I have a stock 86 sammy tin top, and i just need to seperate some fact from fiction. I heard that you can do the RUF converstion, with your stock rear springs obviously, and then use jeep XJ springs in the back without any modifications, is this true? Also I am only lifting this sammy for snow and showing off no mud bogs or crawling, what steering correction is best Hi-steer or z-link? Lastly I would like to just run 33's so what gearing would I need? I have heard you can run stock gears but dont expect to get anywhere on the highway which isnt a big deal but I may have to get to work in the snow, so any help would be Awesome thanks guys!

Don't know about XJ's in the rear. I am guessing they would be longer and you would need to run Missing Link shackles. I have a RUF but used 2" Calamini springs in the rear. XJ's might be wider than the stock Sammi spring to.

Hi steer is always gonna be a better set up than a Z-Link. With a Z-link the cost is less but sometimes other issues such as the dreaded death wobble appear.

If you do the RUF lift you won't have to use either. I didn't but I do use a 3" drop pitman arm. Folks always tell me it isn't necessary but my steering is perfectly in line with never a hint of wobble down the highway at 70. I also added 1.5 drive-shaft spacers front and rear because of the new amount of flex that the change of springs provided.

Gearing will be your preference. I ran stock gear with 34's on the road until I ran across a used set of 5:12 / 5:13 3rds and a used 6:5:1 transfer case. Around town it ran fine with the stock gears. On the highway you will not be able to use your 4th gear.

So if I do a RUF lift plus a SPOA, I wont need any steering correction? Or just the RUF lift. I'm just trying to test the waters and find out the easiest way and well safest, to lift my sammy on 33's without doing any trimming. Would I be able to run them on a 4.5 in lift from lowrange?

No, any type of SPOA and you will need to make steering changes. Full high steer is the best recommended set up for a SPOA. Then 1/2 high steer. and lastly Z-link

Your original question indicated RUf, and not Ruff SPOA.

Ok, thanks so what about the SPOA and clearing 33's? I dont want to cut anything I like the way it looks with the stock fender flares can I run only a 4.5 lift or do I more?

I might be wrong but I think 4.5" will clear 31's, to clear 33's without cutting I think you would need more. I guess you could limit all your up travel or put really stiff springs on to limit travel, but that would suck.

SPOA / RUF will clear 33's

SPOA / YJ's will clear 33's

01 CalTaco is correct straight up SPOA will clear 31's

Ok great thanks guys! So the only thing I really else i need to know are what are some other rear spring options, that will just bolt straight up?

Jeep CJ Front springs are the same width as Samurai springs, so you can swap them in the back without to much effort.

But they are longer, so you either need to build new mounts or do a bit of other work to make everything line up again.  Same with the RUF conversion, you need to either need to extend your front and rear mounts 1.5" both ways or slide your shock 1.5" further forward and your front spring mount 1.5" forward.  Or go with a folding shackle setup.