frame question and suspension question

My frame is rust free... No cracks...But it is twisted...Bent
It is stripped down to the bare frame. My jeep runs a 289 ford so the front cross member has been cut out. a new cross member(2x2 tubing) for the radiator and grill mount has been welded in just forward of the old one. Should I hang the suspention and take it to a frame shop? should
I box the frame before or after it is straitened? Should I even box at all?
I want to put 2.5 lift springs. What suspention kits do you guys like. Should I do a shackle reversal? What parts besides a kit do I need to order?
Thanks for any advice
Eric Haynie

 

Frame must be straigtened before boxing, not after. Ask the frame straightener how complete they want the frame. Do a search on the rest. Been covered over and over..... Nickmil

 

X2

As for whether or not to box it there was a fairly long thread here recently that talked about boxed, unboxed, frame strapping, things like that. Basically it's mostly personal preferance. If you want some frame flex then do not box it, if you want a stiff frame where you suspension does all the work then box it. Strapping is another option that's talked about in that thread, I'll go see if I can find it.

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51468&highlight=frame+strapping

Shackle reversal is another thing that's personal preferance. I don't like it for most of what I do, because without long travel driveshafts it can cause all kinds of problems, but for mostly on the road use it will handle better with the reversal from what I've heard.