Budget lift with LS swap

[SgtMik]

Question for all.

To start with I am new to this at 50 and am looking for meaningful input. I recently bought a 98 TJ with a 4 cyl 5 speed. It is a riot but as most of you know gutless. This winter I am going to tear it down and do some mods and am now stocking the parts to do them. It is my daily driver for the summer and will be going back to my truck for winter to save the frame and body which is rust free (something almost unheard of in Northern Michigan). It will be a daily driver with some mild to medium off roading (two tracking, some hills, sand dunes and muddling). This is a budget build.

So far I have bought a 5.3 l Vortec and a line on a 4l60e to pair it with. What I am asking is with this new motor what is a good lift set up for 2-4 inches. I have been looking at kits but there is no differentiation between the engine to lift. I figure the difference in weight between a 4 cyl and V8 has to be considerably different enough to warrant heavier shocks and springs. Am I correct? Input is greatly appreciated.

Budget being more than rough country and lower than Currie.

 

[Chris]

I'm not sure how much more that V8 weighs than the stock 4 cylinder.

@pcoplin had a 5.3 V8 in his at one point. Maybe he'll chime in and let us know.

There are many others with V8s as well, including @Wildman (though his isn't a 5.3), and others.

 

[Tranz Zam]

The LS platform is lighter than most think. Even the iron truck blocks.

I think the weight is very similar to a stock 4.0.

 

[Fouledplugs]

Question for all.

To start with I am new to this at 50 and am looking for meaningful input. I recently bought a 98 TJ with a 4 cyl 5 speed. It is a riot but as most of you know gutless. This winter I am going to tear it down and do some mods and am now stocking the parts to do them. It is my daily driver for the summer and will be going back to my truck for winter to save the frame and body which is rust free (something almost unheard of in Northern Michigan). It will be a daily driver with some mild to medium off roading (two tracking, some hills, sand dunes and muddling). This is a budget build.

So far I have bought a 5.3 l Vortec and a line on a 4l60e to pair it with. What I am asking is with this new motor what is a good lift set up for 2-4 inches. I have been looking at kits but there is no differentiation between the engine to lift. I figure the difference in weight between a 4 cyl and V8 has to be considerably different enough to warrant heavier shocks and springs. Am I correct? Input is greatly appreciated.

Budget being more than rough country and lower than Currie.

OME 2.5 inch heavy’s will work just fine. Just like most 4.0 guys you may need 3/4 inch spacers up front between the coil and the bucket it sits in.

The cheap LS’s (4.8,5.3) weigh about as much as a 4.0L

 

[Goatman]

Seem to remember I read somewhere the LS can be lighter than the 4.0

 

[twistedlv]

For a 'Budget' lift, I've been really pleased with my Zone 4.25" combo lift. The included 1.25" of body lift might be nice for fitting a V-8, although I'm not sure it is a necessity.

 

[Hook_62]

The Jeep 2.5L weighs 340 lbs.
Jeep 4.0L weighs 515 lbs.
The LH8 5.3L Aluminum weighs 500 lbs. T
he 5.3 Iron weighs 550 lbs.

At any rate springs for a 4.0L would work. I don't even know if they were different for the 2.5L. But I would imagine they were, given that the engine weight is 175 lbs different?

 

[SgtMik]

For a 'Budget' lift, I've been really pleased with my Zone 4.25" combo lift. The included 1.25" of body lift might be nice for fitting a V-8, although I'm not sure it is a necessity.

This is what I have been leaning towards. Found a couple good reviews and nothing really bad on the setup.

 

[SgtMik]

The Jeep 2.5L weighs 340 lbs.
Jeep 4.0L weighs 515 lbs.
The LH8 5.3L Aluminum weighs 500 lbs. T
he 5.3 Iron weighs 550 lbs.

At any rate springs for a 4.0L would work. I don't even know if they were different for the 2.5L. But I would imagine they were, given that the engine weight is 175 lbs different?

Thanks. That is really helpful info. Didn’t even think to research it that way.