A common way to lift your Scout is Add-a-leafs.The princple is to insert a higher arched leaf into the spring pack.The manufacturers advertise 2 inches of lift. I have found the extra leaf to only lift the truck about an inch. I have seen some lift only 3/4 of an inch.The benifits are relitivly low cost, higher load capacity and lifting sagging springs.
Shackles are an inexpencive way to lift your Scout but discression must be used. A advertised two inch lift shackle will only lift your Scout one inch.The reason is due to the fact that only one end of the spring is being lowered.Never use a shackle more than two inches longer than stock. Shackles that are too long will cause handleing problems such as wandering and execive body sway. Installing longer than stock shackles on the front springs will cause a reduction of caster. The less caster in your front end , the less your truck will track straight. Desert Steel and Drivegaurd are two companies that make a shackle lift that has a provision for the front stabilizer bar.Con-Ferr and Trans-Dapt also makes quality shackle lifts.
Body Lift's A very popular way to lift Scouts is a body lift. Put simply a spacer between the frame and body that raises the body higher. Most body Lift kits are the same.That is because there is only a few companies that make the spacers.One company Performance Accessories makes the lift for Superlift ,Skyjacker,Rough Country and others.Do not use a body lift unless your body mounts are solid or get them repaired. Using this type of lift puts more leverage on your body mounts.These lifts do raise the center of gravity but due to the drivetrain and frame staying down the center of gravity is not as high as if the suspension were lifted.A suspension lift raises the center of gravity more because the whole truck is higher not just the body. A few notes for installing a Body lift *Read an follow all instructions provided with kit *To retain your fan shroud you can make drop down brackets,or cut your shroud in half and remove the lower section to cleer the fan which now sits lower in the radiator. *Notch your firewall for better steering angle *When using a 3" lift loosen the two bolts under the dash holding the column in place and push the column towards the steering box.Retighten the bolts.What this does is "force" an angle in the steering shaft u-joint and reduce the angle in the rag-joint. *Check body mount bolts a few days after installing lift and retighten. *Automatic Scouts will not need to worry about the trans cable it has enough slack. * The transfer case shift lever will need to be bent or the shift plate needs to be notched for full operation. *Scouts with manual transmissions will have their clutch pedal rod lenghtend. Extra rod should come in the kit.