CJ5 spring over suspension lift?

[BRANDON]

I want to lift my jeep enough to comfortably fit 33" tires. I don't do any real serious offroading, I just want to get up in the snow. Is a spring over a good idea? I understand this will lift me a min. 5". I don't mind this, but will it be hard on my driveshaft u-joints? I also don't know how much a lift will ruin economy. Or is this mostly tire size related? Would apreciate any input.
Thanks!
I am fist time user on this site. It looks great!

 

[jp360cj]

I went spring over on my CJ7 for 35s. For 33s and your use, I would go with either a 2.5" SL + 1" BL or 4" SL. Both would be cheaper, less work, and less headache.


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[HackFabrication]

IMHO, I wouldn't SOA a CJ5 with stock narrow track axles, that you intend to primarily drive 'on the street'. I'd be thinking either going full width 44's or 1 tons. And a SOA is overkill for 33 inch tires. Most SOA conversions are done to accommodate 36"+ tires. There are a number of reasons not to SOA, stability being the prime one. Brakes, steering, and driveline angles, being a few more. All the issues are debatable. And can be resolved with the right approach and sufficient amounts of money. Also trying to turn large tires, even with the correct axle ratios, with a small engine is going to be interesting.

My choice was to only lift my 76 CJ5 , 2.5" with a conventional SUA. I could stuff a set of 33" tires under my CJ5 , and quite possibly even 34-35 inch tires for 'street use', with the 2.5" of lift. However, I'm presently running 32x11.50-15 TSL/SX tires. And I've changed axle gearing to 4.56. Which is not the best tire/ratio combo, for what has turned out to be a sparingly used, street driven CJ5 .

Your 81, if it is stock, most likely has the 4.10 axles (being a 4 cyl). Which would make 33's a good choice. But your AX15, with the Overdrive 5th, starts making things a bit more complicated when going up in tire size.
I'd be thinking 4.33's with a 'true' 33" tire.

Although it seems simple, (radically) increasing tire size, really creates a bevy of problems.