Hello from Bridgwater!

[LantzVantz]

Hi Everyone, Ive been browsing the site for a month or two now so have decided to air a post to say Hello and tell you a little bit about my SJ.

She’s a Suzuki SJ 413, previously a fastback; She wears some MTs and some big shackles but thats about it in terms of mods.

Im unaware of her actual specification, she had been fettled with before she came into my possession, around 21 months ago. Up until recently, I have only maintained her (on the cheap!) doing welding for a previous MOT and replacing the clutch disc friction material and cleaning up the brake calliper pistons etc.

Ive had her off the road for just under a year now, the engine was about to go bang so I pulled her off the road and ceased to use as a daily runner to college. I have been tinkering with her as and when Ive had the time; it’s been a slow moving project but also requiring minimal funds!
She is now a 1600, running with the original inlet and exhaust manifolds; I used an adapter plate with a thickness of 12mm, bought from a well known bidding site, the only problem I have with this is that it moves the engine forward by 12mm and now an electric fan is a must!
Ive fitted an add-a-leaf spring kit and a fibreglass roof and rear section since being off the road, Ive also put in an electric fuel pump, as the Vit lump was single point Injection.

During her time sat dreaming of the plain, she started to revert back to original state of iron ore and required the body being lifted to repair the floor above the rear set of 4 body mounts and crossmember, thankfully the extent of work needed wasn’t all that bad after being stood up for so long.

As she stands, all that’s left to do is:
Radiator, Mounts and fit hoses
Starter Motor solenoid for QH frs590 skinny starter
Water pump pulley from vitara, and non p/s belt
RESPRAY! Any ideas/suggestions warmly welcomed - thinking military
For future: Bodylift, SPOA or coils, maybe even shorten rear to centre of rear arch with fibreglass fastback, and diesal power!!

Thanks for taking a peek guys!

[turbo-tom]

Welcome looks like you got yourself a tidy sj! looks like you got a fair bit planed! if you go diesel power please dont go the vw diesel engine!

[LantzVantz]

Thank You,Tom! Ohh No No No No No.. Im thinking the 1.5 pug 106 lump, modded, but nothing too crazy..that'll make it expensive! Do you know of anyone doing/done this convo with the LDV box? Ive not really looked into it as yet, its a long way off!

[turbo-tom]

good man the vw diesels are gutless! pug all the way! i know the gearbox needs new mounts in a bit of buching of the tunnel aswell ,Also a LDV Pilot gear box. uses a hydralic clutch, so you will need to rig all that up if you do go down the hydralic root. Plenty info about it mate just need to find it and its hard on my mobile phone at the moment.

[dan_2k_uk]

looks a nice tidy little truck.

Bin those shackles and run it with just the add a leaf. They will kill the springs in no time and do nothing for performance or handling. It looks like there was space for the tyres in the first pic without them fitted.

Would have thought there would be space for the fan even with the extra 12mm. Is the rad pulled all the way forwards on its brackets?

[LantzVantz]

Awesome Tom, Id be keen to get some info, or any links to info that you know/may have?

Thanks mate, yeah I know, the shackles are 8.5" between centres!! It came with them on but Im hoping a Phantom_Worx will make me a set of drop link shackles once he's perfected his designs!
Im using the 1600 rad, which is a tight fit between the passenger side chassis leg and the steering box, so I have to make up some suitable mounts to fit. I will (try) upload a pic of the engine bay with the rad in place so that you can see the issue I would have if I ran original fan.
Cheerz

[dan_2k_uk]

I am running an original fan with the vitara radiator so I know how tight it is but its was more tight side to side than it was front to back when I fitted mine. There are some variations in the radiators too so maybe yours is thicker or mounts differently.

[Jordi]

Welcome to the club. I just bodged my vit rad in with viacous fan. When i fit the new front clip i'm gonna make new brackets to bolt it to the slam panel at the top.

[turbo-tom]

I have bolted my top brackets in the slam panel as well.

There is this ive found although its the vw engine

http://www.tomsebooks.com/DieselSamurai.htm

or there is difflock link ( ill let you decide about what you think of that forum )

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?p=226819#226819

[twiss]

Hi and belated welcome to the club!
That SJ looks quite familiar... not so much the mods on it, but the reg plate definitely rings a bell