Grand Vitara upgrade queries

[tinakarori]

I've been thinking about changing to an early 2000s Grand Vitara (ie the model before the current one), probably a 2.5 V6 Auto 5-door, or maybe a diesel auto. Has anyone carried out or is anyone able to offer advice on the following:

1. A 2" - 3" suspension lift.

2. Fitting a lower Low-range ratio in the transfer box.

3. Fitting 30" or larger Mud-terrain tyres on 15" rims. I'm aware that there can be issues with fitting larger tyres and 15" rims on GVs, because of clearance round the front brake discs, and this is one of the reasons for considering a suspension lift.

All contributions on these or other relevant topics welcomed!

[Jerry]

petrols have alloy diffs which break easy, PM Coxsy he has a mate in an auckland club that has one that goes offroad. I had a 2000 diesel recently which was ok, downsides are expensive parts when something was needed, go for the puegot ones if you are getting a diesel .... the Mazda powered ones have head problems apparantly.

Got quoted 1500 for a 50mm TJM suspension, they do an Alloy airbag bar as well (1200 if you push them for a good price)

[Denby]

My shiny is a 2002 5 door automatic with the Peugeot RHZ 2.0 turbo diesel (and therefore the steel front diff housing). A good wagon on-road and it is possible to get more than 700km on 65 litres of diesel (and that is with the air con on and using a heavy right foot).

However, at slow speeds (like the climb over the lahar flats towards the Tukino ski field) or towing a heavy trailer over a distance the temperature gauge will climb towards the expensive end. I am now using Red Line "Water Wetter" in an attempt to get the heat out of the block quicker but it might simply be a problem with lack of air flow around the engine.
Hopefully Rotazuk will add a comment to this thread - I am 99% sure it was him that I was talking to at the Laurie Samson trial near Waitakere earlier this year about overheating and Water Wetter.

You shouldn't have a problem running 15 inch rims if you feel you can do without the brake callipers, stick with the 16s, less hassle... I am running Hankook RT01s (cause I can't justify anything more expensive) 225/75R16 tyres which work out somewhere around the 29 1/2 inch mark and the rears both rub when you land but otherwise ok for a mainly road wagon with no modifications.

Check out http://www.puresuzuki.com/grand_vitara2.htm for inspiration from Calmini in the USA.

[Jerry]

I was getting similar mileage out of mine, I ran Wrangler AT/r's on mine and these were good. the turbo lag was noticable as was loading it up with 4 heavy adults or a strong headwind. didn't have any issues with the temp but then I didn't tow heavy stuff.

there was a recall for the 01-02 models to do with the preheat module, and there have been issues with faulty engine management computers on a few (might have the uk website links somewhere still) with the newer common rail engine I got quoted 2g for a set of new injectors, was told $$$$ for an electronic fuel pump.

[nstacey]

Hi,
225/75/R16 (29.5") will fit without any lift on a 5dr but rub at full articulation. My OME 1.25" lift is adequate for this size (on 5dr rims). I wouldn't go any bigger in tyre size with the stock gearing on my 1.6l, but I'm not sure what the V6 would be like for gearing (and I think the lower gears don't fit some models). Another thing people have done to lower the gearing would be to fit 5.125 1.6l Vitara diff heads.
Jerry is partially correct, manual 2.5 petrols can have the steel diff too.
This site is GV dedicated and the tech section is worth a look http://www.suzuki-grandvitara.info/cms/index.php
Also, check this site's GV section http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.ph ... board=10.0
There is alot of discussion there about lockers etc. Seems people are divided about whether you can fit an ARB locker straight in or if you need to retrofit a vitara diff. I haven't looked into it enough.
The big problem is breaking front diffs if it's alloy, although you do have to be going pretty hard on it.
Another problem from what I've read (mine has been ok) is that the front diff is engaged by an air pump behind the bumper, this can fail and may cost a bit to replace, this is another problem people seem to solve with a vitara retro-fit.

I like mine (3dr 1.6l) but I'm looking to get something else as well that I can go more extreme with.

[coxsy]

fit a camini lift on it in on it, bashs plates from the front to the diff a locker in the back or a limited clawer gears or it runs away from you down hill

[Rotazuk]

Yeh it was me you were talking to at the larrie sanson . Had mine looked at twice about the temp and they all say its fine . They say the guage only indicates about 10 deg . Also that the ecu will shut the power off if it gets too hot , I have had mine a hair off the red line and it never shut down .
I run water weter in it now and its fine , it warms up but only to the point the fans come on , about 2/3 guage , and just sits there and thats towing 1500kg of 4x4 on a trailer .

Only had one problem with mine , the sensor line off the manifold came off . Ecu did not detect an increase in boost so it opened the waste gate , not fun to try and drive up the bombay hills but got home . I will keep mine until they come out with another auto diesel , current model does not have an auto .

I have a set of 235x80x16's fedima extreme's but never use them so will sell them if any one is interested .

Chris