Sounds to me like you got a fun project! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For someone like you who knows what the hell they are doing and can really work with their hands, the Sportage is a fun project. The more handy you are the more fun it can get <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I dunno how much money you are looking to spend for a lift, but for $100 you can get some spacers that lift the front about 3" and then you find some Jeep TJ rear springs to put in the rear, that should lift the rear maybe 3-4" I think?

There's more to it though, you need longer rear shocks when you do the lift, if you use TJ springs then you can use RAV4 rear shocks, but you will need an adapter sleeve as they are different thread... I think...

That's the cheap way to get it lifted and there's nothing wrong with doing it that way. However if you are picky there is a full kit for $750 from RSG that includes more parts and is more like a 4" lift, and comes with everything you need, takes all the guesswork out of it.

There is also a guy who makes 1.4" body lift pucks if you are interested in that, to help clear larger tires, but you will be hard pressed to run any larger than 31" tires even if you do the suspension lift and the body lift. But again that depends on how handy you are, if you don't mind some sawzall customization of the body sheetmetal... However you will run into the issue of it being too underpowered to turn really big tires, with the stock gearing, so most people don't try to go bigger than 31" tires.

Anyway I'm just kind of rambling but welcome, it's nice to see someone new join the club, especially someone who has skills with the wrenching...