Vitara body on sierra

[manzzook]

Hey guys,
I recently bought an 85 LWB zook. The body is rusty as hell (it was only 400 bucks), and I may have access to a cheap vitara, so my question is, can I relatively easily put a vitara body on my sierra?

[christover1]

Hey guys,
I recently bought an 85 LWB zook. The body is rusty as hell (it was only 400 bucks), and I may have access to a cheap vitara, so my question is, can I relatively easily put a vitara body on my sierra?

You can do anything if you really want to.
But I'd say no, as the Vitara body is a lot wider than the Sierra body.

I'm needing a body upgrade, soon, would love to stick an LJ body on

But reality steers me toward grabbing a cheap shorty, and cutting it down into a cab/ute body. Easier and cheaper than finding a good lwb cab.

christover

[manzzook]

Yeah hopefully the width wont be a problem, hopefully have a set of hilux diffs lined up. I can be handed with a welder/grinder too, does this change your reply?

[christover1]

Yeah hopefully the width wont be a problem, hopefully have a set of hilux diffs lined up. I can be handed with a welder/grinder too, does this change your reply?

I'd be more tempted to shove the hilux diffs under the Vitara.
Vitara chassis is stronger than a Sierra, as they are heavier. (I think)
Sierras are very light, unless you cut a lot of weight out of the vits body, it could cause problems.

But Sierra chassis being narrower would give you greater articulation with said diffs.

As said, you can do anything, but you need an idea why and what you are trying to achieve. A faster long distance car, a crawling rock monster, or a never on road paddock basher....whatever you decide, it will be both fun and hard work.

christover

[grimbo]

there used to be a Sierra getting around Melb with a Vitara body on it. From what I can remember it was a big task to get the body on there and even bigger to do it all legally. I think he did it because he could not because it was a good idea

[manzzook]

Mainly keen to do it as have access to a cheap vit with a cracked block, and my sierra has good running gear but a shit body. Dont want it for high speed stuff, its only gotta be driven 3km to work and back everyday. Legality isnt a problem, one of the good things about being in a smallish town.

Think I might get both of them up on hoists and check mounting points etc, can always put new mounting points on the vit body, and ill probably turn it into a ute anyway, so weight up top wont be too much of a worry.

Mainly wanna do it cos of avialability of parts atm, just wondering if anyone on here has actually done it and if there were any major problems in doing so. Cheers for the replys so far.

[Damo]

I think he did it because he could not because it was a good idea

Geez Grimbo, I dunno what you've been smoking today but I want some!

[nicbeer]

Whats rusty in the zook,

i will be getting rid of a zook body soon i hope. In perth also.

PM if interested.

Isnt the vit a unibody as such where the chassis is built into the body structure?


Nic

[suzuki boy]

There was a vitara with a sierra body on it in just 4x4 a couple of months ago!

So if a sierra can go on a vitara i'd say the vitara can go on a suzuki.

You can do any thing if you have the skills!

[manzzook]

Well pretty much everything is rusty on the zook! Its not worth repairing Ill put it that way. How good is the body on the one you have, is it wide or narrow track? I would only want the front half anyway if I were to stay sierra.

Haha yeah very true, anything is possible, I was just wondering if anyone had had personal experience with this, and if there were any specific things to watch out for. Cheers for the comments anyway guys.

[nicbeer]

Not too bad. got a ute with bad firewall and floor anound handbrake and a hightop drover with cronic back half rust. front is ok except for just forward of mirror area. fixed with a welder easy i think, (i got no welder).

i am doing up a WT so not sure what i am doing with the other bits so far.

Nic

[manzzook]

Ah ok, well let me know if you wanna sell the one with good front half. Think Ill get this vit anyway, cant pass up a licenced one with only a cracked block for a grand