What to do?

stuartajames · 10-06-2009, 07:37 AM

Hello forums! This is the end of year into me owning my Suzuki Sierra SJ40, with a F10A 0.97L, I was just looking for some ideas on what to do to it to make it a Western Australian beach driving dream.

My first question is where do you find the year on these things?!? The closest thing I have found to a year is 12/81 engraved into one of its plates, does that make it a 81 SJ40?
Wheels and suspension. My brother, (FJ40 nut), had some spare 31” so we tried them on. We had to go to work on the front wheel arches and bumper a bit, but 30 mins later with a hammer, angle grinder and welder, (to stick the bumper back on

), it could drive again. Now the only rubbing it get is at full lock, and very minimal. As it is now with 2 guys jumping on it, the clearance is all good. I was wondering, for mainly beach and road driving do I need to give it a lift and/or bigger tyres?
Engine, when I bought it, it was hopeless. I did my first complete rebuild sticking new bits where needed, (pistons and rings, cams and re-sleeved the barrels). Right now I’m happy with the power, for a 970cc it goes amazing. I was wondering if it’s worth getting a 1.3L for it or not bothering with a small jump and go even bigger, and how much work is needed for the upgrade?
Seats, I HATE the current ones.
Steering wheels, a small one would be nice.
I know that there isn’t much to these things, but apart from the roof and the doors, is there anything I can take off for a bit less weight? Just to make driving on the sand a bit easier. And the take off from the lights...

Any help would be AWESOME! even directions to other threads, (I’m slowly checking them out page my page).
Cheers

Rhinoman · 10-06-2009, 02:38 PM

You should be able to determine the year from the VIN, unless its a very early 410 then its not likely to be an '81, does it have front drum brakes or discs?
Fitting a 1.3 requires pretty much the same work as fitting a 1.6, the 1ltr responds well to a 1.5" carb conversion, an SU from a 1ltr Mini is the carb of choice over here.

stuartajames · 10-06-2009, 11:38 PM

I honstly cant read the VIN... But it does have drums all round.

I might look at a new carb, i've had a few Ford Escorts and love the howl of webbers, and there are a few kits arround for them.

Thanks Rhinoman.

whincup · 10-10-2009, 08:56 PM

for beach driving DO NOT USE MUD TIRES! they just dig in... honestly the best tires for sand are actually regular old road tires with the pressures lowered...
i dont know what your car is like, but mines a '94 sierra with a 1.3L, and its about 950kg so it floats over the top of the sand for the most part, so you shouldnt need to try to lower the weight...

Rhinoman · 10-11-2009, 06:18 AM

If its drums all round then it is most likely a 1981, they went to disc front brakes around 1982 in most markets. If you're doing a lot of driving on sand then you should look into fitting the later front axle with the discs, sand gets into the drums and soon grinds the shoes away. You won't get a Weber for a 410 engine because you have a sidedraught carb and the Weber is a downdraught carb.
Does your distributor have a mechanical advance, a vacuum advance or both?
Cheers
James

stuartajames · 10-12-2009, 02:12 AM

Cheers for the year, and i might look into disks and a new axle. The dizzys got a mechanical advance, no vacume.
Is there no way i can make/stick on a L attachment to make it a downdraught carb? it looks like there is enough space for one, and a small filter.

Cheers
Stuart

stuartajames · 10-12-2009, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whincup

i dont know what your car is like, but mines a '94 sierra with a 1.3L, and its about 950kg

I havn't weighed mine yet, but is there a site with all the weights of the cars stock? I would really like to know

Cheers
Stuart

Rhinoman · 10-12-2009, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartajames

Cheers for the year, and i might look into disks and a new axle. The dizzys got a mechanical advance, no vacume.
Is there no way i can make/stick on a L attachment to make it a downdraught carb? it looks like there is enough space for one, and a small filter.

Cheers
Stuart

You could use an adapter but you might find that the Weber is too big for the 1ltr engine.

grats · 10-13-2009, 02:05 PM

My Canadian 1982 sj410 has drums all around,
disc didn't hit the market till '85 with the 1.3 ltr.

Rhinoman · 10-13-2009, 02:22 PM

My 1984 SJ410 has discs, it also has the early 'skinny' props and the earlier lower chassis.