I love my 1997 JX 4-door 'kick, but being a 4-door model, and being made after 1995, there are less aftermarket parts available for it.

I plan on keeping it till it gives up.  It's at just over 100k now.

Instead of building it up, I want to start with a different vehicle.  I want something with A/C, power windows and locks, remote entry, 4wd, etc etc.  My current rig has none of that except 4wd.  (I know, I'm a comfort wuss, but I've never had a vehicle with A/C or power windows in my entire life!)

I really like Sammies cuz they look like little safari vehicles (was thinking about tan paintjob even) and there are a ton of parts out there.  But I want power steering, A/C etc...maybe a 2-door tracker/vitara Sport with the 1.8L? Did they make a 2 door with the 1.8L?

I don't do heavy wheeling, but I want to move up a little to some more serious stuff.  (for those in SoCal, I'm talking about Canyon Sin Nombre, Ocotillo, Etc)

I'll also be driving it long distances on the freeway to Moab, Fruita, etc (mostly for biking, not wheeling, but if it's tough enough, maybe...)

I was thinking nothing more than 31's on steel wheels.  My budget is $5000 to $6000 including the base vehicle.  that would have to cover wheels, tires, lift, locker, gears, etc etc.

I'm decent with working on cars, but I'm not a welder, so I'd have to buy bumbers, guards, etc, or pay to have them made.

Possible for my budget?

I love my 1997 JX 4-door 'kick, but being a 4-door model, and being made after 1995, there are less aftermarket parts available for it.

What can't you get?

Try finding a JLK SideKick Loaded.
problem solved

You should be able to get a 2, or 4 door with all your luxury bits for about $3500 in good shape (including vehicle, tax, registration etc). The 1.6L is more than enough power, and with gas prices on the rise it'll save you a lot of money in the long haul.

31" tires are going to set you back another $1000 with the required body lift, and cost of tires (you'll have to do some carving - borrow a friend's sawsall). So - you've got about $500 left to play with. I'd throw in a locker, and call it done.

~J~

if it were me, id get a sidekick jlx, 2" coil spacer lift, 1" body lift (easy to make), and the 31's. if you get an auto, the gearing will be ok until you can get some 5.12's, im not sure about how the manual would do on 31's with stock gearing. then get a mini spool for the rear, and you'll have a very capable little zuk. 

What can't you get?

Front and rear bumpers, cold air intake, smog legal header, gears (well Calmini has discontinued them, but if I dig around someone probably has them), rock sliders.

I know much of this can be custom fabbed.  Especially tube stuff like bumpers and sliders.  And I really don't even need these things, but I'd like some simple tube bumpers.

I heard something somewhere about gearing being different on manual and auto vehicles.  I'm not ure where this occurs (just the tranny, the transfer case, or at the diffs).  I thought there was some way to use the gears out of a manual-tranny kick's diffs on an auto-tranny kick for a gear reduction, not sure.

Thanks for the tips, I looked around on ebay for some Trackers and Sidekicks and found a couple possible options.  Here's a newbie question, is JLX different than "sport"?  I ask because I've seen a few listed as "JLX Sport" or "Sport JLX". 

I notice nobody mentioned the Calmini lifts...I'm guessing these are no longer favored.  Or perhaps too expensive/overkill for my needs.

Are 4-door brakes on a 2-door w/31's overkill?  I've seen a lot of folks doing this mod.

Gears / Bumpers and CAI are all available for Trackicks. Just do a Google search, or look on these forums.

I notice nobody mentioned the Calmini lifts...I'm guessing these are no longer favored.  Or perhaps too expensive/overkill for my needs.

Are 4-door brakes on a 2-door w/31's overkill?  I've seen a lot of folks doing this mod.

From the costings other people have given you wouldn't be able to fit tyres and a Calmini lift into your $5K budget. If you can up the budget then its worth getting the 3" lift.
I wouldn't consider the 4dr brakes overkill, ,the 2dr brakes can be a little disconcerting on a steep descent. I've never had a problem but they just feel a bit weak.

Why not just buy Quaddog's rig.  235's and a Digger lift keep it streetable.  Add some armor, and you can do some pretty impressive off road stuff too.

The only drawback is that it's at the opposite end of the continent...