Outer Limits 4x4 Board

A freinds looking at buying a cheap zook to build as a project weekend play thing.

Now he wants it for some hard offroad work such as minor rock crawling, also deep mud and water crossing's etc.

He wants to know which is the best model zook to buy and mod..ie..vitara, sierra in any year..etc.

Any particular things he should look out for when checking them out ?

Joe

if he starts with a wt sierra he cant go wrong but if he intends doing an axle swap then any will do.

go with a 88.5 or newer model sierra thats when they are wide track

don't get a coil sprung zook, they suck eh RB??

leaves are easier to modify, *most* of the hardcore zooks are leaf sprung

stumped wrote:don't get a coil sprung zook, they suck eh RB??

leaves are easier to modify, *most* of the hardcore zooks are leaf sprung

I was thinking of buying a coily sierra but after having spoken to Rod Reardon, he says that the front diff in them is weak and why there is no locker available. How bout a jimmny?

RockhamptonZOOK wrote:

stumped wrote:don't get a coil sprung zook, they suck eh RB??

leaves are easier to modify, *most* of the hardcore zooks are leaf sprung

I was thinking of buying a coily sierra but after having spoken to Rod Reardon, he says that the front diff in them is weak and why there is no locker available. How bout a jimmny?

They have the same front diff strength wise from what I've read Don't recall a front locker being readily available either. Jimny's are cool though

have a look in the Buying A Suzuki sticky thread at the top

-Mick- wrote:

RockhamptonZOOK wrote:

stumped wrote:don't get a coil sprung zook, they suck eh RB??

leaves are easier to modify, *most* of the hardcore zooks are leaf sprung

I was thinking of buying a coily sierra but after having spoken to Rod Reardon, he says that the front diff in them is weak and why there is no locker available. How bout a jimmny?

They have the same front diff strength wise from what I've read Don't recall a front locker being readily available either. Jimny's are cool though

i thought jimnys had front lockers? (dosent overkill modify jimny front airlockers to fit to a coily?)

Yes there is an airlocker for the front of a jimny. the fact that a modified jimny locker fits a coiler would mean that the axles are same size in a jimny as a coiler, which means 1.0 size (apparently) If this is the case, then I reckon that the only reason people havn't broken more stuff on jimny's is that they are not running as much tyre, and for as long.

I would not touch a coiler if you wanted a project car - there's just sooo much work to do to build strength, and too many unique parts.

Jimny's are interesting though - they have only 1" less wheelbase than a LWB sierra, and very good approach/departure angles, but WTF with the body??? that's not a 4WD How big aren't those guards????

Where are you located Joe?

Melbourne 85zook.

Whats the cost on fitting lux axle's etc on them.


Joe

coilys are kool just i seem to always be breakin shit.

just have to make it stronger and more capiable when sumfin does break

Ok guys my mates just today takin a look at a clean 83 model soft top yellow in color, apparently its very clean and has a 1.3ltr motor and 4speed the owner sez..is that right?? Or is he talking crap.

Is there any probs he should look out for with them when we go re-check it out this weekend..

Also how do vitara's rate??..Any good?? Better than sierra's or nah.


Joe

Also how do vitara's rate??..Any good?? Better than sierra's or nah.

sierra heaps easier and cheaper

Joe, sierra's didnt go to the 1.3 or 5 speed untill 1985. Unless this bloke has dropped in a 1.3 and adapted the 4 speed box to fit (read: pointless) he is full of it.

Ok thanks guys, how do i tell if its 1ltr or 1.3ltr....he was told its a 1.3ltr by the owner but basically he could say about anything just to offload his car.

Apparently its very clean and well looked after.

Are they easy to covert to 1.6 and 5spd's or even 1.6 with the factory 4spd or headaches.


Joe

first off you can get a w/t as early as 87 not 88.5 .

even if old mate has put a 1.3 litre into the 1ltr car id go at least 85 and up due to there being alot more parts avalible , such as the centres being interchangable with the w/t and n/t beefier drive shafts etc , can put vit r/p on sierra centres etc , but if you have the $ get an 87 onwards that way you'll have a w/t and a breather in the gearbox that works , and retractable seat belts etc and still cheap to buy .

i.3ltr enginewith 4speed why bother? if your mate is gunna do it up he is gunna want 5 gears by the time he's geared it down .

but unless you know you gunna graft in some bigger diffs (hilux patrol etc ) buy the w/t . easily identified by the large flares opposed to the n/t small black flares

cheers Jai

You can tell what motor is in it fairly easily. The fisrt couple you look @, on the block just nest to the bellhousing, on the exhaust side of the motor, there will be a cast number indicating capacity on 1.3s. not sure if it is in the same place on 1.0's.

1.0's have a cast alloy rocker cover (the topmost but of the motor) and a bling chrome oil filler cap. 1.3's have a black pressed steel rocker cover and a plastic filler cap.

One you have seen one of each, you will never get confused. they look totally different.

All 1.0ltres are 4Speed, all 1.3's are five speed factory.
1.0's do not need fifth (they couldn't pull it on the hwy with good tyres)
1.3's will not pull 5th unless it is geared properly, but the 1.3 will not rev as happily as the 1.0 (there is a reason why they never put tachs on 1.0litres )

The 1,3 gearbox is massively stronger than a 1.0 box.

IMHO DO NOT BUY anything with an engine swap in it. there are a host of differences between the 1.3 and the 1.0 in all aspects of the car. Corolla conversions etc (even many 1.6 conversions, but these will be beyond budget I think) are a bit compromised, and you are far better buyong a car in good standard nick rather than what somebody else's idea of a cool sierra is.

Ok guys we went and looked at it again on sunday, and thanks to Gwagensteve's advice ive identified it as a 83 model 1.0ltr 4spd sierra softtop.

Look's very very tidy and had very good power for a 1ltr car i must say, guy wants $2000 for it but im sure he might negotiate a little lower.

Its yellow in color and it has a brand spanker new top just fitted aswell.

Never been modded in any way, shape, or form either guy just said that when he bought it he was told it had a 1.3ltr so all along his thought that's what was in it.He was a fairly older guy(say around late 30's)

He said he only used it to get to and from work and has never takin it offroad EVER.I looked under it thoroughly but it was spotless underneath.

Does it sound like a good base to start, he wouldnt mind a later model WT but he said there abit more costly to buy.

Its also registered aswell i should add.

Should we try crunching him a little more on the price or does it already sound reasonable.

Remember this is going to be modified as he goes along.

Joe

BTW will all type's of suzuki driveline's such as engine's aswell as various sorts of gearbox's go into a 83 model if he gets it.

IE.. if he wants to put a vitara 1.6 & vitara 5spd in down the track will it go straight in or does he have to get mod's done to make them fit.

Would he be better fitting a 1.6 vitara motor with a sierra 1.3ltr 5spd box.

Sorry for all the questions but i know nothing about them and im even thinking of buying it myself if he doesnt but that's if it turns out easy enough to mod.


Joe

It is MUCH harder to fit a 1.6 etc into a 1.0 than a 1.3. The 1.0 has running gear more related to the old LJ80 of the late 70's than any other sierra.

Engine mount locations, gearbox, transfer case, diffs, rear brakes, master cylinder and firewall in that area (unboosted brakes), narrower trans tunnel, are all unique to 1.0 litres (along with a heap of other things). A club member here in vic recently picked up an ex shopping trolley tug 1989 wide track with a factory fibreglass ute back and 31's for $2.5K, and another member picked up a mint WT soft top for $1.6k, so the later cars are out there and cheap. I would be patient and hang out for a 1.3.

The "power" of a 1.0 will probably feel OK with stock tyres and a predominantly empty car, but with a tyre size increase and the added traction they offer, you will find the car quite undergeared/underpowered, especially on the highway and off road. That's why so many of them ended up with corolla motors in them. (IMHO not a viable swap any more) Because of the "uniqueness" of 1.0 litre stuff, there are less gearing options for them.

Don't get carried away with a wide track - the narrow track is mechancially identical (for all intents) and opens up years 1985-early1988 as options to you. These have all the same stronger stuff as a WT over a 1.0, just 100mm narrower track. with offset wheels, it is possible to get wt performance/stability out of a 1.3 NT.

Steve