[hum0002]

Hi All,

As stated I am very new the the Vitaras but need a little bit of help/advice!!
Very shortly I will be getting a Vitara either a SWB 1.6L EFI or LWB 2.0L EFI between the years of 1990 - 1997, and there in lies my first dilemma! My second dilemma is do I get an AUTO or a MANUAL??

I will be using the car as a daily drive (work is currently a 5 min drive from home but may change to a 30 min commute shortly) with the goal of going 4wding on a regular basis (ever second week), and with the right accessories I would like to be able to to keep up, if not show up my mates with Hilux's and Cruisers. Atm it just myself and my girlfriend with no plans of children in the near future but for me atm the Suzi its more or a 4x4 with the reliability of getting to and from work.

I am sure that you answer a lot of questions regarding these two questions so any links or just advise on which size Vitara and transmission would be a better option for me and 4wding would be very much appreciated.


Cheers Sean

[DarkHorse]

Welcome!

Interesting choice - are these just two you've found for sale?

The 2.0L motor is a pretty decent improvement over the 1.6, although some of that extra power will be eaten up by the heavier LWB body. To be honest I don't think there's enough difference for it to really be a deciding factor, especially if the choice is also between SWB and LWB - this will be a far more important consideration, so pick which body you want rather than which engine.

As a daily I reckon a LWB would be better, and if it involves traffic you'll probably want an auto. I hate autos, and will never willingly buy one, but the Vit auto is apparently very good on and off road.

The other consideration if you want to keep up with the big trucks is mod-ability, and the 1.6s have a fair advantage here, there is more aftermarket options. A lot can still be done with the 2L, but it generally involves a bit more work. All depends how far you want to go with it though.

Hope some of that helps.

[MacDaddy]

So you want a good daily, and regular off roader, tough choice... if you ever want to go camping, and be able to take everything you want, without putting stuff on the roof, then the LWB is the choice, you could sleep in the LWB if you wanted too... the LWB will be better as a daily...

It depends how hard you want to push it when you go offroad, as to SWB or LWB, as said, there are more mods for the SWB, if you want to do a fair few mods, and go hard... but if you just want to do the regular mods, to make it more capable, without being an offroad weapon, then the LWB is the better choice... but if you want a daily and a off roader, i wouldnt mod it to heavily anyway... the SWB and LWB both have advantages and disadvantages off road...

Just one thing about the 2L V6, it did have a few problems, if you can, make sure it has been serviced regularly, and make sure you are able start it from cold, like overnight cold, and listen for timing chain rattle, and for how long it rattles, as that can be a very expensive fix...

As for Man V's Auto, they both have their advantages and disadvantages... as for me, i would NEVER own an auto, we have two GV's in my family, mine is Manual, my mothers is auto, and i hate the auto, it doesnt have the poke or fuel economy of a Manual... also, the Auto's can overheat if off roading hard, and may begin to slip, so you may need to look at an oil cooler if you want to go hard with an auto...

There are lots of things for you to consider...

[hum0002]

Thanks guys really appreciate the help! Yea I think the thing that was swaying me most was the fact that there a lot more accessories available for the 1.6l !

I would much prefer a manual but from what I have read on the net the autos are more capable off road with the right mods. The space isn't a massive issue as I've owned a couple of small 2 door cars before, I guess in the end it's more of a question of which will be more capable and give me the least amount of troubles off road!? As I will be trying to keep the Suzi as a toy even if I get a new car or motorbike!!

Thanks again for the advise! Any other points of view would be just gravy.

[got_bar_work]

If ur taking ur gf camping I would go a lwb
The only thing the swb has on the lwb is ramp over angle
That about the only thing that stops my car all the time
On steep hills the lwb feels alot more stable
I would go the 2l with 5:12 diffs and 31's
I have a manual and if I was to do it again I would go a auto
The only thing that a 1.6 has over the 2l is calmini rear axels
But u could get Joe to make full floating rear which will be 10x better

[hum0002]

Thanks got_bar_work, I appreciate the advice. I was leaning towards a LWB a couple of weeks back but this with the available accessories and parts the SWB might be the better option.

The plan is to add alterego 4.5" spring lift, 31" mud tyres, bullbar (possibly ARB bar) and rear bar prob Calmini and eventually ARB diff locks but possibly lockrite diff but not sure about the diffs yet either.

[tombutt]

I would go a long wheel base 2l with diff gears as stated and 29's or 30 ish sorta tyres and really there isn't much more out there for a swb over a long 2l bar work is props the only thing and dual batts both of which can be custom made at a later date and may still be cheaper then buying stuff from the states ad that's where most of the bar work comes from

As for 1.6 vs 2l I've driven darkhorses lwb 1.6 and I've got a 2l lwb and I'm quite happy to pay the extra rego how guys are driving those cars are beyond me it would drive me crazy the constant having to change gears for even a slight hill I think the main advantage with the 2l is more power but also the diff gearing that's so easy to do

[Built4thrashing]

Are you talking abour the 2ltr 4cly or the 2.0 V6. The J20 (4cly) is a sweet little motor and really doesnt need anything done to it. The early 2.0 V6 did have a few issues early on and so fixes are available. Id choose the LWB for the extra room. There is a LWB Vit in the 4sale section. Ollies is selling it. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=32173

[twitchy]

Have found parts for the V6s at bloody good prices now & am looking at another LWB Vitara since the missus wants to go back to work.......

Hum002, Couldn't find anything on the Alterego site for zooks, just remember if your going big lift to drop the diff as well so you don't eat CVs for brekky..

[got_bar_work]

I dont think that kit would get passed in aus
The strut adaptor looks a bit to booty fab to be droven on the road

[Gwagensteve]

X2. looks to be too much bootyfab in the altered ego kit.

Autos are far more capable off road, with or without mods.

On road, and on fast dirt a manual might be preferable, but off road there's no comparison - autos offer more control.

Steve.

[MacDaddy]

Built4thrashing wrote:

Are you talking abour the 2ltr 4cly or the 2.0 V6. The J20 (4cly) is a sweet little motor and really doesnt need anything done to it. The early 2.0 V6 did have a few issues early on and so fixes are available. Id choose the LWB for the extra room. There is a LWB Vit in the 4sale section. Ollies is selling it. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=32173

Yep, the, 2L V6 had a few problems... the 2L 4cyl is a beast !

[hum0002]

Cheers lads!

Anyone know how the 3" lift from Alterego is? Is running that and a 2" body lift a better option?

[swifty_ano]

Why so high? You are much better off learning what's needed for your terrain first. So I would drive the car a lot and then decided what you need.
I personally would go 3" calmini super articulation kit? Proven numerous times to be extremely effective. Only common known problem is the shocks/ struts. Replace the struts with oem and shocks with commodore shocks and you have one hell of a suspension kit.
Check out Atari4x4's silver princess. I believe he has plenty of pictures in there

Plus the calmini is only $1000. Plus few hundred in shipping and taxes.

Last quote I got from altered ego was $1200 just in shipping haha

[twitchy]

swifty_ano wrote:

Why so high? You are much better off learning what's needed for your terrain first. So I would drive the car a lot and then decided what you need.
I personally would go 3" calmini super articulation kit? Proven numerous times to be extremely effective. Only common known problem is the shocks/ struts. Replace the struts with oem and shocks with commodore shocks and you have one hell of a suspension kit.

If you are going for a lift why would you run standard length struts???????? unless they are to long from factory that wouldn't that negate the extra travel

[sogone]

I think he meant ome

[hum0002]

What model Commodore shocks should I be using? Front or rear?
Also what body lift blocks should I be using?

[swifty_ano]

Mate look in the business section just_cruising makes a good quality kit.
As for comodore shocks. Do a search for "commodore shocks" and there is a mega thread with all your information you need.

[got_bar_work]

Id wait and do a bit more reserch be for going all out and getting a fancy kit
If u plan on doing any camping then both kits are no good with out replacing most of the kit
The coils are to soft to carry any load and the struts are crap
The only things u cant get are the front arms
Which r not realy needed. there has been plenty of vits with 3 in lift with stock arms
No body make 3 in rear coills that are any good so u need to go custom
Commo shocks are ok if ur light but are to soft if u have alot of load in the car
The quality of ome struts have gone out the window

[twitchy]

Has anyone tried these>>>>> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 513wt_1396

While we are at it with the lift kits I take it all you need is a good camber to bolt to to keep the alignment correct? However would the wheel track you loose be worth going the longer control arms??????
Just want to make sure I can make the right decision to get mine spot on when I do it!!

[got_bar_work]

U can drill and weld a plate on the back bolt of the rear arms to get the track back as well as push the wheel forward
Also needed to fit a stub axle on the rhs so u can lhs cv on both sides

[twitchy]

got_bar_work wrote:

U can drill and weld a plate on the back bolt of the rear arms to get the track back as well as push the wheel forward
Also needed to fit a stub axle on the rhs so u can lhs cv on both sides

Thanks champ, this stuff is all good to know so I can do it once & properly!!

[bailey08]

got_bar_work wrote:

U can drill and weld a plate on the back bolt of the rear arms to get the track back as well as push the wheel forward
Also needed to fit a stub axle on the rhs so u can lhs cv on both sides

google hagen mod