Lift kit price comparison

[IFORDJC]

I have been battling which lift kit to buy. I am still not sure on what brand or size. I have read a lot on Mud about different comparisons but nothing too much about price. Maybe I didn't search hard enough.
I broke down the price for a full 2.5 inch lift kit. I used the ManaFre Old Man Emu Deluxe Lift kit as the basis because it had the most items. I took three other company’s lift kits and added what was needed to finish the kit. I did use CCOT prices to finish the kits which might throw off the comparison a little. I did not add in Shims or extended brake lines into the price but I attached it at the bottom for your SA. Four inch lift kits were usually about the same price or as much as $100 more.
So after looking at the numbers I am really torn. I have read a lot of positives on each lift kit and still can’t decide between HFS, EMU, and **** Creek. The EMU would be great to buy all from the same place. I personally eliminated SOR because the Ca sales tax is astronomical

CoolCruisers.com
HFS 2.5 inch lift $1129.47 to $1217.12
(2ea) CCOT-HFS-40F Front Leaf Springs
(2ea) CCOT-HFS-40R Rear Leaf Springs
(2ea) HFS4055875 HFS Front Shocks w/ Boots
(2ea) HFS4055620 HFS Rear Shocks w/ Boots
(24ea) Poly Spring Bushings
(8) U-Bolts - Yellow Zinc w/Nuts & Washers, Front & Rear Axles

Still Need
Shackle - Tri - Kit - 4ea - Greasable - 58-7/80 - Series 40/45
$194.83

Spring Hanger Pin - Greasable - 1ea - 58-7/80 – Aussie
$18.95 each $75.80 for 4

Steering Stabilizer - HFS w/Decal & Boot - HD - FJ40/45/55
$96.52

Total CCOT cost $1497.63


Man-a-fre.com
Old Man Emu Basic Kits $901
4 Old Man Emu light load leaf springs
4 Old Man Emu Nitrocharger shock absorbers
16 Man-A-Fre polyurethane spring bushings.

Still need (priced from CCOT)
Steering Stabilizer 96.52
Shackles $194.83
Spring Hanger Pin $75.80
8 Poly Bushings Bushings-Poly-Aussie-12ea-18mm Pins-Black $44.73
8 Ubolts U Bolts Set of 8 - Front & Rear Axles - 61-7/'80 - FJ40 BJ40 $89.71

Total Basic EMU Kit cost $1402.59


Old Man Emu Deluxe 2.5 lift kit $1295
4 Old Man Emu light load leaf springs
4 Old Man Emu Nitrocharger shock absorbers
16 Man-A-Fre polyurethane spring bushings.
8 MAF polyurethane upper shackle bushings
4 of our 4+PLUS extreme anti-Inversion greaseable shackles
4 MAF greaseable spring pins
8 U-bolts
Old Man Emu steering dampener

Total Old Man Emu Deluxe cost $1295


Hellcreek.com
Lift Kit $636.62
Front & rear springs
front & rear U-bolts
16 poly bushings
4 Hydro shocks

Still need(priced from CCOT)
Steering Stabilizer 96.52
Shackles $194.83
Spring Hanger Pin $75.80
8 Poly Bushings Bushings-Poly-Aussie-12ea-18mm Pins-Black $44.73

Total **** Creek Kit cost $1048.50


SOR.com
$1084
4 Heavy Duty Leaf Springs
4 Explorer Pro-Comp Extended Shocks
4 Anti-Inversion Zinc Plated Tri-Shackles
24 Graphite Impregnated Poly Bushings
8 UBolt with washer & nut Does NOT come with shock boots

4 Shock Boots $19.96


Still need(priced from CCOT)
Steering Stabilizer 96.52
Spring Hanger Pin $75.80

Total SOR Kit cost $1276.28



SS Brake Line Kit 7/70-8/75 FJ40 $69.95

Shims ~ Spring ~ HFS ~ Pair HFS$17.83

 

[fieldsken1]

the most complete kit come from man a fre its the rock crawler kits. SAFARI SUSPENSION SYSTEMS FJ40 4-INCH ROCK CRAWLER KI has everything you will ever need or want

 

[Bodean]

One place you can save some money is the steering stabilizer. Mine is from NAPA and it wasn't $96.52. Are you changing the spring hangar pins because you want to change to greasable pins? You can re use the stock pins. There are several shackle options out there as well. Heck, build em if you can.

We have a bunch of guys in our club running the Hell Creek 4" kit with no problems. Just my .02.

 

[tincherb]

I just bought the hell creek 4" for my '69. I don't know how much you value service, but the gentleman I spoke with (Tom?) was top notch. Seems like he would do anything to keep you satisfied with the product. Also energy suspension has the bushing for much cheaper than $44 bucks. I think its like 20. The part number is 8.2105.

 

[Sea Knight]

the most complete kit come from man a fre its the rock crawler kits. SAFARI SUSPENSION SYSTEMS FJ40 4-INCH ROCK CRAWLER KI has everything you will ever need or want

What he said. This is a high quality kit from Man-A-Fre.

If you aren't in a hurry, MAF is pretty close to releasing a new FJ40 4+ suspension that supposedly will provide a great ride. There's a thread about it here somewhere. Or PM lcwizard (Dave Gore) for details. Dave builds all the 4+ products for MAF.

If you decide to go with Hell Creek, don't buy their shocks. Buy Bilsteins and don't look back.

 

[JasonH]

Call Jacque at TRDparts4U.com and ask about the OME Dakar setup.

 

[help wanted]

Why not the Rough Country 4" complete lift kit with shocks? Easily found in 5 to 6 hundred dollar range.

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Ditto on the Hell Creek. Love mine - both sizes. Yes, Tom is great to work with.

What size tires are you planning on? You may not need new shackles if you're going to a 33 x 10.50. If you're planning on 35's, you need the 4" kit and +1.5" shackles if you're going to wheel it. I have no experience with anti-inversion shackles and have never had that issue.

I was convinced all I needed was 33 x 10.50's so I got the 2.5" lift and kept my stock shackles. After one wheeling trip, it was obvious I had made a huge $$$ mistake. If I wanted to keep up with my clubmates, I needed 35's. Luckily I found someone who needed the lift and tires so I could go 4" with +1.5" shackles and 35 x 12.50's. I could have saved myself swapping springs if I had gone 4" and stock shackles with 33 x 10.50's to begin with. Lesson learned. Check the CCOT site for lots of good pics of 4" lifts running 33" tires. Its a good look and all you need to move up to 35's is shackles and maybe brake lines.

By the way, I bought my +1.5" ConFerr shackles gently used from MUD or ebay for a third the cost of new.

Good luck with your project.

 

[IFORDJC]

Thanks for the input. I had not seen the Manafre Rock Crawler Kit. It certainly does have everything and then some.

Hell Creek definitly looks like a deal and another great product. I'm sure I couldn't go wrong with either Hell Creek or OME.

Great pic of the CH-46D. My dad flew 46Ds I should change my screen name to "Phrog Man" as I am a 46E pilot stationed at Miramar. I am on work ups with the 13th MEU and actually go on the boat in two days for a few weeks. I am trying to find the time between family and work to put my cruiser together before the six month float. I hope to have the suspension done before I am gone.

 

[crotalusatrox]

there are a couple of ways to get free shipping and save min $150.00

 

[tmarx]

Hell Creek 4"