Whats a Good Set up For a Vitara

[Try_Me]

thinking of selling my lil beast buying a cheaper one and spending the cash back on it??

currently have GV all round with coil spacers and KYB Gas charged shocks.

thinking of either keeping my 98 Jx of buying a 95-96 JLX or so for about 4-5Gz and spending a few thousand on the new Vit. this worthwile or should i keep my beast and spend the extra money and change what i just put in??

thinking of going all out like calmini 3inc lift with 3inc body 33 or so with rockcrawler gears and what not

anyone know rough price on how much they think this may cost me and what would be involved not to sure what i might be getting my self into

cheers nick any help much appreciated

[SiKiD_01]

hold onto your vit man. if anything, just save up and do the stuff to the one you got now.

i've been looking for some good condition vits up here for the last 2 months, but there aren't any. i can't afford to get good ones from south.

the calmini kit can be got for about 2G, but doesn't perform as good as most would say. a mate put a calmini 3+3 combo on a stock swb soft top vit, but doesn't seem as capable as was 1st thought, even with some 31"s muddies.

if you go calmini, be sure to buy the rest of the gear, front+rear bars, winch, anvil, axles, lockers, roll bars and bash plates etc. with all the weight, at least your vit will work they way it should.

if modding the 'good' one is not an option, or an unwilling option, save up the $$$ and but a 94'ish jlx. make sure got power steer. the do that up. or do this anyway if you're not too attached to your current one.

just my 2c. i'm just a little jealeous that i can't find a good condition vit to start over again with.

GL

[Try_Me]

hold onto your vit man. if anything, just save up and do the stuff to the one you got now.

i've been looking for some good condition vits up here for the last 2 months, but there aren't any. i can't afford to get good ones from south.

the calmini kit can be got for about 2G, but doesn't perform as good as most would say. a mate put a calmini 3+3 combo on a stock swb soft top vit, but doesn't seem as capable as was 1st thought, even with some 31"s muddies.

if you go calmini, be sure to buy the rest of the gear, front+rear bars, winch, anvil, axles, lockers, roll bars and bash plates etc. with all the weight, at least your vit will work they way it should.

if modding the 'good' one is not an option, or an unwilling option, save up the $$$ and but a 94'ish jlx. make sure got power steer. the do that up. or do this anyway if you're not too attached to your current one.

just my 2c. i'm just a little jealeous that i can't find a good condition vit to start over again with.

GL

if calmini isnt good then what is???
also do they sell lockers etc? what u wrote^^^

and keep mine prob sounds good but up grade to power steering.

was also thinking of buying a JLX smashed but very hard to find one with same dash etc as mine so interior bits fit.

also how much more power are we talking if i put in a 2ltr V6 in??

cheers nick

[Huggy]

if your thinking of going to the effort of putting a 2l v6 go the whole way and stick a 2.7 v6 in not much difference in overall size

[cj]

If you feel that you must swap the engine then maybe have a look at the J20A 2.0 4cyl as it would be a better swap than the H20A 2.0 V6 IMHO but if you must go V6 then the 2.7 (or 2.5) is a better bet.

[Ric]

hold onto your vit man. if anything, just save up and do the stuff to the one you got now.

i've been looking for some good condition vits up here for the last 2 months, but there aren't any. i can't afford to get good ones from south.

the calmini kit can be got for about 2G, but doesn't perform as good as most would say. a mate put a calmini 3+3 combo on a stock swb soft top vit, but doesn't seem as capable as was 1st thought, even with some 31"s muddies.

if you go calmini, be sure to buy the rest of the gear, front+rear bars, winch, anvil, axles, lockers, roll bars and bash plates etc. with all the weight, at least your vit will work they way it should.

if modding the 'good' one is not an option, or an unwilling option, save up the $$$ and but a 94'ish jlx. make sure got power steer. the do that up. or do this anyway if you're not too attached to your current one.

just my 2c. i'm just a little jealeous that i can't find a good condition vit to start over again with.

GL

the calmini 3" suspension cost me a little over $900, but i do agree with the purcahsing of the other gear, i have the bash plates and they have worked excellent so far.

Have had the calmini equipment for a while now and have not found any faults. rides better than standard on road, and has been excellent offroad. i don't think you can really judge a suspension system unless you try it for yourself in your own situation. - would not get the 3" body lift though.

Regards, Ric

[Try_Me]

the calmini 3" suspension cost me a little over $900, but i do agree with the purcahsing of the other gear, i have the bash plates and they have worked excellent so far.

Have had the calmini equipment for a while now and have not found any faults. rides better than standard on road, and has been excellent offroad. i don't think you can really judge a suspension system unless you try it for yourself in your own situation. - would not get the 3" body lift though.

Regards, Ric

what elese did u buy and where from???

cheers nick

[suzukiboy]

hold onto your vit man. if anything, just save up and do the stuff to the one you got now.

i've been looking for some good condition vits up here for the last 2 months, but there aren't any. i can't afford to get good ones from south.

the calmini kit can be got for about 2G, but doesn't perform as good as most would say. a mate put a calmini 3+3 combo on a stock swb soft top vit, but doesn't seem as capable as was 1st thought, even with some 31"s muddies.

if you go calmini, be sure to buy the rest of the gear, front+rear bars, winch, anvil, axles, lockers, roll bars and bash plates etc. with all the weight, at least your vit will work they way it should.

if modding the 'good' one is not an option, or an unwilling option, save up the $$$ and but a 94'ish jlx. make sure got power steer. the do that up. or do this anyway if you're not too attached to your current one.

just my 2c. i'm just a little jealeous that i can't find a good condition vit to start over again with.

GL

the calmini 3" suspension cost me a little over $900, but i do agree with the purcahsing of the other gear, i have the bash plates and they have worked excellent so far.

Have had the calmini equipment for a while now and have not found any faults. rides better than standard on road, and has been excellent offroad. i don't think you can really judge a suspension system unless you try it for yourself in your own situation. - would not get the 3" body lift though.

Regards, Ric

I agree with Ric, I got my 3" Calmini lift kit in the same group buy.
Also have the Calmini skid plates and crawler gears.
Have done 50 000 klms with the Calimini lift and love it fine on road and brilliant offroad.
As with all aftermarket modified parts they can do with a few tweaks and improvements but don’t regret installing the lift.
I am also running a ARB rear locker, best first mod I did to the Vit.

[want33s]

[quote="suzukiboy"][/quote].......
HUH.. SUZUKIBOY ?Does this forum have two persons known as 'Suzukiboy' ?

[Toecutta]

My 2c, The Calmini is good stuff, but you need the weight of a bullbar.

I have a 4 door JX with it in and it is great,


There is another option I have a GV Calmini kit you could buy for $1000

[suzukiboy]

.......
HUH.. SUZUKIBOY ?Does this forum have two persons known as 'Suzukiboy' ?

Yes me suzukiboy and someone else as suzuki boy...

[Try_Me]

how many ppl purchsed in your group buy?

so the calmini is a go and definetly a bull bar the calmini winch bar??

What other mods do you guys have on ur vits

cheers nick

[Try_Me]

I agree with Ric, I got my 3" Calmini lift kit in the same group buy.
Also have the Calmini skid plates and crawler gears.
Have done 50 000 klms with the Calimini lift and love it fine on road and brilliant offroad.
As with all aftermarket modified parts they can do with a few tweaks and improvements but don’t regret installing the lift.
I am also running a ARB rear locker, best first mod I did to the Vit.

what size tyres are u running also what did u need to do to run the lift??? like brake lines extended etc.

[suzukiboy]

how many ppl purchsed in your group buy?

so the calmini is a go and definetly a bull bar the calmini winch bar??

What other mods do you guys have on ur vits

cheers nick

There was probley about a dozen people Vit & Sierra bits ordered.

I had an ARB bulbar before I installed the lift, so it sits fine.

Shockworks makes a alot better looking bar than Calmini.
http://www.shrockworks.com/Suzuki
Don't know how easy it would be to buy/cost/suppliers.

I am running 30" MTR's.

Install on the kit is mostly bolt on, a few bits to grind off.
No extending the front brake lines, new brake line for rear included in kit.
Ajustment to front wheel aligment needed after install of kit and I installed camber pins.

I modified my rear shock points as they were hitting the shocks, but Ric didn't have a problem.

Go here to see mods of my Vit.
http://www.nbs4x4club.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3664

Anything I can help you with or question I can answer feel free to ask.

Dave

[Ric]

yep i got the 3" suspension and the trailtough 4.24:1 crawler gears, also have a bit of extra weight from the rear drawers and the 6 point cage. twin locked running 31's. no problems, oh and a 1" body lift.
you can also get a snorkel for the 1.6l vits if you look hard enough. i got one i have the two belly plates, the gearbox one and the transferw case one. i didn't end up getting the front plate as i have made up my own. steering dampner is a coil over tough dog, didn't get the calmini one as i wanted a return to center.

Ric

[Try_Me]

suzukiboy
What dimentions is ur rear bar? want to try and make one also saw ur build up love ur vit looks sik

Ric
rockcrawler gears?? what advantage does this do also can u run a locker with them?? also do u have pics of draws and 6 point roll cage

Ohh i have a snorkel made up from an exhaust shop

[suzukiboy]

Will take some pics and dimensions on the weekend.

Crawler gears are great!!!!! Low range is 134% lower than stock.
Just put it in 1st or 2nd take foot off clutch and let it roll over the rocks, will climb over anything... well just about.

Not cheap but...

Locker work fine with them, that was my second mod (best money spent) and let me go a lot further then without one.

[Toecutta]

Looked at getting a bar in before, but the shipping costs make it cheaper to get an ARB one anyway.

Mine runs 31" and there is one in town running 32" buy these do scrub a bit

[Try_Me]

check this vit this is what i would like to do to mine

http://www.k9rdj.co.uk/superzuki/index.html

also what do u think of the lights on this vit on the roof??

this is also pics of my snorkel


pvc pipe from bunning temporary fix when it was raining




this is my car now with 235/75/15 they didnt rub when i had them on stock wither with 15/7 rims custom painted


cheers nick

[Try_Me]

Looked at getting a bar in before, but the shipping costs make it cheaper to get an ARB one anyway.

Mine runs 31" and there is one in town running 32" buy these do scrub a bit

fair enough i get what u mean with the bar

SUZUKIBOY
would be a big help also u said u made ur front bash plate?? u got pics and when u mean expensive how much for the crawler gears also are they really worth it??

[suzukiboy]

Looked at getting a bar in before, but the shipping costs make it cheaper to get an ARB one anyway.

Mine runs 31" and there is one in town running 32" buy these do scrub a bit

fair enough i get what u mean with the bar

SUZUKIBOY
would be a big help also u said u made ur front bash plate?? u got pics and when u mean expensive how much for the crawler gears also are they really worth it??

Ric was the one who made up the front bash plate, I have the Calmini one.

Bash plate is a must if anyone fits the Calmini 3" lift as the kit drops the front diff below the cross member.

Cost you about $1100-$1200 to buy the gear set and if you pay someone to install say about $800.
Worth it YES after trying them YES....

But I would buy a rear air locker first, lift, then see how much offroad you will be doing then crawlers

[Ric]

[Ric]

[Try_Me]

very nice ric

how long did it take u to make the back tray also do u put a softtop on it with the roll bar on it.

do u have a sound system??? with all that gear in the back

also how did u mount the seats i have a pair or WRX buckets out of an 05 model cost me jack to buy coz they have no rails and spings or anything to do with the base if u get what i mean.

Also rockcrawler gears?? exactly what do they do the name says allot but im stilla bit iffy about it.

[Ric]

very nice ric

how long did it take u to make the back tray also do u put a softtop on it with the roll bar on it.

do u have a sound system??? with all that gear in the back

also how did u mount the seats i have a pair or WRX buckets out of an 05 model cost me jack to buy coz they have no rails and spings or anything to do with the base if u get what i mean.

Also rockcrawler gears?? exactly what do they do the name says allot but im stilla bit iffy about it.

i always run a half top, even in bad weather. but yes the whole soft top does fit. just have to remove the light bar. i have 6" speakers up front in the doors and have removed the rear 6x9's and replaced the panels with sheet alloy. the drawers underneath are 900x450 from memory and there are two of those.. ontop is a 900x400x400 space case. a 50l Waeco fridge fits in beside that and also another space case thats 350x340x350 from. All fits neatly on top

I have 2 SAAS bucket seats. The seat frames were made by a professional welder to ensure they were strong. I used the original seat slides and just had frames made to suit the seats. they are a tightish fit but all works well.

rockcrawler gears as they are commonly known are basically gears you buy for your transfer case that make it go slower.. this then slows down your whole low range gear set. so effectively by installing 'rock crawler gears' your low range becomes slower and easier to use over difficult obstacles. they don't effect onroad handling etc or diff locks.

[Try_Me]

i always run a half top, even in bad weather. but yes the whole soft top does fit. just have to remove the light bar. i have 6" speakers up front in the doors and have removed the rear 6x9's and replaced the panels with sheet alloy. the drawers underneath are 900x450 from memory and there are two of those.. ontop is a 900x400x400 space case. a 50l Waeco fridge fits in beside that and also another space case thats 350x340x350 from. All fits neatly on top

I have 2 SAAS bucket seats. The seat frames were made by a professional welder to ensure they were strong. I used the original seat slides and just had frames made to suit the seats. they are a tightish fit but all works well.

rockcrawler gears as they are commonly known are basically gears you buy for your transfer case that make it go slower.. this then slows down your whole low range gear set. so effectively by installing 'rock crawler gears' your low range becomes slower and easier to use over difficult obstacles. they don't effect onroad handling etc or diff locks.

u make the roll cage also in there???

looks neat tho really would like my tin can to look like that what have u spent to get it to where u are??

with the lift is how is the ride compared to stock this lift isnt the best in mine.

who did u get the calmini kit from the guy down here calmini told me to talk to didnt return my calls and didnt reply to my email.

so to date i need
calmini 3inc lift
rockcrawler gears
bash plates through out
winch bar
ARB rear air locker
roll cage(maybe)

did i forget anything???

cheers nick

[suzukiboy]

We brought the Calmini gear direct, but it was a large order.
There used to be a few people you can source Calmini bits from in Australia.
Best to ring someone than emails in Australia, speak to the person that is what the phone is for.
There is one Calmini supplier I would love to tell you to keep away from but won’t on the open forum.
Ride is bumpy but not to bad, I drive my every day and like driving it more than my Baleno.

So nice shopping list:
so to date i need
calmini 3inc lift $2000
rockcrawler gears $2000
bash plates through out $1000
winch bar $1500
ARB rear air locker $1500
roll cage(maybe) $1500

Starting to look like how much I spend.

did i forget anything???
Have fun in it........

[Try_Me]

how did buy direct??

calmini wont they said to me in an email

also the guy here i called left a message and then emailed him also no response??

hmm sounds like i got a bit of saving to do im only 18 at Tafe oh well all good things take time i guess want this to be done in the next few months or so tho

also im going to make the bar across the windscreen with the spotties might make the cargo cage thing to go on the rear
like that one


HMMMM considering im going to do it slowly what apart from the lift kit should come first??

So nice shopping list:
so to date i need
calmini 3inc lift $2000
rockcrawler gears $2000
bash plates through out $1000
winch bar $1500
ARB rear air locker $1500
roll cage(maybe) $1500

Suzukiboy
urs is a jx does it have air con pwr sterring etc??
ur rear bar looks like its a imitation of the stock one just better and in steel nah but ur car looks sick.

how far u guys from syd?? maybe come up for a week or something come get u guys to come out with us

[suzukiboy]

how did buy direct??

Just placed and order...

calmini wont they said to me in an email

I only just asked for a price on there headers and got back a reply with postage cost.

also the guy here i called left a message and then emailed him also no response??

Doesn't want your Business then.

hmm sounds like i got a bit of saving to do im only 18 at Tafe oh well all good things take time i guess want this to be done in the next few months or so tho

also im going to make the bar across the windscreen with the spotties might make the cargo cage thing to go on the rear
like that one

HMMMM considering im going to do it slowly what apart from the lift kit should come first??

My first mod would be just the ARB locker.

I didn't have a lift for a long time, just take it easy.
As you see by my effort bending the cross member with standard lift.

So nice shopping list:
so to date i need
calmini 3inc lift $2000
rockcrawler gears $2000
bash plates through out $1000
winch bar $1500
ARB rear air locker $1500
roll cage(maybe) $1500

Suzukiboy
urs is a jx does it have air con pwr sterring etc??

Yes both air and pwr steer, also last of the free wheeling hubs.

ur rear bar looks like its a imitation of the stock one just better and in steel nah but ur car looks sick.

Still have to take some pics and measurments to post up.

how far u guys from syd?? maybe come up for a week or something come get u guys to come out with us

I'am in Brisbane, Southside, going to Rover Park one weekend soon I hope, might be a place to meet up.

[mysterioussasvit]

i have a solid axel hilux with 5 link and vit gearing straight bolt in for sale more wheel travel and front wheels 2 inches furthur foward pm me if ur keen