IllestVillains' 1993 'suzuki sidekick' build - "BOOST IS BETTER!!"

IllestVillains · 10-01-2009, 01:07 AM

Finally got around to picking up a sidekick this year. I've wanted one as a winter daily for a while now, but have always waited out too long into the snow starting to fly and all the clean ones get scooped up.

As much as I would have liked to import a Jimny, or even pick up a clean Samurai locally... the heating/insulation just isn't ideal for Canadian winters (-45 degrees C with windchill.... I feel like dying in a heated house, let alone ripping down the highway in a tin can -________-)

Purchased as a bone stock 1993 geo tracker - 170xxx OG km's, 5 speed manual, base model removable hard top, no options, just the way I wanted.

As soon as I got it, I started tearing into it and getting things going.

Plans are to go for a japanese kei car look, with functional 4x4 intentions, as well as boosting it on a CT9 turbine off of a 4E-FTE equipped JDM toyota starlet.

Probably not everyone's taste, but such as life.

Onto some pics of the progress so far...

Immediately after picking it up... Slapped on a hood bra, and hood mounted mirrors.

Minty fresh

Threw in some intec yellow bulbs

Kenwood DDX514 double-din DVD deck, All-black 330mm deep-corn wheel. leather baseball-stitched shift knob, over-sized broadway mirror, squash air freshener

Interior strip-down for cleaning/seat swap

old

NEW

IllestVillains · 10-01-2009, 01:07 AM

Then off came the grill/bumper skin

Sprayed the rear swing-door in bed-liner...

Cleaned up the spare tire mount with bead-blasting and some fresh paint, and then picked up a new spare...

Cleaned up the rebar/supports, removed OEM vinyl decals and mounted up some fogs...

Ran to pick up some gear oil and look who happened to be in the parking lot, haha... stock vs. so-far

And as it sits this evening...

Next in line will be building a manifold, as well as picking up some volk TE-37's, deciding on some rubber, and then throwing on a Rock-Steady 4.5" lift. We'll see where it goes from there. This is just my winter daily, so it is in all reality, a budget build.

And for those curious, the summer unit...

Self-built, JDM rev3 SW20 MR2

Enjoy.

CodyJ · 10-01-2009, 03:34 AM

I preferred the red seats... see no reason in the mirrors...or yellow lights...

Just does not seem to be my tastes. I would add a cup-holder unit, and a few other things to the interior. If you like it so far, keep it up.

My idea would be real white lights, 1.5" lift, mild snow tires, and a few other things...(I need newer pictures of my white one). A spot light would be a good addon if you are in the snow. Don't take this as a bash but we have different tastes apparently.

deeznutts77 · 10-01-2009, 06:05 AM

make ppl look, thats why i did mine this way. its also good 2 c ppl smile when i go by 2

jed · 10-01-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodyJ

I preferred the red seats... see no reason in the mirrors...or yellow lights...

Just does not seem to be my tastes. I would add a cup-holder unit, and a few other things to the interior. If you like it so far, keep it up.

My idea would be real white lights, 1.5" lift, mild snow tires, and a few other things...(I need newer pictures of my white one). A spot light would be a good addon if you are in the snow. Don't take this as a bash but we have different tastes apparently.

I bet you wear tighty-whitey's, Cody!

IllestVillains · 10-01-2009, 02:57 PM

I'm looking at picking up some Goodyear Wranglers (I've heard good things about them for the price, and they have a winter rating as well which is what I'm on the market for, and road noise is apparently pretty low, as well as the fact that they are studdable) to wrap the TE's. Looking into 33's if I go with the 4.5" lift (Namely because the price is right for the bang for your buck), or some 31's if I go a bit milder.

The red seats look really ricey to me, and they have terrible support. I'm used to being snug in a fixed bucket Bride seat, so I like my bolster. These also offer more back support... I was hit by a car (as a pedestrian) last summer, and drive to and from Edmonton -> Vancouver (1200kms) on the regular... so that was what I was most concerned with. I also like them aesthetically a lot more. I like the old jazz-style prints a la subaru, and the rear seats are also individually foldable, allowing for 3 passengers + storage with one flipped up, rather than the red's which were a single solid fixed bench in the rear. Not too mention I picked up the full MINT set for $100 at the local pick n' pull wrecker.

The mirrors are just for added ease of view, and I also enjoy the look of them aesthetically too. Especially when you're used to ripping around in small, boosted sports cars... even the size/height visibility differences are obvious. Just gives that much more visibility, with the quircky kei-car inspired look I'm going for.

A spot light is definitely going to be making an appearance as well. So will some larger daylighters. The current quad-yellows are more for driving lights/mild lower-ground illumination for trails. I had them kicking around, and I also really like the look of them.

The yellow intec bulbs have a much better output than factory. I also find yellow to be much easier on the eyes in highly reflective situations such as heavy snow. Not too mention, again, I really like the look of them, and can get them at a very discounted cost through a local tuning shop my buddy owns. They move like hotcakes, and everyone seems to take notice when night driving since.

All in all, I've only owned the vehicle for a week now, so I'm really just piecing it all together, and just scratching the surface and exploring my options. I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far, and have barely cracked opened my wallet.

I don't take any offense what so ever to your comments, though. Like I said, I know it won't be some (most) people's tastes locally... so none taken. I appreciate the comments. Thanks guys

ecoast · 10-01-2009, 02:58 PM

I'm torn between:

That's a real clean one.

and:

That poor car!

To each his own; no doubt.

IllestVillains · 10-01-2009, 03:06 PM

Also picked up some Bronze wheel paint to throw a fresh coat on these to clean them up until I fully decide on a new tire, and wait for the shipping of the new wheels.

I still have a month+ before we see any real snow, so I have some time. Not too mention, I don't see these Michelin's being too big of a concern for basic commuting in the snow for a week or 2 if necessary.

IllestVillains · 10-05-2009, 05:32 PM

Just flushed front/rear diffs, T-case, and tranny today... had some notchy shifting and somee hear resistence... shifts like butter now.

MT90 gallore... although try to spot the "where's waldo" in the picture for what the guy accidentally grabbed from the back of Part Source... had to make a trip back to exchange.

Starter decided to go downtown on Saturday night. Came back to the parking lot to drive some friends home from the bar and no start. Push starting at 2 AM during last call always gains some attention, haha.

Picking up some 3" intake piping and a reduction coupler/t-clamps, and grabbed a cone filter to cap it with.

Picking up some PIAA fogs to replace the center driving fogs, and fabbing up a tubular spare-tire-mounted step ladder (unless someone knows where these are available online?) as well as a tubular roof basket to increase some cargo capacity.

Talked to Jess at Turbine Tech and had my estimate sent fot exhaust mani. Will be sending my turbo/downpipe out once I get back from Vancouver at the end of the month. Looking forward to take this thing for it's first real (1200+km one-way) drive. Heading out Friday at 6pm, and just getting all the general maintenance done before then, as with any used vehicle.

maximus_pr · 10-05-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllestVillains

boosting it on a CT9 turbine off of a 4E-FTE equipped JDM toyota starlet.

you can also check the t-25 that comes witht the japanese version of the 240sx the Silvia, also comes on US version on the 1990 and up 300zx twin turbo,reason is the spool pretty fast with a very decent output and can be rebuilt for pennies.

Most people take the off when the import the engines can be found on ebay for less than $100 the T-28 is basically same size but uses ball bearings instead of brass bushings.

Forgot to mention both the T-25 and T-28 are Garrets so you know they are good.