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NEED HELP LIFTINH MY VITI
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:42 am
by bruce
I yust got a vit for the ball an chain but i wan't to keep i for myself. The best way i can think of is to lift the hell out of it.( due to the fact she is 4foot nothing)
I am thinking of 3" lift and 2" cab lift, have looked at the calmini kit and at $2000 its a bit rich.
I have done quite a few mod to 4X4s in the past and have quite a good workshop so can make yust about anything. So if someone could tell me what will and wont take that kind of lift it would be a big help
EG. Do i have to drop the front diff, will i have to make new rear trailing arms and can i just put in the blocks on the top of the front shocks????
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:53 am
by bigsteve
What size tyre do you plan on running??
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:00 pm
by Beastmavster
Anything over 2" spring lift is gonna take work and money on the front of a vitara.
Having said that, 2" spring + 2" body + 31" tyres (another 2 1/2") means a 6 1/2" lift... so she will struggle to get in that.
With a bit of trimming (dunno if you wanna butcher it) then you could fit 33"s. But I'd strongly recommend no more than 31"s unless you do something to correct gearing.
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:12 pm
by sierrajim
What's the factory tyre size on a Vit?
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:40 pm
by Beastmavster
205/75/15. That's about 26"..... (nominal tyre size is about 26.3").
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:03 am
by bruce
sorroy about the slow reply had to go out!!
As for tyres! Yeah im looking at 31s, as for a 2'' lift will the standard gear work or do i have to do some meds.
Im trying to get lower control arms from calmini for there 3'' kit. the rest i can make. Im also looking as an eng swap is there a 2L that will go in wiht out using an oxy to much.
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 8:39 am
by Gonzo
bruce wrote: or do i have to do some meds.
i`d say yes, but just for the fun of it
BTW i have 3 inches of lift in my front end with standard lower control arms...
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:19 am
by cj
If you're looking for cheapest way, use the stock control and trailing arms, front struts and the springs. Get some longer shocks for the rear and make up some spacers for the struts and springs and the rear a-arm and a 2" bodylift. Good luck trying to get the 3" Calmini arms as many have tried and failed before you.
The stock front struts have unused travel in them that can be accessed with spacers. If you want to replace the front struts I would suggest the OME struts. 31's will go on with this and only some minor trimming/tapping to the wheelwells.
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:46 am
by bruce
that would be mods not meds!!!!!!!
and did you drop the front diff to fit 3"" springs?
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:49 am
by Gwagensteve
Spend some time lying under that vit of yours. You will see that it is very very difficult to "drop" the diff - there is a welded in crossmember that the diff sits on top of. The Calmini kit lowers the diff as far as possible (about 25mm) by cutting the stock mount in 1/2 and other equally elegant means.
Never, ever ever lift a car to make it look better, or make you feel better about the car. Lift is only necessary to fit a tyre, (and then only with correctly lowered bumpstops)
Choose your tyres, and then work the car as nececssary to fit them.
We have a car in the club with 33's and 25mm of lift, no body lift (and lots of cutting)
With 31's, you can fit a 2" body lift, and with correct wheel offset, they should fit ok. A small suspension lift such as ARB or Tough Dog will help a little, and with these two, you will have a nicely balanced and road freindly vit with 31's.
Suspension mods (beyond a bolt on kit) are a bit of a minefield for a vit as there are large number of engineering compromises to the vit front end. Personally, I would only persue more specialised work if you were trying to run well beyond a 31.
Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:55 pm
by bruce
Thanks for all the info ill take it all in and see what i come up with.