Kia's are cool

[grimbo]

exactly. We had this same argument on our club site and that was our general fallback.

[DamTriton]

How much will the Mazda diesel, gearbox and t/case cost and where will you source one and how will you get it installed and engineered and insured? And what do you hope to achieve with all of this? A full on 4wd machine that will need at least a 35" to be worthwhile or a mild 4wheeler running a 32"?

Mazda 2.5 turbidiesel sourced from Mazda Bravo or Ford Courier 4WD ute(2.5 WL-T). $2500-3500. The engine/gearbox/Tcase mounts are in the right place and it is the same length (Tcase position) as what is already in the Kia. The diesel option is for both fuel availability in the (real) bush as well as economy, as I am planning "The Big Trip" sometime in the next few years. The 20% increase in wheel size is more than compensated for by the 50% increased torque of the diesel (100 km/h = 2350 engine rpm based on REAL diameter 31" tyres), not to mention being further down the rev scale.

"...worthwhile..." is relative, perhaps we just want different thing from our 4WD experience. It just seems a pity to hobble your vehicle so much that you can't get out of your driveway without breaking something (more "capable"???). It sounds like one of the ads for the softroaders, guarranteed to get you out there, just no guarantee that you will get back.

The 32" tyres will be enough as they are comparable to a Cruiser 100 series IFS (285/85R16) when you take into account the overall width/length to minimum clearance angles.

Engineering is not a problem (spken to an engineer in D'd'nong) as the engines and gearbox/Tcase are all by the same (original) manufacturer (Mazda), and everything already lines up with the OE engine/gearbox/Tcase mounts (measured it already), even the gearstick holes...

Yes, I want a vehicle that I can go further than 100 km without it being a PITA to drive, so mild but reliable is what I'm after. BTW leaving for Qld in about 12 hours - Fraser Island. Care to join me???? Too far to drive???? Need to put the car on a train/semi to get it there????

...and how many of the vehicles in the Suzuki club are "engineered and insured"? How many are technically and literally unroadworthy? (BTW fire trails and other 4WD tracks are technically roads, so the use of your vehicles on them is no less illegal.)

[grimbo]

Just because it bolts in doesn't mean it will be legal. There are a lot of factors to consider by an engineer.

Breakage is not a huge problem in the club. We have vehicles that are being used way past what you are talking about that don't break things. Mine and greg's are running similar setups and haven't broken axles diffs etc. Mick has broken a couple of cvs but he is running 36" swampers, locked with dual cases on Sierra stuff.

I don't know of many trips where the cars haven't made it back because of breakage. Unreliabilty of electrical or broken aftermarket components maybe


I have taken mine with a 31 and the same basic setup to Innamincka and back. I am quite willing to take mine on long trips no worries. I don't break things, I may have reliabilty issues but that is more my lack of maintenance than the vehicle itself.


Mine is currently getting a rwc and engineer cert for it. As it is I haven't had any problems other than having to change my wheel offset back to stock (doesn't matter as the reason it was done was to be at w/t width now have w/t), all the usual electrical stuff (lights working), windscreen, mud flaps and flares to cover completly (once wheels fixed all ok).


So lets see then. I will have a fully legal, insured registered car capable of 100 km/h at 3500 rpm that can do a long trip and also do some of the hardest tracks around.

So Gary as I have said before. take things as criticism of an idea not a personal attack.

[grimbo]

A couple of other things. What makes you think once you do these mods you want be having reliabilty issues and breaking stuff. if you are sending 50% more torque thru the system this will start breaking stuff not made to take it.

For what you are talking about using the car for, why not just get a Bravo or a Courier as all the mods and money you want to spend really isn't going to give you anything that you couldn't just buy - a Twin cab hilux and the like