Hi guys

I'm not new to the Suzuki thing but I don't know a huge amount about these new fangled ones (Vitara and Grand Vitara V6). I'm pretty sure I read that Sidekick 5.125 diffs will bolt in directly...sounds like the hot ticket for running 31's.

Next major important question is, I have 4.24:1 t-case gears in my Sidekick already. Is it possible to swap the entire transfer case from my Kick into a Vitara or Grand Vitara? Or do I have to pull the gears and install them in the Vitara/GV case? I also understand that manual transmission models will not accept the transfer case gears. Rather disappointing. Is anyone running 31" tires with 5.13's and wheeling some pretty rugged terrain? I want to know if it's going to suck as much as my Kick before I got my crawler gears, because I don't want to have to deal with that again.

Oh yeah, does anyone know if I can fit a 15" rim over the brakes? That'd be nice.

What is the better buy anyway? The V6 GV or the 2.0L Vitara? I heard the V6 is a little on the thirsty side.

96 - 98 thirds with 5.12 should be direct bolt ins.

15" rims will not work unless you are willing to grind down your calipers on the 4door model, if you go 2.0 2dr they will fit(same as 2dr tracker)

as for your tcase gears i have no idea. 

i run 31's with 4.62's (stock) gears and like to beat mine every now and then, when it's extremely rocky i wish i had lower gears, but not so far that i'm thinking tcase gears, just the 5.12's

V6 vs 2.0 the v6 has alot more bottom end grunt.

You can put 15" wheels on the GV you will need 1" wheel spacers and some slight grinidng on the calipers.

The Gv has a wider stance has way better road manners then the non GV.

I did the exact same lift on a vitara with a 2.0L and the difference is soo noticeable. More power for one. Gas millage was hard to see the difference. BUt road handing on the GV is wayyyy better hence has a wider stance then the vitara.

good point about 15's and a wheel spacer..  but i cannot agree that the gv is wider in any way in stock form the the regular vitara, longer but not wider.

good point about 15's and a wheel spacer..  but i cannot agree that the gv is wider in any way in stock form the the regular vitara, longer but not wider.

Check the specs...

SWB:
Wheelbase 86.6 in. 
Tread Width
     Front 57.5 in. 
     Rear 57.5 in. 

LWB:
Wheelbase 97.6 in. (2480 mm)
Tread Width
     Front 59.1 in. (1500 mm)
     Rear 59.1 in. (1500 mm)

I'm not sure it isn't just wheel widths, though.  I recall the ZR-2 sales paraphernalia mentioned it had a wider track than the others, but there aren't any mechanical differences; just options, graphics, skid plates, and wheels.

Think about iy lol 2" fender flares on the GV per side tires are about 1" from lip. Trackers are .75 inch from steel fender. hense the wider track.

well shiezer, really now..  probably just the wheels cause everything as far as i knew was the same.  the zr2 wheels are i believe 1/2inch wider than the regular tracker wheels.. 

So the general consensus is to go with the GV then? There are some real nice looking ones out there and they really aren't all that expensive!

Basically, I'm looking for something with the same/better road manners as my bushpig of a Sidekick, and the same/better off road credentials as well. I have a Detroit in my Kick so I'm thinking that would be a pretty badass setup with some 31" tires, 3" suspension lift and 2" body. I take it you still need to trim the fenders quite hard with this setup?

I'm mainly worried about not being able to crawl with 31's. On my Kick going from small tires to 31's was just brutal on the rocks and I don't want to put a newer vehicle through that kind of abuse if I don't have to. Anyone running 31's with a 5 speed and actually WHEELING these things? I need some more opinions!

haha, actually wheeling.....  i've asked the same thing here before...  i run 31's with the 5spd, 2.0L, 4.62's and on the rocks i wouldn't mind a lower gear, but how much real rock crawling do we do with these rigs... not a whole lot.  i'm planning on going 5.12's and not touching the tcase, hopefully that will help things out..  in nasty mud pits i can often not hold 2nd gear in 4lo cause there just isn't enough power to keep things turning well.  remember if you buy a gv it's gonna be a lot longer and not as good in the trails as your sidekick due to length.  the fender wells are also full of more crap plastic.  i didn't trim anything to fit 31inch swampers on stock wheels, 2in body lift and 2in front suspension lift but more like 3in suspension lift in back, was getting rub at highway speeds on the front of the rear fender.

should mention based on your post that when my brother drove my tracker he could not believe how much more comfortable, quiet and powerful it was compared to his early 90's kick..

Woohoo! Just read on Calmini's website that the 4.24 t-case gears actually DO fit in all the non-V6 5 speed Zooks! I'm just planning my setup here, tell me what you think:

1999-2004 Vitara/Tracker 2.0L 5 speed
Calmini 2.5" suspension lift
Sky's 2" body lift
31x10.50 tires on wider/more backspaced rims
Calmini or TrailTough 4.24:1 t-case gears
Detroit Locker rear diff with 5.13 ratio out of my Sidekick
5.13 front diff out of another Sidekick....should I just put the whole third member in or get the gears swapped? It's unclear whether the 2.0L Vitaras have a steel front diff or not.
Custom rock sliders and skidplates, possibly bumpers
Manual locking hubs...do Sidekick ones just bolt right on?

First off, do I even need the 5.13 diffs? Or are the 2.0's all right on the road with 31's? If it's anything like my Kick is now with 31's I'd be more than happy to throw some diff gears in, cause this thing is pretty sluggish.

Any other suggestions/insights greatly appreciated!

should work great, since you will be using wider rims with more backspacking you will most likely need a small trim in the front fenders..  on the road there are really no problems, i use 4th on hills or into strong headwinds, otherwise everything is fine, probably still better than the 1.6's in stock form.  chances are you'll end up with the aluminum diff..  hubs are bolt on swaps..  it seems that companies have a hard time confirming if any lockers will actually fit for sure so from my understaning most guys swap the thirds in to get a locker out back, 96-98 thirds are direct bolt on, older thirds require some minor mods, not sure what but am told not a big deal.  i'm not locked and wish i was so since you've got the parts put em in and enjoy! 

I have a 01 2.0L Vitara the front diff is aluminum.  I'm riding stock gears with 225/75/16's (29.4") and it rides just fine of course lost a few MPG's and the speedo/odo is off by about 10% but it does fine I just drove it cross country.  No advise on  wide 31's.. but after I wear out my tires im planning on going about the same route.   

So far this is sounding pretty promising...another important question...

You say 96-98 Sidekick third members are a direct bolt-in...I'm a little confused right now because the Detroit Locker I have in my 97 Kick was originally installed in a 1993 Kick...but it bolted right into my 1997 no problems...so what does this mean? Is it going to bolt into the Vitara or not???

i believe the sidegears are different pre 96, something to do with the spline count on the axles if i recall correctly...  otherwise bolt on.  my best suggestion is search around the site as i cannot recall the specific details right now..

That doesn't make sense though. The locked third in my truck is from a 1993 and mine is 1997. So according to this information, I shouldn't have been able to install that locker. But it's in, and it has been in since March 08. Now I am REALLY curious as to whether it will work in a 1999-2001 Vitara.