ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Performance / Modify => Topic started by: serv on September 12, 2012, 09:14:16 PM
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Fellow riders, I need your help. I want to upgrade my ride so I can further enjoy my regular weekend trips to the wilderness. I normally go through muddy and rocky trails.
I am hoping fellow zuk lovers, that you can recommend or make suggestions on what I should buy for the best upgrade possible. I have nothing to swap so I plan to buy everything brand new.
All recommendations will be appreciated.
This is my 96 LWB Samurai with the following specs and current modifications:
Stock engine 1.3
Stock axles
gear 5:1
Tires 31 x 10.5
Front coil spring suspension
3" lift
Power steering
12000 lb winch
(http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af331/servalpha/SamuraiTopDown.jpg)
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Front and rear "selectable" lockers, larger engine 1.6 Sidekick or 1.9 diesel VW, full roll cage. If you don't already have anything for your diffs I would also recommend getting something like diff caps, also breather tubes for the diffs.
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Front and rear "selectable" lockers, larger engine 1.6 Sidekick or 1.9 diesel VW, full roll cage. If you don't already have anything for your diffs I would also recommend getting something like diff caps, also breather tubes for the diffs.
any particular brand of lockers?
It is very hard in our side of the world to get hold of a VW diesel. Can you recommend a japanese engine instead? I really prefer diesel engines because they are more tolerant under water than gasoline engines or maybe I am wrong here?
How about a rockcrawler? Is this necessary? Any axle suggestion?
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Anything with a FR (Front to Rear) setup should work, it's just a matter of finding something small enough to fit in front of the transfer case. Then all you need is a custom drive-shaft to go from the 2wd transmission into your tcase. Did you have many of the Isuzu Turbo-Diesels down there?
How much more power do you need then what you have now? Are you looking for more low end grunt or more top end speed?
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any particular brand of lockers?
It is very hard in our side of the world to get hold of a VW diesel. Can you recommend a japanese engine instead? I really prefer diesel engines because they are more tolerant under water than gasoline engines or maybe I am wrong here?
How about a rockcrawler? Is this necessary? Any axle suggestion?
I personally like the ARB brand lockers but they are pretty pricey and you will need the compressor to run them. You could try looking for a Toyota diesel engine but I don't know how it would fit. One common axle conversion here is Toyota axles or sometimes even Dana axles.
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Anything with a FR (Front to Rear) setup should work, it's just a matter of finding something small enough to fit in front of the transfer case. Then all you need is a custom drive-shaft to go from the 2wd transmission into your tcase. Did you have many of the Isuzu Turbo-Diesels down there?
How much more power do you need then what you have now? Are you looking for more low end grunt or more top end speed?
Isuzu engines are very popular here and some of the bigger ones are turbo charged.
I do a lot of rock crawling and muddy trails so I am looking for low end grunt.
I am not really very good at this so I need to buy everything and have a mechanic and fabricator do the installations for me. I hope bro you can keep it simple since some of the terms you are using here is alien to me LOL.
Please, be patient bros.
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any particular brand of lockers?
It is very hard in our side of the world to get hold of a VW diesel. Can you recommend a japanese engine instead? I really prefer diesel engines because they are more tolerant under water than gasoline engines or maybe I am wrong here?
How about a rockcrawler? Is this necessary? Any axle suggestion?
I personally like the ARB brand lockers but they are pretty pricey and you will need the compressor to run them. You could try looking for a Toyota diesel engine but I don't know how it would fit. One common axle conversion here is Toyota axles or sometimes even Dana axles.
I might go for the ARB front and rear lockers. How about Kam selectable electric lockers?
If I install lockers, do I still need to change or upgrade the axles? When you say toyota axles, are these the fj40 axles?
I have to say this again bros...pls, be patient with me.
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Ok I looked up the KAM lockers they look cool but they involve a lot of axle prep (have to cut the back of the axle housing off at the diff and weld the KAM plate onto the axle). But with the ARB you just drill a small hole into the top of the diff for the air line (some like air some don't you will have to look at what you'd like better).
http://www.kamdiffs.com/vehicles/suzuki/ (http://www.kamdiffs.com/vehicles/suzuki/) look a little down on the page I link to here and you will see the part about cutting the diff cap off.
Anytime you install lockers they will strain your axles and axle shafts (shaft inside the axle housing) more, and if you keep the stock Zuk axles you may really want to think about getting the newer heavy duty shafts to help out.
I have heard of using Toyota axles from 80's models trucks, I did find a little about FJ40 axles too though.
I found one on izook that was from a 1983 SR5 Toyota truck http://www2.izook.com/?page_id=426 (http://www2.izook.com/?page_id=426)
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Ok I looked up the KAM lockers they look cool but they involve a lot of axle prep (have to cut the back of the axle housing off at the diff and weld the KAM plate onto the axle). But with the ARB you just drill a small hole into the top of the diff for the air line (some like air some don't you will have to look at what you'd like better).
[url]http://www.kamdiffs.com/vehicles/suzuki/[/url] ([url]http://www.kamdiffs.com/vehicles/suzuki/[/url]) look a little down on the page I link to here and you will see the part about cutting the diff cap off.
Anytime you install lockers they will strain your axles and axle shafts (shaft inside the axle housing) more, and if you keep the stock Zuk axles you may really want to think about getting the newer heavy duty shafts to help out.
I have heard of using Toyota axles from 80's models trucks, I did find a little about FJ40 axles too though.
I found one on izook that was from a 1983 SR5 Toyota truck [url]http://www2.izook.com/?page_id=426[/url] ([url]http://www2.izook.com/?page_id=426[/url])
Read about the Kam lockers, and you are right about the installation hassles. Can you recommend any bnew axle shafts? How about the crawlers for the gears bro, is this necessary?
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Do you have lower T-Case gears in there currently?
For the Isuzu I always thought a C223 Turbo from an Isuzu Pup/Faster would be a fun swap, 85hp and plenty of torque at low RPM's. At 2.2l though it is a bit larger engine and I don't know how tall it is. But if your lifted already you should clear your front axle. The stock C223 is only 59hp, but it is rated at 105lb torque.
The 1.6l 16v is hard to go wrong with, it's a common swap and you can order everything. But if you don't mind spending a bit more you might want to look at the 2.0l conversions.
The 33" tires are getting close to the breaking point depending on how you drive. Some chromoly front axle shafts from Trail Tough or Low Range might be in order for the front.
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Do you have lower T-Case gears in there currently?
For the Isuzu I always thought a C223 Turbo from an Isuzu Pup/Faster would be a fun swap, 85hp and plenty of torque at low RPM's. At 2.2l though it is a bit larger engine and I don't know how tall it is. But if your lifted already you should clear your front axle. The stock C223 is only 59hp, but it is rated at 105lb torque.
The 1.6l 16v is hard to go wrong with, it's a common swap and you can order everything. But if you don't mind spending a bit more you might want to look at the 2.0l conversions.
The 33" tires are getting close to the breaking point depending on how you drive. Some chromoly front axle shafts from Trail Tough or Low Range might be in order for the front.
Thanks so much for all the suggestions Drone637, very much appreciated.
All I have in the T-case gears are stock bro. I don't mind upgrading them though. Any ideas?
I am pretty much decided on the 1.6 16v. Spare parts are readily available in this part of the world. The isuzu c223 is also available but according to my mechanic, installing it will involve a lot of fabrication.
Drone637 bud I drive hard so I really need all the upgrades you can think of. That chromoly front axle shafts from Trail Tough or Low Range will be in my list.
Keep it coming bro.
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Since your going with new shafts and ARB's I'd go with at least 4.57 gears front and rear and 4.16 or even 6.51 T-case gears.
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Since your going with new shafts and ARB's I'd go with at least 4.57 gears front and rear and 4.16 or even 6.51 T-case gears.
I ran 5.12 gears and a 6.5:1 t-case and found with my SJ-410 that I was a bit to low geared for normal trail driving, but perfect for rocks. So the 4.57 and a 4.16 or 4.8 t-case would be a nice middle ground and bring him in-line with the larger tires. Or just a 6.5:1 and stock 3.89 gears.
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I ran 5.12 gears and a 6.5:1 t-case and found with my SJ-410 that I was a bit to low geared for normal trail driving, but perfect for rocks. So the 4.57 and a 4.16 or 4.8 t-case would be a nice middle ground and bring him in-line with the larger tires. Or just a 6.5:1 and stock 3.89 gears.
I second that setup of the 4.57 with 4.16 T-case i do think I'd go ahead and switch out the axle gears though since he wants the locker anyway but that's just my view on it. The ARB's with 4.57 and 4.16 is the way I want to go when money allows, until then I'm still stock.
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might as well go with chromoly rear axle shafts too.
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might as well go with chromoly rear axle shafts too.
added to the list. thanks again bud.
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The full exo-cage is a lot heavier then an internal one. Unless you are planning on rolling it I would just accept that you will need to replace your window frame and targa bar if you drop it on it's side.
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The full exo-cage is a lot heavier then an internal one. Unless you are planning on rolling it I would just accept that you will need to replace your window frame and targa bar if you drop it on it's side.
I am getting rid of the hardtop for a soft top. I am just having a hardtime looking for a nice softtop for LWB zuk. Can't find any trader that sells it.
I find the exo-cage sexy LOL.
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I personally like the look and room that an exo will give I had a friend who put in an internal cage and it did not offer much leg room or head room, plus with an exo it allows you to add things like tool holders and light tabs (I enjoy a lot of night wheeling). It is heavier but like anything else there are going to be trade offs either way.
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One more thing, is it wise to change the stock clutch with a centerforce dual friction clutch?
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Yes.
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Thanks for all the help guys, ;)
I am now ordering all the upgrades.