mostly n00-b in need of some lift install help

[katuah]

Hey all;

I think this chica's bitten off more than I can chew on my own. I need some help getting my lift kit installed.

I started on the rear, and the rear spring bolts are frozen, front and back, even after two weeks of PB Blaster-ing. No amount of jumping on my breaker bar would even make them budge. (Yeah, yeah, I weigh less than you guys, and I have desk-job arm muscles, but still)

It seems like everything is being stubborn. (Example: Getting the rear sway bar off, I broke off several of the bolts holding the U-holders on the body, then the others wouldn't budge, so I bent the U-holder and pulled out the bar & bushing. Not pretty, but it's gone.) I haven't even tried the front yet.

Anybody in the Triangle area got a garage, propane torch to heat bolts, someplace we can make grinder sparks without setting the yard on fire, that would be willing to help for pizza, soda, beer (after!), long-term gratitude?

has been my Main Source of good XJ info for ages now; I was kinda hoping my first face time with y'all would be at a meet-up or wheelin', but it ain't gonna be that way, I guess. Help? Please?

 

[Swamprat]

if you were closer i'd help, but i cant exactly afford to drive all the way to NC

 

[userbmx1315]

were are you located? i dont have a garage but i can usually get my stuff done

 

[katuah]

I'm in Durham, but I'm willing to travel.

 

[shortxjdoug]

id go to home depot and buy a little benzomatic to heat stuff up, its cheap and will do what you need it to.... for extra leverage i use a half moon shaped pipe with a straight piece coming off one end, its actually the old end of an oil rig mooring hook i used to use back in my fishing days... its got enough leverage to snap 1/2 inch ratchets into pieces (ask me how i know ) but because of the shape it fits in and out of the wheel well (read not long and straight, there isnt enough room to swing a long straight cheater bar). dont put the swaybar back on its useless anyway. you WILL break out the shock bolts in the body, take a hammer and punch and knock out the nutcerts and just replace em with regular nuts and bolts, the opening is big enough to get my hands in to thread it. i cant think of anything else that might help at the moment but hopefully that gives you some ideas to get you rollin, any other questions feel free to ask

 

[Cnickgo]

I'm in Cary. Our garage is full right now, but have a torch, a buddy with some serious man power, grinder and space to work.

 

[katuah]

Cnickgo - yeah! Man power, grinder, torch, that oughta cover it. When is good for you? I'm free most of the next two weekends, then I'm busy on weekends until late August. PM me and I can send you my email & number. Thanks!

 

[Jamescad04]

I'm in Charlotte not sure if you wanna come here but I've got air tools no garage but Ive done 2 axle swaps and numerous other jobs in the gravel drive.

 

[Ghost]

Shop in Hartsville that is available but its quite a ways for you. Maybe a wrenchfest here if we could get people to come down. Just a thought. What lift kit?

 

[katuah]

Thanks for the offers, guys. I need to give CNickGo in Cary a call, we've been PMing. We bagged it for last weekend cos of the heat, but if he's still willing (Nick?) I'm game to get started this weekend. Now, if y'all happened to be up this way...

Ghost, it's a Rough Country 4.5", from Grimus/Jason just before he left RC. I couldn't afford RE, and I'm not planning to abuse it too much so hopefully it will hold up. The plan is for more of an expedition type, along the lines of IntrepidXJ's on here. (Of course, plans do change...)