Newbie from Bristol.

[Beardy89]

Also where is the best online shop for buying bits for SJ's?

Ebay doesn't seem to be that full of spares and suspensions parts etc.

[RickUK]

Just get yourself a good old Vitara LWB and enjoy it it,trouble free and dirt cheap to run,all these folks that suggest a SJ are totally wrong,while the others are repairing them and welding them all up i am enjoying myself driving it around

[ScottieJ]

Just get yourself a good old Vitara LWB and enjoy it it,trouble free and dirt cheap to run,all these folks that suggest a SJ are totally wrong,while the others are repairing them and welding them all up i am enjoying myself driving it around

I drive my SJ daily and it rarely has issues. I've done over 900miles of on and off road driving in the last 2 weeks hassle free.

kermes on here managed to break a front driveshaft at MGW driving over a few wood sleepers

[ScottieJ]

Also where is the best online shop for buying bits for SJ's?

Ebay doesn't seem to be that full of spares and suspensions parts etc.

Llama 4x4 sells good springs, rockwatt eng/R.A.M. auto design makes a few custom parts including rocklobster transfer boxes and guards etc.

A simple sj with 31" tyres, 2" of lift (in the springs don't waste your time with longer shackles) and a rocklobster transferbox to drop the gearing will go anywhere a land rover on 33s will.

SPOA is one of those old mods that is an easy way to add too much lift problem is 90% of the SPOA conversions around are done really badly and destroy the handling. To do an SPOA conversion it's cheap and easy.....to do one well that you can still drive down a country road at 50+mph is expensive!

Have a read through some build threads and the stickied threads for some ideas and inspiration.

There's no 'right way' to build an SJ but there are plenty of mods out there that then need additional mods to then make them work well and be reliable, the cost can soon spiral more than you expect.

Keep it simple and low and you'll have the most fun.

You are welcome to come over and have a drive in my SJ if you want

[Beardy89]

Cheers Scottie, that's some spot on advice!!

I think ill keep my eyes out for a tidy rust free standard SJ and mod it my self to my taste and the good advice on here, at least that way I know what standard the workmanship is!

I might take you up on the Drive of your SJ if I don't get one soon enough!

[wikusvandemerwe]

Agree with the lads in the direction to go but personally I'd budget for installing a diesel lump...

Oh and also I had a mate with a little SWB vit which was pretty darn impressive in stock format + muddies!

[Jordi]

I've recently bought a load of stuff from lowrangeoffroad in the US. Even after shipping and import duty the prices are fair.

Llama 4x4 do some good stuff.

Had a few things off Rockwatt too.

[ScottieJ]

I'm not a fan of derv conversions, the only benefit is how waterproof they are but if you go deep enough to need one the engine is the least of your worries.

Problem is the lighter ones aren't very powerful and the ones with power are twice as heavy as a vitara engine.

It's personal preference but I haven't driven a derv conversion that I would fit myself yet.