I acquired this as my first XJ to the Jeep family here at Patterson Farms. Last month someone backed out in front of my Dodge Grand Caravan and totaled it. Insurance gave me $2280 for the total loss I purchased this '98 Amherst XJ 4x4 with 124K miles for $2100. (taxes reimbursed by insurance). Frame good with some surface rust which I plan to sandblast the entire underbody & coat. I would like recommendations on coatings..

The rear leaf springs are also shot so I will be installing a 4.5" lift and would like bigger tires. Can I keep and paint the stock rims I have on it now and use 33"s?

 

Nice !!

My advice is drive it stock for a while then decide what mods you need.

 

My condolences on your purchase. Minor nitpick, its a unibody what appears to be the "frame" is just part of the body.
Just drive, get used to it and find any small faults and work on those first.

Opinion dump:
​​​​4.5" lift and 33's isn't as simple as just those two mods, that much lift is beyond the stock steering imo so add that to the upgrade list. 4.5" on a short arm lift is a rough ride, not necessarily but your kidneys will beg for long arms.
Lift and larger tires will stress old components that were fine™ before (ujoints, wheel bearings, ball joints). 33's and stock gears are unbearable on anything but a downhill.

 

Excellent advice from these two!! ^^^

 

In my opinion you would need to have a good reason to go the 4.5" lift, and that would only really be very hardcore off-roading

If you just think it will look better with that lift and big wheels, well you will be spending several times the purchase price to make it an acceptable on road driver

2" is great, cheap, (legal here without engineers cert). I have a proper 2" lift with everything adjustable, perfect castor dialed in, handles like a ****ing racing machine

As a new XJ owner, be advised they are not the greatest thing to steer and brake, even totally stock

So all in all, wait a bit and research

 

Is a 3" more reasonable?

 

I should specify, I have owned an YJ for 10 years as well.

 

2" you can get away with nothing but new springs (dont even consider donuts and longer shackle links)

I am far from expert, but as I understand it, 3" would need new brake lines, adjustable LCA, UCA, shocks, adjustable trackbar, driveshaft mods etc (I have that for anyway for 2")

Also, the bigger tyres you run, the less power at the wheels...unless you install numerically higher diffs x 2

Unless all issues are addressed, it will handle, brake and accelerate worse than stock, so as I said, do some research and be a little patient

I dont like my vehicles too high or low..just right...there is an online chart shows exactly what things are needed for various XJ lift heights and what tyre size..Google it

Your truck looks a good candidate for a wheel arch trim, run bigger tyres..there is also a thread dedicated to low COG lifts on this forum