CEThomas Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 Well we got the bed back on and the hope that it would drop the back, and it did not help :oops: Here is the problem, When we got the 8.8 we went SOA and even with 2wd springs to level the MJ out we need a 7.5" block under the front tires :eek: A 7.5" would be great if not for 1) this will be his first truck and what he will learn to drive on. 2) do not have the funds at this time for a 8" lift :cry: So looking for a solution right now. Only think I can think of right now is to go back SUA and build some spring packs and shackles . Anything else I can do? Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 for a first vehicle...unless he has some offroad driving etc. i wouldn't DARE give him that lift. learning on that will be strange....not to mention the insurance cost of it. I'd take it back SUA cause the lift on the front end will be hell. FYI the lift is higher than anticipated because the 5.5" estimated lift from SOA is with the dana 35 rear end, which is considerably smaller in diameter than the 8.8. take it SUA and build a spring pack, or order a set of 4.5" rusty's leafs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 What do you need to get it done man? I am running the same set up and I have piece mine together. Here is my price list so far I hope this helps Rear Shocks $30 shipped Rear Brakes $ 75 (not bought yet) that is just pads and rotors Front Shocks $40 shipped Front brake line SS $25 shipped Front brakes (not bought yet) that is rotors and pads $75 Track bar (not bought yet) 175 shipped The spring and upper and lower where with the truck when i bought it So I guess what I am saying is if you keep you eye open you can find some really great deal on here and NAXJA that is how I have built most of my truck. I am about $400 away from being done. So give it some time you will find what your looking for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEThomas Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 JeepcoMJ Thanks, what I was thinking. Rokhound Also need new uppers and lowers for 8" and most likely drop brackets then need to get the T case lower, and 8" has sharp angles for the DS. Some stuff you can get but finding DB at a good price is not easy as well as the UCA's and LCA's. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 I'd just leave it stock for now and learn why stock sucks. Then upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 ...he already did the SOA in the rear now is thinking of going back SUA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 ...he already did the SOA in the rear now is thinking of going back SUA I know it looked entirely like I didn't read any of the thread. But I did. The difference between SOA and SUA is a half hour with the welder. Although I'd budget a day the way I work... Unless he threw out all the old spring plates and etc. And stock sucks. But it's a great way to learn not only that stock sucks, but how to wheel or drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEThomas Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 All I need is a set of spring perches ( would leave the ones on top for if/when we would go SOA ) have everything else to go back SUA. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 sua sound looks like the best way to go i was just suggesting that you could finsh it with out alot of money thats all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 if you were closer I'd buy that 8.8 or try and trade you the equivelent... I can't but maybe you could.. might save you hour of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEThomas Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share Posted March 29, 2007 Not much work, put the MJ on the lift and pull the axle and slide it under the springs. Take about 2 hrs. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duner Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 My dad was reluctant about lifting the MJ as high as we did but honestly the vehicle is more stable now with better suspension and larger tires. But I agree that you should not turn an inexperienced driver loose in a lifted vehicle without doing the complete upgrade including brakes. A stock jeep wheel and tire weighs 40-45 lbs, 33" 12.50's weigh about 80 pounds this takes a lot more care and consideration to stop the truck. He made me drive my truck a year before we started the lifting process. Now as for your lift I have a couple of questions first the MJ I think sets about 1" lower in the front anyway. Did you change spring shackles at the rear? How high is the new perch above the axle tube? When we put the D44 under my truck we gained an honest 6.5" of lift, I'm not sure why this occurs as the math does not compute (axle tube dia. + perch height + spring stack) just does not add up to 6.5" and certainly not 7.5" as n your case so apparently moving the axle to the unsprung weight position is worth another 1-1.5" of lift and I do have a tool box in the back of my bed that always has 150 lbs of junk in it. So maybe I do have 7.5" of lift. So add a heavy bumper and tool box you'll need the traction anyway, but let hime learn to drive the truck in stock form first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 And stock sucks. But it's a great way to learn not only that stock sucks, but how to wheel or drive. That's probably the most ridiculous statement I've seen on this forum. YOU may not like stock, but stock does not "suck." Unless you do hard-core rock crawling or run nothing except VERY difficult trails (and don't take it on the street), stock is just fine, and has the added advantage of forcing you to learn how to drive rather than just using big tires and a mega-lift to roll over obstacles. My mates who go with NAXJA to Moab every year tell me that probably 75% or more of the trails around Moab can be done with a stock XJ. Having wheeled both, I think the stock MJ wheels just a tab better than the stock XJ. My MJ (the '88) came with a 4" lift and dropping it back to stock was the single best thing I've done to the truck. And for a young person just learning to drive? I wouldn't let him have ANY lift. Until you have a few years and a couple of minor "encounters" under your belt, you have no idea what really driving is about. You cannot know the limits of any vehicle until you have exceeded them. With a stock vehicle, this may result in some bent sheet metal but hopefully nothing more severe. With a lifted pickup, especially a small truck that's relatively narrow compared to the height, the result is more often than not a roll-over. I've seen a few XJs turn turtle on the trail at very low speeds, and the drivers were able to crawl out, but I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope of surviving a roll-over in an MJ at highway speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=912817 sturdy, even when rolled. Why not simply try and find some flatter leaf packs, waggy leafs seem about the right length, pete was doing some experiments with an exploder set. Otherwise, I'd put it back SUA and then do an AAL to get 3" or so. I wouldn't even want to drive a truck tht high, but I'm a low CG kinda guy, and would rather cut sheetmetal than lift it higher (sorry eagle) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I wouldn't even want to drive a truck tht high, but I'm a low CG kinda guy, and would rather cut sheetmetal than lift it higher (sorry eagle) Ohmygawd! CUT sheetmetal. He actually suggested c-c-c-cu-cu-cutting the body! :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEThomas Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Thanks, Got a lot to look into. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I wouldn't even want to drive a truck tht high, but I'm a low CG kinda guy, and would rather cut sheetmetal than lift it higher (sorry eagle) Ohmygawd! CUT sheetmetal. He actually suggested c-c-c-cu-cu-cutting the body! :eek: Did you ever see the pictures of my inner fenders? Image Not Found I kinda doubt there's any going back on that :roll: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I wouldn't even want to drive a truck tht high, but I'm a low CG kinda guy, and would rather cut sheetmetal than lift it higher (sorry eagle) Ohmygawd! CUT sheetmetal. He actually suggested c-c-c-cu-cu-cutting the body! :eek: I won't post a picture of it now, it'd make you cry. remember how it was all pretty and straight? let's just say I'm investigating building a custom bed for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 i hate you 87 manche. i hate you. kidding...but seriously... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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