vit or sierra diffs???

[4wd junky]

hey guys im pretty new on ere and tho ive got plenty of experience with patrols i have none with zooks.
im lookin at buyin either a vit or sierra and would prefer to run 33" for some pretty hard core type wheelin around big river,bunyip etc.is either diff(axles,cv's)stronger for this??
any help would be greatly apreciated thanks

[Gwagensteve]

Either car could be built to do the job but for parts and buildup options you are realistically better with the sierra.

Vitaras are a bit harder to get the strength in as they need the right combination of parts etc. THe result is cool and more stable than a sierra but it is more $$$ and there is more head scratching involved. (it's sent cj grey )

It's also harder to get the gearing right in a Vitara for a 33. Much easier in a sierra - just transfer gears.

Come along to a vic club meeting and get a feel for what we are running to drive these tracks. We drive these areas all the time in our stuff on anything from 30's to 35's on sierras.

Ps you don't really need a 33 for "hard core" wheeling on a sierra, in all honesty, a 31-32 with the right gearing and lockers will get you further than you imagine.

Steve.

[4wd junky]

i was swingin more towards the sierra cos they're cheaper to mod and cheaper to buy plus plenty more parts and accesories but then i looked at a vit today and liked it and they have p/s as stock witch would make it easier but since im on a budget ill proly stick with the sierra.
is there a vic zook club meet next wed and can i just show up or do i need to call 1st?

[Gwagensteve]

Just show up.

Yep, next wednesday.

Steve.

[sanger]

If its powersteer you are after it can be added to a sierra relatively easily. I put my vitara p/s in for $350 and it turns awsome with locked 31's in the rocks.

[4wd junky]

sweet and hopefully ill have a new play toy to drive there in.
which hall in glen iris is the meet and what time?

[4wd junky]

i was under the impression it cost alot more than that for p/s.i like coils too cos theres less to rub with bigger rubber but im not a big fan of ifs.

[Gwagensteve]

sweet and hopefully ill have a new play toy to drive there in.
which hall in glen iris is the meet and what time?

AMRA hall, Wills st (opposite glen iris station) between wills st, high street and the freeway. It's marked in the Melway I think.

people arrive from about 7.30, meeting start at 8.00

Steve.

[4wd junky]

cool..ive been wantin to come down for a little while now.1 of my mates might be interested to if he's game to show up cos he owns my old gq

[4wd junky]

where did you get the p/s kit from sanger? was it wreckers or private sale?

[cj]

Vitaras are a bit harder to get the strength in as they need the right combination of parts etc. THe result is cool and more stable than a sierra but it is more $$$ and there is more head scratching involved. (it's sent cj grey )

Tell me about it

[4wd junky]

its starting to seem like the only thing decent on a vit is the p/s and nice comfy seats and smooth ride.

[cj]

....and the bigger engine and autos and efi and track width and bigger fuel tanks and wheelbase .........and they're hairdressers cars

Seriously they have pros and cons just like Sierras. It really comes down to what YOU are trying to achieve but if you're not masochistic and just want a toy then Sierras are probably the go but Vits are getting pretty cheap now.

[4wd junky]

i was only lookin at sierras till today but on my budget i might go the sierra plus the 1.3 seems to be stronger than the vit and seems like they get more k's before needing rebuild.ive seen a few vits around the 2 1/2k mark but they all seem to need engine rebuilds.is there as much room under the floor on the drivers side of a sierra as there is on the vit cos was thinking of running a belly tank there as it would be mid mounted and puting an air tank where the stock fuel tank is

[4wd junky]

is a 3 ltr air tank suitable for an air locker?

[Gwagensteve]

Air lockers only require a tiny bit of air - look at the size of the new ARB compressor - that has a "tank" on it too that is plenty big enough.

However, if you are going to buy an airlocker, even a second hand one, I would recomend just buying the new small aRB compressor just to run it, and leave your tank for tyre inflation.

The ARB compressor is small, cheap, seems reilable, and the cost to set up a tank pressure switch, fittings etc will probaly be as much as the stand alone ARB compresor.

Steve.

[sanger]

where did you get the p/s kit from sanger? was it wreckers or private sale?

Got the kit from SUZI SPARES in seven hills NSW. Ph: (02) 96747000

[FullbackNo1]

i own a 2 vitaras one i cut into a ute and one i drive daily they are alot smoother then seirra and the motor in it is over 300 thou still goes strong my mate owned a seirra and i got places where that got

[4wd junky]

thanks heaps for all the advice guys its much appreciated

[muz_ook]

i have a vit diff in the back of my sierra, i run 35's with about 2psi in em and havent broken anything.the same diff has ran 36'', 37'' and 42'' tyres, so my opinion is that vit rear diffs are impressive, i had a vitara with 31'' mtrs and never busted a CV too but it all depends on how you drive.

Muz.

[4wd junky]

thanks guys ive bought a 93 sierra and thanks to sanger i have a p/s kit arriving on my doortep on tue for $350,the wreckers down ere wanted anywhere from $660-$880 .

[sanger]

thanks guys ive bought a 93 sierra and thanks to sanger i have a p/s kit arriving on my doortep on tue for $350,the wreckers down ere wanted anywhere from $660-$880 .

Glad ii could help you out. Get yourself a small tranny cooler from the wreckers and run it on your low pressure return line. Also you may have trouble with the vit serpintine belts as apose to sierra v belt so whhat i did was got a double cranl pulley of a swift and got the vit pump pulley machined and welded a v belt tooutside tthat was also machined off.

Also with depending on what way you go with mounting the steer box will determine whether u need to build a wedge or just redrill frame and plate and add a uni joint to replace the rag joint.

Hope this makes sense to ya if ya get stuck PM me.

[4wd junky]

yup makes perfect sense. im off the the zook club meeting on wed to hopefully get a few ideas and stuff too.fortunately ive got a few v belt pulleys kickin arround for some trial and error if need be.does it still work without the cooler or do you really need it?

[sanger]

not to sure. Ive heard the system can get hot if no cooler is used. An alternative might be a bigger resivour. But for the price of a junk yard coller why wouldnt u just be done with it.
my 2c

[4wd junky]

true,better to be safe than sorry i guess.been told that some old falcons/fairlanes used to run oil coolers on the trannys so ill check it out on tuesday and see what i can find.