[selaga]

Looking for a project to keep me busy for a while, I picked up a 1993 Vitara LWB JX for a price roughly double the scrap value.

It has PS and working AC and the body is 9/10. It had one female owner and never been off-road.

Also drives spot on and it looks like it may have a new engine as it has no blow by and plenty of power (215K).

Now......

1. Do I do it up, or do I transfer all the bits into a Sierra ?

I can pick up a coily cheap, or do I stick with a leafy ?

My understanding is that the LWB runs 5.12's (highest ratio available to Vitara's), rear doors limit the size of the tyres (probably wouldn't go more than 31's, possibly 30's) and there is no real deep reduction gears for the transfer and front diff weakness ? On flip side, it rides very nice, has a lot of room, it is hardtop (don't like S/Tops) and has PS.

On the Sierra, more parts support, (both new and S/H), 6.5's are available, they go good with 1.6EFI/PS/5.12 conversion, divorced transfer, easier to change gearboxes/clutches, etc.......Would coily ride much better than a leafy ? Do they suffer from wobbles like Jimny's (coily Sierra's).....

Happy to hear from everyone with their views and experiences....

I plan to start on this project early next month when I return from NZ.

Outcome: 50 % tourer 50% capable off-road. I am not looking for anything extreme, i think 2" lift + 2" BL + 30/31" with rear air locker would be a good compromise.

Cheers,

Sel

[Gwagensteve]

Based on what you want to do with the car, build the Vitara. Don't put it all in a sierra because it's never going to be as comfortable or ride as well, and it's going to be a major job when by your description the vitara will fit the bill nicely.

Don't bother with a coiler. Suzuki shouldn't have.

Based on your plans, a 31 will easily fit into the guards of a LWB Vitara, there is plenty deep enough gearing available off road for a vitara - (4:1 transfer gears for a vitara are the equivalent of 5.7 gears in a sierra). The problem is that on road there is no easy gearing correction, so you will find the performance a bit "doughy" with 31's. Front diff should be OK until you lock the front.

Steve.

[selaga]

Cheers Steve,

Perhaps stick with 30/9.5's as a compromise then ?

Where is the best place to get the TC gears from ?

Also what offset wheels for the 9.5's (15X7?) ?

How does this work as a plan...

1. Get rego (keep it stock at this phase)
2. Body lift
3. Put in HD clutch + TC gears whilst GB is out (clutch pedal is a bit high)
4. Suspension lift
5. Tyres
OPT
Rear air locker
Leave front dif for the time being

Cheers,

Sel

[shep]

33s will fit. it took 3 seconds with a air chistle to make these fit.

[Daz7]

Frankly I'd be getting rego, some smallish mud tyres and start doing some trips to see where your interests lie

Remember, Sydney area 4wd'ing is mostly on sandstone based tracks and having gearing thats all to high sucks big time.

To do well, Vits are both more complex and more exxy that Sierras to modify and at this point you have no idea how hard core or not you want to go. You may change your mind completely on required setup once you've been out a couple of times.

[larry]

after rego, i would get bodylift and tyres, that'll get you started
soon after: sus lift and tc gears
i wouldnt bother with HD clutch, theyre a nuisance and not neccesary imo
then lockers

[selaga]

shep wrote:

33s will fit. it took 3 seconds with a air chistle to make these fit.

How does it drive on the road with 33's (I assume yours is manual) ?

Tell us more about your mods.

Cheers,

Sel

[selaga]

Decided to get a manual LWB GV. So will be selling or parting out the LWB VIT.

Am I correct in saying that I should keep the diff centres (5.12?) and put them in my GV (4.3?) to bring the gearing down a bit ?

[atari4x4]

shep wrote:

33s will fit. it took 3 seconds with a air chistle to make these fit.

what about all the other work done to it by the previous owner? it had a pretty big guard chop before you got it.