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Which 4x4 for my sons' project?

 
 
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540iv8
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Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:53 pm    Post subject: Which 4x4 for my sons' project? Reply with quote

I've just agreed to buy a small 4x4 for my sons (13&14) to work on a as a project and cut their teeth in the garage / workshop. I had thought an SJ but until I started looking I didn't realise how hard it would be to buy a cheap one.

Really wanting live front axle and leafs to keep things easy for them, so can anyone recommend anything else which I could consider.

I have seen some references to Sportrak/Fourtrak with front leaf springs but can seem to find any parts or a vehicle to confirm this. Landy's are probably too big and expensive.

Thanks in advance, Steve
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ScottieJ
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can still pick up Sjs for a few hundred quid, but they usually need loads of welding and as it's a project for the kids it would be a good vehicle to learn on.

how much do you ideally want to spend and where in the country are you?
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540iv8
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Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

£4-500 would be great, but ideally need something with an MOT so I can get it home. The longer the better cos I'd use it as a second car too.

Then happy to spend a couple more hundred getting it through next MOT and a bit every month modding it.

They want suspension lift, body lift, truggy styling, big wheels, etc, but I'd need to try and keep it road legal.

I'm in Chelmsford, Essex and trying to find something that's not heavily modded already. Originally from Grimsby and still have family there, so will travel.
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RichardD
Marshall


Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Odometer: 22856
Location: State of Confusion



PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My immediate reaction was SJ but a sportrak or similar would be just as good.

Anything for a few 100 is fine, it's not for on road use so just getting their hands dirty is a start.

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Poking the Grim Reaper with a stick then running away. The devil made me do it but God said it was okay with him.
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jeepjeep
Just got MTs


Joined: 29 Dec 2009
Odometer: 101




PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

vitara could be a cheap option

Cheap but Possibly too big
Hilux
Range rover classic
Jeep Cherokee
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mophead78
Just got MTs


Joined: 17 Mar 2012
Odometer: 212
Location: oxfordshire


1992 Daihatsu Fourtrak

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

older fourtraks 92 and earlier have leaf springs alround! not sure if you would for 4-500, maybe 5-800 though!! most of that age would need some welding doing to so would be good for learning!
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ferguson_tom
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Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Odometer: 49
Location: Potton, Beds



PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My brother still has his old vitara sitting in one of our yards, it failed its mot as body needed welding and few other bits and pieces. From what i remeber the chassis is solid and the engine and gearbox are very good. If interested pics are avaliable here:

http://forum.difflock.com/ads_item.php?id=17149

It has been sitting for a few months now as we havent done anything with it if your interested for the £500 i will deliver it chelmsford for you as well.
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w3526602
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Odometer: 10758
Location: Glynneath, South Wales



PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

Who says a Land Rover is big? A SWB Series has about the same floorpan as an Austin Maestro. OL, they are a bit taller.

Who says Land Rover parts are expensive? A lot of parts are still at 1960s prices. Complete exhaust system complete with gaskets, fasteners, clamps and straps for about £50. Brake master cylinders were about £15 when I last bought one.

Log onto www.series2Club.co.uk, register on the forum. No pressure to join the club, but they woul;d like you too. Lots of friendly, knowledgable advice. Even dirty hand assistance, usually in return for a cup of coffee. The club magazine even has a junior section.

By the time you have sorted tax and insurance, it will probably be cheaper paying to have the truck delivered. ALL Series 2 and 2A Landies are VED exempt, as are a few S3. You can't afford (I assume) a S1. Some S2 (pre-1960) will be MOT exempt from November this year, which might push the price up a bit.

Mind you, the price of complete vehicles is creeping up.

See you there

602

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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mophead78 wrote:
older fourtraks 92 and earlier have leaf springs alround! not sure if you would for 4-500, maybe 5-800 though!! most of that age would need some welding doing to so would be good for learning!


Thanks mophead78, I'll have a look around and see if I can find anything suitable, at least this will start increase my available choices.
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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ferguson_tom wrote:
My brother still has his old vitara sitting in one of our yards, it failed its mot as body needed welding and few other bits and pieces. From what i remeber the chassis is solid and the engine and gearbox are very good. If interested pics are avaliable here:

http://forum.difflock.com/ads_item.php?id=17149

It has been sitting for a few months now as we havent done anything with it if your interested for the £500 i will deliver it chelmsford for you as well.


A Vit certainly could be an option for styling and size, just worried about a more complex front end if the boys want to start messing about with it. I think I'll keep looking for something else for now though, cheers
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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

w3526602 wrote:
Hi,

Who says a Land Rover is big? A SWB Series has about the same floorpan as an Austin Maestro. OL, they are a bit taller.

Who says Land Rover parts are expensive? A lot of parts are still at 1960s prices. Complete exhaust system complete with gaskets, fasteners, clamps and straps for about £50. Brake master cylinders were about £15 when I last bought one.

Log onto www.series2Club.co.uk, register on the forum. No pressure to join the club, but they woul;d like you too. Lots of friendly, knowledgable advice. Even dirty hand assistance, usually in return for a cup of coffee. The club magazine even has a junior section.

By the time you have sorted tax and insurance, it will probably be cheaper paying to have the truck delivered. ALL Series 2 and 2A Landies are VED exempt, as are a few S3. You can't afford (I assume) a S1. Some S2 (pre-1960) will be MOT exempt from November this year, which might push the price up a bit.

Mind you, the price of complete vehicles is creeping up.

See you there

602


Size for size, I'm comparing to a SWB SJ and the Landy certainly seems longer, wider and taller, not to mention it'll be heavier and I want to boys to be lifting and shifting, not just watching me!

Cost wise, I have certainly not looked at anything that old, mainly because I want them to be able to "see the end" at all times so they don't lose interest. Something with just a little bit of non-essential welding and the odd part that needs changing. This will allow them to 'focus' on bits that they want to do rather than stuff that they have to do.

Personally, I'd love one, I grew up with Grandad running them about his brother's farm and my cousin has three. A full restoration would be a great project for me, but not for the lads. Cheers.

I'll take a look at the forum anyway and keep dreaming...
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vitaraknighty
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Joined: 12 Oct 2012
Odometer: 2
Location: bradford



PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:01 pm    Post subject: vitara Reply with quote

i reacon a vit sjs seem to always need a little bit too much work injection vitara prob a bit of welding to do brake pipes ect cheap as chips to pick up and plenty about
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Lincs niva
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Joined: 26 Sep 2012
Odometer: 22
Location: Lincolnshire


1995 Lada Niva

PostPosted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lada niva easy to work on and learn from parts are very cheap..

Cheers Gav

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ben_uk
Just got MTs


Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Odometer: 358
Location: Previously shropshire, now Melbourne Australia!



PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My vote would be for a vit. Wink

loads around and the parts are cheap. Also relatively easy to work on, and shouldnt need quite as much welding as an older sj.

I wouldnt be put off by the IFS (independent front suspension.

OK its not as simple or easy to work on as leaf springs. But its not rocket science and its the way most 4x4's are going these days.

Also fairly easy to lift, and can be done very cheaply using some of the excellent parts available from:-

http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/vitara-/-x90/cat_1.html

This was my build thread for a vit i had a few years ago. Cool

http://www.shropshire-suzuki.co.uk/forum/viewto...;hilit=+black+vit
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jeepjeep
Just got MTs


Joined: 29 Dec 2009
Odometer: 101




PostPosted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lincs niva wrote:
Lada niva easy to work on and learn from parts are very cheap..

Cheers Gav


rare?
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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks to everyone for all of the constructive replies.

Top of the shortlist has still got to be an SJ, but now much further up the list is a Vit.

They are both the size I'm looking for and I think I was getting too hung up on the IFS.

Budget's a bit higher for an SJ cos I still think there's more that can be done DIY, rather than with kits, but I'll take the first thing that comes up at the right price. Smile

Cheers, Steve
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minimog
Off-Road Guru


Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Odometer: 1700




PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldent rule out the vit the front is very simple and easy to work on its also got the best engine as most sj modders use the vit lump to improve the power and can be had for as little as £200 with mot get them to cut their teeth on the vit then sell it to fund the sj
Sj are good dont get me wrong but to lift the sj your going to have to find a lifted set of leafs the vit you can use standard coils of other cars to gain the lift quickly and cheeply

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WHAT YOUR ASKED WHEN YOU OWN A MOG
"why have you put a merc star on that"
UNIMOG MOTTO
"IF IT CARNT BE FIXED WITH A BIG HAMMER"
IT MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL FAULT"
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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

minimog wrote:
... use standard coils of other cars ...


I'd never even though of that, was thinking of spacer kits in turrets. I guess the vit's more DIY than I thought! And it's just moved up the preferences a bit, Very Happy

thanks
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RichardD
Marshall


Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Odometer: 22856
Location: State of Confusion



PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 10:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've heard od people swapping the IFS to live front axle from an SJ as well.
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Poking the Grim Reaper with a stick then running away. The devil made me do it but God said it was okay with him.
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Let Luce
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 11 Dec 2002
Odometer: 4018
Location: Derbyshire


1977 Land Rover 101

PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Series LRovers seem to be going really cheeply at the moment
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mophead78
Just got MTs


Joined: 17 Mar 2012
Odometer: 212
Location: oxfordshire


1992 Daihatsu Fourtrak

PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 1:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

not sure where you are bt a mate of mine has a older fourtrak for sale, in south oxfordshire PM me if you intrested
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greeley
Just got MTs


Joined: 01 Jul 2012
Odometer: 233
Location: lancs


1998 Ford Maverick

PostPosted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i have my ford maverick for sale if thats any good to you,its advertised on here.great little 4x4 Smile
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noodle247
Articulating


Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Odometer: 594
Location: southampton


1986 Daihatsu Fourtrak

PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have a good look at the swb leader fourtrak
Small. Solid reliable and cheep. Watch for the rust though.
Lots of scope for mods.


Here's one.
http://bit.ly/XnBR6V

Can be made gnarly.


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if it has tit's or wheels it will cause trouble.
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540iv8
Gate Opener


Joined: 16 Oct 2012
Odometer: 8



1999 Suzuki Vitara

PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well guys, thanks for all the help. Now the proud owner of a '99 soft-top Vit with no previous mods, virtually no rot and a 10 month MOT.

Where to start...
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scrunt
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Joined: 11 Jul 2012
Odometer: 985
Location: Tayside.



PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good choice.

I would go for good strong secure & safe recovery points front and rear,
and then get to a local club and see what it does as standard.
TYROS, or similar.

Then suitable off road tyres if needs be, then learn from safe drivers.
A proper roll cage sooner than later would be high on my list of priorities

george
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