1998 seirra body lift!!

[mino11]

hey guys my name is alex i own a 1998 serria and i was wondering if the body lift steps in the link were the same for a leaf sprung seirra and a coil sprung serria if someone could answer the question for me it would be appreciated [

[Gwagensteve]

Yes.

There's no substantial differences.

Steve.

[masterA]

Since we're on this topic (and yes...i have done a search plus i looked in the bible) i was wondering if i could get some constructive comments about the difference between the leafys and the coilys

Iv been in the market to get a Sierra for some time now...looking particualy at the hardtop and i want A/C as it will be my daily and also my play car.
The last models that came as leafs were in 95 and then the coily's took over. From what i read and understood the leafy's are hell of a lot easier to modify compared to the coily's....and a hell of a lot cheaper too.
My questions are:
What are the major differences between the two (apart from the price obviously)
Is it the price difference in springs vs leafs that alot of people opt for the leafy's?
How hard is it to modify a coily?
Do brake lines need to be modified when lifted 2" body 2" springs?
Is it the articulation/travel of springs that people prefer to have the leafs?
What is the maximum lift for a coily?
Is there much of a difference in weight as i heard that the later models were heavier?
Apart from the obvious front gril are there any other body differences (eg the transmition tunnel) - i heard that the front windscreens are different - is this true?
Why do soo many pepole prefer the leafy's over the coily's?

I know it seems alot of questions but i want to make the right choice/decision when i finally lay down my money.
Im not thinking of going anything too hard core...maybe a 2" spring (shocks) and 2" body to fit 31" as i'll be doing some beach as well as bush so i want it to be "capable". Im not into rock crawling etc so im not going to be looking at air lockers etc...maybe reduction gears for mild bush but that about it.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[want33s]

Basically if you want AC and you want to modify for offroad use then buy a Coily and swap the chassis and transfer and diffs with a leafy.
Best of both worlds then and you'll be the envy of every other Zook owner. Coily will bolt onto a leafy chassis without mods.
AC is VERY rare in Sierra's, almost as rare as hardcore coilys.

Leafy chassis' are easy to get and cheap but you might be better off buying a whole rusty car and removing the body, motor, gearbox and putting the rest under yours.

[CairnsZook]

My '94 has AC

Not that it's much use to me in Tasmania

[Gutless]

Basically if you want AC and you want to modify for offroad use then buy a Coily and swap the chassis and transfer and diffs with a leafy.
Best of both worlds then and you'll be the envy of every other Zook owner. Coily will bolt onto a leafy chassis without mods.
AC is VERY rare in Sierra's, almost as rare as hardcore coilys.

Leafy chassis' are easy to get and cheap but you might be better off buying a whole rusty car and removing the body, motor, gearbox and putting the rest under yours.

A good 50% of all jap import sierra front cuts come in with AC. Not rare at all... I have 2 complete systems in my storage shed

[want33s]

A good 50% of all jap import sierra front cuts come in with AC. Not rare at all... I have 2 complete systems in my storage shed

OK so they aren't rare in your storage shed, just everywhere else in Australia.
I've only seen two on Ebay in the last two years and they both sold for over $600. If they are common how are they getting that sort of $$ ???

[just cruizin']

hey guys my name is alex i own a 1998 serria and i was wondering if the body lift steps in the link were the same for a leaf sprung seirra and a coil sprung serria if someone could answer the question for me it would be appreciated [

Just remember to disconnect your steering at the biscuit before you lift the vehicle as it will make it a lopt easier to connect the bolt onto the body stud under the drivers feet

[mr green]

$600 for ac is worth every cent. compare that to everything else you spend on your car and you will soon forget the cost but you will always remember you have ac.. aaahhh AIR CONDITIONING.

[masterA]

Thanks for that but im not too keen on chopping...swapping etc.
Id rather buy something that already has what im looking for and AC was a factory option on some Leafys and certainly Coilys.

Iv been reading even more through the forums and found some 1000 posts in regards to leafs vs coily with some very interesting posts.
From what i found, unless you have fabrication skills or know anyone to help you, it will be a hard thing to modify a coily. I think there is only a handfull of people that have modified the coily's...successfully on this forum (Sam being one of them)

Anyway.....time to keep looking and reading some more
Any more comments and suggestions will be great

[just cruizin']

plus a leafy is a lot cheaper to buy in the first place

[Gwagensteve]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

[alien]

cant you adapt jimny A/C to the sierra? pretty sure i've seen it done...

having the vit motor in mine means its far easier to add a/c and p/s though.. =P

[grimbo]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

being an option and people actually getting it are 2 different things. I have never seen a Sierra leafy with AC. Not saying it doesn't exist but it is rare to find one with it optioned

[cj]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

being an option and people actually getting it are 2 different things. I have never seen a Sierra leafy with AC. Not saying it doesn't exist but it is rare to find one with it optioned

You need to get out more There's even a lwb 1.0 for sale on our forum with Factory A/C.

[grimbo]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

being an option and people actually getting it are 2 different things. I have never seen a Sierra leafy with AC. Not saying it doesn't exist but it is rare to find one with it optioned

You need to get out more There's even a lwb 1.0 for sale on our forum with Factory A/C.

unfortunately can't get on the forum to see , now that it is all secret squirell

[cj]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

being an option and people actually getting it are 2 different things. I have never seen a Sierra leafy with AC. Not saying it doesn't exist but it is rare to find one with it optioned

You need to get out more There's even a lwb 1.0 for sale on our forum with Factory A/C.

unfortunately can't get on the forum to see , now that it is all secret squirell

You haven't even tried have you. It's in the public area

[Ridge]

i got a 98 hard top sierra with ac, and i dont use the ac because it uses too much fuel and it only has a 40L tank. if you want ac, get a bigger engine.

masterA:
What are the major differences between the two (apart from the price obviously) How hard is it to modify a coily?
Is there much of a difference in weight as i heard that the later models were heavier?

1. the suspension (but everyone knows that)
2. it depends what you want to mod,

the sierra's are 1.3t, but will depend on any mods like bars and if its a hard top etc

http://www.redbookasiapacific.com/au/ve ... ?make=SUZU

[grimbo]

AC was a factory option on ALL sierras. I have even seen early 80's 1.0 litres with AC.

Steve.

being an option and people actually getting it are 2 different things. I have never seen a Sierra leafy with AC. Not saying it doesn't exist but it is rare to find one with it optioned

You need to get out more There's even a lwb 1.0 for sale on our forum with Factory A/C.

unfortunately can't get on the forum to see , now that it is all secret squirell

You haven't even tried have you. It's in the public area

i don't even bother looking anymore as there didn't seem to be any point trying to keep up to date with what;s happening

[Gwagensteve]

Sorry for the hijack but this issue won't go away, it seems.

Keeping up to date with what's happening can be done for a small annual fee, like in every other club.

We're not a charity; our club operates because members pay their membership.

Sorry for the hijack.


Now back to the original hijack

What are the major differences between the two (apart from the price obviously)

Almost everything in reality. Whilst some parts are interchangeable, the leaf part will be quite different to the coil part. This refers to things like the water pump, radiator, hubs.... almost everything.

Is it the price difference in springs vs leafs that alot of people opt for the leafy's?

They are newer and drive much better on the road, that's why the price is higher.

How hard is it to modify a coily?

You have already found this out. Much harder than a leaf car is you want a durable, usable result with a tyre of 31" or over.

Do brake lines need to be modified when lifted 2" body 2" springs?

No not unless significantly longer shocks are installed.

Is it the articulation/travel of springs that people prefer to have the leafs?

There's a few factors. The coilers have really bad geometry. The front end suffers from weak radius ams, bushing bind and the shock/coil unit thingy severely limits shock options. The rear has very low roll stiffness that leads to poor behaviour when climbing. Add the cost of purchase being higher and fewer parts being available, and the coiler will fall out of favour with most owners. It is possible to match the ride of a coiler on road with a leaf car, and exceed the articulation of a coil car off road. Leaf cars are easier to modify, springs can be "tuned" by pulling leaves in an hour or so (have to swap a coil to do this and availability is limited) .... so really, it's strength, simplicity and performance that puts the leaf cars ahead.

yes, a coiler will always steer better than a leaf car for the same caster.

What is the maximum lift for a coily?

beyond 2-3" you will have major work. That's all the spring lift a sierra needs to run any sized tyre the driveline will handle anyway.

Is there much of a difference in weight as i heard that the later models were heavier?

I doubt it's over 50kg

Apart from the obvious front gril are there any other body differences (eg the transmition tunnel) - i heard that the front windscreens are different - is this true?

Front clip, bonnet and cowl are different. Soft top coilers don't have a folding windscreen. This is a huge issue as a light roll will total the car because the screen will twist and twist the cowl with it. There will be other small differences in the tub too - coilers have a smaller low range shifter hole as the shifter does a smaller pattern, the seat mounts are different, the doors are different (intrusion bars, better seals) The glass of the screen is the same, but has a black mask around it on the coilers.

Why do soo many pepole prefer the leafy's over the coily's?

I think you'll have a pretty good idea by now. I've spent hours and hours going over a coiler front end trying to improve it, and it's just all but impossible - everything is weird and different .

Steve.