XJ4IV
11-01-2010, 10:37 AM
This thread is a tool to help new comers understand and see what things are available to lift their XJ's and to understand that alot of us didnt just start out huge and in most cases its better to build your jeep in stages and get comfortable with your jeep prior to moving up in height.
Here is a pic of my jeep about two weeks after I got it
Totally stock
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/03-06-08_1745.jpg
My first stage was 3 inches and 31 tires which is pretty much standard for all XJ folks cause with this setup you can still use factory everything and run bigger tires and still have your swaybar hooked up
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/07-18-08_2130.jpg
My next modification was to be able to use 33's with that same lift which worked out pretty well and I was happy with it for about 6 months
So away with the factory fender flares and in with the TSL 33's
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/09-11-08_1514.jpg
Rubbing became an issue and SLICING into my tires was a common occurence which I was not happy with
So I added some conduit to the fenders to stop the tire slice from happening
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0356.jpg
here is the design
Just bend to same contour then cut a slit
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0358.jpg
After running a block and spacer lift for a few months I decided it was time to use real springs to achieve my lift so after some research I opted to use dodge dakota leaf springs to build my rear leaves
here is a pic of the installation
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0066.jpg
and on the front I was able to obtain a pair of TJ 4.5 coils
which gave my jeep about 4 inches and then I added a few isolaters up front to level it out which turned out pretty good so now I was at about 5 inches of lift sitting like this
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/kdk_0049.jpg
and I was able to do pretty good offroad as well
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/kdk_0049.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2393.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2390.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2391.jpg
this is where I left my jeep for about two years and I was really happy with how everything went and I added other options like a locker in the front and a few other misc items to make wheeling better.
then this past year after having lots of seat time offroad I decided it was time for the final stage in lifting the jeep and went to 6.5 inches with long arms. I just finished this upgrade and only have a few pics as I havent been wheeling with it since but here is how it stands now with the addition of 3 inch spacers and new shocks brake lines and long arms and shackles in the rear
next to glens with 4 inch lift and 32's
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/2010-09-29134627.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5957.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5954.jpg
Spacers back in for lift height
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5945.jpg
back prior to last phase
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5908.jpg
back AFTER last phase
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5907.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5913.jpg
guys feel free to add any of your stages of build up I just thought it would be cool for everyone coming into this hobby that you can start out small its still just as fun!
Here is a pic of my jeep about two weeks after I got it
Totally stock
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/03-06-08_1745.jpg
My first stage was 3 inches and 31 tires which is pretty much standard for all XJ folks cause with this setup you can still use factory everything and run bigger tires and still have your swaybar hooked up
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/07-18-08_2130.jpg
My next modification was to be able to use 33's with that same lift which worked out pretty well and I was happy with it for about 6 months
So away with the factory fender flares and in with the TSL 33's
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/09-11-08_1514.jpg
Rubbing became an issue and SLICING into my tires was a common occurence which I was not happy with
So I added some conduit to the fenders to stop the tire slice from happening
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0356.jpg
here is the design
Just bend to same contour then cut a slit
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0358.jpg
After running a block and spacer lift for a few months I decided it was time to use real springs to achieve my lift so after some research I opted to use dodge dakota leaf springs to build my rear leaves
here is a pic of the installation
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/kdk_0066.jpg
and on the front I was able to obtain a pair of TJ 4.5 coils
which gave my jeep about 4 inches and then I added a few isolaters up front to level it out which turned out pretty good so now I was at about 5 inches of lift sitting like this
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/kdk_0049.jpg
and I was able to do pretty good offroad as well
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/kdk_0049.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2393.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2390.jpg
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd107/basivey/HPIM2391.jpg
this is where I left my jeep for about two years and I was really happy with how everything went and I added other options like a locker in the front and a few other misc items to make wheeling better.
then this past year after having lots of seat time offroad I decided it was time for the final stage in lifting the jeep and went to 6.5 inches with long arms. I just finished this upgrade and only have a few pics as I havent been wheeling with it since but here is how it stands now with the addition of 3 inch spacers and new shocks brake lines and long arms and shackles in the rear
next to glens with 4 inch lift and 32's
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/2010-09-29134627.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5957.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5954.jpg
Spacers back in for lift height
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5945.jpg
back prior to last phase
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5908.jpg
back AFTER last phase
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5907.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo167/seivey/Ironman%204X4%20Fab%20equipment/IMG_5913.jpg
guys feel free to add any of your stages of build up I just thought it would be cool for everyone coming into this hobby that you can start out small its still just as fun!