The body lift is in the mail and I'm already thinking about doing a suspension lift. Maybe after I battle the body lift my spirit will be down enough that the suspension lift can wait until Spring.

I've spent so much time going through previous posts on body lifts and have found out a lot of great information, the search function on this forum is great compared to some others. Still I have a few questions that I'm hoping you all can help with.
1) With a manual transmission on a 1991 trooper will it be neccessary to weld in an extender? I've read a little bit about this and was wondering if it was true and why?

2) The radiator will either need to be relocated or the fan housing cut so that the radiator will move up with the body, which of these two is better? If the rad is lowered will it hang out the bottom? What about the radiator plumbing?

3) I've read a bit about oil coolers on the 2.8l's. Is this a stock option? Where would I even look to see if there is one? When I picked up my trooper the previous owner had a rebuilt engine installed, it looks to me like there is plumbing for an oil cooler in my engine compartment but the plumbing must not be hooked up because they just end, and are not hooked up to anything. At first I thought it was part of the AC system because the plumbing was aluminium. I'll try to take pictures of this and post them to clarify. Anyway, I'm really just more curious about the location of an oil cooler and what would have to be done to prevent the lines from being damaged during the lift?

4) What about the exhaust? I admitt I haven't looked at it in detail yet but as I'm sitting here thinking of potential snags it seems to me like this might be one. It hangs off the body, so are there just extended hangers to keep it all straight? Or is the body lifted and the exhaust bent? Maybe this is a stupid question but hey, I just don't know.

When I start this project I'll post some pictures and likely have more questions, and found solutions.

Thanks for all your help!

JTW

I'll assume you are doing a 3" BL since that is the standard kit size.

The shifters need to be extended because the body is now 3" further away from the transmission/t-case. You may have to do some bending the shifters as well, or cutting to the tranny tunnel, or both.

Its "better" to lower the radiator down and keep the full shroud than cut out the shroud. I know several people have gotten by with mutilating the shroud; but its really not much work to just drop the radiator.

The exhaust is hung from the frame, not the body... or at least it should be.

Re the radiator, I was planning on dropping it down because the kit comes with hardware for that. I just wanted to know what other people have done and how it worked out for them.

You're right, it is a 3" body lift. If you cut away a bit of the tranny tunnel is there a boot that will fit over it that some people have used in the past? Or if I do that will I just be modifying mine... somehow?

Thanks for your input. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

For real? One reply? You guys, I know lots of you have done this before and have some expertise to share. Why so shy? I thought this forum would be much more active, aside from a hilarious haircut thread... I'm here trying to learn from the wealth of expertise on this site.

You can keep the stock Shifter boots if you just cut and weld you shfiters and DONT mod any of the sheet metal. I got in a hurry and cut some of the sheet metal out around the Tranny shifter.
--> Dont worry about the slave cylinder relocate, unless your is some how short.
--> Drop the Radiator down it take 10 to 15 min with the supplied brackets.
--> B&M makes a Universal Shift boot that you bolt down. If not, one from an older Ford, The big Boots get it with the mounting plate.
--> The Bumper Brakets are a Friggin Joke. I wouldnt Bother with them. If you want to Push the Bumper up to match the BL make some brakets that are built to put weight on. You cant even step on them and they break....No Towing either. Thats why I left mine alone and bolted the bumpers back to stock location.
--> BE sure you keep an eye on all your hoses, cables, connections. Take the battery out and IF you have a ground on the battery box disconnect it ahead of time just in case yours in shorter in length. Watch the Brake line on the left front. It will extend as you lift the drivers side of the Trooper. Watch the Vacuum lines ( if you have them ) on the Passenger side of the Trooper too, some may get tight.
--> Keep the Doors shut.
--> The rear area of the Trooper has 4 skinny mounts in the kit, watch for the 2 of them that maybe hidden on your Trooper. Mine were because I didnt have enough light too see them well. and almost gave up on the whole thing.
--Use the Red LocTite

PM me if you need any more info.

Robbie

Thanks so much!

Alright, the kit is here and work starts Saturday... Wish I had tomorrow off, I'd start then. I'll try and put together a bit of a write up as I go, with pictures. I think I'll be pretty much doing this alone so I'm a little freaked out, but I've never turned down a good project. The trooper will be in the garage for 2-3 weeks I think, not just for this but I plan on fixing some rust issues as well. I'm hoping it will all turn out real nice in time for some canadian west coast winter wheel'n. Anyone in the Vancouver area that can turn a wrench?? I think this is going to be a fun weekend.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

PS, UPS can kiss my a**. Last two things I've got from the US I've paid double the shipping just for the brokerage fee. Fedex doesn't even charge this. Shipping was $40, which is normal. COD when the package showed was $62.01... Brokerage. Same when my Holley TBI showed, paid an extra $57 to UPS. I honestly can't believe it. I want to order much more stuff from indy4x, but MIGHT have to look north of the boarder to avoid this killer UPS a** pounding.

You might want to talk with Matt before you just give up like that. While it might be and probably is easier for him to ship UPS, he might be willing to do something special for you. He's a great guy and is willing to work with you if you give him the chance. So just talk to him and I'm sure he'll help you out. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

I've learned my lesson, took me two times, but I wont be paying to ship anything UPS again.


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />