Fabtech YJ 8 inch crawler lift

I am looking to buy a cheap YJ for $4300 or less and most of the good cheap ones come with the 2.5L four banger.  I'd like to put a FABTEHC 8 inch CRAWLER coilover conversion lift on it. the FABTECH website doesn't say anything about the engine size, but some websites that sell the kit say it is only for the 4.0L six cylinder. I don't really see the engine size being a factor in it though. Is that true? If it is, it's really going shorten the list of good cheap jeeps. I'm only seventeen so any advice would be truly appreciated  
Texas Boy

You should really look into Superlift's Black Diamond X2 suspension. It's the best YJ suspension lift system available.

Also, "8 inches of lift" and "crawler" are kind of a contradiction. You want your center of gravity to be as low as possible. Don't overlook the benefits of fender work in contrast to suspension lift.

GenRight has some awesome tube fenders and rear corners that will allow you to run huge tires with very little lift.

Start your planning with fender work and then determine how much suspension lift you'd need to run the tires you want.

Realistically, the biggest tire you should even consider running on a YJ's stock axles would be 33's. And 33's would fit with no suspension lift and GenRights fenders and corners.  

X2 on the X2  
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So it's not a Jeep... sue me... it's still faster!

Questions? Comments? Concerns? PM Me!

I live in South East Texas 30 miles east of Houston so there aren't any rocks. There's just mud and trails. I may occasionally go to San Antonio or Austin trails and hit the rocks. Its going to be a daily driver for a while and I want to run 37's to 39's with very little fender trimming. I'm not really into the whole no lift big tires thing cause like i said, there aren't any rocks where i live, and i really like the look of a jeep lifted sky high, but i still do want a good performing suspension that changes the YJ leaf spring set up in the front to coilovers and so far FABTECH is the only lift i have found that offers what i want. I do plan on seriously upgrading the stock axles and eventually swapping in Dana 44 front and a Chrysler 9.25 rear. I already have the rear under a 93 dodge 1/2 ton. But i still need the engine question answered.  
Texas Boy

I had the X2 on my YJ. It was nice. Make sure the brackets for the Fabtec will transfer to a d44. X2 will. Look into it. I ran 37's with room for 39's and it was at 7" of lift. The only reason I can think of are the springs and valving maybe. I had a tbi 350 with mine and it road fine.


 
When you're finished....you're done

I still can't believe you got rid of that???  

I know... Its just one of those things.  I'll have something like it again. Working towards it now in a way. I do miss it. Once I get my 7 built, I might try to get it back. He's liking the direction my cj's going.  
When you're finished....you're done

thanks for the help. that's a good looking jeep. i hope to build one to look that good. i have another couple of questions though. i plan on getting a four banger jeep since they are usually cheaper. i plan on running 5.13 gears. is that low enough for street use with 37 inch tires? are the super 30, and 35 axle upgrades strong enough for moderate trail, rock, and mud use with 37's. like i said, i do eventually plan on swapping in better axles, but that's bout a year down the road.  
Texas Boy

37" tires need a 44 in the front and at least a beefed up 44 in the rear. So, no way with a Dana 35. You can try, but don't stray too far from home. 4.88 is the lowest gear ratio you can get for the Dana 30/35 combo, which is a marginal ratio for 35" tires and the 4.0L. Not nearly enough for 37's and a 2.5L for sure!

Don't get sucked into the fact that the 4cyl is cheaper. The 6cyl is a better value. Ask your neighbor, or your grandma, oh I know Obama,  for the extra cash for a 4.0L. You'll be sorry for ever after with the 4cyl.  

does anybody know if the Black Diamond XCL kit is any good.  I like it and its about 1K less than the Fabtech lift.  
Texas Boy

You have to factor in installation costs also with that lift. It's not going to be a driveway install with limited tools.

Also, you have to decide on what your intended use of the Jeep will be. There are a lot of lifts that work great on the rocks and that's it. They go home on a trailer. Or at least the owners wish it would go home on a trailer.

Be very careful about the big lift, huge travel bug if you want to drive your Jeep on the street.

If you're not planning to trailer your Jeep everywhere, concentrate on the suspension systems that promises good street performance. They will perform remarkably well off-road too. Bigger is not necessarily better.

And don't forget to consider rear corners and front tube or hi-line fenders. That's the best way to get big tire performance, not lifting sky high.

Read the article HERE.

This is bada$$...

 

Big lift and big tires don't get you more places then the LCG lifts and the on highway ride will be not so great at all, so like ftgiles is saying stay lower and do some cutting. I know your only 17 years old so your mind is made up about big tires and a lift that is sky high so have fun and be careful and get one of those stickers that say (If you can read this flip me back over)  
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5.5 rubi longarm, dana 44's, cromoly shafts,currie HD stering,currie antirock,warn powerplant,warn bumpers,4.88 35's

Thanks.  Maybe if i move where there are rocks one day i'll build a LCG jeep.  The jeep i want to build now is going to be about a 60/40 jeep.  60% on road, 40% on the trail, so i do want it to look good going down the road.  the ride quality doesnt bother me.  My daily driver is a lifted 1993 dodge that rides pretty damn rough, and i also have a 1970 Ford F-250 highboy that makes pebbles feel like 2 foot deep pot holes.  I'm used to vehicles that ride bad.  
Texas Boy

It's not the ride that I'm talking about, it's the handling.

It's no fun driving a Jeep down the road that doesn't drive straight, and that darts around with road irregularities and the slightest cross wind from other vehicles.  

My dodge does that to.  I don't like it but, like i said, I'm used to it.  My dad has driven old lifted trucks my whole life so I'm a lot more experienced in that area  than most other drivers my age.  The jeep is only gonna be a daily driver for maybe a little more than a year and after that the only time it will be driven on the road is to get to trails or pull friends out of the mud. Oh, and I do intend to get one of those stickers, it might come in handy.  
Texas Boy