Facelift
I just started reading your magazine and am a big fan. I just bought an '88 Wagoneer (not a Grand Wagoneer) as a side project to work on. I'm stripping the paint, repainting it, lifting it, and putting bigger tires on. The only problem is, the grille on the Wagoneers is pretty ugly with the lines running horizontal and not vertical like a normal Jeep. I was wondering if there was some kind of a kit or some way to switch out the grille with a normal Cherokee grille without having to move the lights around (the Wagoneer has the turn signals mounted into the bottom corners of the grille) or hack things into place. If you have any ideas they would be greatly appreciated.Jeanette AnrayVia e-mail
I've never tried it myself, but I know the fenders are the same from '84-'96. This leads me to believe you should be able to snag a front clip from a junkyard XJ and bolt it in place of your Family Truckster front end. You'll probably need to wire and splice the headlight connectors from the donor vehicle in since yours has four: two for the high beams and two for the low beams. I'd also see if the radiator core support can be unbolted. I don't have my Cherokee here right now or I'd check for you. If so, just unbolt the core support of the donor as well to ensure you won't need to cut and hack for the dual headlights.
Daily Driver Dilemma
My wife wants a lift on her '98 XJ to clear 31s. I want a dependable lift (no add-a-leafs) but like everyone I don't want to break the bank. I was considering a Rusty's or Rubicon Express lift. The XJ will see very limited (if any) off-road time. Do you prefer any one lift to another? Can I get away with a 3-inch lift with no slip-yoke eliminator? Would I need to replace the control arms if the kit doesn't come with any? I wanted to keep it around $1,000-$1,200, including tires. Any input would be greatly appreciated.Matt StellMarietta,GA
Hey, Marietta. I used to live in Woodstock. Is the Big Chicken still there or did they tear it down?
I recently dusted off Jp's '99 XJ and am going to replace the Full-Traction 6-inch long arm with a short arm suspension with less lift for use with 31s, so I've been going through the same thing you are.
I decided on the Rubicon Express 3.5-inch system (PN 6025) because I need new control arms to replace the long arms the Jeep currently runs. I'll still need to get uppers, but I should be able to find some factory uppers free at my local off-road shop. I've used RE products in the past and really like the company's leaf spring design, so that's why I've decided on the Rubicon Express suspension for Jp's Jeep. However, at almost $600 without shocks, I don't think this kit meets your criteria for keeping the whole budget under $1,000.
There's nothing wrong with the Rusty's kit. The company makes a really nice product. I'd consider RK-300SP-XJ, which doesn't include control arms or driveline corrections, but at under $500 with shocks, springs, and brake lines, leaves a lot of room for buying wheels and tires. You shouldn't need new control arms at this time, although you'll probably want to eventually upgrade for the added adjustability and strength of aftermarket arms.
With either of these kits, I really would suggest eventually adding a slip-yoke eliminator. You can drop the transmission to alleviate vibration temporarily, but for the best longevity, I'd plan on eventually adding a slip-yoke eliminator and CV-type rear driveshaft.