[Matt Graham]

O.K. for all you out there with questions about a body lift on a TJ WITH A/C, I just finished mine. All that crap about the air conditioning and you can't do it and stuff like that, it's all a load of bull.
I finished it in five hours. The hardest part- getting the shifters and the linkages to work just right (i'll explain in a minute), the easiest part- the situation with the air conditioning!!!!!
The deal with the A/c is there are two AC lines that go though the core support, there is a plenty big enough hole for them to go through, but the passenger side bracket for the radiator has a notch for them, when the body is lifted, the lines come up with the body, which is fine but the notch in the radiator has to be lengthened to allow for the additional height of 3". That whole part took all of 15 minutes.
So the instructions were pretty good, except for the way they want you to extend your gas tank filler hoses, and there instructions for the transfer case shift linkages. As for the gas tank stuff, There are two hoses, one big, one small. For the big one, they send you some pipe and hose clamps, and that works perfect. For the small one, they send a completely new hose. I could not for the life of me get it to go on the neck of the gas tank, so I got some pipe just like for the big pipe they sent for the big hose, and did the exact same thing with hose clamps. As for the shift linkages, the only thing they don't tell you is that the two linkage rods have to be extended. I used a bolt for each, cut the linkage and welded the bolt inbetween. It worked just fine. After we were finished, I had to move the console back 1/2" to allow clearance in 2nd, reverse, and 5th. They also don't tell you you have to do just a bit of trimming on the floor pan to keep the shifter from hitting the floor in 2nd gear.
Overall I was very satisfied by how easy it was, compared to some body lifts I've installed, it was very easy.
All this may not be new info for everyone, but I've yet to see someone talk about 3" body lift on a TJ that they actually installed himself and knew what they were doing. So,

FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT THINK PUTTING A 3" BODY LIFT ON A TJ IS NOT A GOOD IDEA OR THINK IT WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS OR THAT THERE ARE ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS AT ALL, NOTHING GETS ALL STRETCHED OUT, NOTHING IS UNSAFE, YOUR AIRBAG LIGHT ISN'T GONNA COME ON OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND SAY THAT IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

I do realize if I had the money and could afford a suspension lift then that would be the way to go, but hey $99 and 4 or 5 hours and I've got 3"!! another $99 an and hour or two and I can put the 1 3/4" coil spacers on and have 5"!!! All for under $200!! So for all those TJers out there on a budget trying to get it up in the air- what's up!!

(if anyone would like to see pictures, I have 25 or so of them during the lift installation of all the major steps). Just e-mail me. mattnreni44@aol.com

[mytjnamedrex]

great, only problem is the hideous gaps!! Also a BL is for a little more clearance while flexing but since you have stock suspension it isnt gonna flex enough to be useful anyway. Post some pics from all angles and then ill post pics w/ suspension and i guarantee you will see a difference. Also 3" BL w/ AC isnt uncommon not flaming but you didnt discover gold

[Matt Graham]

Now don't get me wrong, by no means do I think that a body lift is superior to any kind of suspension lift. The point I wanted to make is that on this entire jeep forum, I've yet to witness anyone write about an actual hands on experience with a 3" BL, the key being 3", on a TJ with A/C (I know it's been done, just never heard anyone here talk about it from personal experience). Before I did mine, I'd loved to have talked to someone who has installed one themselves. I do agree that the gaps aren't the most attractive thing in the world, but there are sacrifices that some of us have to make. As to stock suspension not flexing enough to be useful anyway- a TJ with stock suspension and disconnected swaybars is far superior to the majority of four wheel drive vehicles in stock condition! And, my 31x10.50's won't scrub now at full flex, where they would before. But, again, I just wanted to make the point that the Air Conditioning is nothing to keep someone from putting on the 3", because no one in my town has one, and I couldn't find anyone in the forum who has.

Thanks for the reply though & happy jeep'n

[saharajeepn]

I had a 97 that had the same sus. as the one I've got now.It was done by the original owner I wonder if he was the one that found the GOLD I wondered the same as you why they didn't offer a BL with air cause I had one with a BL & air so I knew it could be done so I did my 98 myself. That was my .02 worth.P.S.It don't look that bad either but I use my jeep anyway I don't care what it looks like.