Topic: Engine lift; is it a do or a don't ?

[Eucalypta]

Hello Jeepers,

After a very nice weekend Jeeping on the Dutch beaches and dunes, I found out that my complete powertrain has been shifted.
The transmission mount and the passenger side engine mount has been sheered off completely.

It seems that the former owner has installed a budget engine lift of aprox. 1/2". Why he did that is a complete mystery to me; there was no body or spring lift installed, just a minor shackle lift. It was also this budget (very budget indeed) bracket that was corroded away and gave in last weekend.

In the last year, I have lifted the car by 3" body lift and a 2,5" spring lift, also the shackel lift is still in place. The skidplate has been dropped by 1" and the rear axle tilted with a 4 degree shim. With the 1/2" engine lift I had no vibrations in my driveline.
(the mounted 33" tires look small, I have plenty of room between my wheels and fenders)

Now I am going to replace the engine mounts, I have the choice of either bringing the engine back to stock height or installing a full 1" engine lift.

The questions I would like to drop here:
Is an engine lift really helpfull to reduce vibrations in the drive line?
Would a 1" engine lift be too much in combination with the 1" skid plate drop? (the engine will be tilted slightly, will this result in extra wear or vibrations in the engine?)
Does anyone of you have any experience with such setup?

Any other thoughts on this matter that might help me making the right choice? (I know a SYE should do the trick but these cost a fortune in The Netherlands)

Looking forward getting your input.

John

[oldjeep]

1/2" Engine lift should be fine.  Tranny mounts wear out and need to be inspected, especially check that the torque stuf and bushing are still attached to both the trans and skid plate.

The purpose of an engine lift is to eliminate the need for a tcase drop - get rid of the tcase drop, it just reduces ground clearance,

3" body lift is rediculously tall and serves no purpose at all in an offroad rig.  Especially one with tires as small as yours.

[Eucalypta]

1/2" Engine lift should be fine.  Tranny mounts wear out and need to be inspected, especially check that the torque stuf and bushing are still attached to both the trans and skid plate.

The purpose of an engine lift is to eliminate the need for a tcase drop - get rid of the tcase drop, it just reduces ground clearance,

3" body lift is rediculously tall and serves no purpose at all in an offroad rig.  Especially one with tires as small as yours.

Ok, thnx, will take that into account; before the motor mount broke off, I wasn't even aware of the engine lift modification.
I'd love to get rid of the tcase drop!
Didn't dare to install bigger wheels; everyone adviced me against it.
With these 33" x 12,5" I still have enough power to drive on the hightway, using the 5th gear speeding up the Dutch mountains.

[Bounty Hunter]

With only a 2.5" spring kit, I'd bet you could completely remove the 1" transfer case drop, especially if you run a 1" motor mount lift.  A 1" transfer case drop is typically used on a 4" spring kit.

Check out these motor mounts if you haven't already seen them:
http://browndogindustries.com/cu2569-1j-jeep-yj-motor-mount-lifts-rubber.aspx

[aka-justin]

I have the 4" pro comp lift.  All they gave me was the 4 degree shim for the rear axle and the 1" skid plate drop.  Other than that, I did nothing in the way of engine and have had no problems.    I've had no vibrations with the standard slip yoke.  From what I remember, the one inch drop was not necessary for a 2.5" or lower lift.

With that said, I have no body lift, so it may be necessary for that  YMMV  If you know the lift's manufacture, I would read their literature.  

[aw12345]

Well. most Jeepers that get serious about wheelin loose the Transfercase drop since they want all the clearance they can get under the belly. To do that a 1" motormount lift help get the driveline angles where they belong without a transfercase drop. You ever do a bellyup it becomes even more of a necessity

[aka-justin]

Without the 1" tcase drop, but then with a engine lift, is a SYE then needed?

[Bounty Hunter]

Without the 1" tcase drop, but then with a engine lift, is a SYE then needed?

Yes with a 4" kit, not with a 2.5" kit.

[Eucalypta]

  Thnx for your answers. Installation of an engine mount is for me a better sollution; I will get rid of the TCdrop.
To determine if I axtually NEED an engine lift with my setup, I need to know if it is a 2,5" suspensionlift or more....

Because I bought the suspension lift second hand and I get so much more wheel clearance than my buddies (they have also the 3"body lift), plus that this kit came with the TCdrop of 1"; I am unsure if this is a 2,5" lift and not a 4" lift.

Could anyone who has a 2,5" or a 4" suspension lift be so kind to measure the amount of lift? For example between the chassis and the axle?
I could compare this with my car.

[oldjeep]

If you can post a picture of your jeep from the side, it'll be really obvious how much lift it has.

[Eucalypta]

Let's see if this works:

[jfrabat]

If you have a 3" Body lift, it seems to me the suspension lift is only 2.5".  By the way, if I were you, I would consider loosing the BL; the more you lift at the body, the more leverage the bolts that hold the tub have, which means that in an accident, the body could be going one way and the chasis a different one...  I would not advise on anything over 1" for BL (and I dont plan to use a BL at all on my rig!).  I would also try it with the 1" MML and loosing the TC drop kit...

Check out these motor mounts if you haven't already seen them:
http://browndogindustries.com/cu2569-1j-jeep-yj-motor-mount-lifts-rubber.aspx

I run those mounts; they are VERY well made, and seem like they will last longer than the rest of the Jeep.  But if you want to avoid vibrations in the cap, I STRONGLY recommend their soft rubber compund (which is already a bit harder than the stock mounts).  Jeffy also has an article in the FAQ about motor mounts and MML...  I recommend you read it before deciding.

[Eucalypta]

Thnx!

The BL was installed to mount 31"wheels under my stock car. It was a cheap sollution and I was not bothered by any knowledge.
Then after a few months my springs broke and I stumbled upon this suspension lift. Suddenly I could mount 33" wheels.
Thats why the BL is still on it.
Already thinking of taking it out again and lowering the body. Well, one thing at a time; we are still learning and parts are much more expensive in The Netherlands than in the US...

[Bounty Hunter]

When you install the 1" motor mounts and remove the tc drop, take a look at the driveshaft slipyoke where it enters the tailshaft housing of the transfer case.  You will see a shiny area where the slipyoke used to ride inside the housing when the jeep was stock.  This will help you judge how much spline engagement you have inside the slipyoke, you don't want too little of engagement.

[aw12345]

To see if you need an sye all depends on driveline angles and how far the slip yoke sits in the tail of the transfer case.