave them a shot. At $9.99 each from the u-pull yard and a center bolt, I figured I didn't have much to loose.
I used the whole MJ pack. Cut down the main leaf, put it under my main leaf, put my XJ overload leaf under that, and bolted it up. Very happy with the ride, and got 3.5" more than I started with. With the 3/4 shackle, and the 3/4 spacer up front, I am sitting at 3.75"/4.5" F/R. A bit more than I wanted, but I figure it will settle. It's been a week and it is still 1/2" higher than the front with full tank. I can live with that.
Had to do something about my rear shaft. Had vibes w/ first lift, did homemade TC drop. Took that off. I have a 242 and not many options other than RE HnT, or TW HnT. Decided to go this route.
http://www.gloeco.com/drive_shaft_SYE.htm
I cut it down and machined out the end to press fit to the shaft by the seal for more strength and so it won't wobble.
Inside there is still 1.25 of spline contact. I bolted up a 99 front shaft that I got from a parts yard for $70. Figured the late model was worth it. A month later there was a 98 in my u-pull yard (very rare) and I got that shaft for $15.
All said and done, 4" lift, SS brake lines, CV shaft and SYE, with spare DS......$510! And trust me, I am no mechanical/fabrication genius. I just took the time to learn. Using homemade BPEs, and bumpstops. Still have to redrill trackbar mount, zero bumpsteer, no death woble (thank god) and still need alignment. Tires soon. Next up, regear my Isuzu 44 to 4.88, throw in ez-locker, and throw it under the XJ. Regear front to 4.88 and install Trutrac. Will be done by the end of the month. Can't wait to break it in!!!