[Benchai]

For those of you who don't know him, here is KT (Kumquat Taxi) viewtopic.php?f=4&t=14559 He has a 1L, 5sp and is otherwise pretty stock, save for some cosmetic prettiness.



I had a deal with a fella where he needed some 3.7 diff centres and I wanted to fit WT diffs with 4.1 centres, of which he had a pair and was prepared to clean swap. I bought a set of diffs, already modded with Mr. Fat's perches, but come time to do the trade he tells me he's just found out his Maruti diffs had already been changed to 3.7 centres.

So I'm at a crossroads here, and I'm hoping for some AZ guidance. I have diffs now. To procure 4.1 centres I'm estimating will cost me around $300 or more, if I can find them. This is one path, but the other is to keep the centres I have, fit the WT diffs and upgrade engine and transmission. Given AC is definitely on the plans, I'd hate to go the 4.1 diffs then find the old 1L isn't strong enough to push even a small AC compressor.

If I repowered, I would use whatever was most simple and cost effective, 1.3 or 1.6, and offset this cost by selling my 1L and 5 speed.

At this stage he's not limited by the 1L, but I think is limited by the narrow track.

What's my best option?

[Joe]

Mate she is such a nice ute go all out and fit a efi 1.6 with an auto and wt diffs

[zukmeista]

Or considering the 5th gear is higher than the standard top gear could you fit a set of 4.3 GV/Vitara diff gears to your existing centers?

[tanshi]

cheapest option would be to grab transfer gears to offset the diff gearing and stick with the 1 litre.

but im never gonnna argue against the 1.6 or even 2.0 efi.

[mrw82]

X2
Get transfer gears to compensate for the WT ratios. (someone here will be smart enough to do the maths of what tc gears you'll need.

Or another option if larger tyres are on the cards is to fit a set of 4.6 diff gears from lowrange to the WT diffs. On 30" tyres you'll have near enough to the same gearing as what you have now and you can keep the mighty 1 litre! (I am running 4.55 lj diff gears in my 1 litre with 5 speed on 30's and in 5th at 100km/h its sitting at 4000rpm).

[tanshi]

4.9, 5.1 and 6.5s will all put you really close to the right gearing in high range. around the 3900 at 100km/h

[Fatzook]

I've got a good 4.6 ratio R&P for ya Dave. Just need to find another one.

[tanshi]

00zuk has a 4.6 he wants to get rid of

[DarkHorse]

The manual SV Vits were 4.6 yeah? I've got a rear centre to get rid of if that helps.

[Fatzook]

DarkHorse wrote:

The manual SV Vits were 4.6 yeah? I've got a rear centre to get rid of if that helps.

To big for sierras.

[DarkHorse]

Bugga. Upgrade to Vit rear diff?

[dougies_tx5turbo]

I know I going to be bagged for saying this but you've done a good job on refurbishing this ute. What I would do if I was you, I would put wheel spacers on for extra stability for two reasons, one it is very unlikely you would be picked up because your car looks so tidy and two you have already refurbished the running gear so there's no point wasting your money. Then I would put wt flares on or a set of TSOR flares. And then I would put the air con in and do a custom bracket for the engine compressor and just drive the hell out of it while saving money up for future mods.
Future mods that I would save up for
Automatic
Bigger motor a Baleno G16b or a J18 or J20
Transfer gears
Wt diffs with rear disc brakes and vitara front brakes

[Benchai]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

At this stage I'd like to keep the 1L. The aircon and WT diffs are definites. Rear discs are part and parcel with the WT upgrade.

As much as I'd love to do the efi thing, it's just too big a job at this point in time. Perhaps later, so I like the gearing change idea, which will not need to be undone if I do the engine/auto thing later.

So, which gearing option?

If I use reduction gears in the transfer case, what case do I need to source to fit these into. Mine has a very early non switch 1L case, which I assume is not modifiable. I have rebuilt my transfer so I'm not intimidated by changing gearing in one of these,. Sort out which ratio once I've decided whether to go this way. I'm assuming the gearing doesn't affect the speedo as this would come off the output side?

Alternatively, changing the diff gears, which is probably beyond my mechanical capabilities anyway, but if my calculations are correct, 4.6 gears will increase highway rpm and increase the inaccuracy of the speedo even further than it is now. Bigger tyres aren't on the plans at this stage, though I have a set of 29" muddies they are only on when I go wheeling. Normally I have 215 highway tyres.

[tanshi]

you will need either a switch type 1 litre case. or any other 1.3 case, but will still need the flanges from a 1 litre switch case. (or another way of changing over your tail shafts to fit.)
it doesnt change your speedo.

[Benchai]

I keep coming back to the 1.6 efi with auto, power steer and air. WT diffs, disc brake rear. Would make for a very nice package. I would think the best way to do this would be to get a running car with all the bits I would need and do diffs at the same time. What is the best car to hunt for, I'm presuming Vitara of some configuration, but I know nothing of which one is which. I'll be keeping an eye out and taking my time.

[alien]

even if you fit a 1.6 you'll still want to address the gearing mate.

[Jackson]

Good to see KT is still looking hawt.

What do you think on the 1L, 5 speed and 4.1's as it is?

Mine is 1L, 4 speed and 3.9's in WT diffs with 29" tyres and its not too bad. 1st is probably a little tall when taking off but a 5 speed and gears should fix that up for me.

Maybe with the aircon though you might be chewing up too much of the 1ltrs... ahem... powah.

[Benchai]

Jackson wrote:

Good to see KT is still looking hawt.

What do you think on the 1L, 5 speed and 4.1's as it is?

Mine is 1L, 4 speed and 3.9's in WT diffs with 29" tyres and its not too bad. 1st is probably a little tall when taking off but a 5 speed and gears should fix that up for me.

Maybe with the aircon though you might be chewing up too much of the 1ltrs... ahem... powah.

The single issue I have at this point is lateral stability. I have a set of modded WT diffs, but with 3.7 centres, which would kill drivability with existing power train. If I do the A/C with some thought I'm sure the 1L will cope as long as I don't load it up with taller gearing, so I'm thinking with the gearing issue I'd see what falls into my lap first,
a) 4.11 centres (1st and easiest option)
b) Transfer reduction gears
c) Whole hog complete re-power. I'm not knowledgeable enough to do this from accumulated bits, so I'd want to find something complete and most likely panel damaged so I can more or less just transplant.

Alien, why would gearing be an issue with the 1.6? I know I'd have to run a 1.3 TC, and I'd use the 3.7 diff centres I have

[zooky08]

You cant just add a bigger motor to get more power.
Any motor you put in, you still need to correct the gearing.
Easiest thing to do is add a 1.3 case and some reduction gears.
It will be hard to come by some wt 4:11 diff gears.

[Jackson]

Benchai wrote:

The single issue I have at this point is lateral stability. I have a set of modded WT diffs, but with 3.7 centres, which would kill drivability with existing power train. If I do the A/C with some thought I'm sure the 1L will cope as long as I don't load it up with taller gearing, so I'm thinking with the gearing issue I'd see what falls into my lap first,
a) 4.11 centres (1st and easiest option)
b) Transfer reduction gears
c) Whole hog complete re-power. I'm not knowledgeable enough to do this from accumulated bits, so I'd want to find something complete and most likely panel damaged so I can more or less just transplant.

Alien, why would gearing be an issue with the 1.6? I know I'd have to run a 1.3 TC, and I'd use the 3.7 diff centres I have

I don't know if 4.11's are the easiest option, can't you only use ones from a Maruti? I don't know how easy they are to find. If you can get some 3.9's from a NT you can use them in your WT housings then you won't be changing the ratio by a whole lot.

[Benchai]

zooky08 wrote:

Easiest thing to do is add a 1.3 case and some reduction gears.

I had a look on the LowRange website and saw reduction gears at around the $600 mark. Would that be the best place to buy from, or are there more economical options? If I understand correctly that would also give much better off road gearing in L4 as a bonus?

[Benchai]

Thanks for the advice, gentlemen. The jury has returned and has found in favour of 6.5 gears in a 1.3 transfer case. Use the 3.7 diff centres, disc brake rear and some sexy plastic flares. Will start the search for bits