[jme]

I've just bought a SWB Vitara 2.0 (SV420?), I have done a search on many of these topics but I'm not sure which answers are relevant for my model (most vitara references seem to be for the 1.6) and I have a few questions:
[*]I need to replace the radiator and heater hoses but apparently Repco does not stock them, are they the same as the V6? Any other suggestions as to where to get them?
[*]The radiator is pretty tired, core is in pretty bad shape, is the radiator the same as the V6?
[*]I took it out for a quick 4WD yesterday, suspension travel at both front and back seems pretty poor, is there anything I can do to improve it, especially at the back?
[*]I can fold back just the front part of the roof, is there a way to fold back the rest of the roof while leaving it on the frame (i.e. without completely removing the top from the car?)
[*]I want to fit manual locking hubs, are these direct bolt-on? The stores I have found online all show no stock, any recommendations where to get them?
[*]I have been told to fit a fuel tank guard as I will hit it, should I also get a sump guard? Any recommendations on which are better?
[*]The rear seat has a split in it, the two pieces of material appear to be just glued together. Has anyone tried unzipping the seat covers and sewing them on an industrial sewing machine? It looks possible but if someone has already tried and failed I will save my effort

[Reubs]

jme wrote:

[*]I need to replace the radiator and heater hoses but apparently Repco does not stock them, are they the same as the V6? Any other suggestions as to where to get them?
http://www.suzistore.com.au/onlinestore/four-wheel-drives/vitara/vitara-sv420/cooling563591218.html

[*]The radiator is pretty tired, core is in pretty bad shape, is the radiator the same as the V6?
Can't help but the store in the link above will know.

[*]I took it out for a quick 4WD yesterday, suspension travel at both front and back seems pretty poor, is there anything I can do to improve it, especially at the back?
You can do heaps and a Vit is pretty easy to mod to get 'hectic' rear flex. If you fit new shocks, springs, bump stop extensions, brake line extension, breather hose extension, a-arm joint spacer and stuff around with the hand brake cables you can get some great flex.

[*]I can fold back just the front part of the roof, is there a way to fold back the rest of the roof while leaving it on the frame (i.e. without completely removing the top from the car?)
Can't help you. I never played around with the soft-top on my SWB vit.

[*]I want to fit manual locking hubs, are these direct bolt-on? The stores I have found online all show no stock, any recommendations where to get them?
You need some 1.6Vitara/Coil sierra hubs. Find someone wrecking a Vit on this forum. Alternatively a suzuki shop should have them in stock.

[*]I have been told to fit a fuel tank guard as I will hit it, should I also get a sump guard? Any recommendations on which are better?
Front skid plates don't protect the sump - they are there to protect the front crossmember and the diff if it has been lowered with diff drop brackets. IMO, fit the tank guard first, but a front skid plate is a good idea also.

[*]The rear seat has a split in it, the two pieces of material appear to be just glued together. Has anyone tried unzipping the seat covers and sewing them on an industrial sewing machine? It looks possible but if someone has already tried and failed I will save my effort

HTH.

[VitNick]

I'd put a fuel tank guard on it as the first thing, even lifted and on bigger rubber my tank still got dented going down obstacles. I got mine from TSOR (in the business section) and its saved my tank countless times.
I put a front bash plate on and it just seemed to get hung up on rocks so have taken it off, but have a a pretty bent cross member now so may re design it.
The hubs from another Vitara will bolt on just make sure you get the little cone washer things with the hub bolts (you will see what I mean when you take them off). I swapped mine over a few months ago viewtopic.php?f=5&t=42499&hilit=vitara+manual+hubs.
For suspension most people (from what I've seen) go a mix n match of different bits and pieces or a calmini kit, best place is have a look through some of the build threads and they will give you an idea of what to look at and change.