To lift, or not to lift?

[Automan2164]

Man oh man. I am contemplating something I swore I wouldn't do. Lifting the Diesel MJ. When it was up at opsled's he was doing the injection pump and getting it running right, he made mention of putting a little 3" lift and some 31's on it. Nah, I said, looks good as it is.

 

The more and more I think about it, I think a 3" or so lift and some 31's might not only look good, but help it truck down the road a bit easier. One of the things I noticed is that with those 4.10's, the engine sits at 3,000 RPM's at 55. I know it's "Right" but I just don't like it. Now I know what Phil meant when he said that the 260K on his equaled a ton of rev's on the engine. Maybe with the 31's I could gain some circumference and bring the rev's down a touch.

 

If I were to do it, I have a set of Old Man Emu 1.5" or 2" front coils which I have heard are actually closer to 3" and ride like a dream. I also am sitting on a Metric Ton leaf pack, so I could either go that route, or maybe some Chevy drop shackles in back... I would probably do the WJ LCA's on the front since I am pretty sure the stock LCA bushings are shot anyway... Keep the black turbines, and do a 31"ish retread.

 

The truck in question:

 

 

So I guess my question is, what would you guys do? Do I keep it bone stock and original? Do I give it a little 'tude?

 

Rob

[jimoshel]

Try it and see. If you don't like it, you can always swap back.

[SW86]

Try it and see. If you don't like it, you can always swap back.

 

 

:agree: but i think once you do it, you won't want to go back

[Incommando]

I know next to nothing about that diesel but for engines in general: Can the engine handle the bigger tires/change in RPM range? The factory used 4.10's for a reason and putting taller tires on effectively lowers the gears numerically. Generally lower powered vehicles need higher numerical gears & 85hp/130tq are not overly high numbers. Heck that makes the early 2.5's/2.8's look powerful. :D

[Automan2164]

I know next to nothing about that diesel but for engines in general: Can the engine handle the bigger tires/change in RPM range? The factory used 4.10's for a reason and putting taller tires on effectively lowers the gears numerically. Generally lower powered vehicles need higher numerical gears & 85hp/130tq are not overly high numbers. Heck that makes the early 2.5's/2.8's look powerful. :D

 

It moves decent for what it is. The turbo helps a ton. I would be more worried about not keeping it original. I guess it could all be reversed, but still.

 

Rob

[87Warrior]

3" is quite a bit of lift and generally needs more than just springs, control arms and tires to make it 'right'. For a truck that wouldn't really benefit from a slick suspension set up, I wouldn't do it. Let's be honest, this truck probably will never see a rock garden.

 

A 2" boost should let you run a 31 if you desire.

[Automan2164]

3" is quite a bit of lift and generally needs more than just springs, control arms and tires to make it 'right'. For a truck that wouldn't really benefit from a slick suspension set up, I wouldn't do it. Let's be honest, this truck probably will never see a rock garden.

 

A 2" boost should let you run a 31 if you desire.

 

The lift would really depend on what those OME coils would end up doing... Only one way to tell. I have heard that those OME coils are incredible. I know Glundbad has some on his Chief, and he said he noticed a difference as soon as he hit his driveway.

 

You are right about the pavement queen aspect of it. Maybe not 3", but whatever I get out of the coils... Similar to what you have brewing with your '86. Know what I mean Verne?

 

 

Rob

[HOrnbrod]

I used OME 2" coils, it went to 3", and is still at 3" higher four years later - over what I had before. They NEVER sag I guess.

 

Getting to your topic, no lift for the diesel for all the reasons mentioned before. Kool factor and all that, the diesel even though it's running well now won't handle pushing the bigger meats around w/o sacrificing performance. You would have to regear back to the stock final drive ratio at least. I'd considering lowering it if it were mine, maybe and inch or two. Now that would be a unique MJ and easily restorable.

[Pete M]

pucks + shackles + 31s = :D

[mountainman]

There is always 30x9.50 Km2s. you don't HAVE to go 31x10.50s. do 2 inch and 30x9.50s. :)

You can also have the diesel shop do some tweaks on that setup. I'm sure another 40 hp could be pulled out of it. Diesels love more boost ya know.

Just need a diesel guru who knows whats up. 5 more psi and adjust injection timing and look out!

[whowey]

We were talking the other day about the diesel when the news about the pump hit. You were getting twisted up about something that wasn't going to be stock on it.

 

Just get the farmer done... lift it.

 

Leave the diesel the way it is.. then you won't be constantly pissed at yourself for it not being stock anymore.

[Automan2164]

You can also have the diesel shop do some tweaks on that setup. I'm sure another 40 hp could be pulled out of it. Diesels love more boost ya know.

Just need a diesel guru who knows whats up. 5 more psi and adjust injection timing and look out!

 

You must not know much about the Renault in this thing. I'm not going to do any "tweaks" to an engine I can't get parts for. A maintenance item, the timing belt, was hard enough to find by itself (On a shelf in Belgium). I couldn't even imagine trying to find hard parts. Plus, a 40 HP gain would be adding 50% more power. I don't think it was ever designed for that.

 

Rob

[Automan2164]

Will and Don have it I guess. These are the demons I am fighting with it.

 

Maybe I am just nervous about the high rev's on the highway. Couldn't imagine doing 65 for an extended period of time.

 

Rob

[mvusse]

What size tires are on it now? Is it 2wd or 4wd?

[neohic]

I'm with Don on this one. Leave it alone or lower it a touch. Your truck just has this character to it that I think you'd loose if it were lifted. As much as I hate to say it, there's just something "cookie cutter" about an MJ with a few inches of lift and 31s. This one is special! It needs the trim put back on and something done with that side dump exhaust... but it's special! As soon as you start messing around with the appearance of it, then it starts to slip into looking like so many MJs and XJs out on the road and it takes away another part of the uniqueness of the whole package.

 

As far as highway speeds and rpms, maybe this little truck is trying to tell you something?

 

How about we just stick to the back roads and enjoy the ride? What do you say, buddy? You want to go for a little ride and we forget about how fast we get there and more so what we find along the way? You don't want to go screwin' around with a piece or Jeep history like me, do you? No... no, of course you don't. I'm just fine the way I am and I'm pretty sure you know that too! Besides, you've got that other truck hiding away in the garage to tinker with. You want him to feel special too, don't you? Yes... yes, you do want him to feel special just like me. If he were finished enough to post up too, you know that he'd say something like...

 

Yeah! You want me to be special too! Don't get me wrong, but that little diesel has been really cool with not being able to park in the garage with me what with all my guts spewed out all around me and up in the attic and I'd hate for it too loose that it factor that it has going. Come on, Rob... don't you think you ought to just leave it alone?

... and then I'd be all, "Oh... thanks, Farmer! You know, one day you'll be a cool truck just like me! And then we can park side by side and see just how the same we are and at the same time embrace all of our differences!". See? I told you that you should just leave me as I am!... but I'll let you come that conclusion by yourself. Better yet, I'll let you make the right decision.

Then other trucks would chime in and give you their opinions... OH! Better yet! What if it was like A Christmas Carol type of deal?! You'd have all you MJs of Christmas past telling you their thoughts on it... and then your MJs of Christmas present would chime in... and last would be your MJs of Christmas future!

 

This may be getting out of hand... Your diesel would also give a...

 

:banana:

... just because everyone loves a dancing banana.

[Rymanrph]

There is always 30x9.50 Km2s. you don't HAVE to go 31x10.50s. do 2 inch and 30x9.50s. :)

 

I second the 30s on 3". I have 3" and 31s right now and I rub too much in the front. I'm sure you don't want to trim, so that's my vote or leave it as is.

[Automan2164]

What size tires are on it now? Is it 2wd or 4wd?

 

235/75R15 4wd

 

...

:banana:

... just because everyone loves a dancing banana.

 

Ben' date=' I thought I was bad... I think you have just eclipsed me. By a longshot. Plus, if you want me to come up in August, you will have to pre-plan my back country roads all the way up to you if I'm not supposed to go that fast.

 

There is always 30x9.50 Km2s. you don't HAVE to go 31x10.50s. do 2 inch and 30x9.50s. :)

 

I second the 30s on 3". I have 3" and 31s right now and I rub too much in the front. I'm sure you don't want to trim, so that's my vote or leave it as is.

 

I was just looking for a bit more circumference. Now that you mention it, I remember rubbing with 31's.

 

Rob

[mvusse]

I would leave it alone.

[neohic]

...

:banana:

... just because everyone loves a dancing banana.

 

Ben' date=' I thought I was bad... I think you have just eclipsed me. By a longshot. Plus, if you want me to come up in August, you will have to pre-plan my back country roads all the way up to you if I'm not supposed to go that fast. [/quote']

 

I'm both touched and honored!

 

To keep the look as is, would changing the gear ratio be out of the question?

[mpace6a]

I say leave it as it is! Its a rare piece of MJ history, and so many of us, myself included, want it lifted up on bigger tires so it can go anywhere. But we still need at least a couple of these things being restored back to OE configurations, and I, personally, think the diesel needs to stay all original!

Again, its a rare piece of MJ history, and it needs to stay all original, with any mods being because its completely necessary or just that much more convienent. Keep her original!

[89eliminator]

no

[500 MJ]

Nope - You have another one in the garage that you can do whatever you feel like with. This one should stay original.

[my86mj]

I'm running a 2.8 with a 3 inch and 31s and 4.10s and it goes down the road quite nicely feels like it has a little more giddy up too (till my motor took a crap) but i digress you won't really notice the lift i was kind of mad when i spent money to essentially make the springs shinier and newer. the only downside ive experienced with 31s was in 4hi it wants to smoke the clutch. but thats what 4lo is for right?