Buying a Suzuki

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:37 pm

Hi All,

Since this is a fairly common query from people in this forum, I thought it would make good sense to put all our advice into a common place so that it can quickly be found.

As I am not the administrator for the suzuki forum, nor do I expect Overkill be responsible for cleaning this thread, my suggestion would be that we keep the format of this topic very flexible - i.e. post information in it, post links, constructive critisism regarding others comments etc...

So basically - just add anything here that you think would be useful for people who are considering purchasing a suzuki (preferably one that is a 4wd), be it where to find rust, to what modifications you can do etc...

Cheers,
Greg

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:46 pm

Here's a useful thread regarding Coily Sierra's.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=7161

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 12:48 pm

Here's another useful thread regarding what to look for when buying a used sierra

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... .php?t=834

Post by **schoey** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 1:09 pm

Well,
I've just bought one and got seriously burnt, so here goes:

BODY

Rust
- Around the windscreen, pretty easy to see but have a closer look, pull rubber out of the way all the way around the glass just to see the extent of the rust. I saw rust anf thought its a small bubble I'll fix it, but upon closer inspection there was a heap more rust under the rubber.
- Windsreen supports (soft top) this ones easy to see, but have a close look where it joins the W/S and the other end.
- Not sure of the proper name but the things that the windscreen supports fix to at the back end, where these join the main body there is a black bit of plastic this pushes on with grommets, pop it off if you can, its a very good hiding spot for rust.
- Get in underneath and have a good look around rust here will really hurt come rego time, mine was pretty good here.
- The sills at the bottom of the doors, again covered up by a plastic bit, try and get a look under there, very common spot for rust.

Other body issues
- General wear and tear is expected, and if your buying one for offroad, you should'nt mind a few bumps and scratches.
- This ones very dodgy, and I'm not 100% sure about it yet. When up on the hoist I noticed the absolute sh$thouse quality of the welds in my chassis, I haven't had a look a other sierras yet, but my theory (if the norm is better quality) is that my suzi has been in a huge stack, and some back yarder has 'unwritten' in off. As I said its a long shot but I could have done welds better than this with my eyes closed

ENGINE
- Normal stuff look for any smoke out the exhaust, grey = oil = bad, black = rich = not too bad.
- Leaks are bad mmmkay.

TRANS/DRIVELINE
- Sierras are noisy, but what is too noisy??? I've still got no idea, get someone who has one/ has been in one/ or has some idea. I was told they are noisy so I thought it was alright, but mines just happens to be too noisy, bearings front and back so far, and still transmission noises to follow up yet.
- Old ones make a clunking noise, this is a combination of play in everything from the engine to the rubber, terminal problem?? not sure yet.

Thats probably it for now I'm sure I'll think of more next time I look at my suzi.

Grant

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:23 pm

schoey wrote:Well,
- Around the windscreen, pretty easy to see but have a closer look, pull rubber out of the way all the way around the glass just to see the extent of the rust. I saw rust anf thought its a small bubble I'll fix it, but upon closer inspection there was a heap more rust under the rubber.
- Windsreen supports (soft top) this ones easy to see, but have a close look where it joins the W/S and the other end.
- Not sure of the proper name but the things that the windscreen supports fix to at the back end, where these join the main body there is a black bit of plastic this pushes on with grommets, pop it off if you can, its a very good hiding spot for rust.

Another good check on a soft top is to undo the windscreen supports and lay the windscreen forward... This will show you if there is any rust on the underneith of the frame - and more importantly - if there is any in the cowl (area between the windscreen frame and the bonnet)...

Note: If it's in the windscreen frame, you could replace the frame, but if it's in the cowl - its apparently not worth while trying to fix.

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:25 pm

Here's some more info about windscreen frame rust and the replacement of the windscreen frame.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=7052

Post by **greg** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 2:30 pm

schoey wrote:- This ones very dodgy, and I'm not 100% sure about it yet. When up on the hoist I noticed the absolute sh$thouse quality of the welds in my chassis, I haven't had a look a other sierras yet, but my theory (if the norm is better quality) is that my suzi has been in a huge stack, and some back yarder has 'unwritten' in off. As I said its a long shot but I could have done welds better than this with my eyes closed

ENGINE
- Normal stuff look for any smoke out the exhaust, grey = oil = bad, black = rich = not too bad.
- Leaks are bad mmmkay.

Schoey - I have recently seen two sierras (one of which is the body that I now have on my car) that have both had the back halves of their tubs replaced (i.e. they have both been in rollovers and have had their old tubs removed from either behind the front seats all the way back, or from half way along the rear wheel well back completely replaced)... Neither of these affected the chassis though... But still very dodgey.

Both these fixes could be seen by looking at the seams along the top ridge of the tub - which were different on both sides of the car... And basically some extra weld lines accross the floor of the tub that wouldn't normally be there.

Another thing I have heard about sierra's is that they "ovalise" (i.e. make into oval shape) the bores in the engine - this means that doing a ring change will not be a long turn fix for a sierra - so an engine re-build could be quite expensive, or not worth doing (that's why I went about replacing mine).

Can anyone else comment on how worthwhile rebuilding a sierra engine is?

Post by **schoey** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 6:47 pm

Greg,
My engines a new higginbottom one, I hated to do it, but when the other one spat it I just didn't have time, and they swapped em in a day, if it had happened in 6 months time I would have done it myself cheaper, or just thrown in a 4AG/4AGZE.
Of all those problems I mentioned I'm down to the rusty windscreen frame and a few tranmission issues (after throwing heaps of money at it), and I'm hoping that cowl thing you mentioned is alright, I'm due for some good luck.

Grant

Also when asking around about rebuilds, I got two different sides of the story, one guy reakons the bore is the engines best feature, ultra tough, so that all you do is the rings and the engine is fine (but hes one of those guys you work with who used to have this car that did that etc, not the most reliable source). The mechanics suggest the lot, rebore/head grind/pistons/rings etc.

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:56 pm

Found a few more today that were worth pointing to...

A Few Simple Mods to make to a stock sierra to improve offroad-ability...

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=7111

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 4:58 pm

Some more groovy info about buying a sierra

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=6350

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:02 pm

Oddly enough there is some info here about mods for a vitara:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=5508

Particularly fitting larger than stock tyres to a Vitara.

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:03 pm

Prices for sierras, and a bit of info regarding rockhoppers

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=5230

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:06 pm

Springs for (you guessed it) sierras.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=5212

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:07 pm

Vitaras and Tyres

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=5027

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:08 pm

More Sierra Model information...

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=4928

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:10 pm

X90's and Rust

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=4790

Post by **greg** » Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:10 pm

X90's and Lifts

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=4643

Post by **greg** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 4:26 pm

Suzuki Fuel Consumption... How efficient are these little cars?

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=1634

Post by **greg** » Wed Oct 08, 2003 3:51 pm

Sierra Body Lifts - how to's and advice and lift limits

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=7429

Also contains some advice regarding the ever popular 31 inch tyre fitment.

Note: 31" are pretty easy to fit on a sierra...

Post by **greg** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:51 am

Fitting Vitara 5.12 Ring and Pinion (diff gears) to your sierra

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=8753

Post by **greg** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:41 am

Engine Revs and Gearing for the sierra

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=8782

Post by **greg** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 11:49 am

If you are planning on changing your gearing / tyre setup for your sierra and want to know about Crawl Ratios, Tyre Size, Road Speeds and engine revs - check out this thread :cool:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=8803

Post by **greg** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:25 pm

Sierras and Snorkels - mainly regarding running snorkel through firewall

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=9120

Post by **POS** » Fri Nov 07, 2003 11:43 pm

Good thread!

Post by **greg** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:19 am

Swapping Sierra Bodies - 1L and 1.3L models - compatibility issues

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=9421

Post by **greg** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:44 am

Looking for an idea to get your Vitara kicking off road?

Here's one possible way of building it up.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=9366

Post by **greg** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:22 pm

Sierra Shackle chitter chatter:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=9620

Post by **greg** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:23 pm

Tips for changing a clutch on a Sierra

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... php?t=9622

Post by **greg** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 4:58 pm

Suspension Lift for X90's

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=10095

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