Offroad-Express

Well I finally got one, looks like a bit of a hairdressers wagon at present but will work on it. Its a 1998 Grand Vitara 3 door TA03,manual, has the G16b in it. I'd post a pic but don't know how. Have some 15" wheels and 235/75's on the way as well as some Warn manual hubs, will look at a lift if the tyres won't clear.

Thanks for the advice on that other one Heath, got an AA check and it had a crook gearbox. Flagged it away. Too much anyway as you said.

Anyone here got one of these as I'm pretty new to this and there'll be heaps of issues. One is the oil filter of all things (How hard can it be!!!) it has a Ryco Z125 on it which is TINY, surely this can't be the right filter, looked up charts etc and theres all sorts of recomendations, plenty of you guys must run G16b's, what filter do you run? And what oil for that matter?
I'm going through changing all the transfer/diff oils etc anything else I should do? Would appreciate any advice.

I had a 5dr Diesel one ........ I didnt take mine offroad ... Have a chat with nstacey he has a 3dr like yours ..... be careful of the front diff ... these can be prone to breakages

I have the same filter on mine too. It seem s to be to small, and also never seems to seal properly no matter who puts one on. I found a fram filter is better, not sure of the product number though.

Oil wise I use thicker stuff cause of the amount of km's mine has done. Nearly 300,000.

Front diff wise I have never had a problem or seen one break before, but doesn't mean its not true.

Photo wise put your photos onto photobucket and then link them to your post re img tags.

cheers
Lincoln

Front diff wise I have never had a problem or seen one break before, but doesn't mean its not true.

nstacey broke one in his

You're most likely to do it when you put a wheel up and comes down hard with a big rev, rather then blow a CV it splits the diff into bits.

But in saying that I had a mate break his one after a failed hill climb but his was turbo so was probably under a lot more stress then normal

Mine has clicking CVs but still drives like a little trooper

I broke 2 front diffs in mine. First one was this little disaster



Which was going up a steep dry rutted hill in Aotea Block with far to much bounce under the front wheels. This was when I first started offroading in it about 3 years ago.
As a result mine hasn't had 4wd for about 2 years as I got my Hilux. I've just organised my 3rd front diff this week actually, its a Vitara model diff with Grand Vitara side gears in it. Will be installing it over the weekend. With this I am doing away with the diff air actuator under the front bumper.
Be aware if you do break stuff parts like diffs aren't as cheap or readily available as the older models.
I'm either going to sell mine or if I do keep it any 4wding will be pretty tame. But don't let that put you off, I've had a lot of fun in mine and it has been some narly places.

My mods are
225/75/16 mud tyres
Airflow snorkel
OME 1.25" lift Shocks and springs
removed bumpers and some nice panel damage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UTYHJhB7DQ

Theres a bit of nicks zuk in here (nicks mate took the vid), sadam gets towed @41s and my old pos @56s Taz01 & Stinky may remember 1.35 uncle bob still owes us minties

I've also had extractors fitted and taken out the cat, replaced with a resinator. It goes a lot better and sounds sweet under acceleration. But still cruises quietly