Hey all I'm new here, but not new to cars at all, I'm working on my BS in automotive technology at SIUC.  Anyway, I picked up this little beauty for $250 |removethispart|@ auction

(Scroll down for pics)

So far I haven't done much but get it a little more road worthy.
I put in a timing belt
new battery
tune up
Aluminum interior doorhandles
Shifter fix
A nissan altima radio
Spare tire/wheel
And thats about it so far, anyway here is what I am thinking,  after busting my rear driveshaft when playing I decided its time to make it a little more trail/mud ready.

I can probably pick up a 16v 1.6 tracker/sidekick from auction for under $500.  My plans are this

1.6 16v swap approx $750( i can do the wiring myself)
Rear locker $150
maybe a simple SPOA. $200-300
Some used jeep wheels with a decent set of tires.$200-300

If needed I'd prob just go with a scoop or something on the hood if clearance is a problem, I'm not a big fan of body lifts, People with big trucks and big body lifts look stupid if you ask me, If I can see a gap between your frame and body, then you wasted some money.

Is there anything else I may be missing that would be the weak link?

thanks in advance for the advice

Also If anyone in southern illinois/kentucky/Saint Louis area has a good windshield frame I sure could use one, mines rusting around the wiper motors and the drivers side motor(unless its a linkage problem) has failed

I'd like to really see your images, but I can't.

When you created your post, it looks like you copied and pasted the trunkated version of your links:

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/vb...etimage&id=4093

with the ... in them. We need the full links before we can go anywhere.



Welcome!

Thanks, fixing it now

I'd say your plan sounds solid ...

Of course your also going to have possible expenses like shocks, driveline spacers, bumpstop spacers, brake line extensions, etc. Small stuff, but can add up.

As to body lifts ... I hear what you're saying, but 1-2 bodylift isn't extreme, and can be useful to get bigger tires (which in turn gets you added ground clearance).

I would add you may want to try to find some YJ springs to add as a part of the SPOA (2" of so more lift). I've seen some sami's running those and they perform very well.

Some other items to consider (budget aside) ...
Front locker - it's worthwhile and you won't regret it.
Winch - good to have so you can recover jeeps.
Bumpers/Armor - fab up what you need

I was thinking, maybe a 1" body lift, but thats only if I have to, I'm not gonna be running anything over a 31" tire

Thanks for the advice on the yj springs, i'll look into that.

As for the front locker and winch, I'm planning on getting to that later on after I finish this round, and save up some more $.

I was thinking of fabbing up some kind of bracket for the the front with a 2" receiver hitch and a 2" receiver on the back.  Then running the necessary wiring, and mount the winch on a bracket that mounts to the hitch, either front or rear.


Also, I have been doing some reading here on the boards and found that rocky road outiftters isn't the peoples first choice for anything, any advice on where to find a good SPOA kit, I'm not much for fabbing up stuff if I can get it in the kit,  I still dont have a good welder or plasma cutter(but I will within the next couple years)

any of the manufactures on the front page will. as for the 1.6 swap yes it would be nice but not needed with 31" tires. save ur money and get another locker, powersteering, and a 4:1 lowrange. assuming u can find some of that used. sammi t-cases reduce 2 hi 1.49:1 as u reduce ur low range ratio u reduce ur high range also. so with the 4:1 u shouldn't have a problem turnning those 31" tires. just my 2 cents.

Well if you don't have a good welder or plasma cutter, you're pretty much limited to bolt-on mods or having someone else do the work. If you're able to do the welding and such yourself, you can do so much more for a lot less $$$.

One simple thing you can do to increase your clearance for cheap is remove the stock bumpers front and rear, relocate your brake/marker lights into the tailgate and grille(I have seen several people use those pop-in style truck lights flush mounted right in the tailgate, looks great) and move your license plate up and remove the factory hitch loop. This will increase your tire clearance as well as drastically increasing your approach/departure angles without any heavy welding at all...

Also, keep you eyes open at auctions and even on ebay for good deals as they do come along once in a while. If you have the room for storage of part-out rigs, you can stock up on cheap zukis from the auction, take the best parts for your rig and sell off the rest to make your moeny back for more mods. I have come across so many good deals on these little trucks since I started modifying mine that I could have started my own salvage yard by now and made back more $$$ than I invested. Only problem is that I rent and don't have anywhere to store the trucks while I part them...

I am not a real big fan of body lift's, however I have a one inch body lift and it is not bad.  Helped clear 30' tires.

For about 50 bucks, change out the front seats.  I put in Neon seats from the junk yard.  It was the best 50 bucks I spent for my tin top.

Didn't even think about the seats, I forgot I have a couple sets of altima seats and a set of sunfire seats that would work great.  As for having somewhere to part out, I have that covered, once I finish up with my spring classes next month I'll be at the auction every weekend, I usually buy up older altimas and part them out, but I don't drive one anymore, so I think I just may turn most of my attention on suzuki's and trackers.

Thanks for all the advice so far guys

If you do decide to do the 1.6 before you do your lift you will have to get a conversion for your oil pan or a 1" body lift. The won't clear a sammi in stock trim.

Where do I find a 1" body lift?

...

If needed I'd prob just go with a scoop or something on the hood if clearance is a problem, I'm not a big fan of body lifts, People with big trucks and big body lifts look stupid if you ask me, If I can see a gap between your frame and body, then you wasted some money.

...

If you put a V8 in a Sidekick and make it a 'big truck', you NEED a 3 inch body lift to get the tranny to clear the tunnel/firewall.

~Nate.

A one inch body lift can probably be accomplished by buying some OEM Jeep body bushings and stacking them on top of the stock bushings.

RR sells a 1" Body Lift for $99.