ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: pixelator on September 19, 2006, 04:18:25 PM
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Hi all, just bought a 1994 Sidekick JX 'vert as (primarily) a tow car for our RV. '94 4x4, 5-speed, 16v, very clean (almost pristine, actually, top is new, too), w/ black interior.
I'd been looking for one for a month or so, and finally one popped up that met all the criteria! Got a good deal on it. Only thing it'll need is an a/c recharge when the weather warms up again next year.
Any suggestions for what, if anything, to do first? Are there any FAQs around that list the exact option/color/codes for this model or year?
And yes, I'll post some pics tomorrow...
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Pics, as promised. I've spent the last couple of hours since taking these detailing, cleaning out the nooks & crannies, polishing out some of the lighter rear window scratches, applying 303 to the top, etc.
Isn't it amazing how you can go pay $40 for a half-hour 'hand wash detailing' and spend hours thereafter cleaning all the bits they missed?
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looks nice and clean!
welcome to the forum
8)
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(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/673000-673999/673055_328.jpg)
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...................RyouBakua|removethispart|@Hotmail.com..................
Help me Heal!!!!!! CLICK HERE!!!!!!!!!!! (http://www.mgcluster.net/mguk_world1/?ac=vid&vid=11027759)[/color]
Join the new Galactic Empire!!!!!!!!!!!! (http://www.techwarrior.co.uk/?ac=vid&vid=37006273)[/color]
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Very clean. :) The Sidekicks for some reason always seem to look more aggressive then the Trackers.
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Hi and welcome,
If you look right at the top of the page just under the Zukiworld banner there's a link with "tech specs" click that and it will lead to to some info on the Suzuki's specs.
BTW Nice clean trucklet too.
Cheers Mudfkr
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More pics, these of the inside... Bad phone quality but you get the idea - note I've left the stereo face at home!
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someone did a fender chop already :)
Time for bigger meats!
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someone did a fender chop already :)
Time for bigger meats!
It's got factory fitted flares, nothings been choped .............................yet
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someone did a fender chop already :)
Time for bigger meats!
It's got factory fitted flares, nothings been choped .............................yet
Huh? looks like the rears are a little jagged?
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The gas tank door hanging down indicates a chop.....
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I guess next time I will resize the pics a bit smaller, as these got resized by the forum and turned out a bit jaggy.
No cutouts, the car came with dealer-fitted guards which are matte black, so they seem like they're not there in the pics. We even got the original purchase invoice for the original owner - they paid over $15K with taxes and fees! :o
Took the top off today and drove around. Pretty kewl, and no rattles or squeaks! Very nicely maintained, feels quite tight and solid. Very much looking forward to some mild tweaks and other items. Anyone have any suggestions or priority list? 8)
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looks like an illusion with those black fender flares eh?
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I guess next time I will resize the pics a bit smaller, as these got resized by the forum and turned out a bit jaggy.
No cutouts, the car came with dealer-fitted guards which are matte black, so they seem like they're not there in the pics.
Wow, I stand corrected! :o
I grabbed the photo and pushed up the brightness till I could really see the flares. Very cool:
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my bad ;D
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you should take off the flares, get some nice 15x7 wheels, and 235/75R15 tires. it will look much more aggressive.
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no way, leave the flares, get the 235's and 15x7's with 3.75" backspacing, the flares will be perfect.
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Nah, rip em off and send em to me.... ;D
Nice look Kick. Looked kinda like mine when I first got it. Now its got more miles, and some body damage but, Its still my baby.
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Heh, I think we'll keep the flares on there, even though they're getting a little dulled and slightly powdery on the surface. I scrubbed with some 303 and hopefully that'll help. I also had to use servo tape (I manage an RC hobby shop) to re-stick one of the flares back on. Not a factory job, but it's sticking. :p
So far, no bad surprises, and that's a big sigh of relief! Next job will be to tidy the enine compartment a little. Got most of the bumper stickers off, couldn't get the funky old Euro crest or whatever it is off there, so it's staying for now. Might be a nice gesture for the first owner, who I think has or had terminal cancer when he sold it. One thing's for sure, he took damned good care of his Sidekick.
I do intend to chuck these rims and tires, though - they're a bit 'metro' for my tastes (and I'm not talking about the Geo Metro, either)! Do I need anything special or can I bolt on any 15x5.5's? Some nice steel black painted with the aforementioned rubber might be cool. How do you get the backspacing and is it mandatory for rims/tires that size?
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any 5 x 5.5 rims will fit. Just be sure to measure the center hole to make sure the hub wil go through.
I suggest 15 x 7" rims, with 235/75/R15s if you want new tires too. I think this combo is perfect for a daily driver/weekend fun Tracker.
Here is my Track with this setup and no lift yet:
(http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/514000-514999/514392_25_full.jpg)
And if your interested, with about 2" of lift:
(http://jdm-motor-sports.com/images/car-images/robs-tracker.jpg)
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I would suggest you at least pull the flares off and check behind them. If they are anything like the ones that came factory on my 4 door they are a foam product that holds water and did a swell job at rusting out the fenders!
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my bad ;D
There's a few running around where I live with them on so I knew straight away it wasn't a chop job. We (here in New Zealand) seem to have got a lot more factory fitted flares on our trucklets then the US spec'd ones.
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Wow, I never realized there was a whole world of Trackicks and Samis out there with such a robust aftermarket support! My previous Suzuki ownership was an '89 Metro (my first new car) and it was cool, but so very light and small (and gutless). I drove a friend's Sami back in '91 and hated it at the time - not sure what was up with that thing. So I kind of wrote the whole group off (except the Metro/Swift).
Imagine my shock, now! I just spent a couple of hours sweating in a hot evening garage waxing and buffing out the hood of this little mongrel. WHAT is so cool about these little rigs? I just kept... Looking at it. Fiddling with stuff, checking things, etc. It's like the coolest toy I never knew I wanted.
Fascinating and surprising, this new thing that landed in my lap. I'm even finding myself seriously browsing the aftermarket sites, drooling over headers, pulleys, taller tires, lift kits, etc. -- :o
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I may be wrong but I think your 94 is actually a 95? Some things like the top and bumpers lead me to think you have a 95. Could have been made at the end of the 94 model year and was sent out from factory as a 94 when it was assembled with 95 model parts.
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You know, I noticed the sales contract was written up in '95. The car itself is listed as a '94, so maybe one of those transition cars? Although the top is aftermarket (Best Tops)...
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Wow, I never realized there was a whole world of Trackicks and Samis out there with such a robust aftermarket support! My previous Suzuki ownership was an '89 Metro (my first new car) and it was cool, but so very light and small (and gutless). I drove a friend's Sami back in '91 and hated it at the time - not sure what was up with that thing. So I kind of wrote the whole group off (except the Metro/Swift).
Imagine my shock, now! I just spent a couple of hours sweating in a hot evening garage waxing and buffing out the hood of this little mongrel. WHAT is so cool about these little rigs? I just kept... Looking at it. Fiddling with stuff, checking things, etc. It's like the coolest toy I never knew I wanted.
Fascinating and surprising, this new thing that landed in my lap. I'm even finding myself seriously browsing the aftermarket sites, drooling over headers, pulleys, taller tires, lift kits, etc. -- :o
The EvilSeed has been planted ;) ;D
About ther same way I started out
and then one thing leads to another. ;D
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Wow, I never realized there was a whole world of Trackicks and Samis out there with such a robust aftermarket support! My previous Suzuki ownership was an '89 Metro (my first new car) and it was cool, but so very light and small (and gutless). I drove a friend's Sami back in '91 and hated it at the time - not sure what was up with that thing. So I kind of wrote the whole group off (except the Metro/Swift).
Imagine my shock, now! I just spent a couple of hours sweating in a hot evening garage waxing and buffing out the hood of this little mongrel. WHAT is so cool about these little rigs? I just kept... Looking at it. Fiddling with stuff, checking things, etc. It's like the coolest toy I never knew I wanted.
Fascinating and surprising, this new thing that landed in my lap. I'm even finding myself seriously browsing the aftermarket sites, drooling over headers, pulleys, taller tires, lift kits, etc. -- :o
Mine landed in my lap as well. I was originally going to get a suzuki samurai at this boneyard/auto shop when the tracker turned up. I went to the boneyard to deliver some parts (I worked as a parts driver at napa auto parts at the time) and the owner of the yard told me about how he had a customer with a clean Geo Tracker(it was their favorite car) with a blown head gasket. He said it needed a new engine and told me where to go and who to ask for to get a japenese import motor. I ended up getting the tracker for $600.00 and the engine for $650.00. not too bad of a deal ;), and it has been the best car I have owned so far, and the most enjoyable(except on the freeway :P)
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thats a nice sidekick you got there.
I would also suggest the 15x7 wheels with a 3.75" backspacing, along with some 235/75 x 15 tires, and 1.5" coil spacers.
the tires sit flush with the fenders, and the extra wheel width make it handle so much better on the road. It depends on what you are going to be doing with it. i presume that you would be spending most of the time on pavement with it. also the doug thornley header helps alot, im going to be getting one for mine soon.
here is a pic of mine with 15x7 wheels but i have 30x9.5x15 tires, and 1.5" coil spacers
(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/4njeep/sidekick.jpg)
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For budget's sake, I might just stick some beefier tires on there to start with. Aren't the stock rims 15.5" already? How big a tire can I put on it without lifting or offsetting/backspacing?
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What's the mileage on it?
You can expect to get 150,000 miles without any problems. My 4-door 95 is at 183,000 miles, and my 2-door 95 (the Gnewt) is at 137,000 miles - no major problems at all.
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you can put 235X15 tires on with stock rims and get a slight rubbing on the front tire at full lock on the inner rear frame rail which is not a problem because you dont drive going to full hard over lock to lock in general.  If you go to a slightlty smaller off set you will stop the rub.  Even a very small wheel spacer could solve that.  Remember that the offset on your stock wheel is 4.5 so a 3.75 would solve the rub.  Also a spacer lift of 1.5 which is cheap and easy would really help. ÂÂ
I run 30X9.5 heavy lugged MT's on 15X7" rims with 3.75 offset and dont rub at all but I am real close on space.  I did have to trim the lower front rubber bumper cover to make the wheels articulate fully though.  I have a 1" spring spacer lift kit and am going to change to a 2" with a small body lift to help mine.  I need the clearance also for the trails I ride. ÂÂ
My 30X9.5 wheels look just like the pic posted by 4njeep but mine stick out of the wheel well a bit more.  Just for reference 30X9.5 is just barely a 1/2inch larger in radius than a 235X15 and the width is just about 1/2inch more also.  But that is really pushing the limit without some lifting and bumper cover trimming. ÂÂ
Do keep in mind that if you get 235 tires you will get a rare and potentially life threatening disease called "twoinchitis".  This occurs when you get those new 235's and pull up next to a truck with 31's and you go "damn, I should have gotten those!"
I will say though that I really love the 30's and I have BFG MT's that really dig in and pull on the trails I ride and handle well on the road with some hum.  The wider stance really helps in the handling department also.  I personally think the 30" tires at 9.5 width are a great option for guys that want to modify their rig but don't want to go extreme.  Especially if you plan to tow it also. ÂÂ
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If you plan to tow it with an RV consider keeping your stock wheels and tires just as they are for towing and get a set of 30" mud terrains on 15X7 steel wheels and keep them on the roof of the RV till you get to a serious trail destination and then switch out. That would save wear on the big tires.
Also I couldn't tell from the pics if you have them but manual front lockouts are a real plus also. If you have auto hubs you may want to switch to manuals. I have read that it is real important to have manual lockouts for towing. I believe it is a real simple and cheap switch out for under $100? If you are interested in that there have been a number of posts on that topic.
I have talked to a number of RV'rs who tow Track/kicks and they say they pull real easy and are so light and compact that they don't effect the milleage etc. They seem to be the preferred tow vehicle. Add the 4WD capability and man what a versatle combo!
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hey if your looking for 15x7's onr meaty 235/75/r15's im your man ;)