[stem1]

These pertain to swb 4 cyl auto Vitaras;
What years had the alloy front diff?
Is a 2" body lift a workable alternative to a 2" suspension lift for long life of CVs etc? Pros/cons?
Is there enough room under the guards to run 750r16s on stock 16" rims with no lift/ 2" lift?
Are the '98-03 models as good a platform or better to start with?
Are 2" lift kits and reduction gears available for the '98 up?
Thanks

[atari4x4]

all Vitara's 88-98 have alloy diffs

the 98-05 models are GV's & manual all manual V6's had the steel diff with the auto getting it very late in the production run, the 4 cyl GV all had alloy diffs.

for reduction in a GV you're better off swapping in the 5.12 diff gears from 1.6 vitara

lift kits & body lifts are common on both the GV & vitara, how ever air bags will stop most people from bodylifting a GV.

a 2" spring lift isn't going to cause any drama's with CV's

[stem1]

Thanks, have air bags been known to go off during off road driving (not crashing)?
Is the GV enough of an improvement over the Vit to justify the pain of scrapes etc?
Same rear diff in both (apart from the ratio)?
Are the autos all the same? Are they durable? Need extra cooling?
Thanks for your help.

[atari4x4]

not sure about airbags going off, it's the legalities of BL'ing an airbagged vehicle.

the 2.5L V6 in the later GV's (SQ625) put out 30+ kw more than the most powerful Vitara V6 2.0l (SV620)... pretty sure the looks are the only downside.

the rear diff is essentially the same in the GV, apart from wider track & being a 5 link suspension design compared to the Vitara's 3 link.

the 4 speed auto's are the same in the GV's & Vitara's (early carby SWB vitara's had a 3 speed trimatic) & extra cooling is a smart thing for any auto working outside of it's design parameters. EG larger tyres & being worked hard offroad.

[stem1]

That's good to know. I've read about the 29" tyre, 2" lift, rear locker combo sweet spot for the Vitara, can you fit a taller (not wider) tyre under the GV with the same 2" lift (I know the gearing may need to be addressed)?
Thanks

[Sco-tie]

Any bigger than 245/75/16 (or equivalent) on a GV will be pushing it for guards, gearing and drive line happiness. BLs are only really needed for fitting bigger tyres they won't give you any more articulation only the springs and shocks will help with that. Needs to be an actual crash for the air bags to go off, you'll see plenty of crashes that look like the ABs should have gone off but the loads weren't enough so if you're not crazy off road and drive into trees you should be fine like the rest of us and if you do make them go off it's probably a good thing. The GVs can take scrapes just as well as the Vits bar work will help with sills and clearance. Scratches are part of going off road you will get used to it and ignore it after a few trips.