Who's done it?  Contacted a local drivetrain shop, and while they are sure they are up to the task, they are paranoid about getting it onto their only lift and things not fitting.  I don't want the aluminum carrier and axle housing from the Sidekick.  Anyone out there done this??  Thanks.

Dave

There are lots of people on here that has done this. There is a detailed writeup on this in the archive section.
My 3rds are being shipped tomorrow, I can't wait till they get here.

Yeah....I'm familiar with the writeup, and I will be giving it to the mechanics that do the install.  But, it only talks about swapping the third members in, mentioning casually that if you're planning on adding a traction device "it is best to have the ring and pinion gears professionally installed into a steel GV or XL7 3rd member to gain added strength and eliminate the aluminum housings from breaking."  I thought somebody had mentioned that you can't install only the R&P.  So, I thought it would be better to install all of the internal parts into the GV carrier and axle housing.

I'm going to call Hawk again today and make sure that there won't be any surprises inside the carrier and axle housing.  If everything fits, I guess the only thing I'll need to worry about is plugging the hole in the diff where the 4WD air hose went in (since I'll no longer have the pneumatic 4wd engagement). 

Still looking for anyone who has physically swapped all of the Sidekick internals into a GV steel carrier and axle housing, not just the entire third.  Thanks in advance!

Dave

I think your reading the wrong article. Read the one about getting rid of the air 4wd stuff.

I think we're talking about the same writeup:

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_030104/feature_tsb_shiftontheflyremoval.htm

This gives the steps for swapping complete front third members, but not for putting the Sidekick internals into the GV carrier.  But, at this point, it doesn't really matter, because  I just got off the phone with Rick Hawkins at Hawk Suzuki, who confirmed that the 1997 Japanese Sidekick guts will go into the GV carrier and axle housing without any modification.  Just set the R&P up properly (by a pro) and you're done. 

I just wanted to be certain.  I can't afford to lose my truck for a month waiting for parts.  I also don't want to get my ass kicked by an angry mechanic who can't use his lift/shop for a month because it's tied up by my truck! 

Good luck with your swap, Jeff!  I'll let you know how mine goes.

Dave

Hi,

i have done this mod to my 1600cc GV.
nothing else except swaping factory carrier into the steel third and then into the steel housing....and u r finished.
There was a difference at the point where the third member bolts onto the crossmember.

Mine was this.....




and i had to change it with this one because of the differend third member......
because when i ordered it i wasn't sure if it was excactly the same as mine.
So that bolts right into the crossmember.




You don't have to be afraid of something...... a Kick's carrier fits into this steel third. ....... just let a Prof set you the r/p.

If you have diff drops, you'll need to clearance the XL7 mount as it will bind.  I had to on mine when I had a 5.12 sodacan diff in my GV.

Well....wish me luck.    The GV is getting the 5.12 swap done now.  I picked up a second front diff seal for the driver's side, since the entire guts are being swapped into my housing and carrier.  It didn't make sense to re-use the old seal.  One seal is the older design, and one is the newer design.  I'm having him put the new design on the passenger side (notorious for leaking). 

I hope the rubber mounting pads (rubber washers...or whatever you call 'em) for the diff in the front aren't in bad shape.  I'm hoping everything goes smooooooooth!

Anyway....will let you all know what I think.  Even with 245 75 16s, my 5-speed doesn't seem terribly underpowered (I'm sure the K&N filter and NGK Iridium plugs help), but the 5.12s should give it some real balls!  It'll be nice to have a fairly accurate speedo again   Next on the agenda.....more trimming to get those 31 inch MTRs to fit better.  They're still  rubbing a lot under compression despite plastic cutting and sheet metal pounding.  I think my RRO suspension is settling.  Might have to resort to taking it to a body shop and spending a few hundred bucks for a permanent (and good looking) fix.

If you are running OME with spacers, and no bumpstop extensions, then the springs will overcompress and fatigue, which will cause a loss of lift.  Nice of RRO to tell you that, eh?

Tim...it's been a few years with the RRO lift.  What do you think my next move (as far as suspension is concerned) should be?  Since my ball joints (built into the control arm) are 8 years old, and likely tired, I was thinking of getting the Calmini kit sometime in the next year or so.  New control arms would be about $250-$300 bucks anyway.   New shocks and struts would add at least another couple hundred bucks, and that's all included with Calmini's kit.  I already have WARN hubs, so maybe they would knock a few bucks off the price of the lift (since it includes hubs). 

I've heard the Calmini kit rides a little rough, but gives the most height and travel.  Hawk Suzuki said a lot of people just run the OEM springs with 2" spacers, but wouldn't that kill the travel?  Any thoughts? 

GO TOY!  COWABUNGA!

J/K, I had to go there.

IMHO, I can't stand spacers.  For a mall crawler, yeah, but not if you really want travel.

It seems like you answered your own question.  For all the reasons you stated, the Calmini kit makes sense, your stuff is worn (I wonder if I still have my stock control arms, they were in great shape, I'll look for ya).  And by now, you'll prolly want to start adding skids and bumpers and rails and, well, heavy steel.  The big blue kit is meant for that.  Might even want to time this with the release of the long travel struts from Calmini.  That would be the hot ticket.  While the Calmini body lift isn't out, you could add Sky's 2" and go bigger in the rubber dept.  Hmm, requiring bigger "rubbers" is a good thing

Remember, you could post your OME stuff, or sell it on eGay and offset the price of the blue kit.

Also, the Calmini kit doesn't come with hubs.  But your set there.

I'm waiting for the LT struts to come out, then I'll order the blue kit. 

Yeah....I think I'll go blue, and get the CALMINI kit sometime next year.  Actually, in response to your post, Tim, I already have a 2" body lift, yet I'm still having the tire clearance issues.  I think Old Man Emu is getting tired.  I also have the Spidertrax 1" spacers.  They keep the tires off the frame, but I still get rubbing on the sheet metal.  31 inch tires really push the body design of the little trucklet. 

BTW, when is Calmini releasing LT Struts?  When I talked to Rick at Hawk Suzuki the other day, he seemed to question whether they were even going to continue making the lift kit.  Does somebody out there have some info on the future of the GV at Calmini?

Yeah....I think I'll go blue, and get the CALMINI kit sometime next year.  Actually, in response to your post, Tim, I already have a 2" body lift, yet I'm still having the tire clearance issues.  I think Old Man Emu is getting tired.  I also have the Spidertrax 1" spacers.  They keep the tires off the frame, but I still get rubbing on the sheet metal.  31 inch tires really push the body design of the little trucklet. 

BTW, when is Calmini releasing LT Struts?  When I talked to Rick at Hawk Suzuki the other day, he seemed to question whether they were even going to continue making the lift kit.  Does somebody out there have some info on the future of the GV at Calmini?

Calmini will continue making the "Pure Suzuki" line.  However, there is only so many way they (read: Steve) can be pulled.  Full Traction is their Jeep and full size line, and the JK stuff is selling like hot cakes.  Full Traction has earned a reputation as some of the very best Jeep lifts out there.  And they introduced the "Pure Jeep" line of accessories, which is also very popular.  As a businessman, you apply yourself where it will be the most profitable.

That said, he told me of new things in the development stage.  Whole new frames, with long arm suspension mounts into the frame, for thier LS coily set up.  And new all metal bodies (unsure if they will be aluminum or steel).  The whole thing will be stretched to near 100", with bigger wells and all.  Similar in size to a LWB Sammy, but with a short rear overhang like the SWB.

They are not at all forgetting which platform put them on the map.  I getting that they might be making a new line of Calmini/Pure Suzuki stuff that is hard-core, next level sorta thing.  Not for the faint of heart.

As for 31's on the GV, the 2.5" lift with the 3" body clears mine, but just barely, and with a lot of plastic foo-foo trimming.  Unfortunately, it's the way Suzuki designed the wheelwells.  X-90 owners feel the same pain.

i guys, first of all i'm an italian boy and i'msorry if my english in not so perfect.
so: i've a  1.6 gv, I'd like to put on Sidekick ring&pinion (these are 5.12 and my are 4.8 isn't true?)

so, can I do it without a problem? or ther's something to do?

how much "reduction" shoula i get?

tanks of all