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Sierra Coil Conversion

Tech Talk for Suzuki owners.

Moderators: lay80n, sierrajim

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Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:53 pm
Location: Mt Gambier SA

Sierra Coil Conversion

Post by -ZukChiK- »

Hi Zook owners,

I'm a newbie on this site so my thought first is to intro myself as one...

The story so far...

I've had a 91 Sierra Hardtop since new and given it a right thrashing from when it was a newborn, right thru its teenage years! It was my first car and I totally loved it, and still do! Which is why Im reclaiming it from my parents who took it over after I bought dad's share in our '94 Triton, which is now my work truck (family wheeling and dealing with vehicles, oh so much fun)

Anyway... the Zook. After I bought it (and after the manufacturers warranty expired) off came the manifold and on went a set of Hurricane extractors. They are still in good condition... Even after 10 years. Also had a custom sports exhaust fitted blah blah (and we, ummm... gutted the C convertor)

Further down the track (after I found the shocks were leaking, possibly from jumping over railway lines) I replaced the factory shocks with Monroes but these didn't last too long and I put a set of Carrolls Springs and Fireflex shocks on it....

Ok... I felt the difference. It was good on corrugated dirt roads and soaked up the ruts and didn't bottom out much, being a bit higher. Offroad it felt more solid than the original gear, I did a fair bit of 4wd'ing to surf beaches and sandboarding spots, dunes and bumpy tracks were fun back then... But since not having driven this car for so long and not missing the go kart suspension AT ALL I would really like some much appreciated advice as to what I can do to make the ride more bearable! It just needs to be softer on the arse and not have a wheel in the air when it shouldnt be! I think over the years it's just stiffened up bad.

I know a few things like take a leaf out of the Carrolls, or get my original's re-set and put on..... BUT, what I want to know is (and this question goes to Sam from Overkill) HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DO THE COIL CONVERSION?? I was having a look at your website for the first time tonight and near fell over that you actually did this, something I never thought possible!

I'm not into the rockcrawling scene or want to make this into some kind of superbeast (Although that would be cool....but $$) At the moment its going to be a project car where we'll eventually transplant a Corolla motor etc etc & other engine mods to go with (Don't worry I'll be back with more questions later down the track!)

But for now I want to do the suspension and put bigger rims/tyres on it... At the moment it stands about 2 or so inches higher than standard.
Its going to be used for more offroad use, eventually... But I also want it for driving around town and getting in those parking spots that the Triton needs 6 point turns to squeeze into!!

So.. anyone got some advice for me??!!


Yours in the dirt,

Jo


PS. I really think I'm going to like this forum - I've never seen so much interest in Suzuki's... People used to laugh at me for even wanting to put a bit of lift on mine, the fools!!!!
Last edited by -ZukChiK- on Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by DeWsE »

Welcome Jo, and I hope you have a good time surfing Outers.

Do a search and you will find a whole thread on the coil conversion. It also has the price ;)
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
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Post by -ZukChiK- »

Hi DeWsE,

Thanks! Will do more in depth searching on the topic - I did have a quick look using the search tool but I didnt see the coil conversion, must have skipped over it somehow.

If anyone else has had Carrolls springs & Fireflex Shocks on their zook I'd be interested to know what you think of them?
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Post by DeWsE »

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... light=coil

See i'm not just a pad whore, I can help some times
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
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Post by stumped »

DeWsE wrote:http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9445&highlight=coil

See i'm not just a pad whore, I can help some times


nice pics in there :D

if ya can't be bothered reading the whole thing, sam was selling for $3000 fitted at the time...
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Post by -ZukChiK- »

For some reason the pics won't load... at all!? Is this normal LOL!!
The info is great... Thanks guys!
If you find any more short cuts to links on this subject, throw them in this post for me? :)

Cheers

PS. PAd Whore??!! I think i need to do more research on that one :!:
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Post by DeWsE »

A pad is a worthless post that don't help with any technical information. A pad whore is someone who always does this.

Now for an example look at anyone who has a huge post count. (like myself)

I'm not sure if that kit would be suited to your needs as it has enough lift to fit 33 inch tires. Most of these kits are designed to fit really large tires.

Send Sam (overkill engineering) a PM and he will be able to help, and would most proabably be happy to change the kit to suit your ride.

As for reseting springs, don't as they make them even stiffer. I have OME 40mm springs and love how soft they ara and would recommend them.
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:53 pm
Location: Mt Gambier SA

Post by -ZukChiK- »

He he! Well thanks for the explanation on what a pad whore is all about. I noticed this forum has 'post status' (such as 'Rock God' :roll: ) I guess people earn their ranking by part useless drivel, part handy information, and some infinite wisdom Im sure! Either way, you helped me out so cheers :)

Yes, the coil conversion would definitely be 'overkill' for my purposes, but if I had a toned down version Im sure it would give a much smoother ride than it does now...

The Carrolls springs are pretty stiff and thought if there was any way to free them up a little it would help. Not forgetting of course that when my little Zook is packed to the hilt with gear and a full tank of fuel it does ride a lot smoother in comparison. Maybe pour a slab of concrete in the back since most of the time nowadays it gets driven around EMPTY!!!

Regarding the overkill conversion for bigger tyres, my boyfriend put one of his 31in BF tyres against the Zook's yesterday for a giggle... Even they look huge! 33in? Some serious chop work on the body for that kind of caper LOL! These rockcrawlers you guys have on this site are awesome! But to spend that much on my Zook I think I'd want to be competing... Or, maybe not?! Hmm, i think im getting ideas in my head!
:P
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Post by -Mick- »

Maybe talk to Overill about just the front coil conversion that'd make a massive difference by itself ;)

Leave the rear leaf
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Post by DeWsE »

Well I run the ome’s with leaves taken out to soften things up with 2” extended shackles and 2” body lift. With a bit of chopping I have 33 mtr’s on it.
And this is my daily driver, so it can be done.
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:53 pm
Location: Mt Gambier SA

Post by -ZukChiK- »

DeWsE,

Which leaf springs did you remove? IE Top, bottom? And what kind of difference did it make compared to what it was? Sorry for hassling ya for info, but i guess thats what this forums all about!!

I presume the Zook in your profile pic is the one you speak of?!!

Its cool!!
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Post by RB zook »

get a coily zook ;)

soon will have 33's under mine :D
TOYZUKI 96 coily zook,lux diffs, 3 inch suspension lift,3 inch body lift, 33'sMTRS,series 4 hopper,power steer,twin air lockers,4 LINK front and rear,2 inch spacers(GOT WIDTH)
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Post by -ZukChiK- »

Yeah, i have a couple of friends that have coily Sierra's.. (or HAD in one case.. One mate flipped his end to end and is lucky to be alive I reckon)

I like the ride of the coily suspension for sure... Even totally shagged coily feels better than Horse & Kart!

But in the meantime I have to improvise with what I got until I can afford to go a bit nutso with it. I really dig the new Trail Tough guards... I pretty much want whats on the Sierra in these photos:

Cooooool! ;) http://www.trailtough.com/body.htm
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Post by DeWsE »

Well I needed to move the diff forwards to fit the tyres. So I bought rear springs because they are longer then the front ones. I took a bit of fab work to get them to fit. (Extended chassis)

This alone gave the zook better feel because of the extended wheel base. But because they are rear springs they came with extra load leaves on the bottom. These are the leaves that I removed.

Yes the one in the photo is mine. Really fun but most probably not worth the amount I have spent on it. I enjoyed it just as much with the 29 inch tires I had before. I think the biggest problem is that the tracks around WA aren’t that demanding.
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:53 pm
Location: Mt Gambier SA

Post by -ZukChiK- »

I think I'll go chat to the guys here at Sealy's Springs where I bought them from years ago and see what they think... Might pull those bottom leaf springs out.
I really don't want to start chopping and welding until I have complete ownership of my Zook back first, and then find spare cash to throw at it.
But yeah, extending the chassis sounds like a good idea if it gives a better feel... 29 inch tyres would probably suit my needs as most of the driving here would be sand, beach and forest bashing. Nothing major but I'd like to enjoy it !!

Thanks for your input DeWsE! You aint a Pad Whore at all ;)

Mick, thanks for your suggestion about the coil front... Will be doing more research on that too, cheers
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Post by stumped »

Suzuki Surf Chik wrote:Thanks for your input DeWsE! You aint a Pad Whore at all ;)


now dewse's gonna be in love :D

the pics aren't loading cos they're having issues with the forum a bit, will hopefully be back in a while....

but yeah, as the boys said if ur interested in coils talk to sam
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Post by OVERKILL ENG »

We are making kits at the moment so if you are interested let me know. :D
SAM
OVERKILL ENGINEERING
www.overkill4x4.com
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Post by DeWsE »

OVERKILL ENGINEERING wrote:We are making kits at the moment so if you are interested let me know. :D
SAM


Are they still 2500 supplied?

What did you ramp with the 33's?
[quote="STD CONSUMER"]haha, i'm tellin you, my camp was hard to find on Saturday night!
then i shared my bed with 2 second tom... [/quote]
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:53 pm
Location: Mt Gambier SA

Post by -ZukChiK- »

stumped wrote:
Suzuki Surf Chik wrote:Thanks for your input DeWsE! You aint a Pad Whore at all ;)


now dewse's gonna be in love :D

the pics aren't loading cos they're having issues with the forum a bit, will hopefully be back in a while....

but yeah, as the boys said if ur interested in coils talk to sam


He he, DeWsE you do cop a bagging from these boys LOL!
Yeah I've noticed a few threads are missing photos... But theres plenty of pics I have seen on here with cool looking mod's to Zooks that have given me a few ideas.
Sam, will definitely be in touch if I go down the coily road... What is the go with Mick's suggestion of just doing the front coil and leaving the back? Also, I'd have to get my Zook to your workshop from SA! I think we'll have to go on a holiday up to NSW and trailer it behind the Landy. Actually we're planning a trip to QLD late next year.... hmmmm, it's very possible you'll be hearing from me!!
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Post by RB zook »

kool go the coily

if you do get one make sure you see sam and get him to streghten all suspention parts

OR

pull it out and get a bunderra rear and hilux front in there with triangulated 4 link rear and 5 link front :D
TOYZUKI 96 coily zook,lux diffs, 3 inch suspension lift,3 inch body lift, 33'sMTRS,series 4 hopper,power steer,twin air lockers,4 LINK front and rear,2 inch spacers(GOT WIDTH)
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Post by OVERKILL ENG »

DeWsE wrote:
OVERKILL ENGINEERING wrote:We are making kits at the moment so if you are interested let me know. :D
SAM


Are they still 2500 supplied?

What did you ramp with the 33's?



Yes they are $2500 supplied
On a 30 degree ramp it ramps 840
SAM
OVERKILL ENGINEERING
www.overkill4x4.com
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