hey, I'm new at this. Been zukin for years, but now I got my very own. The folks just signed over our '93 4dr JLX 'kick and said I can do whatever I want to it. I've got a job so I say LETS GO! (just lettin ya know where I stand)

First things first, already got a 2" Calmini susp. lift on it. I want like a 3" body lift that'll work in conjunction and won't be a pain in the a** to install. Calmini only makes 'em for 2dr, but I don't know how hard it'll be to modify. Doesn't have to be a calmini for me. If ya got advice, experience or know a company to check out, I'm all ears. Trust me, I need all the help I can get! I'm only 17 with not many "years of experience" at the mechanical stuff, so any advice, even off topic, is welcome. (especially about possible mistakes and shortcuts and stuff) Thanks all! bye.

http://www.puresuzuki.com/sidekick_tracker.htm

It says 6" combos for 4 doors too.  SO that means they have 3' body lifts for the 4-door.

Sorry to ask retarded questions! thanks, I was actually looking at a catalog and it's like a year old. I hadn't checked the website. Thanks for pointin out my stupidity. Alright, now I'm stoked cause this'll be easier than I thought. (hopefully) thanks again. bye.

Just be carefull about the 3in lift for the 4door sidekick
I had to do alot of welding on mine it includes welding on blocks to the frame, shifters extension, and if you have the steering shaft that dosen't have a slip yoke then you have to fabricate a steering shaft extension coupler. Other then the welding the Calmini 3in body is great.

Sorry to ask retarded questions! thanks, I was actually looking at a catalog and it's like a year old. I hadn't checked the website. Thanks for pointin out my stupidity. Alright, now I'm stoked cause this'll be easier than I thought. (hopefully) thanks again. bye.

There are no such things as stupid questions, only stupid answers...

Those are my words of wisdom for the day, young grasshopper.  (Heh who am I calling young.. I'm only  21  )

Happy Zookin!

Make your own out of box tubing...
Thats what we did.  Been working out great!

Thanks guys. Uhhh...so maybe I'm gettin in over my head? How hard is it to make a steering extension piece and what exactly goes into that. I'm not much for fabrication. Following directions I do, makin it up myself as I go...not so much!

Oh, and I was reading the "Calmini or rocksteady" thread and decided despite the trouble, looks like the general conclusion is that Calmini is the way to go.  One more concern. Seems like alot of guys have bent their idler arm. I'm just a "weekend warrior" and do more technical than trecherous stuff. Should I be worried about that on mine?

BTW: Thanks for the support Kreg. Us newbies gotta stick close!

There are no such things as stupid questions, only stupid answers...

Those are my words of wisdom for the day, young grasshopper.  (Heh who am I calling young.. I'm only  21  )

Happy Zookin!

What color is MY Sidekick  
Does that qualify as a stupid question

Hey Squeaky,

It might have been over-kill, but I used a chunk of aluminum for my steering extension. Nothing to twist apart and no welds to break free.

Let me know, and I might be able to make up another for you when I get back in the country.

Hey Squeaky,

It might have been over-kill, but I used a chunk of aluminum for my steering extension. Nothing to twist apart and no welds to break free.

Aluminum steering extension? Is this for the steering column input to the steering box?

-Eric

Eric,

The aluminum I'm talking about started out as a piece of solid round stock. I drilled one hole down the center and then for holes around that 90* apart. Tapped two of the holes on one end 180* from each other, and did the same on the other end. Then I just bolted it into place where the dampener used to be. Calmini suggested to weld a piece of flat stock to each end of a piece of soild stock and bolt into place. My way, there is no weld to break and it is harder to twist apart on you.

Next time I have my steering column out, I'll take pictures. I plan to remake it and add some self locking heli-coils to keep the bolts from backing themselves out.

 1995 Sidekick 4 Door custom body lift pictures:

Welded on custom tabs with 1 1/2" long 3/8 bolts..


3x3 box tubing, cheapo recycled rubber jeep bushings, and 1 1/2 inch 1/2 bolts on the bottom section..


We knocked off all the stock body bolts except for the front two (in the grill.. they are easier to deal with... therefore things up front install slightly different, theory is the same..) because the tack welds broke inside the body, and some bolts pulled through..


and


We did extend the shifters, but the steering on our rig did not have to be extended.

Find a buddy with a welder! Things are super cheap then!
Sorry for taking up the forum space. Check out my site for lots more info.



Heather

Alright. So, I got some options. Really interested it the whole aluminum thing. sounds ingenious. I can pull in to auto shop any time and then I got all the tools and equipment I think I'll ever need on hand. The instructor loves me and some of the guys in the advanced class I'm sure can help me out. So geuss all I need to figure out is the whole shifter/shaft extension thing. You guys are awesome, thanks for all the advice. Keep it comin! I still need all the help I can get.

Hey heather, thanks for the pics. They're pretty helpful. I was stoked to see there is another girl around here! Yay!

Kicker-in-ks: yeah, I'm totally interested. If you could give me some kind of approximate date that'd be awesome. We'll have to talk more.

By the way, how long do you think this whole install is going to take? If I got all the fabrication stuff ready and planned for in advance?

Heres a shot of the extended shifters.. Sorry.. it's BIG:




The body lift, if you have everything ready should only take about 1/2 day to complete. Squeaky feel free to email me or chat me if you have any questions.


And hey, if you have A/C, don't forget to unscrew the clip on the radiator before you jack up the body so that AC line has some slack!   I found out the hard way..

Also, unclip the brake lines in the front where they connect by the strut base. You can hook them back up when you are done installing the lift.

I think that's about all we saw getting pulled on..

hey, thanks everyone for the help. I think I am actually gonna have to put this project on hold. I'm gonna save some money up and wait for kicker to get back. I think I'm gonna try the whole aluminum deal he's got rigged. I can't wait too long cuz my tires are going bald and I already hydroplaned once goin like 5mph around a corner. So rain isn't good for me but I can't get new tires until I finish the lift cuz I want to go BIGGER. so thanks again! see ya.