Offroad-Express

hey i currently have a nissan terrano v6 petrol, on 31" muds winch ect, but im looking in to buying a vitara early 90's model just a 2 door to replace it, i want to put my winch and muds on it, what are the suzukis like, any issues ect, im wanting a manual,

Well,

the main thin to watch out for is the condition of the front diff. The alloy casing is prone to cracking. I have never had this happen but had the rear mount crack instead. Replacement diffs are around $200 or so. I was offered a steel front diff for $1400.

Otherwise i think the 16 valves are a little more prone to cracking blowing head gaskets and cracking heads, but I may have that wrong.

Petrol tanks get dented very easily so will need a bash plate of some sort. auto hubs are prone to breaking to as they have stupid nylon parts in them. Manual hubs are cheap enough and easy to install.

My has been very reliable (8Valve, carb, manual). I need a steering alignment now, first time in a couple of years.

I am sure to be corrected if I have said something wrong

Cheers
Lincoln

You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum And for the tech aspect, A set of extractors is supposed to solve the cracking problem of the 16v. The injected model is the one to go for, cos they don't have enough power to start with, so more=

Hmm, anyways.

All the comments above sound about right. Two big problems I found with mine was the lack of ground clearance and articulation. There are a few cheap mods you can do around the suspension to give it more flex and ground clearence and also body lifts help to clear the guards from bigger wheels.

Front CV's are another part to watch out for.

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum

Lighten up, he didn't say he wants one, he says he is "looking in to" one.....

I reckon he should get a series Landrover.......bwahahahaha

Overkill wrote:

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum

Lighten up, he didn't say he wants one, he says he is "looking in to" one.....

I reckon he should get a series Landrover.......bwahahahaha

Exactly. Nowhere did he mention he was not open to anything but a Suzuki. Plus, I think people appreciate having options displayed to them

Also, I merely mentioned he could get a Lada. Never said he should get one...

hey, at this stage i have had a suzuki offered to me for $2000 with head off as it was useing a bit of water, im a mechanic so its good to see the inside and i know the previous owner who rebuilt bottom end, im aware of the head gasket problems and this does have extractors fitted, is this a reasonible price its a 1990 pretty good condition, its a 16valve injected, its either one of these or a single cab hilux, but like the idea of something small so i can throw on a trailer if need be, and sorry so say i wont be considering a lada or landrover, i have enough around here to use for boat anchors, (just joking guys) mate had both and they done well,

nizmo wrote:hey, at this stage i have had a suzuki offered to me for $2000 with head off as it was useing a bit of water, im a mechanic so its good to see the inside and i know the previous owner who rebuilt bottom end, im aware of the head gasket problems and this does have extractors fitted, is this a reasonible price its a 1990 pretty good condition, its a 16valve injected, its either one of these or a single cab hilux, but like the idea of something small so i can throw on a trailer if need be, and sorry so say i wont be considering a lada or landrover, i have enough around here to use for boat anchors, (just joking guys) mate had both and they done well,

Seems a good price to me, especially if you can fix it yourself. Any pics??

ahh maybe a bit steep, but isn't to bad. considering I got mine a few years ago with 250k's and for 2.5k. and yours is better with 16 inj too.

Think prices have gone up since due to import laws etc.

I wouldn't pay 2k in that condition.

Watch for any issues about timing as the front keyway on the cranks can flog out. Bit of work to sort it.

The drivers master switch for windows can go on them and can be up to $200 to replace.Price seems ok since you are a mechanic and can do the work yourself there will be minimal on going costs to get it up and running.If you are going to kit it out with muds,wheels, suspension lift and front/rear bars you may want to consider these additional costs against buying one that is already kitted out.Have you considered a Suzuki Samurai? great little trucks when re-powered with the Escudo 16v.I have had many Sj413's,Samurai's and escudos and find the Samurai (once re-powered) the better of the models.There are some very nice Samurai's on tardme at the mo.
Al

suzookyman wrote:The drivers master switch for windows can go on them and can be up to $200 to replace.Price seems ok since you are a mechanic and can do the work yourself there will be minimal on going costs to get it up and running.If you are going to kit it out with muds,wheels, suspension lift and front/rear bars you may want to consider these additional costs against buying one that is already kitted out.Have you considered a Suzuki Samurai? great little trucks when re-powered with the Escudo 16v.I have had many Sj413's,Samurai's and escudos and find the Samurai (once re-powered) the better of the models.There are some very nice Samurai's on tardme at the mo.
Al

thanks, i have muds ect and it already has a 2" suspension lift, i have looked on trade me but nothing as cheap that is close to me,, i did notice the chassis is very low? is this a problem, dont want to get it to find out its shit, i have till friday to let this guy know or he will put it back togeather him self and use it, i have no problems with my terrano so dont want to be dissapointed,

SJ's don't need another engine to be able to dominate escudos

Ahh just saw, lokoking....nice.

Swamped wrote:SJ's don't need another engine to be able to dominate escudos

Ahh just saw, lokoking....nice.

lol, me too and i wrote it,

chassis not much of a problem.

I had a problem but that was just a series of stupid things that lead to it.

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum And for the tech aspect, A set of extractors is supposed to solve the cracking problem of the 16v. The injected model is the one to go for, cos they don't have enough power to start with, so more=

Ignore zukfiesty, he seems to be the suzuki forums internet tough guy, funny when a 14 year gets behind a computer
(3...2...1... till I get ANOTHER PM asking what my problem is )
Great 4wds for the money they are going for. So many out there so parts are dime a dozen (dont buy of wetdirtparts on trademe). Weak front diffs if you drive like a fawkin idiot - You never did state your type of 4wding? Exceptional in trialling ie stability and ability to soak up bumps at speed. For bush driving, yes the low chassis will mean you bottom out earlier than other 4wds. Extractors are a reccomended as they are double skinned from factory, heat up, inner skin collaspes restricts flow blah blah.. Im sure others will add more.
Good luck

I have a 1990 16v injected Escudo with 2" lift, front and rear bars on 30in road tyres.

They love to rev off road but can't really pull 2nd gear much with larger tyres. Great in sand - high ratio first gear and on the limiter gets up most dunes (with a run up ).

Run out of clearance on rutted tracks where the big boys have been playing and independent front tends to lift a wheel - a samurai or 413 goes better in the harder stuff.

Weak front diff housings (break the rear mount bracket off).

Prices seem to have gone back up on these as you used to pick them up cheap. $2.5k plus for a runner with 200k now.

lilpigzuk wrote:

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum And for the tech aspect, A set of extractors is supposed to solve the cracking problem of the 16v. The injected model is the one to go for, cos they don't have enough power to start with, so more=

Ignore zukfiesty, he seems to be the suzuki forums internet tough guy, funny when a 14 year gets behind a computer
(3...2...1... till I get ANOTHER PM asking what my problem is )
Great 4wds for the money they are going for. So many out there so parts are dime a dozen (dont buy of wetdirtparts on trademe). Weak front diffs if you drive like a fawkin idiot - You never did state your type of 4wding? Exceptional in trialling ie stability and ability to soak up bumps at speed. For bush driving, yes the low chassis will mean you bottom out earlier than other 4wds. Extractors are a reccomended as they are double skinned from factory, heat up, inner skin collaspes restricts flow blah blah.. Im sure others will add more.
Good luck

lol, i just like to cruse i like hearing my shocks work tho, i like the more tactical stuff rather than rip shit in bust, i guess at the end of the day if i dont like it just sell it i guess im running a poll so ill see how it goes, its under petrol engines i think,

lilpigzuk wrote:

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum And for the tech aspect, A set of extractors is supposed to solve the cracking problem of the 16v. The injected model is the one to go for, cos they don't have enough power to start with, so more=

Ignore zukfiesty, he seems to be the suzuki forums internet tough guy, funny when a 14 year gets behind a computer
(3...2...1... till I get ANOTHER PM asking what my problem is )

He's 14

That explains it...

After building Wingnuts one there are only a couple of things that stand out
First is mounting hooks and bumpers, the chassi is tin and nothing really lends its self easily to mount to, I gave up and welded reinforcing plates and then mounts to that
The bigger issue is that front diff I tried alsorts in the end had a big steel support ring round the housing that clamped it nice and tight... it stopped the housings braking, just ment wingnut screwed the pinion out the side of the alloy diff nugget
Here's teh build thread for his truck
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=14042&p=158457&hilit=escudo+build+de+ranged#p158457
Still got some bits that I did multiples of when I made his stuff.... just havn't got around to throwing them on trademe if your interested PM and we can talk a deal

If you are looking at trying to follow guys on 33"+ tyres and a bit of attude save up and do a SAS, the back end is all good... if you decide to go big on tyres then there is a pretty simple mod on Pirate to remove 4WD from the scud box and run it to a sami transfer case... this has a 1.44:1 reduction in hi which will offset the increased rolling dia of bigger wheels at road speed

Oh and yes they are worth the trouble I still rate this as one of the most fun trucks through my shed, I even drove his truck where Jafa rolled his ... it was so much fun I'm trying to convince Wingnut to do another 4 door one and let me loose on it... when I've got my 413 done

Cheers Reece

17, wow, but you must be tough because you swear lots

Anyway, back on subject. 2k sounds fairly expensive to me for a poked motor. Also 31's on a Vitara and be prepared to replace lots of cv's.

Tu's used to break mine lots!

I would recommend getting some belly armour as well, helps when slidding over the rutts. nothing beats passing the big boys in your toy zuk

well sound like there are lots of pro's and con's, i guess at the end of the day i dont want to be fixing shit in the bush and dont always want to get hung up in rut's, one last question, i have herd toy can get hilux diffs under them, ?? easy or what and do you use hilux solid front or independant?

Regardless of what you drive, at some point you will probably end up fixing something in the bush.

Zuks tend to be narrower than everything else so you run with one wheel in a rut and the other in the middle. You'd be surprised where the little things will go. My SJ on 31's with 2in lift has better entry,exit angle, crossover and diff/sill clearance than my patrol on 35's with 3in lift. Course it doesn't mean jack as its been in pieces for a year but you get the idea

What are you asking about fitting lux diffs?
They'll go under anything if you have the time/skill/money. Not always a good idea depending on what you want but possible.

there is a kit you can buy to mount solid Hilux axles front and rear.

I lost the link but yea.

and teenagers

thanks ill keep that in mind, and id also like to say that its a hard case how in nearly evey club and community there is all ways a bit of bitching, we are all here to get on and help each other out, how ever it can also be entertaining, love it, 98% sure im going with a suzuki,

oh yea i saw a 92 SWB for sale today. $1950. Didn't stop though as I was on my way to get tow hooks mounted. looked rough paint wise. But you will be happy with a Suzuki.

But the ride will seem like crap compared to a Terrano.

I'm biased and suggest a zook. Nimble great learning wagons and cheap to fix /modify. Underated giant killers in std form.

Saving for my next toy.

Had a zook sold it for hilux and cursed myself as Al drove it up the drive. Got a vitara and sold that because of back issues (couldnt handle the rough stuff), but its probably what I will aim for again (with a few mods...).

Heath

zukmeista wrote:

SP450andLE wrote:You could get a Lada. A little bigger, and a little more capable. And a LOT cheaper. Here's one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 990779.htm

He says he wants a suzuki, and you tell him he should get a lada. Piss off back to your own forum And for the tech aspect, A set of extractors is supposed to solve the cracking problem of the 16v. The injected model is the one to go for, cos they don't have enough power to start with, so more=

agreed. and a little more capable?!!??! he says he wants to put his winch and muds on. so so so much easier on the zuk!!

Went up the gumfields once with a bunch of fairly standard Surfs & Pajeros + an unsuspecting little Vitara..The suzy was so light footed it made the whole trail look way to easy! It went great on the sand dunes too.

So a year latter we all had suzys of some description - and expirenced nearly all the common problems mentioned in this thread. A mate had a early 90's Vitara with 30' mud tyres and cracked the front diff trying to climb a hill, My brother cracked the head on his Escudo due to the exaust mainfold closing in on itself and blocking up..and my little Jimny bellied out heeeaaps on the rutted bush tracks! Still think they are awsome little wagons though!

Im drivng a 3.5lt pajero at the moment and almost thinking off going back to a suzy for the price of putting petrol in it alone!