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Need info on Lifted Tracker ?

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Offline dingus

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Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« on: December 21, 2008, 09:12:22 PM »
Im new here and looking at buying a 94 Tracker sidekick 4 door.
It has the 3 inch body lift and 3 inch suspension lift.
Its the proper Canili type lift set up.

When theses rigs are lifted is there any Problems to watch out for?
Do they ride nice?

Its only been in 3 months the job looks great all the bushings done ect. its a 5 speed STD Trany
I like the 4 Door for the Room but i think the 2 Doors ones look better.
He spent like $5000 on it tho with a New 6000 LB winch  and lots of other stuff.
I can get it for $5000
A stock 94 would cost me close to that.
Need some input here.
Mainly concerned with trobles cause of the 6 inch lift.
It looks great.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2008, 12:08:52 AM »
Welcome to the sickness.  :)

Do you know what type of lift he has on the Tracker?  Is it a Calimini (aka, has blue front a-arms) or something else?
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2008, 12:57:51 AM »
I see '94 trackers in my neighborhood all day long for $1,500 - $2,500... unless you're talking about stealership prices. The Calmini 6" lift is a good kit - costs $1,000 + shipping new. The 3" of suspension lift is the maximum you want to go before upgrading from the stock CV 1/2 shafts. There are no problems with the lift, it's a good kit. The only thing to keep in mind is the power of the 1.6L engine. It's a bit under-powered for a "SUV" - if you have big big tires on the vehicle to go with that big lift - your gas mileage, power and acceleration are going to be severely impacted. My Girlfriend's Nissan Xterra gets the same gas mileage as I do (and I've only got 29" tires in a 4-door) - but she gets to be in a big SUV with good sound dampening, better comfort, a 4.0L V6 with about 280 HP & Torque. I love my Suzuki - but keep this in mind...

Front & rear bumpers, winch & wiring should be another $1000. The Calmini springs are a bit stiff, but they make them that way expecting you to install a heavy bumper & winch - if these are installed, the ride should be nicer than stock. Drive the Kick and see how you like the handling. They're great & reliable vehicles for what they are, and for the price they are, but the draw backs of them (the kind you'll get in any cheaply-built vehicle) do exist. Test drive it to see if it's for you... and hopefully we can welcome you to the addiction soon  ;D
'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6

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Offline dingus

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2008, 08:42:37 AM »
Hi Thanks for the Tips.  :)
Yes its a Calimini Lift.
The 3 inch body then 3 inch Suspension lift = 6 inch.
Tires are all New but small like normal Tracker tires but Fatter.
Has a New Winch welded to the frame in front.
has a Trailer Hitch.
has a Spool installed  ???
Has a 146% lower Gear thing.
its Had Alot of stuff done to it.
New Starter new Batery
Has a Spare Computor for the bush.
But the Motor has 240 000 KMs is that alot for theses 1.6 engines.
This one has 140 to 150 Comp across all 4 cylinders
Thats all Miles on the truck when it was Stock not lifted.
I like the 2 door short ones looks better but with all the work and a Rust free Truck i think its a Good deal.
If theses engines are Cared for what kinda KMs or Miles do ya get bfore a Rebuild is nessassry ?

Thats a Very good point about the Extera compared to a lifted Heavy Tracker.
Id feel way safer in a bigger rig like a Jeep or Toyota.
But if i keep the small normal tires that are Fater id be OK ?
« Last Edit: December 22, 2008, 08:49:26 AM by dingus »

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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2008, 04:19:23 PM »
Not sure I understand the point of a 6" lift and keeping stock tires, but - it can be done. Just makes you more top-heavy for no good reason. I presume you're out of the US, so I have NO idea what a "fair price" is where you live. That said, it sounds like he's probably got about $2000-$3000 in parts installed on the truck (not including whatever your shipping to wherever you are is).

Suzuki engines typically go 150,000 - 300,000 miles depending on how well maintained they were, and how abused they were. It sounds like you're at the minimum compression before the book calls for a rebuild. I don't have my book handy, and I forget what the compression # should be - I'm sure someone else here knows.

The spool is one of the cheapest ways to lock the diff, and will eat up tires faster. Drive it around, and you'll know during turns if you're okay with a spool style locker or not.

I like the Jeep Cherokees, and Toyota trucks - I think the 4-runners are too heavy & their gas mileage suffers more when going to big tires. The Nissan Xterras are nice to - they have a "offroad" model here in the states that comes with electronic lockers.
'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6

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Offline dingus

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2008, 05:36:41 PM »
Im up in B.C Canada. Sorry shoulda said that in my frist post.

Thanks for the Tips eh!

Im not 100% sure there stock tires they just dont look big to me just fatter.

So when i go around corners what will i notice about the Spool if its no Good ?

I bought a Tracker LSI 2 door Auto convertable for my wife its a 92 has the 8 valve Engine it runs like New.
I just bought it and honestly i never Expected it to be so nice to drive and im big but fit in there with room to Spare.
Anyway hers is a Rust free unit has 278000 KMs thats like 170 thousand miles but seems to have lotsa power and runs great.
The guy who owned it was a Heavy duty mechanic and did the oil when it needed changeing ect.
Put that modern purple oil in the diffs.
The thing runs great and for and Auto i was impressed.
Anyway thats why i liked or wanted this lifted Tracker 4 door 5 speed for myself.
The lift kit was like $1400 Canadian funds with the Exchange and shipping to B.C

The Big Question IS why is he selling it just a few months after doing all this work...... :-\
I need to know what to look out for something he would not tell me maby and it turn into a nightmare for me.
Getting a stock 95 Sidekick Tracker 2 door with 150.000 KMs on it for $4000 might be better eh?
Its Black and a Convertable to.
 then i can just do a 3 inch lift put bigger tires on it ect.
Id know where i was at.

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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2008, 06:58:55 PM »
If you don't know what to look for, take it to another mechanic, and tell him to look over it thoroughly. You're right to be cautious about buying a vehicle from someone who just dumped a bunch of money into it modifying it. I suspect whoever purchased it put on BIG tires, and realized the 1.6L has a hard time turning them. If you don't plan on going off-road a lot, you may be paying a lot of money for a lift you don't need. Look for a Tracker with fewer miles (170k miles is high for a tracker - it could be approaching the end of it's life, or it could last another 130k, you never know) and closer to stock ride height. Keep in mind in 1999 Trackers got a little bigger, and got more powerful engines (2.0L or optional 2.5L v6) and more modern amenities. I see them in stock form in the US around $4,000 USD (~$4,800 Canadian) with fewer miles than the one you're looking at.
'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6

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Offline dingus

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2008, 07:30:50 PM »
Thanks eh! thats great Advise.
Im not rich either so dont want to be getting someone eles nightmare.

I like the 97 or 98 Sport 4 door Trackers to. Theres another thread here with one a guy did a mild lift and bigger tires. its Blue or Purple.
they have the better engines than the earler ones 1.8 lt i think..

he posted picks of it lifted with a big rack on the roof.

It Looks Great.

Jeff 1997  posted the Picture thats kinda what id like.
« Last Edit: December 22, 2008, 07:35:54 PM by dingus »

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Offline dingus

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2008, 07:43:37 PM »
OK heres a Picture of the Rig im looking at so you can see what im looking at for $5000.
And the tires ect.

Hope the guy aint a member here and get all miffed,,,,, Oh well i need advise  :laugh:

Picture Deleted.....
« Last Edit: December 23, 2008, 12:42:54 PM by dingus »

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Offline Jeremiah

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2008, 11:49:18 PM »
Yeah - that's WAY too much lift for those tires. You only want JUST enough lift to fit the tires you want to run (I don't recommend going bigger than 29" on a 4-door). High center of gravity = more tippy. The Calmini kit is a good one... but... I wouldn't buy that truck unless I was looking to swap in a steel front diff, toy front CV axles, 35" tires & dual t-cases (about another $3000). You'd have a monster wheeler... but that brings your total up to $7,000. Unless you're planing on SEROUS off-roading, stick with 29" on a 4-door or 30/31" on a 2-door. That's about all the Tracker 1st gen can handle without serous $$$. A locked kick on 29" tires will get you out of any on-road snow & ice condition you can think of.
'96 4 door kick: 29" Pep-Boys M/T, 1.5" OME
'83 SJ410: 31" Toyo M/T, SPOA, 1.3L
'08 Yamaha FZ6

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Offline dingus

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Re: Need info on Lifted Tracker ?
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2008, 08:56:39 AM »
 No i dont want to do all that.
 I might as well just buy a lifted TJ or a Toyota if i want Front and back Axles.
Im lazy like a pet coon so wanted something Decent in the bush and Snow with most of the work done.
I like the Lifted look.
I want the 30 miles to the Gallon to thats why i love the Tracker.
Gas went up to $1.50 a liter here this last summer our Gallon is 4.5 liters so thats Fricken Robbery!
 
But wasnt gona go Crawl rocks and stuff.
Just very bad logging roads and snow.
a good hunting rig.
Not hard core rock mountain or hill climbing.

Thanks for your Help.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2008, 08:58:57 AM by dingus »