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Author Topic: Good truck for a build up or not?  (Read 2656 times)

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Offline cotaman

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2007, 10:07:01 PM »
i have had both.... granted they were of different vintages, xj was an 88 and the zj is a 98.  the xj is easier to modify and has a greater aftermarket support. the zj is harder to modify with lesser support from the aftermarket and a lot more expensive in terms of lift kits :( .  when it came down to it.... the zj is a much more capable trail machine with the link suspension in the rear compared to the leaf springs in the xj 8) .  if you go the zj route try to get one with a 242 tcase. some of the earlier awd cases never locked the center diff even in low :shock: ( from what i have been told) as fo the manual or auto... matter of preference.... i like the auto :wink: ...granted i am probably going to convert it to a manual valvebody :twisted: . i find with the auto you don't have to do the 3 pedal shuffle :lol:

just my .02
98 ZJ, 5" lift, 4.10's, 33" Dick Cepek Mud Country's, 231 swap,  winch/bumper, rock rails, lincoln locker, CB, parked, waiting to pass SK insp
01 WJ, the pavement princess that has been mirror deep in a hole
RIP -- 88 XJ, 3" Skyjacker, 31 MT

Offline frenchy

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #16 on: March 19, 2007, 11:03:49 PM »
On the zj's(6 cyl.), can you just throw your front springs on the back, and get the V8 springs for the front and end up with 3" of lift ?
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Offline JackstandJohnny

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2007, 12:07:06 PM »
if you do want to do the coil swap it is possible, however you would need new front coils, from an upcountry offroad package.  so ya, swap your current front coils to the rear, and put the new, stiffer upcountry springs up front; however, even then it will only give you any lift if it is a 6cyl, so yes, its possible, however, for the net lift you will get, might as well just do a coil spacer lift IMO. i think you can get bout 2" or so. i guess you can also add the spacers for 4", but then your running into all the other problems like, control arms, sway bar discos, shocks, etc..... either way you need new coils for the front, and will have to buy em somewhere, unless you can find some used ones. but like i said, the upcountry ones are the only ones that'll give you any lift.

personally, i like the full kits, i would even say its idiot proof lol, i mean I installed it myself, so it can't be crazy hard, and it rides decent too. if you want to keep it very street capable, spring for the full lift kit, and get some good, adjustable shocks. it'll ride better than stock.
~ rescue green JKUR on 35s.  typical rubicon build

djp

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2007, 02:34:17 PM »
OK guys I think I found a cherokee <but it is an 97 XJ 4.0 Just wondereing if Im wasting my time with an XJ or should I just buy a ZJ with 5.2 and be done with it? I know thers a huge following on the web with XJ owners and they seem to love them, but after Im done with a lift and so on is it just going to be a gas guzzling no power truck as a daily driver? Thank you for all your comments and suggestion!!!!!!  

I know, just get your crap together and buy one!!!!!!!

Trouble Maker

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2007, 05:23:32 PM »
For the front to rear spring swap the Upcountry V8 front springs will give you about 4" of lift when moved to the rear, standard V8 springs will only give you about 3".

There is a good write up here
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150055
just scroll down partway down the page for the front to rear swap info.

djp

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Good truck for a build up or not?
« Reply #20 on: March 27, 2007, 10:03:41 PM »
I also have my eyes on WJ with 4.0L.Now in the WJ would the 4.0L be way under powered with a lift and tires?  Thanks