Need Advice, Help me spend my bonus...

[gorilla_skater]

I got a surprise bonus from work  :biggrin: and I decided to take about $1200 of if and put it towards my '98 XJ. 4.0L, Auto, NP231 bone stock except for front and rear hitches for tow points.  I previously asked about BB blocks, AAL, shackles, etc. They all have their drawbacks, so now that I've got a little more $ to throw at it, I'm thinking $500 for a lift with rear springs and $500 for tires. Also, it sounds like at 3", I will get vibes especially in a '98, so should I go with an SYE?

So here's what I'm thinking so far:

Rustys 3" Lift with Spring Packs ~$500 shipped
31x10.50-15's - ~$500 (Use my stock 15x7 rims)
PORC SYE ~$200 shipped

What else would i need for the lift?

Thanks in advance. I've thought about a lift and tires the whole time I owned my 91, but this time I'm gonna really do it.

 

[CJKarl]

Just bring the money to the M&G, we'll help ya out.

 

[bobnoxious]

Rear driveshaft to go with the SYE

 

[gorilla_skater]

Rear driveshaft to go with the SYE

Thanks bobnoxious. I forgot about that. How much for a drive shaft to match the SYE?

 

[bobnoxious]

This is a special on SYE and shaft combo from Drive Shaft Super Store  http://www.driveshaftsuperstore.com/short_shaft_kits.htm

Here's their cv shaft page. about 3/4 down you'll see standard Spicer type cv shafts in either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton for $195  http://www.driveshaftsuperstore.com/Drive_shaft_high_angle_and_long_splines.htm 

 

[gorilla_skater]

bobnoxious, Thanks again!  Now, I've read that T-case drops are a band-aid and don't fix the problem? Assuming that's true, I'm asking, with my $1200 budget, should it be:

1. Rusty's 3" lift ($500), SYE & Drive Shaft($500) and used tires (have a used set of 235x75-15's), then save balance for new tires?

OR

2. Rusty's 3"lift ($500), T-case drop ($20), and new tires ($500), then save balance towards SYE & driveshaft?

Bottom line, is a T-case drop a waste of time and money with a 3" lift on a 98 XJ?

Just bring the money to the M&G, we'll help ya out.

@CJKarl, Cool! I'll be there!

 

[cjshloman]

Ok, here's what I say......since I have bought the rusty's 3" and seen it on Donnys jeep, I would just pork out the few extra$$ and get the 4.5", youll thank yourself in the end, especially since you wanna run 31" tires.  The 3" wont really do good with rubbing issues, I think.  Then do the sye, and get used 31" on another  board.  There are some on ctjeep and on neow for good deals.  My 2cents.  Ask Donny about his 3" springs he had, he would be a better judge on it.  LAter, Bull.

 

[kevinc]

I'm at 4.5" in a ZJ with the stock rear driveshaft and a swapped in 8.8 and nv231.  took some tweaking, but point is, you should be fine with you rear d-shaft at only 3".  I've got no vibes, just make sure your pinion angle is set correctly.  T-case drop is not worth it in your case. :2cents:

Kevin C.

 

[cjshloman]

Yeah he may be right, Im no xj guy so I dont know about tcase junk.  Also here are some tires, good deals.  Bull

http://www.ctjeep.org/ctjeep/viewtopic.php?t=1562

http://forum.neow.net/index.php?showtopic=49864

 

[bobnoxious]

I don't think the t-case drop is a waste of $$, but there are those who would argue otherwise.

In 95 and down rigs, the 1" t-case drop helps a lot, and depending on your tolerance for vibes, can get you to 4.5" of lift. In 96, they put the slip yoke on the outside of the transfer case, and made the output shaft longer...this makes even a 3" lift tough to rid of vibes with just a t-case drop.

If I were you, I would purchase the lift and tires and t-case drop. Then, it's lifted with tires and at least driveable. If the vibes are bad, you need to save for the SYE and shaft.

 

[gorilla_skater]

Thanks for the responses. I'm learning a lot here. :mrgreen: I want to run 31's and even though they will "fit" with a 3" lift, there could be problems from what I heard from Donny. The issue of the SYE sounds like I'll want to do it especially with more than 3" of lift since their are added benefits beyond helping vibe problems. The thing that puts me way over budget is the new drive shaft. Here's what I'm thinking now...

Rusty's 4.5 Lift with full leaf packs ~$800 shipped
PORC SYE ~$200 shipped
Used Front Driveshaft to use with the SYE (instead of a new CV shaft) ~$50
Used BF Goodrich AT KO's 31's (Thanks for the lead Bull) $250

That puts me at $1,300 for parts. What do you think? And next question, how much does it cost to have a SYE installed? Thanks again for all the help.

 

[bobnoxious]

6 hours labor for the SYE is reasonable.

 

[bobnoxious]

...unless you pull the t-case and bring it to someone, which will make it cheaper.

 

[bobnoxious]

That's an awsome price. Was the t-case in the rig?

I don't think I would be fair to myself if I only charged that much. I know for certain I couldn't do it that fast in the rig

 

[NomadJeep]

Or we can do a Wrench Fest and help you do it all...  personally I have installed 6 SYE in my own and fellow club members...  so all it would cost you is Pizza and Beer....

bring it on,

231
242
249.... 

been there done that...

 

[gorilla_skater]

A wrenchfest would be SAHWEET!  :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Pizza and Beer would be my pleasure and I'm more than willing to participate in any other Wrenchfests to learn. I'm on the quest now to collect all the parts...

 

[ghiradelli777]

i did my SYE in like 3.5 hours....never done it before

i didnt remove the tcase either.....

 

[ghiradelli777]

i also forgot to mentionn that you might want to look into Rubicon Express for a lift kt that might be cheaper so you can have more money for the tires or SYE.......

i bet CT axle could build you a DS for way less than a tom woods........

 

[cjshloman]

Ok I changed my mind.  I think I would do the FT 3.5 lift.  says recomended tire size if 31" or 32".  FT site says it comes with shocks, 4wd.com doesnt say it comes with shocks, but you can get some for not too much more.  I like FT stuff, Id go with it.  Here is a link you can check out.  3 of them  4x4 group buy has best deal...w/shocks.  Bull.

www.fulltraction.com

http://www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/productdetail.asp?pid=FT7205

http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=75_4_7&products_id=698&osCsid=7b6bd60b3cf4022c3ee5a63a48ec952d

 

[beaker]

I've got a rusty's 4.5" lift on my cherokee and it goes very well with 31 / 32" tires.  I run 235-85-16 tires about 32x9.5.  No problems even at full articulation.  A few rubs hear and there but nothing severe.  I was getting vibes but between the t-case drop  and shimming the angle of the rear axle.  No more vibes. 

Pinion angle is important to elimination of vibration.  I'd think that on a 98 xj the vibes could be tuned out with shims and drop kit.  Weather your slip yoke will travel far enough is another story.