OverlandZJ

Mrs at one time wanted a Grand Caravan with all the bells and whistles. Told her i wasnt very familiar with those vehicles and it made more sense financially to buy something i could fix. That led her to her first Jeep, a 94 XJ Country. She never used to drive in snow... now i cant keep her home in any weather. I'v asked her and she's happy we went the 4WD SUV route for her 3 vehicles ago.

I remember a time where i was swapping an alt or something in her Jeep, as she and my daughter stood there with purses in hand waiting to leave to go somewhere. They wont do that anymore..

I like working on the wife's Jeep.. i just make it seem harder than it was. Then take it out in trade...

Malik3404

what was wrong with GET A PART TIME JOB?

Isnt that what you do when you need MORE money or cut back, NOT A OPTION, just sayin...

Like someone stated, if you think your just getting a 3' kit your FOOLING YOURSELF.

SYE (if u have vibes)
31's (or BETTER gone look DUMB with 235's)
drive shaft (maybe you can find one in the jy)
shackle relocators (bad angle TERRIBLE ride)
shims (have to get the angle right)
adjustable track bar (you can drill a hole but WHY)
spacers (the front is always lower)
shocks (if yours are good, they wont be for long)

and thats just lift related.

I know this b/c thats what I thought, oh just the 3' lift kit. Chalk up about 3k and thats on the lower end.

Oh yea, do you have to know how and tools? If you do, your lucky. I didnt

So yea dude, guys are killing you about this, but what did you REALLY expect?

PNWjeeper

I thought I had answered the only car question. She has a POS 93 Taurus and I've got the jeep, we are thinking getting a new(er) car for her after taxes one that, in her words, she doesn't have to worry about getting stranded or the engine exploding any time she goes somewhere.

Lowrange2

Yeah, the Taurus was pretty much the crappiest car ever made.

PNWjeeper

Yeah it was my first car, the fact it still runs is amazing, I neglected all maintenance for the first three years I had it, I drove it into a ditch and then into a tree a year later. It just won't die, not that I tried to kill it but looking back I don't see how it still runs.

Lowrange2

lol, I worked at a parts store for a long time and had so many Taurus' come thru it wasn't funny.

CherokeeRob

I introduced my wife to offroading back when we were dating, I think she fell in love with that more than with me...lol...But now that we are in the process of looking for an XJ I cant seem to find one fast enough. She likes the fact that it is something we do together, and both enjoy. She has already blessed off on the "build cost" for our XJ after this deployment is over, only condition is I teach her how to turn a wrench in the process so one day she can have her own XJ.

So to answer your question, show her a few different Jeeps with the lift you want, and what they can do vs. what yours can do. Offer to teach or show her what you are doing, and try to make it something you can do together. Once she embraces it, whether it be because you love it or she actually does, you wont have to worry about convincing her in the future. Hope this helps some.

93XJLI

Mine wants either a MB G series or a new grand Cherokee when she can afford it and wants/needs a new ride. I think the WKII will be a better fit lol

No4x4Yet

So you can spend thousands for the wife to get a new car but you cant spend a few hundred on your own jeep? Something is wrong with that my friend. Research budget boosts and do it on the cheap. Ever car requires maintainence, even more so older ones, not reasone not to upgrade in the process.

docmedpros

i just told my wife that in order for my jeep to be safer i need new suspension parts, i also used that this is a investment in my jeep so i don't have to purchase another 4x4 down road anytime soon. BTW my wife is a Miami girl and doesn't get why my country *** likes to take my jeep offroading, she saw the practical application of replacing old worn parts, i just made sure she new that lifting it was "better" than just replacing, UPGRADE DON'T REPLACE

V8XJDavid

Wise, solid advice. Save up, you aren't in a hurry. Tell her the truth that your springs/shocks/leaf springs are shot and need to be replaced. A 3" lift isn't so high that 235/75/15's look odd unless you have the flares off. And tires wear out, so when they do, upgrade to 30's or 31's. Probably need to go with an AT rather than an MT at first. Tell her the new parts are stronger than factory and therefore safer for the family and the little one. All true.

Malik3404

"No4x4yet"

How do you know for SURE he wont need a SYE or drive shaft? You dont, you dont know until your there... T drop didnt help me or HALF this fourm.

Your also giving him a band aid with that bolt in bracket thing. For a few bucks more do it right and be DONE!

JK rubicon shocks, huh? From where a junk yard? Shocks, that you dont know what they been through or how they have been beatin'?

I gave you the truth and parts I WOULD expect, if you end up not needing the extras your winning. Truth be told your 50/50 on everything. I lost on EVERYTHING and needed EVERYTHING.

No4x4yet is giving you more band aids and trying to sugarcoat IMO.

Only part I lost on was the$20 RE t drop, bc I took it out after the sye was installed.

for the record, my 3.5 full leaf RE kit was only $550 +325 for Bilsteins

No4x4Yet

Ive never seen anyone with a 3" lift that couldnt get by with a TC drop, but maybe I missed it?

This bracket is not a bandaid, although Its $120 not $80. Either way its not something you need done right away. I still havent done mine, its a lil rough but not bad.
http://www.hdoffroadengineering.com/...relocation-kit


I bought my JK shocks on Ebay as nearly new take off parts, just found another pair for $99 that look brand new. They are tons of JK owners that buy one and put a lift on after a few hundred miles. Its pretty easy to tell if shocks have been used, they arent spared any wear under the jeep.

The only Bandaid as you call it I mention is the TC drop. But its really not a bad way to save money if funds are short. And the op said hes not off roading much so the loss of ground clearance isnt a problem.

I did my 3-3.5" lift for about $550 with shocks and track bar included. All I have left is SYE and the Shackle fix which will be done for under a grand. It certainly isnt a top of the line setup, but it will work great and on the cheap.

The great part about working on a jeep is you can do it one part at a time as funds allow.

McCaffrey

I have been married for 22 years and it took me about 15 years to grow a pair. It's been the best thing for both of us. Unknown to me, and probably to her too, but she wanted me to be the man. I'm not saying you should abuse her or take it too far or too often, but if it's really that important to you then do it.

Note: I'm no expert and lots of problems just like everybody so use this advice at your own risk.

No4x4Yet

Dude why would you even mention abusing your wife and being a man in the same sentence?