[rob45x]

Hey guys n gals. Im on the hunt for a small 4by. I want one of these. Sierra, vitara or a daihatsu feroza. Im leaning more towards a sierra but i dont want a soft top. Is there any info on common problems, common places sierras rust etc? any help is much appreciated. And im located in sydney so if you guys got a sierra for sale id be very greatful for your help. cheers

[coily96]

Plastic sill covers hide sand/rust, you can pop these covers off to check for rust, also lay under the car and look at
the sills and floor. Check under rubber floor/carpet and around where seat rails bolt to floor. Look in the engine bay around battery tray, where inner guard joins to firewall. Check inside wheel arches where metal flairs bolt on.

Hard tops are not uncommon, i cant comment on vitara's or feroza's.

[rob45x]

great info. thanks for your help. Ill continue on my hunt for a sierra and when i acquire one i will be sure to post up some pics. Do you think its better to buy a stocker or one that someone has already modified??

[Trypt]

Be careful with modified 4wd's. there is a risk that it has been abused if its modified for offroading. and symptoms of such abuse can be hard to detect.
Dont be disheartened, buying pre-modded will save you money (on the condition nothing needs replacing due to offroad abuse.
But any mod worth doing, is worth doing yourself

[missmyljdaze]

if it has been modified- it would be preferable that the mods are engineer certified and approved.
It will save you a lot of grief later on.

stephen.

[coily96]

rob45x wrote:

buy a stocker or one that someone has already modified??

A modified one to an extent. Depends on what your looking for and how much you can do yourself. If your looking for a 1.6 vatara conversion, gearing and things like ruf conversion id look for one thats had the hard work done, or if you can do these things yourself if buy a stocker and build it how you want it.

[rob45x]

Well some items i would like or to mod on the sierra are a 2 inch suspension lift, 2 inch body lift and stell front arb style bar. Reduction gears, vitara engine swap/swift gti swap will come later on as i am a mechanic and would do all work myself. But im not a panel beater so ill keep hunting for a str8 body!

[Jester]

rob45x wrote:

Well some items i would like or to mod on the sierra are a 2 inch suspension lift, 2 inch body lift and stell front arb style bar. Reduction gears, vitara engine swap/swift gti swap will come later on as i am a mechanic and would do all work myself. But im not a panel beater so ill keep hunting for a str8 body!

thats why i got mine, it had a cooked head and a transmission on the way out but a straight body, so many things in my evidence collection diary through my apprenticeship have my vitaras rego

[rob45x]

haha i hated filling that crap book out lol. i just got the employer at the time to fill it out and send it in at the end of my apprenticeship

[rob45x]

where would the best places to buy parts and upgrade bits from australia? preferably around sydney??