Extremely New to Jeeps...

[007]

Hello folks, this is my first post on here. I'm about to go pick up my first Jeep - 1978 CJ7 Renegade / Levis , AMC 304 , GM Turbo 400 , and believe it or not - factory air!

In any case, I'm sure I'll have a bazillion questions and I try to search the forums before asking everything (just as I do on my antique John Deere forums).

I did read the post about what to do when you bring your CJ home and it makes great sense. Barring any horrible finds in that process, one thing I want to do shortly is a small lift. I want to run 31/10.50/15's on it on 15x8 rims. What lift would I need? Would 2 inches suffice? I have NO desire to take it anywhere it couldn't go stock - just want the bigger rubber to look right. Could I get by with a body lift?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mtnwhlr]

I run 31s on mine with no lift and off road the out of it. you will not need to lift it unless you want to go bigger. And :ww:

 

[007]

I run 31s on mine with no lift and off road the out of it. you will not need to lift it unless you want to go bigger. And :ww:

Well that is certainly good news if that's the case. I didn't want to have to invest in that if it wasn't necessary. I did however find out that the Jeep "look" I was wanting to copy has 32x11.5's on it, not 31x10.5's...would I need a 2" lift for those?

I know I have other priorities besides tires, but I hate to buy tires twice you know?

 

[Az84cj7]

Well that is certainly good news if that's the case. I didn't want to have to invest in that if it wasn't necessary. I did however find out that the Jeep "look" I was wanting to copy has 32x11.5's on it, not 31x10.5's...would I need a 2" lift for those?

I know I have other priorities besides tires, but I hate to buy tires twice you know?

32's are questionable. A 2.5" lift would look perfect and wouldnt have any issues running 32 in tires. Plus if you do drive some back roads it will give you a little more clearance. just my opinion.

 

[007]

32's are questionable. A 2.5" lift would look perfect and wouldnt have any issues running 32 in tires. Plus if you do drive some back roads it will give you a little more clearance. just my opinion.

Well that confirms my new understanding... This Jeep has the original L78-15's on it and I'd planned on just putting on a $100 set of 235/75x15's on it for now to get it mobile to go from shop to shop and so forth. I guess with what I've learned here tonight a used set of 31x10.5x15's would be fine too with the original wheels and lift. Might do that to tide myself over until I can do a small lift and 32's and rims. That way I can worry with the rest of the unknowns for now.

Thank you all...

 

[Manhattan]

Welcome 007.

Keep your eye out for a used set of 2.5" springs (for some reason lifts go: 2.5". 4", 4.5"). Lots of guys start out with 2.5" and move up to 4" or more. So scour the interwebs for deals!

Most Jeep (trucks in general) guys are not fans of body lifts over 1" - myself included. Gets into issues of leverage, failure, etc. in the event of a crash. I've never run only a 1" body lift but I'm sure someone will weigh in with experience with that set up. Assuming your current springs are sagging much, I'd bet you could run 32s with a 1" body lift... They may rub off road at full articulation... but I don't it'd hurt a thing. 32s are small enough to tuck into the rear fender well without damaging the body on the way in - 33s and up will kiss the back of the rear fender well... crunch!

Now post some pics!

 

[007]

Welcome 007.

Keep your eye out for a used set of 2.5" springs (for some reason lifts go: 2.5". 4", 4.5"). Lots of guys start out with 2.5" and move up to 4" or more. So scour the interwebs for deals!

Most Jeep (trucks in general) guys are not fans of body lifts over 1" - myself included. Gets into issues of leverage, failure, etc. in the event of a crash. I've never run only a 1" body lift but I'm sure someone will weigh in with experience with that set up. Assuming your current springs are sagging much, I'd bet you could run 32s with a 1" body lift... They may rub off road at full articulation... but I don't it'd hurt a thing. 32s are small enough to tuck into the rear fender well without damaging the body on the way in - 33s and up will kiss the back of the rear fender well... crunch!

Now post some pics!

Good thoughts...thank you... Here's a few pics of it (I can't pick it up until this weekend if all works out with travel okay).

 

[Old Dog]

Good look'n jeep for southern Ind.
I agree with the rest on lifts needed.

 

[007]

Good look'n jeep for southern Ind.
I agree with the rest on lifts needed.

Thank you... I want to make it nice, near new.

I did talk to a very nice person from Austin Jeeps and he said that they virtually always use NEW stock springs on their jeeps and with those can do 32x11.5x15's on them with no problems... I wonder if that would work? I could put new springs with no lift and load carrier shocks to keep it stiff and be okay. He also said no more than a 1" body lift if I chose that route (which I may).