Your local guy needs a new career.
Ask any number of people who have built the WJ's and see what the people who've been there have to say. It can be done and is well worth the time and effort if done right.
About the lift, a lot of it depends on a lot of different things.
There's really no lift that is going to ride like all stock. Some are better than others, some are total garbage and a waste of money. So first, better quality is generally going equal better ride, not always, but generally.
Different lifts do different things, as in 4" lift Brand A will be totally different that Brand B and so on, along with the fact that a short arm lift will ride and act differently than a long arm lift. There's too many pros and cons to get into here. A lot of it is personal preference, some people swear by long arms, some people swear at long arms and the same holds true for short arms.
There's a lot of questions to decide long before you shop for a lift.
- What is your budget?
- Are you going to have the lift installed or DIY?
- What is the ratio of on vs. off-road driving you plan?
- What type of off-road terrain do expect to spend the majority of your time in?
- What other mods that affect the weight and balance of the rig do you have planned?
- What is more important: The look or the performance?
- What on and off-road ride quality are you after?
- Do you want a low center of gravity set up or are you after height?
- Finally, what type and size tires do you plan on running? (Ask most of the same questions when buying tires too)
That should get you started
Look at some of the differences in lift manufacturers and component quality; long vs. short arm; materials such as rubber vs. poly bushings; control arm ends like johnny joint, solid, heim and others; shocks like gas, oil or springover; and the list goes on and on.
Basically do a lot of research, ask a lot of questions, ride and drive some lifted WJ's if you can get the opportunity, remember that brand name does not always equal the best, you don't necessarily have to buy a complete kit from one manufacturer, piecing it out will more often than not get you the lift and ride quality you're after and more importantly, take your time, be patient and do it right the first time. You won't be disappointed.
I've also heard a rumor that you may know someone who is handy with tools and maybe, just maybe, might possibly know what he's talking about, maybe
Make him earn his keep!
Finally, beer and pizza buys a lot of great advice and hands on help
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