Suzuki Club UK

Hello all,

I've been visiting this forum for quite a while now, slowly collecting research, but more recently I signed up.

For probably 5 years now, I've wanted to buy a Suzuki SJ, but have never got round to it. However now I'm ready to buy one. I'm currently looking for the right one, so I'll post some pictures when I get her.

I'm looking for a detailed 'write-up' on a diesel converted SJ, I have found some but the threads were old and all the pictures missing, and the users now inactive. The information I've been collecting has mainly been fitting a XUD9 Peugeot TD engine, coupled to an LDV Pilot gearbox - I've read that the LDV gearboxes lower range 1st & 2nd wok well for off road use so that's encouraging!

My concern is the gear ratios, as this won't be an offroad-only truck, I will be using it to go camping (motorway driving) and on the asssumption that I'll be running 33's (!) the engine will be revving high (2890rpm) at 75mph - my current car (which i'll be selling once I have an SJ) does 90 at the same engine rpm and sits at just over 2000 at 70 - much more civilised!

So, I'm looking for a write up with some decent info on what people have done regarding engine mounts and also other diesel engine/gearbox combos that work and have better gearing or anything else that can be changed to reduce the revs slightly at motorway speed.

I already know about the FSO Polonez gearbox but I think getting my hands on one of these gearboxes will prove tricky.

Hopefully that makes sense,

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Regards

Stuart

i think its vitara ring and pinions that are higher ratio than sj ones.

You would need 2x vitara front diffs though, then strip your diffs and put the ring and pinions in them

Also, if you put a Samurai transfer box in they are slightly higher ratio i believe

Thank you for your response twiss.

However, I understand that a SJ has a diff ratio of 3.73:1 and what I can find about the vitara suggests the ratios are 5.125:1 or 4.875:1, either way only making the situation worse.

5.125:1 = 70mph @ 4500rpm!! haha

Maybe my values are incorrect, can anyone confirm?

Regards

Stuart

Twiss you have it the wrong way around.

Samurai diffs ares the higest ratio available and vitara are the lowest, got diffs are also available in 4.6 still lower than SJ diffs though.

Stup86 those ratios you have posted are correct.

To be honest the maximum cruising speed you'll be driving at will be around 65-70 on 33s if you've ever driven one on 33s at 75 you'll see why I'm saying that, I've had mine up to 80 on an Aroad and it was a bit hair raising to say the least

ScottieJ wrote:To be honest the maximum cruising speed you'll be driving at will be around 65-70 on 33s if you've ever driven one on 33s at 75 you'll see why I'm saying that, I've had mine up to 80 on an Aroad and it was a bit hair raising to say the least

I have never driven a SJ with 33's, actually, I've never driven an SJ if I'm honest!

Am I asking to much? An offroad capable SJ, with a diesel engine that can cruise at 70ish without revving it nuts off?

I would run it on 3.73 Samurai diffs with a rock lobster transfer box.

That'll give you the low gearing in low range needed for offloading 33's whilst giving you the highest gearing in hi range for motorway speeds.

However as Scottie says, driving any SJ at 70mph is an experience

Highlander wrote:I would run it on 3.73 Samurai diffs with a rock lobster transfer box.

I have downloaded a guide on building a rocklobster box, filed it under 'things to do once I get my SJ'

Thanks for the advice.

This is a long shot but does anyone know if the SJ in this video is on this forum or any other forum?


Click Here for Youtube Video



He's done an XUD9 conversion, and a tidy one at that!

Regards

Stuart

Does anyone know the gear ratios of the FSO Polonez gearbox (1.9d)? I've searched but found nothing.

Other than the pug 1.9 conversion, what other conversions have been done that can be sourced in the UK?

Regards

Stuart

I've heard it done with

Peugeot 1.9
Izuzu 1.5
Izuzu 1.7
Ford 1.6
Ford 1.8
Ford 2.5
VW 1.5
VW 1.6
VW 1.9
Toyota 1.6
Perkins
Cummins

loads really, some big V6 and V8 diesels pop up the odd time too

Peugeot and Izuzu seem to be the popular ones

What are you fancying Stuart?

Highlander wrote:I've heard it done with

Peugeot 1.9
Izuzu 1.5
Izuzu 1.7
Ford 1.6
Ford 1.8
Ford 2.5
VW 1.5
VW 1.6
VW 1.9
Toyota 1.6
Perkins
Cummins

loads really, some big V6 and V8 diesels pop up the odd time too

Peugeot and Izuzu seem to be the popular ones

What are you fancying Stuart?

Well at the moment the pug 1.9td is top of my list (with ldv pilot gbox)

then the VW 1.9 using acme adapter.

I haven't looked at many others but have thought of an omega diesel engine/gbox but probably limited to just the 4-cyl and an inline 6 may be too long... Nice bit of torque though.