hello! Looking to get muddy!

[JKent]

Hi all,

I'm Jim from Kent. Up until recently have always been more into the Jap performance motors, although for the past few months have found myself looking more and more into the world of off roading and green laning!

After a few chats with a friend of a friend who's into off roading I've decided upon getting an SJ.

I dont really know much about off roading or SJ's hence joining the forum! Is it best to buy an unmolested one, or to get one thats had the modifications carried out to it to allow it to go green laning?

If getting a basic model, what are the must do Mods that would need to be carried out?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

PS, loving looking at the pics of every ones SJ's and Jimny's, look immense!!!

[turbo-tom]

Welcome to the club Jim.

If you get a standard one and a decent set of At's you will be surprised how far it can go...

if you do get a modified one then check all the modifications over and over again as some people really shouldnt be modifying vehicles comparing the some of the trucks ive seen...

[NylonAdmiral]

Hi Jkent,

I was exactly the same. Always been in to performance cars and still have a few. I bought an SJ a while ago and it's soooo much fun, I've actually found that I use the SJ more than the others. I did about 15 hours in the truck at the weekend and 2 in the Exige. The Exige was just dull because you spend sooooooooo long stuck behind people doing a solid 40mph everywhere with no driving skills. In the SJ you can go for miles offroad without seeing anyone at all, whilst using the car as it was intended.

It's perfect as well as you can take your performance car out when it's sunny and the SJ out when it's wet.

As turbo-tom said, you'll be amazed at what a set of tyres can do. To put it in to perspective, have a look at the videos/pics in this thread:

http://forum.suzukiclubuk.co.uk/vi ... 6&start=10

Two of the trucks were near enough standard 410's, one even had road tyres on the front. They both still made it everywhere! Watch the video that's filmed facing backwards on my truck as we climb up a hill, the vehicle being filmed is a bog standard 410 with nothing but a set of decent tyres on it

[ferris]

to the club

[JKent]

Thanks for the info and the welcome guys!

Great news about the AT's turning a standard one into a green lane ready vehicle. Have seen a great looking SJ down in Brighton I'm tempted to look at but wanted to gather a bit more knowledge.

Are there any issues/common issues to note with these cars or areas to look at on the SJ when buying? Any particular models to avoid?

Thanks

Jim

[Jay18]

well, just check the springs arent flat out or bending the wrong way, check for oil leaks, the SJ410 engines are common for rear crank seal going on them but its a fairly easy repair (ive not got round to doing mine but have got the bits to do it lol) swivel seals and halfshaft seals are fairly common for going if the vehicle has been owned by someone who doesnt care about it as i found out from previous owner, the main thing is rust, just cheack all around the arches and make sure its solid, rear qaurters rot out on them aswel so just check all over the body for rust; floor, arches, rear quarters, bottom of doors and sills..

thats all i can think of at the moment im sure a few others will have something to add...

theyre great little cars and so much fun to drive, if you get one with a good body and solid chassis then your sorted...

[Jordi]

Welcome to SCUK bud.

[JKent]

Thanks Jay.

I've noticed a lot of SJs have bitara 1.6 engines in them. Is this a due to the SJ 1.0 litre engines not being powerful enough? Or just for an upgrade?

[ROBBIE]

Hi

[turbo-tom]

Bit of both really. There good engines pretty much bullet proof.