[The Saint of Killers]

Steve,

I'll meet you halfway.
Carb and cam and exhaust for a reasonable price.

[The Saint of Killers]

Also,

Could you let me know what ignition system you recommend?


Lets get onboard team! Haha

[MrRocky]

The exception doesnt make the rule haha
Simply owning a car is different to driving it
Heres to hoping you prove the exception

[The Saint of Killers]

Hahaha,

You can't bet with hope, I want money down!
May the odds be forever in my favour

Have a good Saturday night man!

[vet 180]

Just drive the damn thing as it is. Get to the limits of the car then post on here those limits and work out appropriate mods. Also, you haven't come back with the tyre size on the car currently.

[The Saint of Killers]

Driven it for a year and now I'm building it.

215 75 15s are what's on it

[The Saint of Killers]

Thats what 28inch
I'm guessing the suggestion will be to fit larger

[Gwagensteve]

215 75 15 is the largest tyre that fits with no scrubbing (irrespective of suspension lift) and the larger tyre that’s practical with standard gearing.

[The Saint of Killers]

Gwagensteve wrote:

215 75 15 is the largest tyre that fits with no scrubbing (irrespective of suspension lift) and the larger tyre that’s practical with standard gearing.

Good to know! Thanks Steve!

Would you still gear it differently?
I quite like the tyre size but is it worth sizing up in future considering everything we've discussed?

[Gwagensteve]

No, there’s no evidence you’re going to ask more of the car than a standard Sierra can do quite capably.

[alien]

Airlockers F&R will get you way further than bigger tyres (and also into more trouble)

[The Saint of Killers]

Just ARB on the rear to start with.
An onboard compressor for tyre inflation will be super handy so might aswell grab the locker too. I budgeted twice as much for paint and panel than what I needed so I'll use that.
Can I keep standard axles?

[The Saint of Killers]

use that money allocation*

[vet 180]

The Saint of Killers wrote:

:cry: Thats what 28inch
I'm guessing the suggestion will be to fit larger

Is diff clearance a problem on the current trails you are driving? If not then your current tires are perfect as they are lighter and match the gearing better meaning no need for other expensive mods.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[alien]

The Saint of Killers wrote:

Just ARB on the rear to start with.
An onboard compressor for tyre inflation will be super handy so might aswell grab the locker too. I budgeted twice as much for paint and panel than what I needed so I'll use that.
Can I keep standard axles?

Yep. I ran standard rear axles & airlocker for a few years before the splines twisted, but I was running 31" tyres and not showing much mechanical sympathy. So they lasted very well considering. I knew something was up when the rear end started feeling 'backlashy' - ie; take foot off the clutch and you could feel 'slop' in the rear end. With a wheel off the ground you can clunk it back and forth as it rotated. So pretty easy to diagnose when they need replacing (before they snap).

[The Saint of Killers]

vet 180 wrote:

Is diff clearance a problem on the current trails you are driving? If not then your current tires are perfect as they are lighter and match the gearing better meaning no need for other expensive mods.

Thanks mate, great point!
Not at all but I'm yet to do any off-road driving in the Sierra with the exception of some rural driving on unsealed roads. They were mainly flat however.

[The Saint of Killers]

alien wrote:

Yep. I ran standard rear axles & airlocker for a few years before the splines twisted, but I was running 31" tyres and not showing much mechanical sympathy. So they lasted very well considering. I knew something was up when the rear end started feeling 'backlashy' - ie; take foot off the clutch and you could feel 'slop' in the rear end. With a wheel off the ground you can clunk it back and forth as it rotated. So pretty easy to diagnose when they need replacing (before they snap).

Fantastic info! Thanks mate.
What is the common Axle upgrade if they begin to struggle? Toyota?

I like to future plan as-well.

[The Saint of Killers]

Latest update regarding the G13BA build.
I am still in communication with Myron from ZOR, I must say, his level of customer service is outstanding!
I mentioned that G13BA builds are not the done thing here, judging from the overall trend of this topic hahaha.

The kit is reasonably priced but the weakness is the AUD... not fun for overseas travel and not fun for importing.

[alien]

The Saint of Killers wrote:

alien wrote:

Yep. I ran standard rear axles & airlocker for a few years before the splines twisted, but I was running 31" tyres and not showing much mechanical sympathy. So they lasted very well considering. I knew something was up when the rear end started feeling 'backlashy' - ie; take foot off the clutch and you could feel 'slop' in the rear end. With a wheel off the ground you can clunk it back and forth as it rotated. So pretty easy to diagnose when they need replacing (before they snap).

Fantastic info! Thanks mate.
What is the common Axle upgrade if they begin to struggle? Toyota?

I like to future plan as-well.

3 options:
- Replace with wrecked factory ones ($)
- Replace with cromo (though, I'm not sure who does them these days?) ($$)
- Change to full-floating setup with rear discs ($$$)

I wouldn't imagine you'd be chewing through axles running 215/75s though!!!!

[tanshi]

I should be your biggest advocate, The amount of time and money i've spent over the years doing things my way and "keeping the character" but sadly i'm not.

I have an lj50 with the stock 539cc two stroke. It has so many one off never been done before things done to it its just not funny. Powersteer. Full floater. tube front and rear fenders. sierra 6.5 case.
I had even done a triple efi throttle bodies and ecu and one day i may put it back on. at the moment the computer runs the spark and timing and i'm back on the carby.

the difference i hear you say? the two stroke has a point of difference, its quirky, silly and just plain dumb. The g13 doesnt make sense to spend money on keeping it. they are dull, boring and have little in the way of potential.

want something new, different, and actually worth plowing your money into ? j24a from a grand vitara.

Another

[MrRocky]

Ive abused many sierras, never had/seen one on 31"s bust a rear axle and only seen one or 2 running 32"s suffer a breakage whilst bouncing. I have seen alot of stock car axles twist, most do it your pretty safe even with alot of twist if you only run 31"s. Ive blown/shattered centers running spools on 31"s but never an axle

[The Saint of Killers]

I appreciate your sentiment Tanshi.
Now my tone may not be conveyed correctly here. You'll just have to trust it's in good spirit.

It's almost like I'm spending other peoples money or ruining their car.
I've acknowledged the negatives. Not everyone is on board and thats fine but for those that can accept that I would like to work with a G13 and see how it goes, their help would be deeply appreciated.
The character is not the performance of the engine, just the shear fact that that's the one that's in there.

g16 swap is the easier thing to do and I'm just not known to go for the easy option. ....unless I'm drunk, depressed and it's 4am

It doesn't mean I'll be stupid with my funds, part of the fun is learning to work around things cost effectively. I also know when to stop.

At this stage I really could use some advice around two points.
Steve says the igntion is sub par. What would people suggest I do?
And, can I combine a GTI crank G13B (GTI rods) and (g13ba pistons)?

I haven't had a response from anyone that's built a solid G13BA yet with the suggested mods, surely there is some fascination in how it will perform.

[The Saint of Killers]

Thanks Alien and MrRocky.
Sounds like standard really should be fine.

[MrRocky]

How do u feel about running an ems/haltech ecu and custom efi setup if $$$ isnt a restriction.
Would make more pwr than a carb unless quad bike carbs and def deliver better driveability

[The Saint of Killers]

Probably an option B.
I'm pretty keen on the ZOR Myside 1
It's reviewed well in the states.

[fordem]

I've been following this thread for a while without contributing, I wouldn't say I've built a "high" performance G13BA, but I did get decent performance out of the one I built - street performance wise - and it had little in the way of what you're proposing.

The guys here are not "naysayers" perse, they are trying to stop you from throwing your money away, high performance G13Bs can be built, they're just not a good idea off road - there used ot be a guy racing a G13B powered single seater, I think Billzilla was his handle.

You can fit a G13B (GTi) crank to a G13BA, the blocks are identical, I would strongly suggest you do if you plan on supercharging, the GTi also uses a "block girdle" of sorts, Suzuki calls it a crank bearing cap stiffener, that will also bolt right in. G13B rods cannot be used with the 8V pistons as the gudgeon pins are different, the GTi uses a full float pin, the 8V uses a press fit pin.

In addition to the GTi crank & stiffeners, my build had 0.50 over-sized high compression pistons (sourced from Low Range Off Road) and pretty much retained everything else - the OEM head & cam were retained, (I had intended to get a cam from Suprf1y, but it never happened), and the OEM AISIN carb was re-jetted - the car (an SF413 Swift) was never dynoed, but it had street cred - it could outrun an EP71 Turbo Starlet (the 12v version), and hold it's own against the EP82 (the 16v Turbo Starlet). It was a source of major irritation to a number of Altezza (the 2.0 engine) drivers, and even the occasional Evo Lancer owner.

[vet 180]

The Saint of Killers wrote:

vet 180 wrote:

Is diff clearance a problem on the current trails you are driving? If not then your current tires are perfect as they are lighter and match the gearing better meaning no need for other expensive mods.

Thanks mate, great point!
Not at all but I'm yet to do any off-road driving in the Sierra with the exception of some rural driving on unsealed roads. They were mainly flat however.

In that case keep the 215/70R15’s.
1. They are new as per your previous post
2. They are a good brand/type
3. You will be able to get yourself into plenty of trouble with that tyre size and when you get more practice behind the wheel you will start to irritate bigger trucks on bigger tires
4. You will never have to worry about upgrading axles at that size.

You plan of getting a rear locker and compressor and going out and having fun sounds like a good one. Wheel time will often get you further than mods anyway. At your level it’s definitely the case.

My first 4x4 was a really modded hilux (35’s, 6 inch lift, 308 V8 conversation). Thing was capable, but barely saw the trails as it was a “project”. Ended up selling and buying a more stock Sierra and went further in that than the hilux ever did just because of more seat time. Get out there and have fun with the car.


Do you have any recovery gear? This should be your first mod.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[The Saint of Killers]

fordem wrote:

I've been following this thread for a while without contributing, I wouldn't say I've built a "high" performance G13BA, but I did get decent performance out of the one I built - street performance wise - and it had little in the way of what you're proposing.

The guys here are not "naysayers" perse, they are trying to stop you from throwing your money away, high performance G13Bs can be built, they're just not a good idea off road - there used ot be a guy racing a G13B powered single seater, I think Billzilla was his handle.

You can fit a G13B (GTi) crank to a G13BA, the blocks are identical, I would strongly suggest you do if you plan on supercharging, the GTi also uses a "block girdle" of sorts, Suzuki calls it a crank bearing cap stiffener, that will also bolt right in. G13B rods cannot be used with the 8V pistons as the gudgeon pins are different, the GTi uses a full float pin, the 8V uses a press fit pin.

In addition to the GTi crank & stiffeners, my build had 0.50 over-sized high compression pistons (sourced from Low Range Off Road) and pretty much retained everything else - the OEM head & cam were retained, (I had intended to get a cam from Suprf1y, but it never happened), and the OEM AISIN carb was re-jetted - the car (an SF413 Swift) was never dynoed, but it had street cred - it could outrun an EP71 Turbo Starlet (the 12v version), and hold it's own against the EP82 (the 16v Turbo Starlet). It was a source of major irritation to a number of Altezza (the 2.0 engine) drivers, and even the occasional Evo Lancer owner.

The response I've been hoping for! Thanks mate! I can send that to info to my mechanic.
I will likely rule out the SC, I do agree with Steve's comment on that.

Any suggestions regarding ignition?

[The Saint of Killers]

vet 180 wrote:

The Saint of Killers wrote:

vet 180 wrote:

Is diff clearance a problem on the current trails you are driving? If not then your current tires are perfect as they are lighter and match the gearing better meaning no need for other expensive mods.

Thanks mate, great point!
Not at all but I'm yet to do any off-road driving in the Sierra with the exception of some rural driving on unsealed roads. They were mainly flat however.

In that case keep the 215/70R15’s.
1. They are new as per your previous post
2. They are a good brand/type
3. You will be able to get yourself into plenty of trouble with that tyre size and when you get more practice behind the wheel you will start to irritate bigger trucks on bigger tires
4. You will never have to worry about upgrading axles at that size.

You plan of getting a rear locker and compressor and going out and having fun sounds like a good one. Wheel time will often get you further than mods anyway. At your level it’s definitely the case.

My first 4x4 was a really modded hilux (35’s, 6 inch lift, 308 V8 conversation). Thing was capable, but barely saw the trails as it was a “project”. Ended up selling and buying a more stock Sierra and went further in that than the hilux ever did just because of more seat time. Get out there and have fun with the car.


Do you have any recovery gear? This should be your first mod.

Outstanding, thanks Vet!

Recovery gear, does a mobile phone count?

[fordem]

The Saint of Killers wrote:

Any suggestions regarding ignition?

I ran with the standard ignition, I did pickup an MSD coil along the way, but never got around to installing it.