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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: AJMBLAZER on August 23, 2006, 05:51:36 PM

Title: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 23, 2006, 05:51:36 PM
My Tracker has a 3" Calmini body lift on it.  The prior owner never fitted any kind of gap guards to cover up the gap between the frame and the body.  I've made some for the front from rubber floor mats and they seem to be holding up well.  However the rear is a bit more problematic as you can't simply drill into the metal.  At least I'm hesitant to do so because I'm not sure what's behind it.  In the front it was just wheel well and fender metal.

Anyone made these?  If so, what did you do?  Pictures?
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 24, 2006, 04:34:21 PM
Bueller? ???
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: HotRod on August 24, 2006, 06:08:01 PM
WHAT?
 :D
I was gonna make a set for the rear but decided it would be
easier to clean the under side with out them.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 24, 2006, 06:11:03 PM
Yeah but my big thing is road salt.  Dunno about you guys in the PNW but up here we get lots of it in the winter and I can just see the tires spraying that crap all over the top of the gas tank.  Everything up there is plainly visible and it makes me sorta squeemish.

I know the engine compartment is MUCH drier after a drive home in the rain since I closed up the gaps.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: ddevil on August 24, 2006, 07:48:03 PM
why not just make brackets for the bumpers?  wouldn't doing that eliminate the gaps?


mike
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 24, 2006, 08:05:37 PM
I'm talking about when you look inside your wheel well and can see the 5-6" gap between the frame and the body.  It's rather noticeable on these things.  The first two things the guys at work said to me when I got my Tracker were, "why's the body so far from the frame?" and "body lift, huh?". :P

(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2186000-2186999/2186576_20_full.jpg)
Notice the clear shot straight through.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: kirknd4spd on August 24, 2006, 09:39:32 PM
just make them the same way you made the front ones. if you're nervous about drilling, you might be able to bolt metal strips to the rubber, then weld them on. anyone know of a reason that wouldnt work?
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 25, 2006, 03:26:42 AM
Aside from the fact that I can't weld... :P

I might just drill yet...not sure.  Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: Quaddawg on August 25, 2006, 04:42:29 AM
I definitely agree, if you HAVE to run a body lift, cover that hole!!!

How much of a body lift does that thing have anyway?  kinda ghastly looking....

Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: beerman on August 25, 2006, 06:15:06 AM
good looking car!

-but cover that hole ;)
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: fullsink18 on August 25, 2006, 07:45:14 AM
You could do the gas tank lift.  I did that and the top of the tanks is right under the body, so less stuff gets on it. 
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: Uncivilized on August 25, 2006, 08:09:08 AM
I agree a tank lift will fill the hole, so you can't see the light through. I personally wouldn't cover it up for the reason to avoid salt and dirt to get in, I'd think it would hold it in more, and being covered, you wouldn't be able to wash it out at the self serve car wash. I have to put up with the same dirty useless road salt that you do  >:(
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: superspook01 on August 25, 2006, 11:00:28 AM
i 3rd the gas lift  idea, looks alot better and it wont drag on anything.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: TysonS on August 25, 2006, 04:05:20 PM
i got the tank lift and it helps the look alittle bit, im still going to put covers in proably, i think when i get 31's you won't really see it if you have the wheelwells filled with meat.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 25, 2006, 09:22:02 PM
I wash the hell out of my cars regularily in the winter.  This usually involves a couple hours every other week or so with me on my knees with a water hose.  I also have access to a heated wash bay so I'm not typical when it comes to winter vehicle cleaning.

It's a 3" Calmini body lift from what I've been told.  At least it's most of the Calmini kit.  The guy I got it from was just mechanical enough to be dangerous and his mechanic that he had do things was about as bad.  I've had to "un-jury rig" several things and he mentioned the body lift gave them problems.  The body mounts seem like they were done correctly but the bumpers... ::)
Some Trailtough or Shrock bumpers with their body lift mounts are in the works somewhere...maybe...which will probably mean never. ::)

Fuel tank lift...nah.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: Uncivilized on August 26, 2006, 08:06:31 AM
I wash the hell out of my cars regularily in the winter.  This usually involves a couple hours every other week or so with me on my knees with a water hose.  I also have access to a heated wash bay so I'm not typical when it comes to winter vehicle cleaning.

It's a 3" Calmini body lift from what I've been told.  At least it's most of the Calmini kit.  The guy I got it from was just mechanical enough to be dangerous and his mechanic that he had do things was about as bad.  I've had to "un-jury rig" several things and he mentioned the body lift gave them problems.  The body mounts seem like they were done correctly but the bumpers... ::)
Some Trailtough or Shrock bumpers with their body lift mounts are in the works somewhere...maybe...which will probably mean never. ::)

Fuel tank lift...nah.
You could always take out the body lift... I bet you'd still swing 31's without it. Maybe not with your custom 2" BS wheels, but you could change wheels easy enough to something more suited.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 26, 2006, 08:17:41 AM
Nah, it's there and not hurting anything.  If I took it off I'd need to start trimming and doing more to it than I already am.  I don't have the time, effort, or money to start getting in depth on stuff.  Full time college + sorta full time work + 2 other vehicles + married + house = not as many options as I used to have.

Besides, the rims look so pretty now that I repainted them this summer:
(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2186000-2186999/2186576_39_full.jpg)
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: JayN on August 26, 2006, 12:39:59 PM
i just took soem 4" garden edging and used self taping screw to fill in the gaps. only screwed from the top so it ieasily moved to clean. no gaps.

mind you, mine isn't meant to be pretty.
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: AJMBLAZER on August 26, 2006, 02:57:29 PM
Jay, got any pictures?  Have any problems or potential problems with mounting them?
Title: Re: Tracker 2-door body lift gap guards-anyone made these?
Post by: jason hutchison on August 27, 2006, 11:01:25 AM
Actually I have some prototype lift skirts in CAD for a 3" body lift as I was as frustrated as you with the unsightly gap in there. I never did anything with them as I did the gas tank lift and it was more tolerable. I was basically going to have these models water jeted or CNC routed out of some thin plastic like ABS or what not. I was only going to bold them to the frame with some self tapping screws as the body and frame flex during offroading so I didn't want them to get ripped off or prevent that common flex..  I could look into having these made if there is enough interested in making several sets. I have no idea what they would cost.. I was thinking I could probably build a jig and run a rotozip around the ABS and get the same thing.. Quality wouldn't be as nice but it sure would be a hell of alot cheaper.. I mean we are talking about lift skirts here  right!!!