[Mart4x4]

Hello,

My name is Marcin and i`m from Poland.
I own Suzuki Vitara LWB 1,6 with some mods, 4" suspension lift, 29" MT tires. It's better than i have expected, however i started to plan further modifications.

My plan is to base on Jimny T-case (H 1,32, Lo 2,643) and put bigger tires. This would give me quite normal speed on roads, and satisfiying gear ratio in mud.
However i have concerns if Jimny T-case can withstand 1,6 16V and 32" agressive MT tires in that relatively heavy car.
I tried to find information about how strong is Jimny T-case, but most of people exchange it for SJ/Samurai case (in pursuit of lower gear ratios).

As for the comparisonSJ/Samurai case has strong gears, but the housing has to be strengthened. Jimny case has chain drive, and i`m wondering how does it work in heavy offroad.


Thanks in advance for any information.

BR
Marcin

[Gwagensteve]

It won't be strong enough. I would use an LT 230 transfer case.

[tanshi]

lt230 is stromng but weighing in at 65kg dry its stupid heavy. id be looking at hilux or similar

[Gwagensteve]

I assumed the op was looking for an offset rear case with high range reduction based on wanting to use a Jimny case.

Agreed, if neither of those things are a requirement then hilux or various others would also work.

[tanshi]

i assumed they were sticking with the near centred rear vitara diff.

haha

either way jimny isnt gonna cut it

[Mart4x4]

Many Thanks!

LT230 is commonly used in extreme cars here in PL.
I will check Hilux, never considered that before.

[vet 180]

Gwagensteve wrote:

It won't be strong enough. I would use an LT 230 transfer case.

Why do you say that? Suzuki run the same case on the 1.5 diesels in Europe that put out more torque than the 1.6 will?

[Gwagensteve]

Because they're tiny and chain stretch isn't unknown even with a standard car. He op is planning a heavier car with much larger tyres.

Input torque is only 1/2 the problem. Traction is the other side of the coin. A vitara on 32" tyres can generate a lot more traction, which is load on the transfer case.

Mart, you need to look carefully at your gearing. Hilux transfer cases have direct high range so it won't help to correct larger tyres. Standard low range gearing is only marginally better than vitara.

[vet 180]

^^^^ Fair call, missed the part with 32's and just read the first sentence stating 29's.

[Mart4x4]

I have crazy idea to fit t-case which will fit perfectly, at least in terms of gearing and low weight.
However i need to buy some parts first to check if it is physicaly possible.

Thanks for feedback!

[OldBlindDog]

I'd better stay with vit's original tcase. Here in Russia we have cheap low gearing options for it. And it's much tougher than weak Jimny tcase. I've blown it twice in a month with M18A and just 235/75/15...
Or use Samurai tcase. Work ok with Jimny with 3S-GE and SR20DET in them.

[Gwagensteve]

I think the reduction in high range was part (most) of what Mart4X4 was trying to achieve by using the Jimny case.
I have seen Vitara cases break chains with 32" tyres and reduction gearing in the transfer case. Along with the lack of slip yokes and the direct high range, it's hard to recommend one for an owner looking for a strong, reliable gearing solution for both on and off road.

The strength of the Samurai case is variable. Whilst they might tolerate an SR20 or 3SGE under low traction conditions, load them up with lots of traction and they will fail with that much input power.

Steve.

[got_bar_work]

My mates old sierra ran a 3.1 td and 39 iroks and would smash lux diffs and axels but never had problems with his braced 6.5 sierra case. I think they are a lot stronger then people give them credit for

[Gwagensteve]

Like I said.... variable.

[OldBlindDog]

Yeah... Years passed and I have to admit, sammy tcases are weak...
Guys here smashed about two dozens of them with M18A and 32-33" wheels. I've fed up replacing.
Searching for something new. ))

[Gwagensteve]

You have some other significant problem with your vehicle (or no idea how to drive properly) if you have broken 24 transfer case gearsets, even with an M18 and 33" tyres.

A large group of us has been running 33"+ tyres for many meany years with very, very rare transfer failure.

I would have thought that Russian 4WDing would be mostly low traction surfaces, so the transfer isn't highly loaded.