If something like this is going to be a success I think it has to be a kit that the perhaps slightly above average driveway mechanic can do themselves.

Be able to use the stock diff (even if there is an upgrade option)

Be something that you can take off to return the vehicle to stock function, as in no permanent modifications except perhaps some trimming or something like that.

It will be even more of a success if it is something you can upgrade. Make a core kit with spindles (if necessary), upper and lower control arms, and better CV shafts, a steering solution, and something simple for the rear. Then give some options, coil overs, front diff replacement, then go for the high end components for the rear.

An SFA swap, unless it is unbelievably simple and uses lots of components that are already in production, will be a failure, you want the mainstream customer...leave the SFA for the DIY hardcore types.

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It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox

4" IFS lift under $3000, I am in.

SFA not really interested in it too much.

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Will
05 Limited 4x4 Franky II Al's A-arms Black Moabs with MTR's Remote Start SOLD
06 TJ Rubicon Built
06 Dodge 2500 Diesel - Tow Pig
89 Wrangler not much left stock on it

build it and they will come

I think you guys have hit a lot of good points with cost savings by getting non brand new axles any steering parts which I think a lot of people doing an sfa would do. Also doing the IFS first to help fund the sfa is a good plan as well. I mean obviously you are going to sell more for 2k lifts then the big dollar lift that is just the way the world works people are going to look for the deal and a lot more work going into the sfa system. I think there are a lot of people out there that would look harder at getting a libby if they had more options for lifting it more as well. Most real off road enthusiasts would not look to buy a libby because of lack of stuff you can do with it. This is just my opinion most of the lifting moding is still very underground and the main stream moding aftermarket are just starting to really do stuff with the libby. I say build it and they will come for both styles of lift. Just my 2 cents

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Shawn

04 liberty Sport 3.7L with tow package
Rusty's 2.5 coil w/science guy mod and OME Long shocks
Rusty's engine/tranny & transfer case skids
245 75 R16 Timberline MTs
More in the plans
Lockers and rocker guards soon

"What we do in life echoes in eternity"

3505

I would be more likely to buy the 4" IFS kit that has been discussed, however if they made the SFA swap simpler buy using the TJs front axle as a target for mounting points they could probly use the parts bin theory for some of the components from the long arm kits they sell. If that were to happen I would be looking toward the SFA, mostly because of the aftermarket support available, plus there are aftermarket axles made (currie 9in for example) for the TJ out there if you want to upgrade. I think if you went with the stock TJ axle you could save on design cost and simplify the process.

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formaly 2005 CRD sport w/True Flow air filter

currently 2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 4X4 2500 CTD

4" ifs lift. I mean these are jst kj's. For the 7-9 thousand for a SFA kit you can buy and yj and and totally outfit it for hardcore rock crawling. Now don't get me wrong I like my wife's liberty and can't wait to trick it out, but there is a limit with this rig. Thats why we have other rock crawlers.

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Drive a bigger jeep than you

I would be willing to pay up to $3500 for an IFS lift with a stronger diff (ifs dana44?). I wouldnt want to run 33's on the 30a we've seen explode with just 31's.

If I had $10k to drop on a rig, it wouldnt be a KJ.

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The only place worth posting Husky mats and tow hooks mods.

Yea it's just a KJ but it's my KJ. I really enjoy having a rig that not everybody has. I am looking at getting a YJ but it's more of a financial desision. I have big plans for mine as I would imagine some others would. Just something to think about.


Parakeet[/quote]

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Oh MAN I got NATURE on my Jeep.
05 KJ Renny that took the bad economy bullet

89 XJ that thinks tax time is Christmas

I will have another KJ I promise.

I know what you're saying about wanting a unique rig. I can't wait, cause in a few years there's gonna be quite of few of us LOST KJers who gave in and either bought the (still non-existant) big IFS lift or did a SFA swap. Right now there's just the prototype IFS lift by Al, but I do think someone will produce a good IFS kit soon enough. And really there's already a few takes on the SFA swap idea and more and more of us will take that route and there'll be quite a few badarse KJs out there! Then even the "grocery-getter discriminaters" will have to admit the Lib is a Jeep in it's own right.
And for the guy who said "If you build it, they will come..." you are so right It hurts just to see that no one is willing to risk giving us a bigger lift, like it's some sacrifice. At least be a martyr...Superlift?...Nth Degree?...T&T Customs?...anyone? Oh the silence is bitter

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2003 Limited, Silver - L.O.S.T. # 068957 Rockies
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2127390/14
2006 Kawasaki KLR650

I'm torn both ways on this topic.... I intend to use my KJ for a Daily Driver, and my wife wants to learn how to drive the 6-speed so she can drive it once I get my JK 4-door with the SFA. (The libby was $10-$15K less than the JK's I was looking at, but I really like all jeeps)

My thoughts on the SFA: it's expensive. If you design it around a certain vehicles axle that is cheap, then people will catch on and the supply/demand will shoot the prices thru the roof. The kit would have to be somewhat universal. I was involved in upgrading my old coworkers TJ and he put dana 60's and long arms on his jeep, and there was a lot of welding done on the axles. I don't know enough about how to do the conversion to make it work on any axle and have one kit serve all.

As far as the 4" IFS lift, I think that it would sell more, but it mainly has to do with how everything is marketed. I am not going to be on the market for anything big for my KJ for another 24K miles, but a big lift that saves the CV's would be on my list of considerations over just new springs and shocks.

How much in depth will this lift go? If nth degree would be going as far to redesign the lower suspension to help solve the balljoint problem, I would have better grounds to justify the lift to my wife..... (it's not as much as an upgrade as it is ifxing an existing problem honey) she knows that I'm full of it, but if there is something practical about it as well then she would be more willing to agree to it....

Just my $.02

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2008 VW Rabbit- 5-speed 5-cylinders
2000 TJ 4-cylinders 5-speed I'll let you know when I figure it out.
2006 Liberty SOLD.

I definitely agree with Jeger. If you could get one that eliminate the severe drive line angles, I would be interested for around $2K within the next two years probabaly.

In a little over four years, I plan to go SFA, whether I build it or buy it. Right now, I could sell the D30a on eBay and buy a solid D30 for the same price. Cutting off brakets, drilling holes, bleeding brake lines, and rebuilding a transfer case for a lift really isn't that bad. If Nth could make a kit like the TJ Rubicon Express LA kit, then a lot of people would be able to install it. One of the reasons we bought the RE lift for our TJ over the Nth was because no welding was required. I also agree that it's a circular problem. None of the hard core people are going to buy the KJ until there's good aftermarket support. The Xterra isn't that much better than the KJ and there are serious lift kit available for it. I've even seen more lifted Libertys on the road than lifted Xterras. If I took a guess, I'd say the TJ steals all of the aftermarket focus in the Jeep line, leaving the other vehicles without any attention. Why build a product for the KJ when more people off-road the TJ. It's a little different for the Xterra because it's the only small off-road vehicle that Nissan makes. Regarding the $10,000 total price, I don't think most people would install lockers, upgrade axle shafts, and buy new wheels at the same time. At least I wouldn't.... It's timing that makes demand suddenly diminish; I voted for the Nth KJ lift, but I wouldn't buy it for another four years. Part of Randy's problem with selling the kits is that they're too expensive; I got the same Yukon D30 rebuild kit for $40 cheaper from Peak Empire. With the advent of online shopping, a store that charges $2.00 more is going to get 90% less business.

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Jeep Liberty Wikibook
# cd /home/fuzzymuzzle.com

XJ - 2745

KJ - 1918



were gonna lose

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1998 Audi A4 1.8tQ

1990 Mazda Miata

"Remember when the platform was sliding into the fiery pit and I said 'Goodbye' and you were like 'NO WAY' and then I was all 'I was just pretending to murder you'? That was great."

Whos got a few extra hours to go spam it?

meh why not....im watching a movie anyways....ill bring it to around 3k

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1998 Audi A4 1.8tQ

1990 Mazda Miata

"Remember when the platform was sliding into the fiery pit and I said 'Goodbye' and you were like 'NO WAY' and then I was all 'I was just pretending to murder you'? That was great."

its cool watching it go from 2100 - 3000 in 20 minutes on my own ... and XJ not moving one vote

bwhaahha

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1998 Audi A4 1.8tQ

1990 Mazda Miata

"Remember when the platform was sliding into the fiery pit and I said 'Goodbye' and you were like 'NO WAY' and then I was all 'I was just pretending to murder you'? That was great."

I think this is a no-brainer. The solid axle kit is the way to go. You can already get 4-5 inches if you just buy the the RockKrawler 3.5 clevis lift, Jeepin Al's A arms, brake line extensions and some spacer's to lower the front cross member. Everyones asking for the $2000 kit well there it is. I sure thre is a bit more that goes into it but I want the solid axle kit. Would I buy it, Yes. Would you find 100 other's of the nearly the million KJ owners buy this kit, Yes. The market is just over flooded with IFS kits.

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2005 CRD , Moab Rims, 245/75/16 Goodyear M/T
RL rear bumper, TMJ Front bumper, Frankenlinft,
*TOTALED*

1985 Mitsubishi Pickup SP 2.3 Turbo Diesel Watercooled turbo,4D56 ported head,
12" Suspension Lift with JK Rubicon axles, Elockers, 5.13's, Fox coilovers, Atlas 5.0, Rock Lizard supersliders

1996 Lexus LX450 -locked and lifted-

but you are forgetting all the differences between an IFS lift on an IFS system...... or a SFA SWAP on an IFS system

its a lot more and a lot more goes into it than just "wanting" it

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1998 Audi A4 1.8tQ

1990 Mazda Miata

"Remember when the platform was sliding into the fiery pit and I said 'Goodbye' and you were like 'NO WAY' and then I was all 'I was just pretending to murder you'? That was great."

If there ever was to be a bolt in SFA swap kit, to reduce costs, you should be supplying your own D30 axle, brakes hubs ect. That would turn it into a brakets and bolts style kit + a steering box ect.

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Custom, Comfortable & Capable.......just the way it should be

That's what I've been saying. I'd buy it tomorrow if it were that type of kit...

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<b>Brenden Gibson</b>

<b>2004 VW R32</b>
I know, it's not a Jeep... but I'm still showing the L.O.S.T. love!

That is not a full kit and you won't get any warranty for it. I am lazy and don't care to shop everywhere to get stuff. IMO, a clevis is not my idea of lifting. Plus I like a little bit of security with a warranty.

Of course, if a company makes a lift and acts like Rock Krawler did, then that is scary.

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===
New KJ Gear - Desert Armor Flak

2004 Renegade Light Khaki - 4" JBA Lift - Rock Lizard Products: Komodo Dragon Rear Bumper, Prototype Winch-mount Front Bumper, Super Skink Sliders - All J's Super Tranny Skid II - 31" Firestone Destination AT's on Moab wheels - Cobra 75W CB w/ stock Antenna mod

[b]Retired, US Military