[PhillT]

I wonder if someone could help me with a couple of queries please.

1. What was the last year that LWB Vitaras were made without the plastic half/skins on the bottoms of the doors and side panels?

2. What engines were available in that year model?

3. What are you left with if you remove these plastic skins? Any pic of one with them removed would be great. I imagine that there would be some mounting holes left in doors and guards, but are the wheel arches in a "finished state" or raw edges. As you no doubt have gathered, I do not like them, so want to buy a model without them, or remove them after purchase, but do not want a full scale panel & paint job on my hands if I do remove them.

I used to own a Sierra LWB import, ...the one with the 4 seats, high roof with sun roof and side light windows in the roof. It was without a doubt the best 4WD I have ever had as far as go anywhere ability, and I have had FJ40, HJ40 (6cyl diesel swb) FJ55, I.H Scout, Daihatsu F50, 4cyl Jackeroo, J'roo with Com.V6, Hilux diesel, and now I am looking for a Suzuki again.
I look at my old pics of the Zook & weep. I should have never sold it.

I have given up looking for a LWB Sierra like the one I had, so am now looking for a Vitara LWB, but the plastic skins....YUK!!!

Great forum guys.

PhilT.

[royce]

Hi Phil, from what you are describing you mean the Grand vitara model, that started in 1998

not sure what they look like removed but Bruce may be able to describe when he gets back in a few days

not sure if the Vitara overlapped in years with the GV so probably the last models were the V6 LWB circa 97

[PhillT]

Thanks Royce. So any LWB pre 1998 should be w/out the skins.

Did any pre 98 LWB Vitaras have the 2.0Litre 4 cylinder engine?

PhillT.

[royce]

should be, I am just trying to think if the so called wide body models had them or not

think the wagons were all 2 litre V6, the SWB was 2 litre 4 cyl but I am unsure

[zuk94]

94 model Vitara LWB with 1.6 litre 4 cylinder motor - NO trims on bottom of doors .

95 started with the trims on bottom of doors and also introduced a 6 cylinder 2 litre motor. To do this they made the wheel track slightly wider ( approx 100mm ) . Refering to LWB here.

96 the same.

97 they brought out a 4 cylinder 2 litre motor but only in th 2 door.

98 6 cylinder 2 litre in a LWB 4 door and 4 cylinder in the SWB 2 door.

1998 is also when they brought in the Grand Vitara , which obviously is the new shape.
Can't tell you what the Vitara's look like without the trims though.

I found The Red Book helpful with information which I'm using.Then looking at Carsales.com was helpfull with pictures which the Red Book is as accurate

Peter.

[PhillT]

Thanks Peter. Looks like getting a 2.0L 4cyl w/out trims isn't going to happen
I wonder if the very first of the '95 6cyl had the trims or not.

Any comments on the 2.0 L 6 cyl would be appreciated. It was not one of my first choices because when I looked at Torque/revs and Power/revs it seemed to be as much of a screamer as the 1.6 l efi which I would prefer because the gains in the 2.0 6 are minimal at best, and the complexity and therefore maintenance costs would be higher.

PhillT

[zuk94]

Sorry not enough knowledge to make a comment you can rely on.
When I looking though , the advice given to me was 4 cylinder stay with the 1.6 litre because there are plenty of them for spares.
Happy hunting .

Peter.

[shandy92]

hi mate,
i have a 96 swb vitara, not sure of this is what you mean, but hey

I just took the plastic skin off because of a rust issue, what you are left with is 8 small plastic covers which cover up holes about 10mm big each side.
i have a few pics, of my project.

this is before i removed them


this is after removal, i have put some white tape over the holes to stop water entering


hope this helps
mitch

[TASSIETOYUKI]

Sorry no help on Vitara stuff, but could you please post up the pics of the Sierra you used to own. I am very interested in it.

[Saam]

as far as i knew the J20A 2.0 4cyl in the 2 door 97 was noticeably more powerfull than the G16B

[atari4x4]

# J20A, 1995cc, petrol, 4-cyls, mpi, 4-valves/cyl, dohc
# bore: 84mm, stroke: 90mm, c.r.: 9.3:1
# power: 95kW at 6000rpm, torque: 174Nm at 2900rpm

[PhillT]

Thanks for the replies.

Mitch, I can see where the rocker-panel covers where attached, but not where the door panels were. Look at the first two pics in this thread, the dorrs have half-skins (silver) on them. Did yours have them?

Pic as requested.

[PhillT]

Did some research and compiled this:- Maybe should put it in FAQ??

Vitara SWB & LWB '95-'97.
G16A & G16B(LWB)
1.6L EFI 16valve SOHC
71kW at 5600rpm
132Nm at 4000rpm

From mid '97
dohc 2.0L 4cyl
97kW at 6200rpm,
166Nm at 3000rpm

Vitara LWB V6 from 1995, 1997
H20A 2.0L V6 24valve DOHC
bore: 78mm, stroke: 69.7mm, c.r.: 9.5:1
100kW at 6500rpm,
172Nm at 4000rpm

Vitara LWB 1998
2.5L petrol, V6, 24 valve
106kW,
208Nm

J20A'98-'05 2.0L 4cyl, mpi, 16valve, dohc
bore: 84mm, stroke: 90mm, c.r.: 9.3:1
95kW at 6000rpm,
*174Nm at *2900rpm

[shandy92]

hi phillT,
no mine never came with those silver things, but im sure you would be left with the same thing, i cant think of any other way they could stay on.
but from my knowledge they started putting them on in 97 or 98.

hope this helps.

mitch

[fordy1]

all zook engines are scremers but the 1.6 has no guts and dies earlier in the rev range but the 2L and the 2.5L pull all the way to the red line

ps 2l 4c cuts out at 7000 in second gear doing 112ks

[PhillT]

Thanks Mitch. I have bought a '98 so I will be looking at the possibility of removal & patch up.

fordy1, 2L 4cyl was my first choice, but budget & availability means I will have to be happy with my new 2.5L V6. Time will tell.

Phill.

[fordy1]

congrats on the Gv you will love it

this is my baby - 2.5L V6

[PhillT]

Nice looking car, nicest shade of red I've seen in a while. How much lift? Body or susp? Looks about the height I want.
Will lift mine when I get time & $$.

Right now I am trying to figure out how to get a spare remote. Only came with one, need two at least. Any ideas?

[fordy1]

4inch rear and 3inch front and no bodylift.

i think you will be heading to your local suzuki dealer to hand over some wads of cash

[PhillT]

$120 plus postage for 2. Not as bad as it could have been.

3" front, any issues with camber settings?

I need to do a search on this forum for more info on suspension lifting.
Not sure if I should get the springs re-set (streched) or get new ones. Shocks won't reach that far either I bet.