I just picked up a bone stock 89 Sami. What is a good lift to go with. I would like to run 31's or 33's and still use stock driveshafts and axles, to get started. I'm not looking to build a high end rig, just something to have a little fun with. I would like to keep the cost of the suspension around $800 or less and still be able to drive on road a little.  Any opinions on who and what lift or where to start would be appreciated.

I would probably go with a spring over kit from lowrangeoffroad.com, I have bought quite a bit from them and have been happy so far. that set up should be good for 31's but you will need to regear or you will be miserable with the power. I have a 5-1 low range with 34's that seems ok but I am also gonna swap out the diff gears for 5.12's in the nxt week or so.

Most people would go with a simple spring over axle conversion.  Several people offer kits to help you along.  You need to shop around for your best value.  I could help you with any of your build questions.  We have done several of these conversions over the years. 

Welcome to KCZuks, Wormy!

An SPOA alone will give you enough lift for 31 inch tires.  You can reuse the existing parts and get by for nothing, or buy a kit and spend as much as you want.  Depends how much flex that you want.  Just keep the lift to 6 inches max, or your drive-line angles will be too severe.  Body lifts are inherently evil.  You will have to get new wheels with less offset, or your tires will rub on the springs at full turn, where they could hang up and break an axle or something.

There are yahoos who will break anything, and there are those with the right touch who run amazingly huge tires with a mostly stock drive train.  However, 31 seems to be about the limit for a drive-train that you can beat up confidently with a mostly stock drive train.  I say "mostly" because to run the larger tires with a straight face, you need to gear things down in the transfer-case and/or the differentals.  With stock gears and big tires, it's like starting in second; you can't go slow enough to crawl, and you don't have enough power to use fifth gear.  I'm very happy with my 4.9 t-case and 31s.  I would not want to go any slower in low, and my high ratios are close to stock.  Don't be sucked in by gears that are too low.  You might have to back up in the mud!

soa