[DomGat]

Just picked up a 97 Sierra JX yesterday, still undecided if it was a good idea.
Need to make some improvements & would like to know what opinions might be as to what gear should be the priority for making it the most reliable & comfortable ride. Bought the car unregistered, after about 18 months sitting idle. After driving it, I am convinced that it might not even have suspension fitted.
Mechanically it runs sweet, but the ride is fucked. The tyres are hard and cracked too. The canopy is original & looks like shit but i'd prefer to get the ride right before I look at replacing that.
What lift kit & suspension should I get my hands on? 2" seems the go.
Value is my main concern. What is going to help the ride, but for the least damage.
With the cracking $dollar should I import parts from the US? If so where do I look? What bits do i need?
Or is there a better place to get the right gear locally in Sydney?
If I'm to improve the power from the motor what is the most straightforward improvements to achieve this? extractors/exhaust/air filter?
What are the largest tyres I can fit on the stock rims? What is a good/cheap all terrain tyre? Do I have to change the stock wheels, or will I have to, in order to get the most out of the ride?
The car will be used 90% as an urban runabout, the rest a weekend bashabout.
Sorry if ever question I have has already been asked in previous posts, but I'm a massive newbie hoping to get some good ideas on where to start on a new Sierra project.... god help me.

[Fatzook]

Firstly. We need pics

You cannot buy many parts from the US that will suit a coily as they were never sold there.

Ebay has some relatively cheap suspension kits that most coily owners don't mind.

235/75's are as big as I would go on stock rims. Or a 215/85 if you fit a body lift aswell.

[steak_knife]

Fatzook wrote:

Firstly. We need pics

You cannot buy many parts from the US that will suit a coily as they were never sold there.

Ebay has some relatively cheap suspension kits that most coily owners don't mind.

235/75's are as big as I would go on stock rims. Or a 215/85 if you fit a body lift aswell.

& in that way they beat us....

[DomGat]

Pics will come on Monday, as she is spending the weekend with my mechanic to make sure she won't burst into flames next time I drive her. Sure is a different ride to my g vitara.

Thanks for any advice guys!

[Richo]

I'm running extractors 2" exhaust, snorkel and recently platinum plugs in my coily and i believe it made a noticeable improvement in my power but nothing massive. 2" lift will let you run 30x9.5 tyres without any major scraping

[hem49]

i just put on a lift (40mm) that i got from ebay, $600 to my door in 3 days. Fitted in an hour and man it gave me 60mm lift on all corners (still had original 215000km), i took it to the blue mtns today and it went better then my old 92 zook did.

[coily96]

mines a 96, first thing was 215/75 a/ts with new sunnies, then the ultima-bluemax 2inch lift. Then max headers with 2inch exhaust. Rtc steering stablizer. If i was to buy all that again, it would get 30's instead of 27's. The 215's will let you down in ground clearence with the front diff centre. Also the ebay lift will sag in the front in a few months.

[DomGat]

So had my 2nd zook for a few days now & ok i'm in. I already have in mind what I want to do but its not going to be to this car.
This car i want to get riding smooth & then I think I'll sell her in a few months.
After getting it up on a hoist I found that the rear bushes and shocks are finished. I think I found the reason for the miserable ride.
Tyres will do for my needs, so I won't change them.
I'm taking the car to far west nsw for a week in June and need it to be comfortable (within means) & reliable (completely).

I am mechanically retarded so i'll need some advice on what parts will suit for the job i'm thinking these items from ebay-

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 542wt_1139

I'm not sure where to get a set of rear bushes & which to get. Only full sets available on ebay.
I been told the front setup is ok to get by & the springs in the back are ok, or should I change them while I've got her up? If so where to get rear springs.

I don't care to lift it or do anything special, thats for the next owner to do.
Just need to work out the little issues.
Thanks again for any help.

[DomGat]

my coily

[alien]

wow - im so used to seeing sierra's with 215/75s that the stock tyres just look wrong now!

some 2" springs and 215/75's at least will have it looking and driving way betterer!