Im kind of new to the scene and wondering how the good 'ol sierras hold up in the 4wd world, As I plan on purchasing one for this exact purpose.
What are troubles that most people have and can these be bypassed by buying a different vehicle. As you can see I'm quite interested in getting a little beast but want to go every where others go so just being realistic.
Are the motors fine for 4wding in a stock sierra?
Thanks in advance for your answers!
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Do Sierra's cut it?
They arnt like driving other 4x4's they are totally different because of there size. Best to go out with a bunch of others when u first get one to learn how to drive it.
You should be more worried about the other 4x4's keeping up with a stock sierra. They are slow but other than that, there the best 4x4 ever made.
You should be more worried about the other 4x4's keeping up with a stock sierra. They are slow but other than that, there the best 4x4 ever made.
_____
[olllllo]
[olllllo]
dont worry about their 4x4 ability, it's great.
strength is very strong.
1.3 are a bit slow but put-up-able, can definatly take a floging and dont mind being reved.
parts are readily available and not expensive.
very fun car.
very straight forward to work on.
comfort is below avg.
their biggest flaw is potential for rust. most cases are curable and preventable if rust is found.
strength is very strong.
1.3 are a bit slow but put-up-able, can definatly take a floging and dont mind being reved.
parts are readily available and not expensive.
very fun car.
very straight forward to work on.
comfort is below avg.
their biggest flaw is potential for rust. most cases are curable and preventable if rust is found.
1993 LWB vitara, Front & Rear alloy bars, towbar, spotties, UHF.
Hmmm A vehicle which has not been available for well over a decade, but still very popular.
A vehicle which regularly competes (and finishes, often on podium) in most 4WD comps in the land.
The humble Sierra is an awesome little 4WD, it is far more capable than most, definitely cheaper and certainly fun to drive.
Only drawbacks are as said, comfort and size if you want to take the whole family.
A vehicle which regularly competes (and finishes, often on podium) in most 4WD comps in the land.
The humble Sierra is an awesome little 4WD, it is far more capable than most, definitely cheaper and certainly fun to drive.
Only drawbacks are as said, comfort and size if you want to take the whole family.
http://vic.suzuki4wd.com
Melbourne is probably the best state in Australia to own a sierra as the best driving is so close to the city. It's quite feasible to put up with a car that's not terribly good on the highway when you only have to drive an hour to hit the tracks.
We've had countless members sell their sierras and regret it, or buy a bigger car thinking it ill be more capable and also regret it. You won't have more fun in a 4WD than in a sierra.
*shameless plug* There's also a a pretty handy little club in Vic that can help you with technical questions and trips...
Steve.
Melbourne is probably the best state in Australia to own a sierra as the best driving is so close to the city. It's quite feasible to put up with a car that's not terribly good on the highway when you only have to drive an hour to hit the tracks.
We've had countless members sell their sierras and regret it, or buy a bigger car thinking it ill be more capable and also regret it. You won't have more fun in a 4WD than in a sierra.
*shameless plug* There's also a a pretty handy little club in Vic that can help you with technical questions and trips...
Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
im going to regret getting rid of mine but WA is more touring / longer trips unfort.
but to the orig poster, grab a sierra and dont look back if u want bang for buck offroad fun
but to the orig poster, grab a sierra and dont look back if u want bang for buck offroad fun
[url=http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?p=930942#930942&highlight=]Zook[/url]
U SUK Zook Built and Sold.
New rig is 97 80 DX. 2" list 33s
U SUK Zook Built and Sold.
New rig is 97 80 DX. 2" list 33s
be prepared that the gearing in sierras is difficult, its the only real down side to a sierra imho.
They rev very hard to do 100-110, but their offroad gearing is average (too high).
The offroad gearing can be rectified fairly easily by changing to a 1L tranny or getting a gearset put in, but this makes them evern worse on the hwy by 12-20%.
This is why it was mentioned that melbourne is so good as you dont need to drive far to go offroad.
but they go amasingly well offroad with a small amount of work. its kind of annoying
They rev very hard to do 100-110, but their offroad gearing is average (too high).
The offroad gearing can be rectified fairly easily by changing to a 1L tranny or getting a gearset put in, but this makes them evern worse on the hwy by 12-20%.
This is why it was mentioned that melbourne is so good as you dont need to drive far to go offroad.
but they go amasingly well offroad with a small amount of work. its kind of annoying
*there's a rock, drive over it :) there's a bigger rock, drive over it :twisted: there's an even bigger rock, oops broke it :oops: Upgrade broken bit :bad-words:
Goto *
Goto *
thehanko wrote:be prepared that the gearing in sierras is difficult, its the only real down side to a sierra imho.
They rev very hard to do 100-110, but their offroad gearing is average (too high).
The offroad gearing can be rectified fairly easily by changing to a 1L tranny or getting a gearset put in, but this makes them evern worse on the hwy by 12-20%.
This is why it was mentioned that melbourne is so good as you dont need to drive far to go offroad.
but they go amasingly well offroad with a small amount of work. its kind of annoying
If you have seen myself and nickbeer and a few others you will know that the solution to this is to DRIVE FASTER offroad!.. its more fun that way anyhow!
and if you need more power to push the gears, (along with extra comfort) get a vitara!
found a 3door 1.6L efi vitara =) pm me for 4x4ing around perth
Suzuki did a good job on the high range gearing as the motor is in its sweet spot at 100kmh with stock tyres. It is a small motor and it makes most its power above 3grand. I get sub 9L/100km which is pretty good for the brick shape aerodynamics of the zook and its apparent high revs. Try putting bigger tyres on and lowering the revs it will suck more juice than a cruiser or pootrawler.They rev very hard to do 100-110, but their offroad gearing is average (too high).
More Suzuki parts going to the big Suzuki Heaven in the sky!
dunno - with 31" simex ETs, SPOA and 1.6L EFI engine, im still netting about 10L to 100km... but with about 6L missing from my fuel tank (dented) and an uncorrected odometer, and a busted fuel guage - its kinda hard to be super accurate =) lol
But still - its not near the 16L per 100 that some of the bigger 4x4s of the same era will get.
But still - its not near the 16L per 100 that some of the bigger 4x4s of the same era will get.
The worst thing about censorship is ███████.
There absolutely nothing wrong with the gearing of a 100% stock sierra. They need to pull 3500rpm @ 100km/h - any less and they can't hold road speed in 5th gear. Funny that a manufacturer would know how to gear a car. 
Likewise, off road, they are geared very well for a 26" tyre with no grip. All the gearing issues start once tyre size is increased and grip is increased.
It is possible to lower cruising revs with a larger tyre, but doing so requires an engine with significantly higher torque at lower revs. There's no other way.
Steve.
Likewise, off road, they are geared very well for a 26" tyre with no grip. All the gearing issues start once tyre size is increased and grip is increased.
It is possible to lower cruising revs with a larger tyre, but doing so requires an engine with significantly higher torque at lower revs. There's no other way.
Steve.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
This is true, however its the combination of low performance engine and lack of gearing options is what im pointing out.Gwagensteve wrote:There absolutely nothing wrong with the gearing of a 100% stock sierra. They need to pull 3500rpm @ 100km/h - any less and they can't hold road speed in 5th gear. Funny that a manufacturer would know how to gear a car.
Likewise, off road, they are geared very well for a 26" tyre with no grip. All the gearing issues start once tyre size is increased and grip is increased.
It is possible to lower cruising revs with a larger tyre, but doing so requires an engine with significantly higher torque at lower revs. There's no other way.
Steve.
Even with 27inch tyres you tend to have to either run to fast or ride the clutch. either of which im not a fan of. personal point of view.
But the thing is most people here dont drive std sierras, the run bigger tyres bigger engines etc and trying to find a good combination of gearing for on and off road is difficult.
Thats the only poinbt i was trying to make, its not like getting into any of the bigger trucks where you can do alot more without worrying about high range or low range drivability/ speed control.
Funny that a manufacturer would know how to gear a car.
I personally dont think they got it quite right for stock in the low range and to alter this you always alter your high range gearing as well.
Its the lack of ability to alter low range without effecting high range with which I get frustrated.
Anyway I just wanted to make the OP aware of this limitation as for me its been hair pulling frustration. but then you get over it
*there's a rock, drive over it :) there's a bigger rock, drive over it :twisted: there's an even bigger rock, oops broke it :oops: Upgrade broken bit :bad-words:
Goto *
Goto *
sierras seem to use 10L/100 no matter what u do to them, bigger tyres, foot flat or gently driving doesn't make a huge difference only very minor.
another vote for sierra's could have made the low range first couple gears lower. Jeeps factory low range go alot slower, there's no reason why sierras could have the same ratio's to suit thier tyre size.
the high range is great, no faults there.
another vote for sierra's could have made the low range first couple gears lower. Jeeps factory low range go alot slower, there's no reason why sierras could have the same ratio's to suit thier tyre size.
the high range is great, no faults there.
1993 LWB vitara, Front & Rear alloy bars, towbar, spotties, UHF.
There are heaps of gearing combos for pre coily sierra transfer cases and diff gears combos be it from other suzuki's models or from aftermarket. If you are running bigger tyres a simple transfer gear swap is good for up to 32 inch tyres and I find my 6.5's perfect on road in high range keeping the motor in the sweet spot and low range is almost too slow in some situations. If you are going bigger in tyre again you'll just have to change the dif ratio to one of the many different ratios. Also why would you only want to change the low range ratios if you were running bigger tyres? Even with a 1.6 you'd probably be running far to high a ratio on the blacktop ever tried to drive a WT sierra with tyres bigger than 29inch with stock gearing?This is true, however its the combination of low performance engine and lack of gearing options is what im pointing out.
Even with 27inch tyres you tend to have to either run to fast or ride the clutch. either of which im not a fan of. personal point of view.
But the thing is most people here dont drive std sierras, the run bigger tyres bigger engines etc and trying to find a good combination of gearing for on and off road is difficult.
Thats the only poinbt i was trying to make, its not like getting into any of the bigger trucks where you can do alot more without worrying about high range or low range drivability/ speed control.
The clutch don't like it at all...
More Suzuki parts going to the big Suzuki Heaven in the sky!
I couldn't agree less! I think what sucks about the larger trucks is not being able to alter the high range gearing. Even look at vitaras, they all end up with sierra transfers or twin transfers to rectify the shitty gearing. Sierras aren't diesels that like to chug, they love to rev, and if you chuck bigger tyres on then you'll still wanna rev them like before and you can with the right gearset (of which there are many available). Even in your big truck diesels and modern common rail jobbies, the manufacturer usually places the motor in it's sweet spot rev range when in the correct gear at normal road speeds. going up 5 inches in tyre diameter (which is small for modified suzuki standards) or more will negatively affect the power in most trucks out there on road without changing the high range gearing.thehanko wrote: Its the lack of ability to alter low range without effecting high range with which I get frustrated.
Build Thread - http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=168546&p=1927514&hilit=GRPABT1%27s+zook#p1927514
Just my 2 cents worth, Do IT!
I agree 100% with Gwagensteve & alien
start off standard have some fun
then when it is time to mod your zook read the bible as 99% of your question have been ask before!
PS. If I was to build another Zook I would,
1.6l efi and radiator
6.4 trailtough gears with reinforced transfer case mount
HD axles
reinforced diff housing with torque bar
standard diff under with flat leaf springs and HD shakles
matt pisani's (m&m engineering) high steer
33x10 tyres with beadlock rims
ARB air lockers, so I have the option to run open diffs to make things interesting on the trail
and a couple other small things
I miss my Zook
I agree 100% with Gwagensteve & alien
start off standard have some fun
then when it is time to mod your zook read the bible as 99% of your question have been ask before!
PS. If I was to build another Zook I would,
1.6l efi and radiator
6.4 trailtough gears with reinforced transfer case mount
HD axles
reinforced diff housing with torque bar
standard diff under with flat leaf springs and HD shakles
matt pisani's (m&m engineering) high steer
33x10 tyres with beadlock rims
ARB air lockers, so I have the option to run open diffs to make things interesting on the trail
and a couple other small things
I miss my Zook
yeah but its fun isnt italien wrote:fixed =) hahaBAD70Y wrote:PS. If I was to build another Zook I would,
Spend lots of money on it
I miss my bottomless money pit
all work no money pit makes an unhappy boy*there's a rock, drive over it :) there's a bigger rock, drive over it :twisted: there's an even bigger rock, oops broke it :oops: Upgrade broken bit :bad-words:
Goto *
Goto *
Never regret owning a zook, you got to own a few first then own a full size rig only to come back to the zook. Take 5 years building the Gravitron, waste a lot of coin getting someone else help build what they think yo want, only to bring it home, strip it and start again. But its all fun when you can drive up walking tracks through thick scrub. Fun, fun, fun.
this ramp has been approved to backyard Australian standards
this ramp has been approved to backyard Australian standards
"Gravitron " : drives the first layer of Gravity
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