JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING
Four Wheeler|February 2023
I was hoping to pick your brain as to a couple of different builds. I have a '19 Jeep Wrangler JL and a '74 Chevy Blazer. I'm a little baffled as to what to focus on. The '74 full convertible Blazer is my dream vehicle. She's been a long build and now I am thinking of focusing my energy on my wife's '19 Jeep JL. I recently joined a Jeep club and have been going off-road with a few guys. I'm shopping around for lift kits. Would you suggest that my time be spent and focused on the Blazer or enjoy the Jeep? I really can't do both.
JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING

I really would like to install a 3.5-inch lift kit or more on the JL and run 37-inch tires, although I'm considering the Mopar 2.5-inch lift that comes with Fox shocks. What kit would you recommend? We go out once every couple of months. The trails aren't difficult at all, but I would love to have a slightly more capable rig. I also have short man's complex and like a good size lift and tires. The Jeep currently has coil spacers with stock shocks. Any guidance you might have would be amazing. I really value your opinion and I appreciate your help!

It would be hard for us to choose between your dream Blazer and a daily driven Jeep JL. They are very different 4x4s that sound like they have very different uses for you. However, the Jeep will be far more versatile, comfortable, maneuverable, and reliable on- and off-road than the Blazer. Fortunately, the values for older 4x4s like your Blazer have gone up exponentially in the last few years, although that appears to be changing direction yet again.

You might want to consider unloading the Blazer unless you are completely in love with it and can justify owning it. You're already headed in the right direction with the Jeep regarding the small spacer lift. You'll have to decide if you honestly need 37-inch tires for how you use the Jeep. It sounds like you just want 37s

but don't really need them. That big of a tire will significantly affect fuel economy, overall vehicle reliability, and driveability. You'll be far better off checking your short man's complex at the door.

In most cases, 35-inch tires can take the place of 37s for the kind of use you have described. The 35s will also be less detrimental to fuel economy and overall vehicle reliability.

The Mopar (mopar.com) lift could work well in your application. There are many other basic lift kits that would work well, too. Consider a smaller lift than 3.5 inches along with 35-inch tires.

This story is from the February 2023 edition of Four Wheeler.

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This story is from the February 2023 edition of Four Wheeler.

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