Lift kit options

tjkj2002 said:

Bring your KJ up to my elevation and you will feel the tire size change.

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No thanks, I like the good thick air just fine here!

tommudd said:

Manual doesn't make any difference at all except you just can stay in a lower gear , the main power band of the engine is still the same

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That's true, no difference at all. Well, except for a manual having a much lower first, second and third gear. Oh, and also having an extra intermediate gear. And let's not overlook the stall speed effect of having a clutch. So yes, after all that other "insignificant" stuff, then there's no difference at all! The one part that is no difference (1:1 and OD), doesn't affect my dd needs.
Manual trans 1st gear: 4.01, 2nd gear: 2.32. Automatic 1st gear: 3.00, 2nd gear: 1.67. To put in simple terms, the manual with 3.73 rear gears still has considerably lower initial/intermediate gearing than an automatic would have with 4.10's. No difference? Math and physics says there is, there's no "denying" that.

CactusJacked said:

That's true, no difference at all. Well, except for a manual having a much lower first, second and third gear. Oh, and also having an extra intermediate gear. And let's not overlook the stall speed effect of having a clutch. So yes, after all that other "insignificant" stuff, then there's no difference at all! The one part that is no difference (1:1 and OD), doesn't affect my dd needs.
Manual trans 1st gear: 4.01, 2nd gear: 2.32. Automatic 1st gear: 3.00, 2nd gear: 1.67. To put in simple terms, the manual with 3.73 rear gears still has considerably lower initial/intermediate gearing than an automatic would have with 4.10's. No difference? Math and physics says there is, there's no "denying" that.

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Your forgetting the extra (up to) 2.5:1 reduction the torque converter gives in the auto and the ability to give a "unlimited" crawl ratio starting from a dead stop which a clutch can not.That is why there is less need for lower gears in a auto trans and less gears,more so with a lockup TC.

Not hating on the manual, had plenty of them over the years in 4 wheel drives that I lifted with larger tires etc and always ended up regearing as well. I guess I always build my rides to perform the best they can, have proper gearing etc. I never want to " get by " . If I found an 02-04 tomorrow with a manual for a good price I'd buy it, lift it the next day, and then larger tires and a regear the day after that.

6speed manual here, which comes with 3.55 gears, and a close ratio ******. Went from the 235/75r15 all seasons to a 30x9.5 STT which is a lot more aggressive. I used to be able to run up the highways here in 6th at 70mph on up. Used to. Now 6th gear is for looks, or if I'm running 80+. Even then, as soon as I hit a hill it's like I'm pulling a kenworth up the hill. The lower gears didn't make a huge difference. It was 4th-6th that I really saw changes. Lost 5mpg on interstate driving right off the bat. In the back country it goes up actually and is closer to what I used to get. There is a noticeable difference in power loss, don't let anyone say any different. They are just kidding themselves.

looking at the jeep this morning i noticed both of my upper ball joints have ripped boots so those will need to be replaced as well. through reading on here i have learned i have to replace the upper a arms. I do not have the cash to go with JBA or RRO so are there any other options out there besides stock that will work for awhile with a lift?

Jnors06 said:

looking at the jeep this morning i noticed both of my upper ball joints have ripped boots so those will need to be replaced as well. through reading on here i have learned i have to replace the upper a arms. I do not have the cash to go with JBA or RRO so are there any other options out there besides stock that will work for awhile with a lift?

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Nothing else unless you can find a used set of JBAs
and not the RROs , cheap imitations
I do know where there are some used JBA 3.5s they were the earlier versions of the 4.5s we now all use , still replaceable ball joints etc. I can find out what they are like this weekend when I go to look at a load of spare KJ parts

tommudd said:

Regear and it still would, trust me
I'd give you or anyone a ride to show you how one runs with 265-75s and 4.10s . Many have been amazed when I take off from a stop sign smoking the tires , or little red light speed comparisons

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I have 245/75r16 and I noticed the difference. I want to get some 4:10.

Can anyone tell me if the struts will come assembled? i ordered the full ironman kit from JBA.

Jnors06 said:

Can anyone tell me if the struts will come assembled? i ordered the full ironman kit from JBA.

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No. But if you pull the other ones a local shop can do it for you.

how hard are they to compress yourself with the rented tool? i did not get the HD springs.

and does anyone have a link to an install thread for this type of lift? Is their anything special i need to do or reccomdations during install?

Jnors06 said:

how hard are they to compress yourself with the rented tool? i did not get the HD springs.

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Didn't get the HDs ??? Oh well
But it will be very hard as explained many times before the ironman have more coils than the OMEs and thus when you get the compressor in there its extremely hard to remove after you get it altogether. Do yourself a huge favor and take them to a shop to be compressed ( take the old ones in with you of course )

Jnors06 said:

and does anyone have a link to an install thread for this type of lift? Is their anything special i need to do or reccomdations during install?

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Do you have a complete set of hand tools , jackstands, jacks etc ?
Common sense type of install

tommudd said:

Do you have a complete set of hand tools , jackstands, jacks etc ?
Common sense type of install

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Yes i have all the tools, i was just making sure there were no suprises. I do not forsee having a problem installing the lift.

i am going to call around and find a place to compress the springs, any idea on cost?

I paid 40$ each to compress. He quoted me 60 but said it was such a pain that it took him longer. I just laughed and gave him the 80.

Gen 3.5

tommudd said:

Nothing else unless you can find a used set of JBAs
and not the RROs , cheap imitations
I do know where there are some used JBA 3.5s they were the earlier versions of the 4.5s we now all use , still replaceable ball joints etc. I can find out what they are like this weekend when I go to look at a load of spare KJ parts

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Mr. Mudd I would be very interested in hearing a price for a set of Gen 3.5's that would work on a 2005 with Ironman/Bilstien Lift. JBA top plate, two Locknuts, front height at 22 3/4" left and right. Please PM me if they aren't already spoken for, if you get a chance.

I got the lift installed on te front last night, I did all the work myself, it was a chore doing it alone. I could have used a spare hand. I will be installing the back and doing the pinch weld today if I get the time. Here are a few pics I snapped this morning.

Looking good there. Welcome to the club

Jnors06 said:

it was a chore doing it alone. I could have used a spare hand.

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But the sense of accomplishment is amplified when you tackle it yourself! :waytogo: