ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: explosivo on March 17, 2004, 05:05:31 AM
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i FINALLY got the lift done last night, and drove it for the first time today. SOOO much quieter with the new muffler (Cherrybomb TurboII, $15 Meijer special) since before i was running with just the downpipe thing and a gutted cat. Also, the home done alignment seems to have worked well enough that i'm not going to bother having it aligned (and spending my oh so precious money) professionally.
Now, my opinion on the Calmini 3" suspension lift (ha, like anyone's going to go out and buy a tracker and lift it just from reading my progress thread :)). Installation is fairly straightforward. There's some grinding that's involved, but nothing really major. Biggest bonus: no welding. It is 100% bolt on. One thing that bugged the piss out of me when i was installing it is that the kit is made for vehicles 5+ years old, yet contains no replacement bolts for the ones you remove. I spent about $40 in new bolts since 90% of the bolts had to be replaced since they were in unusable condition. The other thing that bothered me about the kit was the fact that the instructions were horribly vague during the more complicated steps. Such as not telling you where to grind in most cases, nor did it show a close-up CLEAR picture of what you're supposed to grind. There's also things they skip over, relying on the fact that you have a service manual. Other than those two gripes I am thus far VERY happy with the kit, but if I were doing it again, I would probably not go the calmini way, but more of a homemade/budget lift.
7.5/10 overall score :)
now for the pics:
My nice homemade bumper, raised to suit the body lift and increase the approach angle (or decrease, whichever is better :):
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/tracker-bumper_01.jpg)
Side of the Tracker, you can see my fine job of fiberglassing the rocker:
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/tracker-side_01.jpg)
A shot of the Tracker from behind:
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/tracker-back_01.jpg)
I'm a whore for stickers. This makes a grand total of 4 Calmini stickers on the vehicle:
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/calminie-hood.jpg)
In this pic, I tried to blow up a shot of the shock mount that I broke and welded a new piece to, but it didn't show up too good:
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/tracker_back_shock_01.jpg)
Me and the Tracker (yes, I'm a dork):
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/me-and-tracker_03.jpg)
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Dude, get it aligned!!!! If it is not properly set you will cup and wear your coopers quick. I did that to some BFG's and trashed them in a matter of a couple of months. $600 thrown in the trash >:( It drove fine and did not pull at all but was out enough to trash the tires.
Good to hear you got the Kit on. I also wondered why the bolts were not supplied. But luckily there is a custom order bolt shop in town that has just about anything you can ask for.
Did you try it out on the trail yet? You'll love it.
Later,
Zig
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how much of a BL do u have? that gas tank looks prety open lol
looking good though dude =)
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i just got back from taking a quick ride... lotsa fun, but also lotsa rough... compared to stock the new suspension is like a rock! :o
maybe i will get it aligned afterall...
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how much of a BL do u have? that gas tank looks prety open lol
looking good though dude =)
3" calmini body lift.
i noticed the gas tank was pretty open, and i've been considering a fuel cell, but thats more money that i don't have :(
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I find it mildly curious that you have a bug shield on a trail rig. But then, we don't get many big bugs where I live.
(http://www.imageshack.us/img1/4566/GnewtKingstonJames.JPG)
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excellent. the bug shield has proved its true purpose, which is to be a midly humorous gesture. i actually found it on the side of a trail and screwed it to my hood. it's one of those items that i wouldn't buy, but if i found them, i'd stick it on (like my bumper :D)
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3" calmini body lift.
i noticed the gas tank was pretty open, and i've been considering a fuel cell, but thats more money that i don't have :(
well maybe u will get lucky and find a rear bumper =) lol
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Love the ride, so since calmini didnt supply pics of what and where to grind, how bout posting a few. 8)
does anyone know if you have to do any grinding on the 2" lift?
i have a home made 2.5" body lift and am thinking of getting the calmini sus lift... 2" or 3" anyone have thoughts on which.  high articulation is not that important to me, no rocks in Iowa, just ditches, and oh ya, corn ;D.
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I was actually considering taking my camera and shooting several pics per step and making a nice little page for it, but that ended really quickly... i kept working and forgot about the pics...
I took it out on the trail today and hit a little dip, and broke my bumper off >:(
I was going to put it in the back, but the only way it would fit is by sitting on the ledge beneath the back window, and judging by the smoothness (or lack of) of the trail i would have broken the back window out, so i hid it in the woods to pick up when the snow melts with my truck :)
I'd much rather replace a bumper than a back window.
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I have a Tire Town within a couple of miles from me. They did a check on my front end alignment when I replaced those really worn out Bridgestone stock 60's with a set of used Wranglers.
Found everything was fine and aligned. Free.
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I find it mildly curious that you have a bug shield on a trail rig.  But then, we don't get many big bugs where I live.
([url]http://www.imageshack.us/img1/4566/GnewtKingstonJames.JPG[/url])
Hey! I've had a bug shield on mine since I bought it that way.... ;D
See?! It's still there!
(http://www.whitepineclub.com/members/kd7hcg/pictures/SAS/SASday7/DCP_5336.jpg)
Oh.. BAH.. I like my mountain shot better... 8)
(http://www.galvinonline.com/photos/NatenHeather/VacationsNRoadtrips/Stanley1002/DCP_2039.jpg)
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I find it mildly curious that you have a bug shield on a trail rig.  But then, we don't get many big bugs where I live.
([url]http://www.imageshack.us/img1/4566/GnewtKingstonJames.JPG[/url])
Any fish in the lakes that far up in the mountains?
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3" calmini body lift.
i noticed the gas tank was pretty open, and i've been considering a fuel cell, but thats more money that i don't have :(
Check out the Gas tank lift article. If you have a cutoff and can do minor welding it's an easy fix.
(http://izook.com/features/godzuki/images/pic10.jpg)
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explosivo
I'm in michigan too, so my obvious question is....how hard was it to get all those rusted bolts and nuts loosened?
i've looked mine over and can only guess it will be a nightmare, hence why i'm soooo reluctant to spend money on a lift kit.
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Any fish in the lakes that far up in the mountains?
Actually, yes. Quite a few, right up to almost 12,000 feet. That's James Peak Lake, in an area soon to be designated as wilderness. That's OK - it protects a very fragile tundra ecosystem, and the trails to the top of the peak have been closed for years (you use the LPC's to get to the top - Leather Personnel Carriers - BOOTS.)
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One thing that bugged the piss out of me when i was installing it is that the kit is made for vehicles 5+ years old, yet contains no replacement bolts for the ones you remove. I spent about $40 in new bolts since 90% of the bolts had to be replaced since they were in unusable condition.
Remember, "road salt" and "rust" are not in the vocabulary of folks in Bakersfield. Heck, I've seen Cali zooks that can still easily remove leaf spring bolts.
Everybodies kits assume that your stuff is useable and rust free.
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explosivo
I'm in michigan too, so my obvious question is....how hard was it to get all those rusted bolts and nuts loosened?
i've looked mine over and can only guess it will be a nightmare, hence why i'm soooo reluctant to spend money on a lift kit.
holy shit... nightmare is putting it mildly...
i had to cut EVERY bolt on the back off. Nothing would come loose. when i say cut every bolt, i mean both the head and the nut, since even with the nut off, the bolts were rusted solid to the sleeves and wouldn't slide out.
i guess it wouldn't have been as bad if i either had some sharp sawzall blades or a cutting torch...
anyway, don't let a few bolts stop ya... you'll really enjoy the results :)
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Remember, "road salt" and "rust" are not in the vocabulary of folks in Bakersfield.  Heck, I've seen Cali zooks that can still easily remove leaf spring bolts. ÂÂ
Everybodies kits assume that your stuff is useable and rust free.
sometimes i wish that they wouldn't put salt on the roads... i'd just be happy with them plowing and sanding them... >:(
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Rust? I thought that was the slight red color you get on stuff. I have a little of it on my 95 2-door. But in Colorado, vehicles just don't rust much. It's common to see stock, and virginal Samurai's driving around, rust-free...
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Rust in Tennessee, nope, I just have brownish color holes that like to breed in the metal of my Kick:P I cut them out but then they just appear somewhere else. ;D
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Remember, "road salt" and "rust" are not in the vocabulary of folks in Bakersfield.  Heck, I've seen Cali zooks that can still easily remove leaf spring bolts. ÂÂ
Everybodies kits assume that your stuff is useable and rust free.
my 91 track as no rust that i can see =)
and i was just into both tire wells yesturday =)
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explosivo
I'm in michigan too, so my obvious question is....how hard was it to get all those rusted bolts and nuts loosened?
i've looked mine over and can only guess it will be a nightmare, hence why i'm soooo reluctant to spend money on a lift kit.
YES THE NUTS & BOLTS WERE A BEOTCH TO GET OUT . BUT WITH A LITTLE LUBRICANT , MUSCLE & IF ALL ELSE FAILS A SMOKE WRENCH  WILL GET THEM OFF. AND YES I REPLACED MOST BOLTS ON MY REINSTALL AS WELL. THEY OUGHT TO OFFER IT AS AN OPTION ON THE SIDE ANY HOW  ;D    MATTY D.  8)
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here's a pic of the afformentioned broken shock mount that i "fixed":
(http://www.kielbassa.com/pictures/shock_welded.jpg)
that was another thing that pissed me off. combined with the rust, the flimsy metal of a lot of the mounting stuff in the back made me angry, especially when the shock mount broke almost on its own... just kinda crumbled away when i took off the old shock. >:(