SWB or LWB, If you had your time over what would you buy???

[31zook]

Im only putting the feelers out, but whats everyones ideas on which to go. Im thinking bout either keeping my zook, buying a lwb then swaping diff, tc, wheel, ect ect. Or selling my zook adding 2K to the final selling price then see what i can do on a budget. Or keeping what ive got. How do the old motors go. How much power difference is there between the 1L and 1.3L. Is the NT a big step backwards, Is there a particular model to look out for, what is the ride like seeing as your farther away from axles? Im only thinking about doing this because im sick of not having enough room for 4 mates and an esky.

Josh

[GRPABT1]

It would depend on my budget, LWB is a good thing but it takes more money to get the things that SWB can come with for the same price like WT diffs and 1.3. I would like to have a go at a SWB WT all over again and it would be alot better for less money probably. BUt if I had an endless budget I would go LWB to start with.

[money_killer]

would have never spent money on cars full stop

[31zook]

would have never spent money on cars full stop

Josh

[Gwagensteve]

Unless you're after lots of work, don't start with a 1.0. There's too much you have to change.

Find a 1.3 LWB. They are better balanced, climb better, handle better, and you can run more driveline length, quite apart from them being more practical.

Either way though, you in for some work. 1.3 LWB's are hard to find and when one comes along, you'll need to take in whatever condition you can get.

SWB's are great fun, super maneuverable, but they are less capable and less usable ultimately.

Steve.

[mike_nofx]

I like the SWB, but having never driven a LWB Sierra, can't really compare.

I think one of the best parts of the Sierra is its short wheel base, its part of its character.

Plus LWB ones just look goofy in my opinion.

[PJ.zook]

If i had my time again i would have gone LWB, purely for more space as i use my sierra as a tourer (because i can) as well as a weekend fun machine. I wouldnt change now though, ive put too much time and effort into my current combination.

[Taff]

a 1.3 LWB doesn't cost a cent for mods more other than maybe purchase price.

I would have a SWB if it was a tintop, otherwise LWB all the way.

[31zook]

ok, i didn't Know that LWB 1.3L were made! There us a couple on egay for about $1500. They look like a good buy but alot of work. Are the 1.3L LWB heaps more expencive than the 1L? I saw one on egay ages ago and remember thinking 'why put in the standard sierra motor in a heavier car' haha what a dilpickle

Josh

[mrRocky]

I have had 2 x w/t swb, 3 x w/t lwb 1ltr and 1 swb n/t p/van.
I havent driven a 1.3 w/t LWB but i would say that it would have the best of both worlds. The 1 ltr is good around town and offroad with the lower gearing but being only a 4 spd really sucks. I couldnt really pick if the n/t swb was any different to the w/t swb offroad or on, i found the n/t reasonably stable and not any noticeable difference.

If i had to pick one to do it would be a w/t swb tintop body cut down to a ute and put on a lwb chassie with 1.3 would be quiet, comfortable and have enough power with the bonus of a 5th gear.

[GRPABT1]

I wouldn't bother cutting a tin top into a ute and i love my ute. They don't have the rigidity of a soft top and go floppy when cut hence are alot more work to do right. I'd just cut a soft top and get a fiber glass roof made it would be easier

[zooker]

I like my WT LWB with 1.6efi

[v840]

I guess it would depend what I wanted out of the car.

On my 3rd zook atm which is a LWB. For what I want out of this Sierra, the LWB is a much better option than the shorty. I could see a shorty living up to different demands very easily though.

[seamsy]

for a short time suzuki made tin top stockmans with 1300's from factory, my mates got one, ive got a lwb sierra 1300 its great, cost $500 had bugger all rust, new 2" spring, new shocks, but really dented, had been rolled and trashed (There wasn't a straight square inch of body lol) but its all almost finished and ready for paint. In my opinion the longies are the go because of that extra practability and still a relatively short wheel base ( lwb sierra are a shorter wheel base then the new short wheel base jeep wranglers)

[31zook]

for a short time suzuki made tin top stockmans with 1300's from factory, my mates got one, ive got a lwb sierra 1300 its great, cost $500 had bugger all rust, new 2" spring, new shocks, but really dented, had been rolled and trashed (There wasn't a straight square inch of body lol) but its all almost finished and ready for paint. In my opinion the longies are the go because of that extra practability and still a relatively short wheel base ( lwb sierra are a shorter wheel base then the new short wheel base jeep wranglers)

Bam thats putting the short wheel base really in perspective Im think that an old skool 1L swapping diffs and T/C then finding a motor with alot more power and EFI (i hate my carby). I would then virtual lift it for 33" wrangles/swampers

Josh

[zookster666]

between my missus and me, we own a n/t lwb i have had a w/t lwb
and by next weekend we will have a w/t swb. The lwb's drove pretty much the same offroad the w/t had heavier steering. But i like the look of swb more. All depends on what you want to do with it.

cheers jesse

[Zook_Fan]

for a short time suzuki made tin top stockmans with 1300's from factory, my mates got one, ive got a lwb sierra 1300 its great, cost $500 had bugger all rust, new 2" spring, new shocks, but really dented, had been rolled and trashed (There wasn't a straight square inch of body lol) but its all almost finished and ready for paint. In my opinion the longies are the go because of that extra practability and still a relatively short wheel base ( lwb sierra are a shorter wheel base then the new short wheel base jeep wranglers)

Bam thats putting the short wheel base really in perspective Im think that an old skool 1L swapping diffs and T/C then finding a motor with alot more power and EFI (i hate my carby). I would then virtual lift it for 33" wrangles/swampers

Josh

What really puts the wheel base in perspective for you is parking right next to your sisters mazda 131 and its longer and wider then yours

[croatian4x4]

Do all the basic SWB WT mods bolt up to the LWB WT? eg: bullbar etc?

[mrRocky]

yes

[Adsport]

why bother with a 1.3L is what i wonder. i see SO many people spending thousands on suspension and time moving things around and doing complex cages and lots of mods, and never even seem to consider changing the motor? i ripped my 1.3L out within a month of having my sierra and put a 4ac into it, which by the time i sold the original good running motor cost me the total of $30. its got twice the power and what feels like 3x the torque and its as reliable as any stock motor even with me thrashing it with no remorse...

with the divorced transfer case the possibilities seem almost limitless for any sierra variant and i cant believe that so many people spend so much effort to never even consider engine swaps.