I just got my 92 Sidekick on the road, I want to do light to med trail driveing, crawling really no hard core here. It will also be a daily driver, so I dont want to go too nuts.
Mods I am think of are:

Bumpers, front and rear, custom with winch mounts.
nerf bars also custom, have a buddy who is a welder to do it up, and a local shop to powder coat them all.

2" suspension lift (want sugestions here, what works what is too cheap etc)
see some kits that are just springs, a set of rear shocks and extenders for the front struts.
are these ok?  I see prices of like 385$ etc that seems high but I am new to this.
wondering if I can just go to a spring shop and get a set made or use spacers and order the shocks and strut extenders for less than half that.
Then there are kits like the Calmini stuff, 'drool' but at 800$ etc that is likely all I will do is drool.

Maybe 1" body lift, as the guy next door said 'just hockey puck it' concerns are shift leavers being too short etc.

Tires, I will have to stay on the stock rims due to budget constraints, aka wife...
so I think I am limited to 235's here, again sugestions?
bfg trail tires?

Hubs, are the stock ones ok? one is dead now, hunting wreckers for a replacement.

again dont want to go hard core, but want to build a toy

Bumpers, front and rear, custom with winch mounts.
nerf bars also custom, have a buddy who is a welder to do it up, and a local shop to powder coat them all.

Sounds good ... I'm doing the same except the powdercoat. I'll just flatback them for easy touch when (not if) I bang them up.

2" suspension lift (want sugestions here, what works what is too cheap etc)
see some kits that are just springs, a set of rear shocks and extenders for the front struts.
are these ok?  I see prices of like 385$ etc that seems high but I am new to this.

I'd price out for OME springs front/rear, OME struts for the front, generic shocks for the rear. That should get you enough to clear 235's (or close to 30"). The OME stuff can be spendy (around $500), but the ride quality is second to none.

If you're not going todo OME stuff, do 2" spring spacers, a front strut flip, and generic shocks out rear. That's around $100(spacers)+$5(bolts)+$45(shocks). It'll still be decent on-road, and cheap.

Maybe 1" body lift, as the guy next door said 'just hockey puck it' concerns are shift leavers being too short etc.

I don't think you'll need a body lift since your tire choice seems to be <=30". You'd be better off doing some minor trimming (back of the front fender well and flattening a seam there too).

Tires, I will have to stay on the stock rims due to budget constraints, aka wife...
so I think I am limited to 235's here, again sugestions?
bfg trail tires?

15x8 and 15x7 rims are relatively cheap ($20 a set used if you hunt around). I'd suggest going with a 30"x9.50. A 235 will work on the stock rims, but get the 235's used if ya can tho, that way when (not if) you decide on a larger tire you don't have much invested in the smalerl 235's.

Hubs, are the stock ones ok? one is dead now, hunting wreckers for a replacement.

The stock manual hubs are plenty "ok" (IMO, better than aftermarket). Put a post in the classifieds here and someone probably has some to sell. Have you checked out the "dead" one? Sometimes just a good cleanup can restore them back to like new.

again dont want to go hard core, but want to build a toy Smiley

Enjoy ... even an unlockered kick can be a kick butt toy.

BTW, the above is pretty much my favorite recipie for a minor lifted trac/kick. Add in a rear locker (e.g. $100 mini-spool), and for $rig+$lift+$tire+$locker you have a pretty dang capable offroad rig.

RE: If you're not going todo OME stuff, do 2" spring spacers, a front strut flip, and generic shocks out rear. That's around $100(spacers)+$5(bolts)+$45(shocks). It'll still be decent on-road, and cheap.

what do you mean by 'front strut flip' ?

I thought of a minispool but this will be on pavement 90% of the time, only a weekend offroader.
it has 215 tires on it now, and with only rear wheel drive I was doing fair, got in to the bush about 20k b4 I decided to turn back rather than cross a 2' deep puddle had my 4 and 5yo girls in the back seat, did not want to get stupid with them out there. still I crawled over some things I expected to need the comealong to get me out off, all in 2wd.

Rims are not to be found out here, Canada never got into the Zuki's hardly, I see a few Sammy's but almost never a Kick other than the girly never knew what those hub locks were for kinda kicks anyhow.
btw that is what this one is, I am just the first to ever use it in the trails thats all
all I can get up here for rims is new mags starting at 700$ so I am limited to stock width. dont want to try a 30 on a stock rim. I know many do   I think a P235/75R15 can run on the stock Kick with no mods can it not?

I opend up the hub and the spring and plate were mashed, looks like the fingers are almost all ground off the plate and the outside splined wall the plate engages with has a grove worn in it where the plate was rideing. water got in it and that hub is dead dead dead imo.  wreckers have none as well, so I am a bit stuck for that atm.

what do you mean by 'front strut flip' ?

Search ... (or someone else can provide a link). Essentially you unmount the upper strut mount, pound out the studs, flip it over, put an exhast plange in for a spacer, add new grade8 bolts and nylocks.

I thought of a minispool but this will be on pavement 90% of the time, only a weekend offroader.
it has 215 tires on it now, and with only rear wheel drive I was doing fair, got in to the bush about 20k b4 I decided to turn back rather than cross a 2' deep puddle had my 4 and 5yo girls in the back seat, did not want to get stupid with them out there. still I crawled over some things I expected to need the comealong to get me out off, all in 2wd.

yea, why I didn't suggest a spool for your use. Unlocked with a lift an aggresive tires is still very capable.

Rims are not to be found out here, Canada never got into the Zuki's hardly, I see a few Sammy's but almost never a Kick other than the girly never knew what those hub locks were for kinda kicks anyhow.
btw that is what this one is, I am just the first to ever use it in the trails thats all
all I can get up here for rims is new mags starting at 700$ so I am limited to stock width. dont want to try a 30 on a stock rim. I know many do   I think a P235/75R15 can run on the stock Kick with no mods can it not?

4wd ford rims and CJ rims should be dime a dozen (search for the wheel interchange). Get some used/abused steelie wheels, clean 'em up and shoot some flat black. You might spend more on paint than rims
I found a set of 5 "chrome" ford wagon wheel for $20 (and yea they have some rusty spots). Still cleaned up nice and look decent.

I opend up the hub and the spring and plate were mashed, looks like the fingers are almost all ground off the plate and the outside splined wall the plate engages with has a grove worn in it where the plate was rideing. water got in it and that hub is dead dead dead imo.  wreckers have none as well, so I am a bit stuck for that atm.

Ya, does sound buggered ... I already sold my extra spare manual hub (keeping the other one) ... post in the classifieds here, someone will have one to part with.

that strut flip thing got me looking about, sweet little mod, but after searching I found a UK guy who was makeing 1.5" spacers for the top of the strut, SNAP I can make those up easy!!!
so I think I am decided on lift:
1.5" front via spring spacer and strut spacer.
2" rear via spring spacer and a pair of 1981 Ford Crown victoria shocks!!!

Rims, did you say Ford rims fit??  well shoot! I dug it up and yep the Kick uses 5x5.5 bolt pattern!!!  ok, maybe.
but still I dont want way to big a tire and the math says a 235x75x15 is a 28.87" tire that is compared to the stock size of 27.10 is a lift of very nearly .9" that with the suspension change raisis it all by 2.4" front and 2.9" rear.
for my use, that sounds really good!  I may still change rims to get a 6" width and something that looks better tho......

hey! I want to say thank you for your info, it has really helped me

235s will fit and hold nicely on stock rims. They will even fit on a stock ride hight will rub under full compression. 1" spring spacer lifts will fix it. Notch the struts the strut tabs to fix the camber or look into strut cam bolts about $30.

Beware of nerf bars most aren't worth their weight. Rocker rail aren't terribly expensive and are life savers when you actually need them.
235.75.15s are about 29" and 205s are less than 26" and ride hight changes are only 1/2 the change in tire size. ex 31s replaced with 33s will lift the car 1" not 2".

Though they're more spendy  light truck (Lt) tires are more durable and will last longer than passenger tires.

I run Sumutomo HTR Sport  Lt235.75.15s  on 1" spring spacers no trimming. Pretty decent and cheap  but leaves a little to be desired in mud and snow. BFGs are ubiquitous and effective.  I think they are right however plan on running bigger tire when the funds come available.

235s will fit and hold nicely on stock rims. They will even fit on a stock ride hight will rub under full compression. 1" spring spacer lifts will fix it. Notch the struts the strut tabs to fix the camber or look into strut cam bolts about $30.

Thank you, that was a missing bit, camber bolts check!!
The planed lift should clear very well indead then, maybe even a 30" tire sould work. I also found a very inexpensive body lift kit at:
http://www.boondoxmotorsports.com/zuk_bodylift.html
But 3" is more than I want to do, 2" body was my max.  Think I will leave the body alone.
Gotta figure if I can fit a 30" 265/75R15 with only 1.5" front lift...
and if a tire that size is made that I will like....

yup, I also forgot to mention camber bolts w/ a spacer lift.

If you're gunna buy new tires, go for 30x9.50's. You won't regret it. BFG MT's are nice, I think Pro-comp has a MT in that size too. Also, take a look at the yokohama geolandar MT's (I have a set of 31x10.50's and they have worn good, get good traction on and off (and also air down real nice). My *only* complaint with them would be they can cake up in gumbo mud sometimes.

I'd skip a body lift entirely if ya can. I doubt you'll need it (even for 30's), but you may need to do some of the trimming/pounding to keep from rubbing. (check this link for what I did to my 4dr).

yup, I also forgot to mention camber bolts w/ a spacer lift.

If you're gunna buy new tires, go for 30x9.50's. You won't regret it. BFG MT's are nice, I think Pro-comp has a MT in that size too. Also, take a look at the yokohama geolandar MT's (I have a set of 31x10.50's and they have worn good, get good traction on and off (and also air down real nice). My *only* complaint with them would be they can cake up in gumbo mud sometimes.

I'd skip a body lift entirely if ya can. I doubt you'll need it (even for 30's), but you may need to do some of the trimming/pounding to keep from rubbing. (check this link for what I did to my 4dr).

I really dont want to get into fender cutting, and mud is very little of where I will go, no gumbo here at all.  I live on Vancouver island B.C. so mostly rock. In winter I have the odd puddle to deal with, bet I could do them with the 215 all season crud I have on now.
I want to get an all terrein tire pattern but think MT is too much.  I am looking at 235 BFG All-Terrain T/A® KO just now. Found that no tire dealer in my area will install a 235 on the stock 5.5" rims.  They say they could get sued. damn lawers wreck everything, gota find some 7" rims. 
I am afraid I have decided for sure, no 30's deff 235's
Sent a PM to Jeff RE: spring spacers.

Dude, there are some crazy Suzuki owners on Vancouver Island.  There's a pretty big meet up there every year, and the terrain looks insane.

Everytime i've been up to Vancouver, i've seen trackers/sidekicks/sunrunners left and right.  Don't you know most of them are made in Canada?

If you look around some more, especially in the more urban areas, you'll see a lot more suzuki's than you've been seeing.

http://www.can4x4.com/irc/

I searched, but can't remember the name of the event they have up on the island every year, and it's full of sidekicks with straight axle front ends.

Wow thanx for that link, been hunting for something out here and all I can find is east Canada!

I am sure there are more than a few Zuks out here, but they are few compared to the Jeep/TLC/Toy clans.

I ride dirt bikes out on our local mountains and see a fair few 4x4's I cant recall a Kick in the last few years. more than a few Sammys tho.

Well I got a lift installed, used 2" spacer on the rear with ProComp Shocks #120510 Es1000 +2�
For the front I did a strut flip with 1.5" spring spacer, with camber bolts.
I also go ahold of a set of Hubs that are in great shape.
This really really works well, I drove it without the lift but with the good hubs and with the lift I really feel better traction, must be the change in the rear axel angle and the increased articulation. I am doing things I did not expect with ease.
I have ordered a LockRite 1512 for the rear and a 2" body lift to give good clearance for the rock rails I am building.  the body lift is only to clear those, I did not need more for the tires as a little trimming is all that will be needed. Still have the A/S 215 tires on the stock rims but I did get a set of ford 8" rims that after a good cleaning and painting will get some Jetson revenger 30" A/T tires.
bumpers are still in the works. when the body lift goes on the bumpers will be top priority.
has anyone had a problem with frame the cross tube just in front of the gas tank rusting out?  I have to replace that on my SideTrack as it is all but gone.  I still have 3 or 4 " on eacy side for the tank mounts to be ok. but between that its jsut gone... all other frame ladders are solid....

Oh as for local 4x4 and suzuki stuff, now that I am more involved localy I have found severl sources out here,  check this rig, it is almost exactly what I am building.  The guy lives about 20 mins from me. got to go check it out personaly tho he has gone way hardcore since these pics.

http://www.island4x4.com/4x4tech/body/bikers_tracker/index.html

You will have to put some pics on-line of how it looks with the new lift. 

You will have to put some pics on-line of how it looks with the new lift. 

ya ok, cant see how to embed my pic in the msg, so I attatched it.  Hey that workeed!!!