[Gwagensteve]

I think the question was more about finding a transfer that bolts to the aw-4 and offers on indirect high range. This isn't very common and I can only think of the LT230 (which isn't easily adapted to an AW-4) as a candidate that's strong enough.

[got_bar_work]

Do what atari did. Get a h20 and drop in a 2.7

[tanshi]

Adapters ae easy enough to make for the lt transfer.

[MrRocky]

Thanks for the input guys but i have decided vitaras are junk
Probably aiming for a deisel 95 dual cab hilux that way i can just leave it stockish and chuck some lockrites in. If the ftruck ever sells that is

Cheers

[Marko_SJ]

I'd do a petrol GQ with the TB42 Auto for half the buy in price of a Hilux myself.

[MrRocky]

Yeah i would consider one of the safari gq with n/a diesel 4.2 but when we got the missus gu we couldnt find a decent gq under 15k in w.a.

[Marko_SJ]

MrRocky wrote:

Yeah i would consider one of the safari gq with n/a diesel 4.2 but when we got the missus gu we couldnt find a decent gq under 15k in w.a.

Youll get a TB42 (Petrol) for under 5 if you look. You can here, and its pretty exxy up here as well as WA.

Edit: I almost got a fairly decent TD for 5k, low kays too. Got cold feet though.

[ZUZUKI]

Another vote for leaving a GV off your list - and I own one & love it, but your 2nd line of your original post rules it out.
A bigger, heavier car, running similar sized diff & axle bits that originally were used for 1.3litre Sierras & 1.6litre carby Vitaras.
Quite good as a daily driver though - some of those bits that are different to the earlier Vitara are worthwhile improvements - like steering rack instead of box, 5 link rear instead of A-frame 3link - I haven't really noticed a rear steer effect, but don't have big long shocks either.
Confirm that can be tricky to drive a manual offroad - not much going on under 2500rpm. I often am in 3 /4 low, keeping up with Discos & Defenders in 2nd high, just because if it gets steeper / stickier / deeper I can drop back a gear or 2 to keep revs up, as the engine can really bog down quickly & can't rely on a reserve of torque. This gets me crazy bad fuel economy for what it is & what it is doing = pox range from the 66litre tank.

An 1995 on (up-graded dash) LWB 1.6EFI auto ($4k) + 40mm suspension ($1k) + 31/10.5R15 M/T ($1k) + 2" body lift (or more guard cutting if no body lift) + rear air locker ($1k) + steel case GV front diff ($1K) + trans case gears ($1k) will be a great little package for around $10k - lot of money for a 20ish year old car though.

If you were considering this sort of sized car (or a hilux, but ute is much different to a wagon to drive daily), what about a late XJ Jeep Cherokee? Silly cheap, plenty power, 31-32" tyres & a rear locker, respectable on the road (compared to a Sierra anyway) - probably a $5-6K package that will go a lot of places - with care, which is what you would have to do with a Vitara / Grand Vitara anyway.

Or a Jimny........
Have fun, Michael

[MrRocky]

Nah seen too many jeeps on fire to ever own one.
I know they are capable but have no faith in there reliability miles from nowhere. After the current truck i wouldnt mind never going near american wiring again. The fifo downturn has flooded the market with cheap toys so selling the big rig may take longer than expected.

[Xombie]

Sell it to Deb. It will give Alex room to run without exiting the car.

[ZUZUKI]

Wow MrRocky, you have quite a contrast going on there - Sierra to F-truck doesn't get more different.
Good luck with your search of a Hilux, if that is the way your go.
Michael

[Zoognoogle]

I went from 2.8 hilux to a LWB vitara and found the suzuki better in every way, except those days i could have used a ute. It was cheaper to buy, run and maintain, and with mild mods the vitara thrashed it off road too.

[MrRocky]

Yeah but put twin lockers in a stock hilux and it goes anywhere and makes it home everytime. Just not keen on buying shares in a cv/axle shop just to keep the vit on the road after every weekend

[Gwagensteve]

This.

Trying to get a light duty vehicle to do medium duty work might be interesting, but it's neither cheap or easy if you just want a reliable car to get the job done.

[Zoognoogle]

Your probably on the money there guys. I generally go out with unlocked cars and drive pretty sedately, and this has let me have very few breakages. I'm sure a bit more enthusiasm would quickly have me rethinking my choice.

What i do might be soft but its far from the beach only driving that is the general assumption that vitaras are limited too, and we have left behind a few broken landcruisers and patrols on the same tracks as the big vit

[Marko_SJ]

Gwagensteve wrote:

This.

Trying to get a light duty vehicle to do medium duty work might be interesting, but it's neither cheap or easy if you just want a reliable car to get the job done.

Maybe I am easy to impress, but I have seen Atari's Blagon in action, I think it fits the bill for a pretty capable tourer very well.

The only thing I wasnt sold on was H series engines, v8 falcon fuel economy, vitaras having low range only xfer gears and sorting the front diff.

[vet 180]

MrRocky wrote:

Yeah but put twin lockers in a stock hilux and it goes anywhere and makes it home everytime. Just not keen on buying shares in a cv/axle shop just to keep the vit on the road after every weekend

The front diff it a pretty easy and cheap fix. If your that stressed go a tough trail sas and call it a day. Will fix strength issue and will give you gearing options.

[Gwagensteve]

And create a mass of other problems, not least of which will be a huge problem with legality.

Or you could buy a car that was already SAS and had heavy duty parts from the outset.

Steve.

[vet 180]

Gwagensteve wrote:

And create a mass of other problems, not least of which will be a huge problem with legality.

Or you could buy a car that was already SAS and had heavy duty parts from the outset.

Steve.

The issue with the lux is that to get sas you need to look at a rather old rig. Most are thrashed out and have a huge array of problems. You are going to find a far better condition car if you get an ifs lux

[Gwagensteve]

The issue with the hilux SAS is the axle is too narrow. The gearing is still unfavourable, and it still doesn't address the high range gearing/transfer issues.