How to identify lift height?

chris

chris

cltdba
Moderator
Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Location
Concord, NC
Hi guys,
New here and pretty new to the scene. Finally reached a point in my life where I could afford my own trail rig. That being said I'm trying to learn more about by XJ.
I just bought it, but am unsure what the actual lift height is on it and was wondering if anyone knew how you could tell. Is there something I can measure?
It's running 33x12.50s and the fenders have been trimmed. I'm thinking it is at least at 4.5", but am leaning more to 6" - 6.5". Can you tell from photos? :)

Link to Flickr Photo Set
 
do you know who you bought it from?

looks a little like Brett F's old jeep

if so he is on the board and could offer insight, though the tarheel 4wd logo sggests otherwise.
 
I bought it from a friend who just recently acquired it. However, the first name on the title is Curtis. It has a Galloways sticker on the rear glass.
 
cltdba said:
Thanks jaybo, I think that should help. Its about to storm outside so I guess I'll have to wait to measure. :(
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Can't quite tell how trimmed those fenders are. I'm right at 4-5" on 33x12.50s and it looks like there's a bit more room tween your fenders and tires than on mine.

My front fenders are trimmed to where the front quarter is flat, looks like there's still a bit of a lip on yours.

I'd guess you're on the right track with your 6-7" est, the tape will tell for sure tomorrow.
 
Archdukeferdinand said:
Can't quite tell how trimmed those fenders are. I'm right at 4-5" on 33x12.50s and it looks like there's a bit more room tween your fenders and tires than on mine.
My front fenders are trimmed to where the front quarter is flat, looks like there's still a bit of a lip on yours.
I'd guess you're on the right track with your 6-7" est, the tape will tell for sure tomorrow.
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There's a little less than a 1/4" of lip left on the fenders. My reason for asking is I'm contemplating stepping up to 35s as it's going to need new rubber soon. Didn't want to put 35s without at least 6" lift. It "looks" like they'd fit, but I'd probably need to cut a little more out of the fenders.
 
cltdba said:
There's a little less than a 1/4" of lip left on the fenders. My reason for asking is I'm contemplating stepping up to 35s as it's going to need new rubber soon. Didn't want to put 35s without at least 6" lift. It "looks" like they'd fit, but I'd probably need to cut a little more out of the fenders.
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I think you'd be fine on 35s at that height. I'm planning on moving to 35s once I get my ass motivated and finally swap in the 4.10 axles I've got, and I'm not planning on lifting any higher.

I am gonna comp cut the rear quarter and I did make a bit more room in the rear wheelwell when I did the rockers (replaced with box steel) but why lift more if its already trimmed?

Oh, congrats on a nice lookin XJ- its a good feeling to have a capable vehicle that you can modify freely.

What axles ya got under there? That might be of bigger concern than the lift height.
 
Hard to tell by the pics, but you look like you are probably somewhere around 6". I've got about 6-6.5" on mine and running 36's with no problem. Just break out the sawzall and just about anything will fit ;)

looks like you have an 8.25 in the rear. most likely a 27 spline. You should be ok with 35's if you aren't too crazy with the skinny pedal.
 
Archdukeferdinand said:
I think you'd be fine on 35s at that height. I'm planning on moving to 35s once I get my ass motivated and finally swap in the 4.10 axles I've got, and I'm not planning on lifting any higher.
I am gonna comp cut the rear quarter and I did make a bit more room in the rear wheelwell when I did the rockers (replaced with box steel) but why lift more if its already trimmed?
Oh, congrats on a nice lookin XJ- its a good feeling to have a capable vehicle that you can modify freely.
What axles ya got under there? That might be of bigger concern than the lift height.
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Thanks! It definitely feels nice to not have to worry about breaking anything, except my wallet! My Dodge RAM 1500 just became my official tow rig. Wife is pretty happy about that. No more scratches! heheh
Appears to be stock axles. So that'd be d30 front and d35 in rear right? When it finally stops raining I'm going to get under there and find out exactly what I have. The transfer case has been rebuilt and I think it's from a newer model because the speedo harness doesn't match. Need to find out more on that too.
I ordered extended brake lines for the front and rear along with quick disconnects today. The disconnects on it are homemade. Opted for the cheaper Rough Countrys. Since it's a trail rig I probably won't keep them connected often. Still has the stock brake lines and there isn't much play in them at all.
I took it out for a bit of a test and managed to locate the bottom of BOTH differentials. Which is what prompted the thought of 35s. (see attached)
 

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99ncxj said:
Hard to tell by the pics, but you look like you are probably somewhere around 6". I've got about 6-6.5" on mine and running 36's with no problem. Just break out the sawzall and just about anything will fit ;)
looks like you have an 8.25 in the rear. most likely a 27 spline. You should be ok with 35's if you aren't too crazy with the skinny pedal.
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Nope, not too crazy with it. I prefer it slow and easy. Now in my younger years......;)
 
by the pictures it looked like a 8.25, not a 35. But still only a 27 spline unless its been swapped in from a newer xj. Still better than a 35 though. If your transfercase spedo output doesn't match your cable style then you can just swap in the older style into your transfercase. Its a direct swap.
 
99ncxj said:
by the pictures it looked like a 8.25, not a 35. But still only a 27 spline unless its been swapped in from a newer xj. Still better than a 35 though. If your transfercase spedo output doesn't match your cable style then you can just swap in the older style into your transfercase. Its a direct swap.
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Hey thanks for the tips! I'm going to get the stamps off of the axles tomorrow. Then it's off to figure out how to translate them.
 
Just for the record, if you really want to know "how much lift" a vehicle has over stock... just look around and find another XJ in a parking lot.
Park next to it.
Measure the height difference at the roof, and take one of teh size of tires they have.
Then you get home, find out teh difference in inches in height between their tires and yours.
Divide by 2. This tells you how much lift is due to tires.
Now subtract that from the difference in roof height. The remainers is the "lift height".

Since there are about 1,000,000,000,000 XJs out there this should be easy.
 
Nope not mine it was a 1990 xj and when i sold it, it was on 37's long armed and 8.8 rear swap...but this is a nice looking Xj you got
 
mileshigh said:
Nope not mine it was a 1990 xj and when i sold it, it was on 37's long armed and 8.8 rear swap...but this is a nice looking Xj you got
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How do you know if it is long armed? Perhaps I should get under the thing and snap some picks with a camera with flash for you guys so you can tell me what I have, lol!
 
Still haven't measured lift height, but I did confirm the rear is a Dana 35.

Installed lock-right locker in front axle today, along with new bumper, and extended brake lines. Painted chrome grill flat black and will install the grill, winch, and rear brake line tomorrow. Also have a rear bumper that was given to me when I purchased the front bumper but I'm going to have fab some mounts for it. Also purchased a d35 locker from a nc4x4 member and that should arrive soon at which point I'll install it. Hi-lift jack with handle keeper and mounts and a tree saver is on the way from amazon.com. Now all I need is a new set of tires. I'm thinking about going with the TSL SXs. Oh yeah and a first aid kit that will mount nicely in the back of the jeep from CVS! heheh Safety first!

Now that I'm broke I'll have to save for gas so I can test all this new stuff out! hahah
 
I would guess it has a 3.5" lift with 2" shackles and 2" spacer up front =5.5". Your XJ has short arms and being a 91 would have D35 unless it was swapped out.
 
Got everything installed today and took her out for a test run. That front locker is fantastic! Can't wait to get the rear locked.

Check out the pictures I've attached. Shows of some articulation on the front axle. Nope, I still didn't get any lift measurements... lazy I guess. :p
 

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