Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I am considering building a purpose built Winch Challenge Suzuki and i'm after opinions.
I have access to a 85 LWB ute, pretty rough but really cheap.
What I am wondering is if this could be a competative machine.
I have seen a few LJ's used such as kermit,
I am thinking -
Turbo 1.6 conversion,
Running probably max 33s or 34s
Cage
Highmount - that I have already.
Some suspension mods but low so a bit of cutting,

Light - Simple - Good diff clearance - reasonably cheap
I was thinking Hilux or 60 series diffs if things blow lots but I would prefer as small as possible. - Maybe hilux diffs but shaved.
I want to keep the advantages of a suzuki so light as possible.
Could I play with the big cars with something like this?

I have a daily driver GU so not too fussed - even can be trailered there and back but registered to meet requirements.

sound like a good plan but to keep up id say you will need to link it with coils/coilovers/airshocks

You mentioned simple, and I think the turbo 1.6 kinda flies in the face of that. Consider a NA 2.0 perhaps? There may be a bit of a weight penalty in that, but a heavier, reliable engine is better than a lighter engine with a hole through the side of the block, ESPECIALLY if you're talking winch challenge type events.

Yeah well i was thinking that a (I know I didn't say 1.3 but either that or 1.6 turbo) 1.3 or 1.6 would be light enough and with a turbo have a bit of zip about it. Something else reasonably cheap and with a bit of go would be okay, its got a 1.0 in it at the moment, maybe a corolla motor with an auto behind it (sorry suzuki people). There may be some sort of alloy blocked 2.0 or something around out of something. I was originally thinking 3.8V6 but decided that it's too heavy and would need heavier running gear. Im not after a lux or anything, I want to use the advantages a light suzuki has.

yeah coils so it can handle the rough stuff a bit better.

and posibly an sr20, has been done before, i think daryl has one on the go, and there is a write up on another one.

lux diff's shaved, with longfields or similar
or make a hilux with gu swivel hubs, using the gu cv and axle, just get the axles shortened and reslined to fit the hilux diffs

34" or 35" simex or crawlers

and beef the xfer mounts with maybe an xfer ring, and prob just series one gears, or about the 4:1 ratio.
remembering the hilux centres can get you from about 3.5 to 5.3 ratios

would be awesome.

am thinking about taking mine in the winch challenge when its at singleton, as its just down the road, only prob is I get married about 2 weeks later.

enjoy ashley

get down to Piranha , in bayswater(melbourne)
check out there LWB zook winch challenge rig !!
it was in 4WD monthly a while back !!

LWB zook with 1.6 EFI, 5 speed, series 4 rock hoppers, 4.1 hilux diffs, 35" Simex

The 1.6 EFI is fairly light, relatively cheap if you know where to look, the conversion is fairly easy

The 5 speed box is again easy to fit to the motor

Series 4 gears, australian supplied so if you do break one you shouldn't have to wait too long for parts

4.1 diffs, will mean that you're not too low, diff gears are plentiful and cheap as most people want/need 4.88's

35" tyres will mean that you can compete in almost any event, where as 36" tyres can limit your choices.


Your other option would be to run a Vitara 5 speed box with Vitara transfer fitted with gears. Only thing is that you would need to fabricate orhave made a slip yoke eliminator (see Antt) custom parts are obviously not "off the shelf" and can be costly. If you went this way i would have 2 or maybe even three made at once so you had spares.

Coils/Coilovers would be the best option. I would think twice about running air shocks in a winch truck. As far as i know they are not designed for extended high speed use.

Just keep it simple and remember that custom parts may be cool to have but they are hard to replace and cost. If you go to a few events and take a look at the top cars they are absolute bare bones with very few costom parts apart from suspension components.