Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: NickP on November 05, 2006, 01:39:21 PM

Title: FSJ Body lift or SOA?
Post by: NickP on November 05, 2006, 01:39:21 PM
Just got myself another FS Cherokee, this time a 2 door. Bought it for spares, but on closer inspection, this one appears to be better than the 4 door.

I want to raise it, to about the same height (maybe a bit more  :wink: ) as the 4 door which has got Spring over Axle on front and reversed hangers on rear, this gives it an overall lift of about 6-8 inches

My thoughts with the 2 Door was to Body lift, the idea being, lower centre of  gravity, better propshaft angles, stock length shocks etc.


What do you think? What are the disadvantages? Any thing else I need to consider?

Or would SOA be a better way to go?
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Post by: JamesH on November 06, 2006, 04:14:30 PM
I wouldn't lift over a couple of inches by body lift, just going on other people's recommendations, warnings and shocking pictures from the States.

Plus, I've always liked the idea of a SOA lift I think it's just the steering that is the most complicated thing to setup right afterwards. I have some corrections for it in a book of mine, although it's YJ based it may be helpful if you need it.
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Post by: UKJeeper on November 06, 2006, 08:22:53 PM
FSJ SOA kit. About £200. Bolt on (welding optional).

http://ttsfabworks.home.mchsi.com/soa_kit.htm (http://ttsfabworks.home.mchsi.com/soa_kit.htm)

I'll be doing it myself, eventually. You'll have to either move the brake line connections where they meet the body, or buy longer lines. Also you will have change the steering links either to cross-over or hi-clearance conversions. These kits are available too.

IMO, the SOA makes more sense, even though it is (slightly) more work. It will ride and flex much better than overbent springs. No matter what you do, any decent (over 4") lift means you will have to get longer shocks, brake lines, steering conversions, and possibly driveline mods.

Best place for stuff like this (apart from Bubba) is IFSJA.org (http://http://www.ifsja.org). See you over there.
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Post by: Bubba on November 06, 2006, 09:27:11 PM
yup go soa  dood get its ass up in the air not realy a fan of body lifts 2inch max i rekon
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Post by: UKJeeper on November 06, 2006, 10:54:51 PM
Quote from: "V8 Bubba"
yup go soa  dood get its ass up in the air not realy a fan of body lifts 2inch max i rekon


x2 on that. Body lifts just put extra strain on some old assed sheet metal. You'd have to weld some big plate around each mounting hole to reinforce it. Also body lifts are just a 1/2 assed option, IMO. If you gonna lift it, do it right.
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Post by: MK1 on November 07, 2006, 10:20:55 AM
The CJ had +2" body lift and was close to looking a bit crappy. I don't think you'd want to go any more.

(Not sure whether to use past or present tense!)
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Post by: NickP on November 07, 2006, 02:45:10 PM
Thanks for all your advice chaps, wasn't sure which was the better way to go. I'll just copy the SOA setup on the 4 door, that handles OK and seems to work well. One things for sure - It going up  :wink:



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