So I took a set of 2wd S-10 leafs, cut the eyes off, and mounted them under the main leaf on my XJ. Got a little over 4", plus my 2" shackles. So the rear is up around 6"now. Notice I also Herculined the lower parts of the doors and the rocker panles.






This one I took last week before the lift...

thanks for the idea. i just got some 31's for my xj but there gonna be kinda tight in the rear. this would fit in my budget well. what year s10 are they from? also, what are you running for tires? any lift in the front?

I have a 2" Daystar BB, its a coil spring spacer in the front and a shackle in the rear. Longer shackles on stock leafes made them to totally flat, actually they inverted. Go to NAXJA.org and search for $11 bastard pack, there is a great write-up with detailed pics and steps.

Any year S-10 leafs should work, new or old body style, Blazers as well. The ride is great, feels like stock to me, minus not having shocks right now. It's a big project, but little money. I'm on 30" tires right now, but I'm picking up a setof 34" swampers as soon as I trim my fenders and get the front end up. The Daystar kit is great for clearing 30 no question, my friend has the same kit and 31's, but he rubs a lot.

You'll need...
leafs
new leaf liners
new leaf wraps, I made mine
a 1" transfer case drop, made that too
grade8 center pin
new bolts for the drop
a grinder and a few disks
sawzall
I dont have them yet, but I'm also getting shims
longer shocks
YJ brake hose, because the XJ one is too short and wil stretch and break

I know your local, so if you need a hand, get a hold of me.

well, i just picked up some 31s so i guess i gotta lift it up now haha

Looks great!

What you planning for the front? New coils I assume?

Edit: Saw this and thought of you. http://forum.neow.net/index.php?showtopic=55694

Side-slightly offtopic note: Are you planning on replacing the 35? it wont really hold up well to 34's, if your gentle and have a front locker you might last a year heh.

Supposedly stock zj coils will give a lift. Use the rear ZJ coils in the front for even more lift. IIRC stock zj coils net 2-3" of lift on front of xj. The rear to front coil swap in a zj also nets around 3" on a zj so I would assume that it might net 4-5" on an xj.

Or for $245 you can get a new 3" Rough Country lift with shocks.

http://roughcountry.com/jeep_xj_3.html

Scott, any idea what year ZJ springs? Just trying to go the cheapest way right now.

I know nothing about the rear-to-front ZJ swap, but I know the front springs out of a ZJ with the big V8 net about 1".

I have a D44 from an Isuzu Rodeo with LSD I'm getting ready to start building. That should help with the 34's.

Thanks for the link, I'm sending him a PM right now.

looks good!!!

any vibes

I realize most of you guys have leafs, but if you have coils you could go cheapo with spacers.

I had really bad vibes for the one trip I made to the end of my road. So I took it home and dropped the T-case and inch, and they pretty much went away. I'm getting 3" spings and keeping my 2" spacers up front.

Any year ZJ should be fine. Some ZJ's were offered with the Upcountry package which supposedly sat a little taller.

Nick I still run D35 in the rear and a D30 in the front on my YJ with 35's and lockers. But I also built them up nicely, with hardened shafts and full float kit with hubs f & R.

Jim, you seen me next door by any chance? I hang around a bit with your neighbor Jen and her daughter. I'm usually swinging through there pretty late, and I saw your Jeep. It just doesnt look the same with the tiny tires.

For the same money you could put an 8.8 in with disc brakes. But you wouldn't have those cool rear lock out hubs

But I do have Rear Disc's. If I had know what I would windup paying in the end I would of just bought a D44 or a D60

An explorer 8.8 (the ones with disks) are incredibly rugged. The exploder has a 31 spline rear unlike the 28 spline ford pickups with the 8.8. the shaft size is just a tad under the 9 inch shaft, the D44 is smaller, and infact a Fullfloat D60 rear has a smaller shaft (the increased axle capacity is due to the weight of the payload riding on the spindle).

Heh Jim that was where I was going with just replacing it

The 33's went on today, just need to upload the pics and show her off!

EDIT:
Here are the pics:

Looks good. I am still debating on what to do to mine. I know i gotta lift it at least 2 inches. just dont know if i want AAL or Shackle in the rear. things are gonna be rusty, so im leaning towards shackle

Looks good ZFinger!

All looks good on the red Xj. I'd still be looking for a tank skid as a # 1 priority. The strangest things happen when one thinks all is clear. As far as the aals, I'd wait and get full packs. What you have has probably saged already, and has some more to go.Beleive me, what seems expensive now, will be less costly in the future.Been there, done that. Anyway, happy hunting, take care

That thing looks great! I am beyond jealous. I'm calling every scrap yard around tomorrow. I can wait NO MORE!

Wanna buy the Ford springs I just put in last week? I'm picking up a set of 4.5" ZJ springs so I can take my spacers out I hope.

How much lift did they give you? How much $$? I'm on a LOW budget.

Thanks,

Eric

put me inline for those springs too, you know, depending on $$$

They gave me 3" of lift roughly. And I paid $68ish for them a week ago. So make me an offer I guess. You can even have the origional box and receipt, lol

You interested in any trades? I have a 16' Coleman canoe. I'd like to find some S-10 rear leafs as well. I've heard of lots of folks doing that with great success.

You have gotten me motivated. Thank you.

Zach You still have the stock front coils kicking about??

I'm too lazy to canoe, plus I'm the idiot that always stands up and ends up in the water, lol. A kayak on the other hand...

I can ship them too if anyone wants to go that route, and save some gas.

Yeah, I still have the front springs.

What yah Plan to do with them?