New buildup idea/plan

[grimbo]

i posted in DAZs Vitara wagon thread about an idea I have had for a long time. Want a bit of feedback about feasabilty and what parts etc I should use. I'm getting a bit sick of my Sierra and am thinking of next toy

Vitara 4 Door wagon: Roof chopped with full internal cage. Cut guards with extended wheelbase, straight axle swap, lockers, rockhopper and 37" tyres.


So what axles? Hilux or FJ80 or GQ
Stick with the Vitara V6 with Auto can a Sierra 6:1 go behind this?
5:12 diff gears with front ARB and either Detroit or ARB in rear.
37" Krawlers or MTRs or 38" boggers

Any thoughts is it feasible and is it able to be engineered
Also what sort of $$$ do you think this would run to

here is a pic of what I have thought it would look like

[N*A*M]

I reckon it'll be engineerable if you are flexible and can play to their rules on certain things. I don't think there's any reason for this to be knocked back.

Okay... I know you're a Suzuki dude and all; but what about a roofless 4Runner. The wheel base is there already and the gearing options will be even better. You've already got live axles - just need Longfields and coils. It would probably be easier to engineer too. Just another possibility.

[grimbo]

I had thought of the 4runner idea actually the original idea was to be a fj40 troopcarrier with a v8 diesel auto and 42s but wanted a newer vehicle to start with. Same reason for the Vitara as I can get a late model vitara that has been in a light roll for pretty good$ whereas even the 4runner will be 15 or so years old

[greg]

Are you guys selling that house already mate

sounds like a big project. sounds like an interesting project

$'s for the 37" krawlers was in the 500's each.

I was speaking to steve recently and i think i recall hearing that a hilux diff is too narrow to be used as a vitara sas front swap. I recall hearing that a set of GQ's front and rear would be the go, and you should be able to get front and back for about 1800 i think (?)

[grimbo]

i was thinking about $6k for a lightly rolled vitara, $1k for GQ diffs, already have a series 3, $1500 for 37" MTRs just then need to budget $ for SAS and engineering the cage etc.

Sell the Zuk for $4k ? it will be high profile by then sell the valiant, sell a kidney win tattslotto and all will be good

[OVERKILL ENG]

The vit diff is wider than lux but apart from that go for it I am suprised there aren't more crazy vits out there.
SAM

[greg]

still looks like an easy 15K's worth there though...

lockers for the diffs will be 3K (airlockers), custom drive shafts between the suzuki and nissan parts, 500 bucks in toob etc...

37 mtrs? you'd end up with less clearance than you have now wouldn't you? you'd have to go bigger to make it worth while.

try and get your kidney mentioned in the story too - that way it'll be worth more

Bottom line, besides being a new project, i'm just not sure that there will be a lot of gains to be made by this... perhaps some thing cheaper would be the landrover / lj / flattie body on your existing chassis with a new (and happier) engine fitted? All of those bodies will allow for a nice big set of meats underneith and would look plenty cool

[redzook]

isnt it mostly mud down where you are??

if so id go with the boggers

btw sounds sweet

[grimbo]

the gains would be more comfort, somehing different, and cause I'm sick of my Zuk

[greg]

more comfort

It's not going to have a roof!!!

It'll be about as comfortable as mine is

I'm sold though, bring it on Grimbo, I can't wait to see a big vitara charging on boggers up and down the street

[greg]

isnt it mostly mud down where you are??

if so id go with the boggers

btw sounds sweet

Have to agree - get some big boggers running on it like Mickbj42 has - 37's or the 39.5's

Though you'd better add your other kidney to the list too if you want those

[grimbo]

the roof thing isn't going to be a problem I'll just get a set of bright yellow rain coat and pants

[N*A*M]

what about taking IFS further?

get an anvil (calmini?), skinny boggers, cut body and keep it low like mock's new vit, etc...

[grimbo]

I suppose that could be an option as wheel travel wouldn't need to be huge with lockers, maybe chuck a Thorax or Roc Block in too.

Can i use my Sierra Air locker and La Locker in the Vitara diffs. Mick put a Sierra third member into his so it seems to be possible. As to cutting that is the plan, low and wide if possible

[N*A*M]

flex is overrated i say. as long as your IFS components are strong and don't break, there's nothing wrong with it.

dual locked with wheelbase and gearing will be awesome already.

[greg]

flex is overrated i say. as long as your IFS components are strong and don't break, there's nothing wrong with it.

dual locked with wheelbase and gearing will be awesome already.

should handle somewhat like a hummer. only smaller

[Beastmavster]

You can always cut the mounts for the IFS and weld bits in for clearance....

The IFS limits I face are as much due to losing travel when lifting the springs to gain height for clearance.

I was looking for Hilux diffs front and rear now, rather than just going with the widetrack sierra front diff, but Maybe MQ Patrol diffs would be just as good. Hilux diffs would give me a legal spring over for QLD, but I think that I should gain enough in the possible spring lift either way.

If I was still in Vic this would be soooooo easy it woulda been done by now.

Leaf spring conversion is honestly gonna be a whole lot easier - so if anyone has spare MQ or Hilux diffs they wanna add into the project they can PM me.....



I would definately dual t/case because of the gearing issues - especially when you go backwards in diffs from 5.12 to either P00trol or Dudlux.

The Sierra one seems highly suited, as it will have nice gearing for 35"s. The low outputs front and rear help - the Vitara gearbox/transfer case combo is pretty short really.

You'd get away with it in a SWB (and I WILL after I get axles to suit as I'm not doing custom driveshafts TWICE) so easily will work in a LWB. The position of the second t/case is a bit unfortunate thoguh - you have to cut out one of the crossmembers and weld it back in about a foot back, with an additional kink for the driveshaft.

If you wish to keep the IFS, use a Lada Niva transfercase instead - the central location of the diffs can easily match up to the lada case - after all this is how the Lada is set up from the factory.

The only issue using the lada case is that it's not as tall as the Vitara box, so you need a slight downward angle on your linking shaft, but it's no worse than what the sierra runs anyway.

[redzook]

I was looking for Hilux diffs front and rear now, rather than just going with the widetrack sierra front diff, but Maybe MQ Patrol diffs would be just as good. Hilux diffs would give me a legal spring over for QLD, but I think that I should gain enough in the possible spring lift either way.

why not keep the vit rear would save a bit of hassel an are pretty strong sam was runnin 37's on vit rear didnt have to many brakages i dont think

i though people have tryed puttin hilux diffs under a zook but still cant get them legal? (spoa) could be wrong?

[mud4b]

good plan grimbo..i too was thinking of getting rid of my new project and doing the same to a 2 door.like the pic you put up in "overkills new project"if it wasnt for the t-case and ifs they would kick ass over the sierra.they are a better car.

[Beastmavster]

I was looking for Hilux diffs front and rear now, rather than just going with the widetrack sierra front diff, but Maybe MQ Patrol diffs would be just as good. Hilux diffs would give me a legal spring over for QLD, but I think that I should gain enough in the possible spring lift either way.

why not keep the vit rear would save a bit of hassel an are pretty strong sam was runnin 37's on vit rear didnt have to many brakages i dont think

i though people have tryed puttin hilux diffs under a zook but still cant get them legal? (spoa) could be wrong?

Have to use a Sierra widetrack front and mix and match diff bits so you can use the Vitara 5.12 R&P....

You still need to upgrade the brakes....

In the long run using a Patrol or Hilux axle will work out cheaper and stronger.

[greg]

Sell the Zuk for $4k ? it will be high profile by then sell the valiant, sell a kidney win tattslotto and all will be good

:cough: my car's profile went up a bit this month :cough:

[stephen]

Adapt an auto or 5sp of something (my brother drives a 2wd tracker in the states) and put in a sierra case & series III it is the only way to run bigger than 35's otherwise the high range gearing would be a killer if you where roading it. I recon Sams front diff is the way to go matched up with a vitara rear, keep it as suzuki as possible I don't like seeing those chunky arse diff centres under suzuki's, it does not look right.