I am new to the Zuk & Tracker worlds. My dad came across an old Samurai in a trade one day and just started playing with it. He put some oversized tires on it and such... and we soon realized this thing would go newhere!!! I was amazed. Til this point, I had never imagined a person could modify these zuk's and geo's to go the places they go.

So... now 6 months or so later... I bought my own project. His samurai is 100% stock other than the oversized tires. He didn't put a lift kit or anything on it... it is just thrown together and used on the farm. I want to make mine a daily driver/weekend retreat kinda toy so it needs to be done right. I know I want at least 31" tires on it... and I know I want some sorta suspension lift. (We ran into clearance issues on some of our trails while in the zuk.)

I have discovered Calmini is one of the top brands to go with... and I was actually leaning towards the 3" suspension lift they make ($859). Is this my best bang for the buck buy? Should I take another route to get the 31's under my tracker and gain that extra clearance? I plan to do other misc. engine mods to help offset the acceleration difference... so hopefully there isn't an overly dramatic change. I am on a budget... and would be paying nearly as much for the suspension/tires as I did for the tracker, this isn't gonna be an easy sell to the wife.

What route should I take?

THANKS!!!

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dustyz

2" body lift and 1 1/2 coil spacers should get you there.

YEA.. what he said    And for under $200 US to boot.

That's what I ran on my Silver tracker, just a 2" body lift I made myself and 1-1/2" coil spacers that I also made myself(and sell in the garage sale forum ) and I had 31" swampers on it with no trimming and only a slight little bit of floor pounding(I had to pound over the pinch weld at the back edge of the front wheel well/floorboard area). I ran 91 crown vic rear shocks and flipped the upper strut mount, as well as removed the swaybar(I never even missed it). You could easily do this style of lift for under $100, even counting the cost of the shocks($13 eack at Advance).

2" body lift and 1 1/2 coil spacers should get you there.

i agree. the only disadvantage to not going with the 3" suspension lift is ground clearance. i run 31's and ride with jeeps on 35's and usually end up pulling them out. with the money u save on the lift get gears or a lok-rite. a locker will make up for the tire size u lack.

31's will only get you so much ground clearance not matter what form of lift you use to fit them. What I'm saying is that a 2" body lift with coil spacers will have the same diff height from the ground as the 3" suspension lift when both are running the same tires...

Thanks for the great news!!! $200 is nothing... now I can afford some of those performance mods!

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dustyz

2" body lift and 1 1/2 coil spacers should get you there.

first pardon for my poor English .

I do not agree that 2" body-lift with some spacers under the coil springs are enough to install 31" tires. maybe to install them - but not to drive this way .

first of all 31" tires on the original rim (without off-set ) will touch the body when You turn the steering wheel max to one of it's sides (You can fix it by limit  the wheel cycle  too - but off-set rim is the best and the rigth solution for it ) .

2nd - I don't know the English word for it - but if You put only spacers onder the coils You damage the distance  that the axle is able to open . it is more vital in the rear .  
I advice to change in the rear for shocks that max open 53cm (original is around 47cm)  and in the front to add spacers under the struts .

92 Geo Tracker is the same as Sidekick 92 ?  if so it has (the injection model ) 80HP and 3 gears in the automatic model (if You don't have manual gears ) - this configuration is not ideal for 31" , You will feel that the car is carriage without a horse  .
if You have automatic  gear You can swap the RING & PINION GEARS in both front and back differentials with manual gear car from a junk-yard(I'm talking about the short model 3 doors only.  manual model 92 sidekick 3 doors pinion - corona/ring is 1:5.125 and auto is 1:4.62  ) or to buy from calmini http://www.puresuzuki.com/Ring%20&%20Pinion.htm .
and one more important  issue - without changing the lower RING & PINION  as I adviced You will harm the rock-crawling ability of Your car - I mean first gear in LOW will not be short enough .

so my advice if You want 31" tires - the cheapest solution is :
4 spacers under coils .
2 spacers under struts
2 new longer rear shocks (the rear shocks are much cheaper then the struts - and they are standard)
some body lift .


Sincerely
HitRick

I do plan to use offset rims... something that gives it a little characteristic.

It is an automatic... so I will prolly need to swap the gears. How will this effect my gas mileage? I know the oversized tires will help, but I am satisfied the gears will hurt me more.

I don't plan to rock climb or anything. Basically, I want something I can run around our farm with... maybe make a few trails thru the creek beds... and not have to worry about getting stuck. Plus, since modifying a tracker in our area is absolutely unheard of, I want something a bit stylish.

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dustyz

Quote from: adamd on September 09, 2005, 10:13:50 AM

2" body lift and 1 1/2 coil spacers should get you there.

first pardon for my poor English .

I do not agree that 2" body-lift with some spacers under the coil springs are enough to install 31" tires. maybe to install them - but not to drive this way .

first of all 31" tires on the original rim (without off-set ) will touch the body when You turn the steering wheel max to one of it's sides (You can fix it by limit  the wheel cycle  too - but off-set rim is the best and the rigth solution for it ) .

2nd - I don't know the English word for it - but if You put only spacers onder the coils You damage the distance  that the axle is able to open . it is more vital in the rear .  
I advice to change in the rear for shocks that max open 53cm (original is around 47cm)  and in the front to add spacers under the struts .

92 Geo Tracker is the same as Sidekick 92 ?  if so it has (the injection model ) 80HP and 3 gears in the automatic model (if You don't have manual gears ) - this configuration is not ideal for 31" , You will feel that the car is carriage without a horse  .
if You have automatic  gear You can swap the RING & PINION GEARS in both front and back differentials with manual gear car from a junk-yard(I'm talking about the short model 3 doors only.  manual model 92 sidekick 3 doors pinion - corona/ring is 1:5.125 and auto is 1:4.62  ) or to buy from calmini http://www.puresuzuki.com/Ring%20&%20Pinion.htm .
and one more important  issue - without changing the lower RING & PINION  as I adviced You will harm the rock-crawling ability of Your car - I mean first gear in LOW will not be short enough .

so my advice if You want 31" tires - the cheapest solution is :
4 spacers under coils .
2 spacers under struts
2 new longer rear shocks (the rear shocks are much cheaper then the struts - and they are standard)
some body lift .


Sincerely
HitRick

He's right about the rims. You can't fit 31's on the stock rims very well. You'd want 15x7" or 15x8" rims with around 3.75" of backspacing(5 on 5.5" bolt pattern). The front strut mount flip takes care of the front suspension when you add the 1-1/2" spacers and the longer rear shocks from the crown vic take care of the rear with the 1-1/2" spacers. 31's do sap the engine power a little, but not too badly. I live in the mountains and drive a 93 5spd with 33's and no reduction, just stock gears and it still runs pretty good. I also have a header, 2-1/4" exhaust and a K&N airfilter.

Since your truck is an auto, then the front and rear thirds from a 5 speed will give you better power and will bolt right in. I recently did a comparison in mileage between 215's and 33's on the same truck. The difference was only 2 mpg, so I am sticking with the 33's...

I do plan to use offset rims... something that gives it a little characteristic.

It is an automatic... so I will prolly need to swap the gears. How will this effect my gas mileage? I know the oversized tires will help, but I am satisfied the gears will hurt me more.

I don't plan to rock climb or anything. Basically, I want something I can run around our farm with... maybe make a few trails thru the creek beds... and not have to worry about getting stuck. Plus, since modifying a tracker in our area is absolutely unheard of, I want something a bit stylish.

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dustyz

dusty,

spring spacers
2" BL
a little trimming
the tires will fit

to get good flex (and mostly droop), you need to get longer shocks for the rear), and some how "space the front strut. You can flip the front strut mount (adds about 1.5" of extra droop to the strut to make up for the spacer lift).

Also, you *will* want to swap the gears in your diffs from the 4.62's to the 5.12's from a manual. While your doing it, add a locker to the rear.

that's essentially what I've got into this (except I also locked the front too)

Alrighty... here is my plan...

2" BL kit
1.5" spacers (who do you all recommend I get the BL and spacers from?)
Flip strut mount
Offset 15x8 rims w/31's
Longer shocks in rear

Now, what kinda oversized shocks do I need? What kinda vehicles can I pull a longer set off of? I wonder if my 94 camaro shocks will work? Hmmm...

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dustyz

 You can flip the front strut mount (adds about 1.5" of extra droop to the strut to make up for the spacer lift).

The strut mount is only about 1" thick and the mounting is offset so you only get about 3/4" extra droop.

Welcome to Zukiworld! Check this link out.  I know you have a 2 door, but this very educational, especially if you want to do it your self.

Lifting a 4 Door Track/Kick On A Budget   

http://www.zuwharrie.com/content/view/11/27/

Jeff

The cheapest place I know of to get the coil spacers is from me. I make them and sell them. I don't make body lifts, though. Check out my sale post in the garage sale forum for info about the coil spacers. For longer shocks, I like the ones off of a 91 crown vic. they are 1-1/2" longer than stock and mount the same way. They are only $13 each at Advance Auto Parts, too.

For rims, check around local junkyards. Several people on here have scored 15x7" and 15x8" wagon wheels from 80's F-150's and full sized Broncos for around $50 a set or even less. Once cleaned up and painted, they look fine and work perfectly. Just make sure they have the large center hole to clear the hubs, some Ford rims didn't...