Suggestions - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

blowns10 · #1 09-18-2009, 08:20 PM

I have been contemplating on purchasing a Suzuki sidekick or Geo tracker, what year is the best to purchase?...I know the 89-98 models have the most aftermarket support, based on my research I believe the best model is the 1994 Tracker LSi; if I am not mistaken it comes with the 1.6 liter 16 Valve engine, is a hardtop, and comes with the R-134 A/C system. I want to purchase a smaller vehicle for wheelin' but I don't know how to drive a manual transmission so an automatic is my only option!!. I would like a Samurai as mentioned I dont drive manual, and swapping the 1.6 and automatic isn't worth it....I prefer to purchase a cable vehicle that comes with what I'm looking for and the Sidekick seems to fit that criteria. I know i can fit up to a 32" tire with the calmini products 3+3 kit (suspension/body). They also have tons of parts available for it too....If you guys were in my situation what would you recommend I do?....I currently have a 1986 S10 Blazer two wheel drive which is fine but I want to purchase an economical 4x4since money is a bit tight. Thank you in advance for any help or info anyone may provide!!

ackerdackerly · #2 09-19-2009, 09:07 AM

Welcome to the Zukin' world of offroading!

Maybe it's just me getting old..

Maybe it's the fact that I have a son who sits around all day playing WOW instead of living the REAL life...

If I were you, I'd find someone with a manual transmission car and learn how to drive it!

When you decide early in life (and you sound like that is the case) that you "can't" do something, you start down a road to failure and disappointment - even if you have some sort of handicap that physically prevents you from doing many things. So ditch that "I can't drive a stickshift" attitude! You CAN Do It!

Back to the topic at hand:

Trackers and Sidekicks (trackers are just re-badged Sidekicks) are decent offroaders with the exception of their limitations in lifting. Yes, you can do a suspension lift of less than 2" on the cheap - but any more and you risk replacing your CV shafts in the front on a regular basis. Yes, you can do a body lift but, if done improperly, you can end up with the body attachment problems and a higher center of gravity that can affect your body lift. The point I am trying to make here is don't just stick some steel box tubing laying around between the body and the frame - research and do it right! If you are not a fabber, check out the many vendors who sell pre-engineered products. BTW, you won't find them here at ORC - they hang out at Zukin' forums like:

http.://www.zukikrawlers.com
http://.www.zuwharrie.com
and
ZUKIWORLD online | Your Suzuki 4x4 Authority - Editorial and Forum

Nowadays, Samurais are pretty scarce and expensive so a "TracKick" is a good choice. In order to get the most offroading fun out of your new ride, spend a lot of time lurking at the above sites reading the articles and posts so that you can get from "factory" to "offroading DD" with minimum problems!

To expedite your search for knowledge, go to Ack's FAQ (Ack's FAQ: Suzuki Sidekick and Geo Tracker 4X4 offroading information and start searching through the over 570 links to Zukin' information on the internet!

Begin with playing with the search page. A fun way to start is to click on the search button with no input to see all the links! Search selecting a category with no search strings to direct your search a particular topic/category. Finally, use specific search strings to start pinpointing your searches!

It's fun and free. It's also my pay-it-forward project that helps all the new folks like previous oldtimers helped me when I started out with my Samurai!

Cordially,

AkDale · #3 09-19-2009, 01:41 PM

What Ack said........
The word can't should punishable by law.....
Great site you have put together Ack.
I like My 91 Samurai, but, I am looking to install a TrackKick auto with a Toy tranny married to it Using a Sammy T-case. I seem to remember that someone had a write up on how to do it? Maybe this winter....

ackerdackerly · #4 09-19-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkDale

What Ack said........
The word can't should punishable by law.....
Great site you have put together Ack.
I like My 91 Samurai, but, I am looking to install a TrackKick auto with a Toy tranny married to it Using a Sammy T-case. I seem to remember that someone had a write up on how to do it? Maybe this winter....

If you find that writeup on the 'net, email it to me & I'll put it in the FAQ!

AkDale · #5 09-19-2009, 03:43 PM

I did not find the write up, but I did find the kit.
OTT Industries - the originals

AkDale · #6 09-19-2009, 04:09 PM

Just found the writeup----
I built a "kicker 3"/doubler/dual tcase setup

blowns10 · #7 09-20-2009, 12:16 AM

Hey just wanna say thanks to all who replied to my post. I have been searching the web for information on several different vehicles throughout the years, and have learned that if you look long enough you will most likely find what you are looking for. There is tons of great info on the links provided, I will review them in further detail for reference. I recall seeing the zuwharrie and zukiworld websites when I was researching the tracker/sidekick. Oh yeah, I know I won't find any vendors here, but thanks for the heads up!!, however, they used to have tons of good info which seems to have gotten lost over time....I also found tons of info for the S10 here too. It's currently stock, has a 2.8 V6 stroked to 3.1 bored over .020", Edelbrock T.E.S. headers, Flex a Lite Electric Fan, Dynomax exhaust, Carsound cat, Total Seal piston rings, Royal Purple oils, AFE air filter, K&N oil filter, Taylor spark plug wires, and a Supercharger (Yes it's emissions legal). Overall it's a fun little rig!!. Thanks again to all who replied!!.

ackerdackerly · #8 09-20-2009, 10:08 AM

Ackdale -

I put links to all of the "OTT kicker x" pages along with skyhiranger's forum thread in the FAQ. The link count is up to 587! Early on I was wondering if I would make it to 100...

Yankee Tim · #9 09-20-2009, 07:26 PM

to stir the pot...

I love autos in the rocks. Nothing like the infinate crawl ratio of a torque converter. As a good Zooker once said (Wildweasel), going to auto is like reducing pilot input in a fighter plane so the pilot can concentrate on the dogfight.

So, if you skip the 16V idea (actually, its not that big of a concern if you go deep on gearing) and find an 8V with the 3-spd auto, then you got the ability to step up cheaply from 4.62 R&P to 5.12, and re-gear for larger rubber. The 16V has a 4-spd, and comes 5.12 R&P, making re-gearing expensive for little gain.

You can also sport a Sammy axle in the front, with $240 chromo axles and 1.25" wheel spacers, in a SPUA configuration and 2" coil spacers in the rear, and solve the weak IFS for cheap and fit 30"s. I've seen it done recently and was quite impressed with the results.

BTW - welcome aboard the crazy train.