Do a Body Lift on a Cj7 Jeep
Doing a body lift on a Cj7 Jeep refers to the process of raising the truck's body to increase maneuverability. The procedure is not complicated, and anyone with a little bit of automotive know-how can accomplish this modification on their own. Follow these steps for how to do a body lift on a Cj7 Jeep.
Steps
- Apply a rust remover/inhibitor to the bolts which hold the body to the frame following the manufacturer's instructions regarding advance application.
- Arrange all of the tools and components needed for the installation in an organized fashion.
- Park the vehicle on a surface without an incline and brace all four of the tires for stability.
- Remove the front and rear bumpers.
- Detach the overfill reservoir from the coolant system.
- Dislodge the nuts from the fan shroud and the radiator and remove the fan shroud.
- Allow the radiator to lean toward the fan.
- Unscrew all of the mounting bolts, partially but do not completely remove them.
- Dislodge the mounting bolts on the passenger side, completely and remove the only bolt from the middle of the front end.
- Situate several hunks of 2 by 4 (5.08 by 10.16 cm) lumber on the jack and then carefully raise the truck's body from the frame.
- Insert the passenger side discs from the lift kit and the replacement nuts but do not fully tighten the nuts.
- Lower the jack slowly, confirming that the nuts are only partially installed.
- Dislodge the screws which hold the gas cap piece to the outer shield of the gas tank and remove the outer shield.
- Replace the lid to the gas tank after removing the outer shield.
- Locate the transfer case and dislodge the nuts which attach it to the shifter.
- Dislodge the rod which connects the steering knuckles and the box.
- Replace the jack extenders and raise the driver's side to insert the driver's side discs.
- Dismount the gas filler hose and block the gaps with scrap pieces of cloth.
- Trim the filler hose at the center and install the hose lengthener with the brackets from the kit but do not over tighten the brackets.
- Reinstall the filler hose and replace the gas tank shield.
- Shift the transfer case to its new position and insert the remounting clamps.
- Insert the clamp which elevates the steering link.
- Install the clips that allow coolant system repositioning.
- This system, including the radiator, fan and shroud, will be lowered.
- Reinstall the fan shroud and the overfill reservoir once the coolant system has been relocated.
- Secure the bumpers and all of the nuts which mount the body to the frame and ensure that they are properly tightened.
Tips
- Installing a lift kit will reduce wear on the mountings, which join the body to the frame, especially when taking the vehicle off-road.
- An alternative to wood for adding height to the jack is to stack slabs of cinder block.
- When elevating the jack, be sure that your concrete or wood blocks are placed firmly on center.
- You will need a ratchet extender to access the mounting bolt near the suspension system.
Warnings
- Be very mindful of the hazardous conditions created by dislodging the shield from the gas tank. Do not smoke, or engage in any other activity that could generate sparks, during this portion of the procedure.
- Never put your fingers in the gap created by the jack when the body is raised.
