1993 Suzuki Vitara

[ToolsnTrack]

That's kinda the idea, but jacked up with the same beefy tires the Vitara will have...

[dave80]

I had one of these,great fun off road!

[ToolsnTrack]

Ah, clever solution to the light loss when removing the rear bumper. Need to remember that one.

[dave80]

never had reverse light but that could be sorted easily,would think about fuel tank and radiator protection like i didnt!

[ToolsnTrack]

Tank comes with a bump plate, might be wise to beef it up mind....

I guess some primitive mesh on the lower part of the bull bar would suffice for rad protection...

[ToolsnTrack]

Tires fitted, and i have drawn FIRST MUD!



...also, i got the trailer home. Needs the electrics looking at and a wee lick of paint, but its solid enough. Has cart springs AND coil springs. Should take a load i think!



Certainly big enough!

[kieram]

I'd love one of these with a big v8.

[ToolsnTrack]

So the wee Vitara is my only road going car at the moment. MR2 is STILL off with clutch line issues, Camaro.... well, and the new reliable Passat is off the road with engine "issues", awaiting warranty repairs.

As such, i feel a bit bad that this wee plugger is keeping me rolling and i'm doing nothing to it. Its had a new (not new) set of replacement engine mounts bought for it, as the lump is due to bounce clean out the car. I'll get them fitted when i have 2 spare minutes (next year i guess).

It also drinks. I mean, it *really* drinks. Took nearly a quarter tank to get to work this morning. The old carb on it is beyond shagged, and really needs replacement. I looked for some source of mixture adjustment but its a sealed unit so far as i can make out. Not good. Late model carb equipped emissions wibblepoo basically.

Enter....the SU.

Picked up an HIF from the bay, from a 1.3 metro. Looks like this:



but not as shiny. Crucially, its versatile, robust, and simples. Stock 8v Vitaras are downdrafts though, so i was daydreaming some form of adapter idea when i realized someone already beat me to it! Next purchase, the adapter:



It does look a bit home brew, but its effective and basic. Ideal. I think the one i purchased doesn't have the heating pipework around it, which really is needed as the SU's apparently are susceptible to carb icing. Will address this before fitting.

To be honest, the saving in fuel costs alone will justify this purchase.

[campermididean]

first of all the original carbs are ok when in good nick curse word when worn! su carbs are an ok solution fitting spi is much better for mpg and reliability. find a rotten lwb 16v and swap lot over

[hughsie80]

That trailer= super win, nice car to, never seen a skinny bodied one.

[ToolsnTrack]

So i have made some progress. Changed the engine mounts over to try and stop the rocking. Hasnt worked in the slightest, the rocking is purely symptomatic of poorly running engine. Ah well, at least the wear those mounts will have had as a result has been addressed.

So on to the rough running. Got myself an SU adapter for the manifold, and hoiked an HIF44 from eBay. I guess it was a metro it came from. Anyway, looks like this:



Next up, a selection of new needles, including the recommended BDL for running an 8v 1.6. Wee strip down and LO! What do we have here??



BDL needle wont fit the jet. Ar$e.

[ToolsnTrack]

Carb conversion on hold at the moment until i figure out the jet issue...

Did some other tinkering amongst house DIY today. i bought a few bits and bobs to do a diff oil change on the old boys X-Trail, in exchange for him bringing up the monster trailer (total fail on welding the towbar on so far). Decided to test this all out today with the Vitara. It is a bit "waily" above 50, so i drained the old fluid out. Came out a bit like gravy.



2 litres of MT90 in using my 500ml oil syringe (good god, get one bought. Has transformed this kind of job!), and its made a HUGE difference. Its by no means silent, but it feels a lot more refined from behind.

Pleased with that.

[ToolsnTrack]

So i was informed that HIF SU carbs came with 3 different jets. 0.09, 0.1 and one other. I must have had the 0.09 as the next step up worked with the BDL needle.

Except it didnt. The jet is, for some reason, exactly the opposite orientation to what i need.



Which is a problem, as the lower part of the carb has a specific casting, meaning that the pick up on the jet can only fit one way. Its... useless then.

Bah. On to more basic stuff: the towbar i bought months ago. Couldnt fit it because the captive nuts for the pre-equipped towbar bolts were excessively corroded or sheared completely. Cure? Chop open the chassis leg and drop in some new bolts, then attach the brackets and hammer the flaps closed:



We all know thats a bit weak for what will now be a load bearing chassis section. Cue, the new welder!!



BAM! Of course, even on £500 squibs, i like to throw a bit of flair out:



Dressed welds....



...and a bit of Hammerite!

All bolted up now, and feeling pretty sturdy! Only problem is, i used the bolts and nuts with the kit, the ones mean for bolting the brackets to the crossbar. Now i can has no bolts left for completing the assembly!



Looking the part though! New bolts on order too. Just the electrics to finish and its hauling a load!

[ToolsnTrack]

Bloody cars. So the Vitara has been sat up with a flat battery for a few weeks. This weekend was going to be jump start time to press it back into service. The mr2 got its tax reminder in (instant SORN!) so down to 2 road legal cars. Then the Vitaras reminder came in too.

Decided it prudent to check the MOT at the same time. It's up at the end of the month. Groan, the joys of having multiple cars. So the plan now is:

Jump start the goat. Get her running then perform basic MoT tart up. I know the horn works, and to be honest the brakes are iffy. Will put it in for a ticket next week. If its a long fail sheet, I have to stick to my bangernomics remit and cut my losses. It only cost 500 quid after all, and everything I bought for it can be easily removed.

That means I will be down to one running car.... But that will soon change.

[ToolsnTrack]

Well it's been a few months, and the MOT is now due. Who wants to take bets on how long the fail sheet will be today??