Suzuki Club UK

Hi there all. Ive been looking for a lwb samurai for quite a few months and finally got my hands on one recently which I dragged back to hereford. I've had a few sj's before in new zealand but never a Lwb. Really looking forward to it as its going to be my road vechicle aswell as some offroad. It's got the usual rust issues that I'm underway with repairing and hope to be done and on the road in a few months. (fingers crossed) I'm planning a few modifications for it, I have some 31" grabbers so going to cut the wheel archers a little higher as they need rust repairs anyway. I also have a Gti swift engine ready to drop in. After reading lots of forums on this great Suzuki club site I plan to hunt for some 3.9 diff ratios and a 410 or rock crawler transfer box. The one thing I'm undecided on is the suspension. First thought was a coil conversion but it does add quite a jump to insurance quotes and also a reasonably big job. I know I'd like to stay away from spring over axle conversion seen as it will be used quite a bit on the road and I will have a little extra room for wheel travel through the higher wheel arches. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good value for money spring mod? Is the yj wrangler conversion a good option? Or just some simple extendable hangers? I would welcome any advise or ideas. Cheers

Welcome to SCUK

On 31s the original diffs ratios are ok with a 410 t/box. I'm on 33s with a rocklobster.

Suspension wise YJs are an excellent option, I have a set waiting to go on mine. Lift spring / replacement spring wise all I can recommend is Llama 4x4. When it come to aftermarket springs stick to good named brands. There is some real crap out there.

There's not a huge difference between the 3.9 and 3.7 diffs anyway.

As said with aftermarket springs only buy from a trusted source and try find some that others are using so you can get an idea of performance etc.

A few people on here have been stung with crap springs.

The other option is to chop the arches (Virtual lift) high enough to fit the tyres you want with the original springs.

There is a small guide here http://forum.suzukiclubuk.co.uk/vi ... =10&t=8046

to the club

You can get 31's on an SJ on standard suspension with just a virtual lift, I did with mine but I didn't realise that I was doing it at the time, I just cut the rot out and put trailer arches in, so make sure you chop a bit out of the back of the front arches aswel or it will be extremely close on the tyres, I solved my problem with a body lift, better off doing a suspension lift though if you want a lift

to club UK

Gotta love the LWB SJs i'm currently working on two of them.

Thanks everyone for the welcome and tips. Most appreciated! One thing I forgot to ask was does anyone know where to get an exhaust manifold header? I figure the easiest way for me will be to get a standard 413 set and adapt them to my twin cam engine. As for the YJ spring conversion is there a how to guide out there? Ive seen the kits you can buy and could probably work it out, what I can't work out is do you use just the rear springs or front and rear set? And best place to find them?
Thanks again everyone.

And nice work ScottieJ......2 LWB's!.........Im Jelous although 1 is enough for me just now.

Kiwibrad wrote:Thanks everyone for the welcome and tips. Most appreciated! One thing I forgot to ask was does anyone know where to get an exhaust manifold header? I figure the easiest way for me will be to get a standard 413 set and adapt them to my twin cam engine. As for the YJ spring conversion is there a how to guide out there? Ive seen the kits you can buy and could probably work it out, what I can't work out is do you use just the rear springs or front and rear set? And best place to find them?
Thanks again everyone.

Full set of YJs if you want, up to the individual. Or RUF and YJ rears?

I got mine second hand on here. eBay has them every now and then, possibly try the anus forums?