Super Swamper,
I wasnt sure what you meant when you asked how much do I have invested in my X. In the swap part or a lifetime total....
But here is a rundown.
I painted it about a year and a half ago... My grandfather in law owns a paint and body shop down here and I worked out a deal with him. They have one of the best painters I have ever seen. He is very meticulous as well. They are not cheap though, If someone just brought a 4 door X in to them and said paint it complete they would charge about $4500 bucks for everything. I stripped the entire truck myself inside and out. I removed everything! Windows, moldings, seals etc...
1) They Installed and uninstalled the windshield, and back 2 quarter panel windows
2) They Shaved all the holes for emblems and body moldings for me.
3) Did all the prep work.
4) Painted, and cleared it.
5) then color sanded it and buffed it.
He only charged me $1700
Next I lifted the truck. A freind of mine owns a big 4X4 shop down here and I went to his house and did some equipment work for him in trade for my lift. So all I paid for the lift was
1)$420 for 2 national soft ride springs,
2)$450 for my Solid axle,
3)$1200 for My swampers and wheels
4)$500 for 4 fox shocks
For a grand total of about $2600 for the lift. They had my truck for over 2 months though.
I later recieved the resevoirs for my shocks as a christmas gift from my mother, and just last month recieved 2 more shocks with resevoirs from her for my birthday, so those didnt cost me anything.
That leaves us with the swap which isnt finished yet but I did make a break down of cost so far in the post somewhere and when It is done I will make a final cost and product review post. So to stop being long winded I would have to say I have about $3300 total without the swap. Not to shabby, the key is doing everything you can yourself.