I just got a 1994 Jeep YJ 2.5L. I would like to make more capible offroad. I'm thinking of doing a 4" lift and put mud tires on. and maybe a body lift for more clearence. Any tips on getting started or if I even have the right idea would be great. Also, I was wondering if I will need to do anything to the 4 banger to make it capible offroad. This is my daily driver so I don't to do anything too radical and I'm only 17 so there is a tight buget. Any tips would be helpful
94 YJ
- Thread starter RobYJ
- Start date
currupt4130
VT Hokie
hey whats up rob, i have a 94 yj with the great 2.5 also. youve got a good idea with the lift. susp lift and a little bod lift is always good, replace the stock shackles but dont use lift shackles as it only throws off your caster and decreases your bumper clearance, a 3 or 4 inch susp lift and a 1 or 2 inch bod lift is nice for a little more clearance. if your looking to not spend much on the lift, rustys offroad or rough country both have good priced lifts and the more expensive, rubicon express, skyjacker etc are all worth the money. make sure you take off the rear track bar and trash it, get some quick disconnects for the sway bar or if you want i can send you pics of my home made quick discos which cost me like ten bucks. cold air and a bored out throttle body are great semi cheap mods to get more power, headers and a catback will be a godsend if you can afford it and if you really get serious about wheelin a lot, get some lockers. lock rights are great and dont cost much, but if you get lockers youll need new gears beecause the engine will be pulling double what it was, 4.88's are recommended. any other help youd like just leave me a pm or shout at me here, email is always an option to
-sam
-sam
any wheelers near Buena Vista CO?
Now for a response to your question(s):
I'd go for maybe a 3" lift or so... not sure I'd want anything larger than 3" for a daily driver due to the change in how it handles. If you do lift it a body lift would likely be much cheaper than a suspension lift, but a suspension lift gives you new shocks and springs which might be a benefit to an older Jeep (where the suspension may be sagging or weak). Plus IMO body lifts look wierd. :mrgreen:
Also keep in mind that a stock Jeep is pretty capable as is.
-Nick :!:
Now for a response to your question(s):
I'd go for maybe a 3" lift or so... not sure I'd want anything larger than 3" for a daily driver due to the change in how it handles. If you do lift it a body lift would likely be much cheaper than a suspension lift, but a suspension lift gives you new shocks and springs which might be a benefit to an older Jeep (where the suspension may be sagging or weak). Plus IMO body lifts look wierd. :mrgreen:
Also keep in mind that a stock Jeep is pretty capable as is.
-Nick :!:
Wheel it stock!! cheap and easy! do some simple mods to increase ride height that can be used in the future with other mods. do these mods as your driving skills improve and you have more experience.
Maybe a 1" body lift and some 1/2 shackles with stock tires, this will get you a little more room to flex and increased height. then find some used 31's and run them, and add some TJ flares for the extra flex. Then eventually down the road when you have more ability, add the 4" lift, and 33's.
I have seen stock rigs driven by experienced drivers perform better than a beefed up rig with someone behind the wheel for the first time off road!
Maybe a 1" body lift and some 1/2 shackles with stock tires, this will get you a little more room to flex and increased height. then find some used 31's and run them, and add some TJ flares for the extra flex. Then eventually down the road when you have more ability, add the 4" lift, and 33's.
I have seen stock rigs driven by experienced drivers perform better than a beefed up rig with someone behind the wheel for the first time off road!
Sparky-Watts
Banned
Absolutely! It's not about the lift and mods so much as it is the driver. Take your mods slow. You need to grow into wheeling at a measured pace. As your skill level increases, you can add more mods. As a paramedic, I saw more young people upside-down in lifted ORV's than I care to remember. Also while I was shopping for my YJ, I looked at close to 30 different Jeeps, and could tell which ones were driven by inexperienced drivers.....pretty badly torn up and not worth buying.
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Wheel it small, let the jeep grow as your experience grows. If you're not interested in wheeling and just want bling, install a 3" body lift and chrome tube bumpers 
currupt4130
VT Hokie
ill agree with that, my jeep only has 3 inch body lift and 33's and after wheeling it and figuring out different techniques and stuff i can handle a lot of tech stuff that most people have told me to have lockers for, its all about how you do it, sooner or later im going soa cuz thats the only way for leaf springs, those damn tjs got us on clearance, anyone with an older jeep is always more creative and figures out how to beat em tho, its like the tortoise and the hare, well anyways good luck with your jeep and happy wheelin
I would do the lift first, whichever you decide...I have a 4" suspension and a 1" body with some 33s...the only thing I have done to the engive so far is an intake and my 2.5 does better than alot of other trucks I see offroading...I do plan on doing the complete exhaust system pretty soon.....but take it slow, see what you think after you lift it...if its a daily driver you will probally want gears and/or some more horse power
