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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: track_this on March 23, 2003, 02:49:16 PM

Title: Canadian built ??
Post by: track_this on March 23, 2003, 02:49:16 PM
ive heard rumor that if you have a canadian built tracker/kick that the spring towers sit 1 inch lower. so that when you buy a lift for it, it will actually be one inch higher. now my question, how do you tell if its canadian and is this true?
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: ebewley on March 24, 2003, 12:49:29 AM
I've heard that rumor for several years too. I've been trying to verify one way or the other and so far haven't really found anything concrete. The first few years of Sidekicks were all built in Japan so there shouldn't be difference between vehicles of the same year. Now, there may be some difference between the early Japan models and the later models built in the CAMI facility but at this point, I doubt it.

-Eric
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: track_this on March 24, 2003, 11:48:15 AM
where can i look on the vehicle to find out if it was biult in can. or jap. ? ill try to figure it out by comparison with other trackers
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Zukipilot on March 24, 2003, 09:20:07 PM
My 89 is a Canadian Kick. I dont know all of the details of the differences. I originally bought a Pro-Comp lift kit and found out that it would not work on my model. (lifted it to high, supporting your comment) The explination I got from Pro-Comp, was that there was a difference in the cross members (mounting points for the front control arms). If you want to find out the country of assembly, go to autocheck.com and run a title search on your vehicle. It will cost you $10, but it will tell you. It also gives you a list of any damages, all locations of regerstration, etc.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: ebewley on March 25, 2003, 01:06:23 AM
I believe that one of the letters in the S/N tells where the car was assembled. Anyone have a FSM? They have info like that in them.

-Eric
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Mac on April 12, 2003, 02:30:37 PM
If the serial number starts with a J it is Japanese buit, if not it came from the Great White North.

Mac
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Maiden Hell on October 22, 2003, 01:44:20 PM
Almost all North American Sidekicks, Trackers and Sunrunners were built in Ingersoll Ontario Canada.

If you open your glove box, it should say CAMI Automotive in it.  Also, if you check the sticker on the drivers side door panel (where the door latch is) it will also say CAMI Automotive.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: wildgoody on October 22, 2003, 02:33:02 PM
Well here I go, blowing all the info
out the door, My Vin starts J, it's an
89, and is built in Canada.

To the best of my knowedge, the parts
are built in these countries:

Engine: Japan
Axles: Japan
Frame: Canada
Body: Canada
Auto Trans: France
Orig. Tires were Bridgestone Desert Loosers,
I mean Duelers (crap Tires) 205/75/R15 From
Japan I think.

Anyone know where the
Man trans hails from ?
???
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: pdasilva on October 22, 2003, 09:24:53 PM
 Hi There ..I have a 2door 94 sidekick,also canadian built.I recently swoped over my old man emu suspension with 1 inch coil spacers from my 5 door, to my 2 door.I have noticed that the front end sits much higher than my 5 door did,and had to remove my 1 inch coil spacers in the front to get correct caster angles.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Mac on October 23, 2003, 02:12:19 AM
Wildgoody  you defintly have a unique or early truck, I confirmed with a friend that is a parts man at Suzuki here in Vancouver, and all the sidekicks that were built in Canada have a C as the first Digit and a J for Japan, he was saying that this still continues. The early Grand Vitara's with the V6 and Manual trans were built in Japan and shipped and will start with a J, those with the Auto's were built in Canada.


Mac
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: UberAsuna on October 23, 2003, 02:31:15 AM
Quote
Hi There ..I have a 2door 94 sidekick,also canadian built.I recently swoped over my old man emu suspension with 1 inch coil spacers from my 5 door, to my 2 door.I have noticed that the front end sits much higher than my 5 door did,and had to remove my 1 inch coil spacers in the front to get correct caster angles.



Can that be my problem in the front end on my asuna ?? when i had put 2" coil spacers the front end went nuts and it was much higher then the back and the CV  looked so bad and my tires where  / \   ? ? ? ? ?  so would the maximum coil spacers on  canadian models be 1" or  1/2" ???
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: ebewley on October 23, 2003, 03:22:10 AM
Quote



Can that be my problem in the front end on my asuna ?? when i had put 2" coil spacers the front end went nuts and it was much higher then the back and the CV  looked so bad and my tires where  / \   ? ? ? ? ?  so would the maximum coil spacers on  canadian models be 1" or  1/2" ???


I don't think the coil pocket rumor is true. For example, Hutch and I had basically identical trucks earlier this year that both had the same lift bumpers, everything. One difference, his was made in Canada mine in Japan. NO other differences were observed...

HTH -Eric
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Maiden Hell on October 23, 2003, 06:29:14 AM
I didn't know that the GVs were built in Canada...I know the regular 4 cylinder models are built here.  CAMI's web site says nothing about GV being built there.

I know that CAMI is now going to get to build the Chevy Equinox...a clone of the Saturn Vue and rumours are rampant that Suzuki will get a Vue clone too, to replace the current 4 door, 4 cylinder Vitara.  :-/
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Agent Orange on October 23, 2003, 12:51:52 PM
Hey Mac.

Your friend in the parts dept. got it wrong. Canadian models serial #'s start with a "2" and Japanese models started with "J"

I'm almost 100% sure of that.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: wildgoody on October 23, 2003, 04:06:17 PM
Early Production I guess,
Vin  starts JS4TAO1
Built 7/88 but the plate says
Suzuki Motor Corp. Japan
so I might be wrong, it might
be a Japan built, and to think
all these years I thought it
was built in Canada
???
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Yankee Tim on October 24, 2003, 08:27:27 AM
Quote
The early Grand Vitara's with the V6 and Manual trans were built in Japan and shipped and will start with a J, those with the Auto's were built in Canada.


Mac


Nope.  I've got a '00 GV Ltd., auto and made in the land of the rising sun.  In the beginning, the 4 banger Vits were Canuck and the V6 GVs were Jap.  All Chevy Trackers were 4-bangers and CAMI built.

Now, it might have changed along the way, as the V6 was eventually introduced into the Chevy line-up.  But now the CAMI plant will make Vues, anf the Tracker is history.  At the same time, ASMC nixs the 4-bangers and the 2-dr, leaving only 4-dr V6s.  This would support the claim that the 4-bangers were CAMI and the V6's were Jap.

but VIN starting with "J" is from Japan, and a lead off digit of "2" meant it was CAMI.

There is other differences too, like in the front diff.  Call a parts place and ask for a CV shaft for a 1997 Sidekick.  Besides, the motor size (1.6 or 1.8), the final question that is asked if it is Japanese made or Canadian, with each make having a different part #.  I heard that the axle diameter is ever so slightly different between the two.

Go figure.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Z3bra on October 24, 2003, 12:43:39 PM
Yep, canadian vin's start with 2CNB

Too bad if they're ditching the tracker for that POS saturn platform.   Granted I don't much care for the current tracker appearance, but losing the two mini-utes with a real T-case and body on frame in favor of a SUV based on a FWD car chassis like the VUE is crap.  Guess there's still Kia Sportages unless they're a FWD based design now too.   Other than that it's only going to result in the proliferation of more Heep buyers.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: safarikick on October 24, 2003, 01:01:30 PM
???  2S3TA02C    IT WAS MANUFACTURER IN CANADA    
??? ???

SO ALL KICK ARE  MAKE IN CANADA   ???
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Maiden Hell on October 24, 2003, 02:34:05 PM
Most if not all Sidekicks sold in North America were built in Canada.

If you go to CAMI's web site, you can read up on some history about how it all came about.

CAMI has not started production on the VUE clones as of yet.  That will happen in 2004/5. I'm pretty sure they are only making the 4 door Vitara with the V6 in it.

I can't beleive Suzuki axed the 2-door Vitara...I'm quite sad about it.  :'(
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Samurai_Hamster on October 24, 2003, 11:24:29 PM
I think the 2 door convertable will be a collectors item soon!
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: 97TRAKIN on October 25, 2003, 06:31:53 AM
Quote
I can't beleive Suzuki axed the 2-door Vitara...I'm quite sad about it.  :'(

I thought this was only in North America!?
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: SpinalTap on October 26, 2003, 02:30:12 AM
I believe there are slight differences between the Trackers/Sidekicks for the Canadian market rather than just the vehicles made in Canada. Correct me if I'm wrong but I understand that the suspension on the 4WD Trackers/Sidekicks for the Canadian market is an inch higher than the US market.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: sohip on August 26, 2010, 02:51:12 PM

Thats weird most were made in Canada because I live in Canada and I ended up with a Japanese one !  Maybe we exported all the crappy ones we made and imported the "keepers" from Japan...lol...

My starts with JS3TD... and is a 93 sidekick.


Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: bentparts on August 26, 2010, 03:58:06 PM
WOW, way to revive an old thread!
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: wildgoody on August 26, 2010, 06:09:01 PM
Ya, this one is so old I forgot I even posted those comments

Wild
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: sohip on August 26, 2010, 08:05:06 PM

Hey man,  Ive owned a suzuki for 5 days.

All this sh8t is new to me  ;D  Im like a 5 year old kid in his first week of kindergarten ...

Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: Medford on August 26, 2010, 08:55:13 PM
Wild is just messing with you guys.  We all know his was "BUILT" in the good ole USA, in his garage the proof is in his turbo build diary.
Title: Re: Canadian built ??
Post by: wildgoody on August 26, 2010, 09:32:01 PM
Real Trucks Are Built, Not Bought, And Chrome Don't Get Ya Home.