Hi guys, I posted a couple months ago about building a desrt rat Kick and which model I should look for. And I'm getting closer to starting this project. I'm about a month & a half from the initial purchase.

A couple of questions if you don't  mind:
1. Is the Kick and the Tracker the same vehicle? The used Trackers are going for cheaper than the used Kicks.
2. Should I do BOTH the 3" body lift AND the 3" suspension lift? Why?
3. Assuming I go up to say 29" tires (BFG KO's), do I still need to change gears around? Why?
4. What about the clutch? With 29's do I still need to upgrade the clutch?

It's becoming obvious that you can simply spend an unlimited amount of money on these used vehicles and I'd like to avoid dropping $10k into a truck that costs $2k or less. What I want to do is go exploring/camping out in the desert here in Vegas. Not off road/cross country, but mainly FS roads. SO I don't want to build a mega rock crawler, just a really tight general exploration truck.
Thanks again, Cameron

1.  I beleave for the most part.

2.  I think you should be able to get away with the suspension lift only with 29" tires.  I'd go with the 2.5" lift unless your going to get the front bumper and a winch.  The 2.5" rides better if your not.

3.  No, don't worry about your gears.  I ran 235/75's (measured 28" and were 1/2  worn) with the 3" and had no problems.

4.  Stay with a stock clutch.  There was some discussion on this board earlier about the dual friction clutches and were they worth the cost.  Some here are still running stock clutches with 32-33" tires.

Add:  The only other thing I'd add would be a rear locker.  It's like the difference between 2wd and 4wd.

1.  I beleave for the most part.

2.  I think you should be able to get away with the suspension lift only with 29" tires.  I'd go with the 2.5" lift unless your going to get the front bumper and a winch.  The 2.5" rides better if your not.

3.  No, don't worry about your gears.  I ran 235/75's (measured 28" and were 1/2  worn) with the 3" and had no problems.

4.  Stay with a stock clutch.  There was some discussion on this board earlier about the dual friction clutches and were they worth the cost.  Some here are still running stock clutches with 32-33" tires.

Add:  The only other thing I'd add would be a rear locker.  It's like the difference between 2wd and 4wd.

The rear locker, is this ok on the street as well? I heard something about wearing out the rear tires. Probably 90% of this vehicle's use will be on the street.
Thanks again!
C.

Shoot, I ran all over the desert around Las Vegas in my 1967 Ford Fairlane.  Yeah, the Trackers and Kicks are made on the same assembly line.  Their only differences are cosmetic.

However.  More Trackers have the 8-valve engine, than Sidekicks, which got the 16 valve engine starting in 92 (Trackers started getting them in 95).  The 8-valve is 80 hp, while the 16 valve is 96 hp.  That's 20% more power, so look for it.

Also - not ALL Trackers or Sidekicks are 4 wheel drive, so be alert!

I ran my 2-door on 31" tires, with stock gearing - it was kind of a dog though.  I recommend regearing for 31's but on 29's you should be fine (stock is 27").

Understand that your speedo and odometer will read low.  When the speedo says 55 MPH, you'll really be going 59, and for every 59 miles you drive, the odometer will only click off 55 miles.

I'm still running the stock clutch (for about another few days) without any problems - you should be fine (but I DID burn out the clutch on my Fairlane!)

I would put the 3" suspension lift in - it gives you lots of options for the future.  Or, maybe the Calmini 2".

I agree with the info above, just wanted to add a little. I fully agree with the get the 3" suspension so you can do more to the ride later. If you want to do the 2", you will be able to clear 29" tires with that lift. Everybody gives lockers a bad name for on road use. It will require you to change your driving style a little while cornering, but it's not bad. You will wear your tires a little faster but I up to a few weeks ago, I have been running the same set of BFG MT's for 4-5 years and had enough tread left to sell them to a friend.

Happy Hunting,
Zig

I agree with the info above, just wanted to add a little. I fully agree with the get the 3" suspension so you can do more to the ride later. If you want to do the 2", you will be able to clear 29" tires with that lift. Everybody gives lockers a bad name for on road use. It will require you to change your driving style a little while cornering, but it's not bad. You will wear your tires a little faster but I up to a few weeks ago, I have been running the same set of BFG MT's for 4-5 years and had enough tread left to sell them to a friend.

Happy Hunting,
Zig

Many thanks for the advice, ok here's another one. What can I expect to pay to have the lift kit installed. I had our 2002 XL-7 lifted and it cost close to a grand, is that in the ballpark for the Kick as well?

$1000 just for labor to install
Wow I'll do it for half, and drive there
and set you up so you can watch



Wild

$1000 just for labor to install
Wow I'll do it for half, and drive there
and set you up so you can watch



Wild

LOL. You're hired!
Well, being that I'm not a mechanic (hey, I have OTHER skills!) I'm kind of intimidated by the whole thing. On the XL-7 it took the about <>12 hours to get the Calmini kit in. It was apparently a major operation, contrary to what Calmini says on their website. Getting the front springs in took a couple of tries. This is definately not a driveway operation for the unitiated. I can change my own oil, but that's about it.

So, along those lines; how should I go about interviewing a shop to do the lift? For instance there's one here called Total FX that does major mods on Fords & Chevy's but I don't know if they have any experiance with Zukes.
C.

The suspension lift is an easy do,
Body lift can be the pain, welding this
extending that, and the steering is too
short, as well as the gas tank filler hose.

Suspension on the other hand, piece of cake,
you could do it, ......  Really.

I built a suspension lift for a friend about $100
cost and that included shocks, not springs tho, just
some spacers to crank up the stock springs.

Biggest thing is the front strut spacers so you
can use the extra travel that the lift gives, that
and a rear locker on 235s or 30" tires and you
can go almost anywhere you want.

Wild

With little mechanical experiance and a few tool borrowed from a friend, I installed my 2" Kit when I first bought the Kick. It should not cost $1000. Let Wild drive up, he was probably serious about the offer
Zig

Ya, hurry up and get your Track/Kick
I could leave a day early for EJS   and
will be cruising thru Vegas on the way

Heck, I could build you a lift and install it for $500



Wild

My lift also rotates the rear axle too  

Ya, hurry up and get your Track/Kick
I could leave a day early for EJS   and
will be cruising thru Vegas on the way

Heck, I could build you a lift and install it for $500



Wild

My lift also rotates the rear axle too  

Well ok then, I'm waiting on some cash that I should have by the middle of May. So heck yes lets do this thing. I defer to your expertise, tell me what I need to do. Hit me off list cameronATalpha66DOTcom
C.

Ya, hurry up and get your Track/Kick
I could leave a day early for EJS   and
will be cruising thru Vegas on the way
Heck, I could build you a lift and install it for $500

No, the RIGHT way, would be for him to bring the stock Kick to Moab, wheel Chicken Corners, then we'll lift it THAT NIGHT, in the CAMPGROUND, and do some REAL wheeling the next day.  I hear that somebody built a Samurai entirely out of spare parts one night two years ago...

No, the RIGHT way, would be for him to bring the stock Kick to Moab, wheel Chicken Corners, then we'll lift it THAT NIGHT, in the CAMPGROUND, and do some REAL wheeling the next day.  I hear that somebody built a Samurai entirely out of spare parts one night two years ago...

No, the RIGHT way, would be for him to bring the stock Kick to Moab, wheel Chicken Corners, then we'll lift it THAT NIGHT, in the CAMPGROUND, and do some REAL wheeling the next day.  I hear that somebody built a Samurai entirely out of spare parts one night two years ago...

Hey I'm a stagehand, you can't hurt me! No wait, I've seen y'alls pictures, I take that back. :-)
C.