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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: madbob on July 17, 2006, 06:29:50 AM

Title: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: madbob on July 17, 2006, 06:29:50 AM
I finally got my first sammy after wanting one for years.  I'ts a stock 88.  what are the biggest tires I can run stock?  how high to I need to go to run 30's or 31's? 

Long term plans are to make a mean rock crawler with 33-38" tires.  what axle swaps are the most popular, or recommended.  same question with lift kits, or am I better off doing a custom job to compliment the axle swap.

finally I'm considering a diesel engine swap, any recomendations on that would be great.  I was thinking maybe an old izuzu pickup engine, but have done no research on the subject yet.
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: madbob on July 17, 2006, 03:49:06 PM
also wondering what's the biggest tires you can safely run on stock axles?
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: ack on July 17, 2006, 05:30:39 PM
Nobody wants to dive into this???

Last question:  32-33s on Samurai axles.  I run 30s.

Toyota seems to be the most common axles used oter than the stock ones.  Folks tend to beef them up a bit before installing.

The torquiest engine commonly swapped is the VW 1.6 or 1.9 Diesel (available with TuuuurrBooo!).  Chevy's 4.3 is common but the most common is the 1.6 16-valve Tracker/Sidekick engine.

Finally, check out Acks FAQ (link in the signature below) for searchable links to more information. ;D

Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: CodeBlue on July 17, 2006, 11:03:22 PM
right now i am running 30x9.5 tires with a 2" lift, this will work with stock as well with a good mount of bumper triming.I have no trouble with tire clearance at all. 32-33 needs about a 5" lift (SPOA would do great for this). there are a lot of diffrent axle setups including dana 44 f/r, toyota axles are another popular swap.as far as deisel swaps i see a lot of VW swaps either the 1.6 or the 1.9 though this swap can be expensive. the 4.3 swap that ack is talking about is pretty darn expensive as well. i will see if i can post up a bumper pic to show you how i trimed it.
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: tdspence on July 20, 2006, 03:12:19 PM
I seen a samurai get 4th place in the Four Wheeler's Top Truck Challenge. It had a sidekick 1.6L 16v and Toyota axles. I just have a 1.3L DOHC swift engine, SPOA with 31's with open diff's and I have to say I am surprised how many places you can go with that set up.
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: madbob on July 20, 2006, 08:04:12 PM
so far i have a home made 2" body lift.  plan  on doing the spoa.  just don't know if i want to pay for the kit, or hunt down parts like brake lines from the junk yard and save a little cash.  I got a set of tsl 33x13.5's and was halfway done putting a "very temporary" shackle lift when I dropped the zuke on my hand.  will try to post pics of each when the pain go's away. >:(
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: Rhinoman on July 21, 2006, 02:27:47 PM
If you go Rears Up Front or YJ springs then you can move the front axle forward a bit. That moves the wheels away from the footwells and allows you to run bigger tyres with less lift.
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: Drone637 on July 21, 2006, 05:11:06 PM
You can certainly do a SOA on a junkyard budget without a problem, but I would recomend buying at least half of the over the top steering setup, or finding a mercadies to pull the steering arms off of.

The only parts I bought for my SOA kit was a set of pads for the top of the axels.
Title: Re: lift kit tire size/axle engine swap ?'s
Post by: holeypockets on July 21, 2006, 05:24:43 PM
the spoa will easily 32s.  i would recommend buying one.  the usually have a way to automatically set the axle tilt and have brake lines , some have drop pitman arms.  its doesn't really cost more.  but i wouldn't get rocky-roads kit. the pads are too thin and change shape. 
i have was wondering about the rear springs in the front some one mentioned, is their any issues with steering i have to cover if i do that?
check out petersens 4wheel offroad magazine.  one of the tech questions gives out tim hardy's secret to stronger axles. i think it was in may this year.