Suzuki Steve's '97 4-door Sidekick Build (the real build thread)

I'll be working on it tonight and tomorrow if anyone wants to come lend a hand and see how this kit installs or learn a little more about links. Shoot me a PM if you would like to swing by.
 
I wish I could catch a plane and come help.

It's a good thing my wife doesn't get on here, I think she would kill me if she found out I said that and didn't tell her "I wish I could catch a plane to be with you" haha.
 
TJDukit said:
I wish I could catch a plane and come help.

It's a good thing my wife doesn't get on here, I think she would kill me if she found out I said that and didn't tell her "I wish I could catch a plane to be with you" haha.
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we all know you tell her that when you're not online, so it's all good :)
 
I got some more work done tonight.

I cut off the crossmember under the oil pan. I have officially crossed the point of no return.

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And I got 4 of the 6 holes drilled for the subframe. It's held in by 4 of the 6 bolts. I killed my drill bit with these holes. Hopefully I can still get 2 more holes out of it before it's totally dead.

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If all goes as planned, it should be sitting under its own weight tomorrow night.
 
When you cut out the x-member under the oil pan did anything shift like it was under tension? Are you worried about building some sort of x-member to replace it, or does the frame seem solid without it?
 
nope, nothing shifted at all. The last 1/4" of my cut didn't spring anymore than the weight of the crossmember falling.

The kit came with a replacemebt crossmember, but honestly, the frame seems solid enough without it in my opinion.
 
sixstringsteve said:
nope, nothing shifted at all. The last 1/4" of my cut didn't spring anymore than the weight of the crossmember falling.

The kit came with a replacemebt crossmember, but honestly, the frame seems solid enough without it in my opinion.
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Did the same thing on my old 4dr and my wife's current tracker...No ill effect's without the crossmember.You will be fine without it.
 
On thursday my coils showed up:

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I'm running 16" 200 lb springs in front, and 16" 250 lb springs in the rear. I mainly took this picture so I could remember what springs I"m running.
 
Got some work done today.

This is what the replacement crossmember looks like if anyone was curious.

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Panhard welded on

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Old coil vs new coil (the new one is the longer one if you couldn't tell ;) )

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Got the coils and installed on the front end.

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then I went to town on the rear end. This is what it looks sitting under its own weight.

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after a hard day's work.
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I know the springs are going to settle, but it sits 18" from frame to ground. That's a little better than the 8" I had stock. I don't even have the 33's on it yet. I hope it settles down a bit though, it's a little tall. I'm glad I went with the deep dish wheels, they should help it feel stable. The rear sits lower than the front by about an inch. I hope that the front settles some since it has so much more weight up there.

There are still a few things I need to do:
- brakes
- shocks
- drivelines

Then get it aligned.
 
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Thanks for swinging by today Tyler, it was good company for a bit. I forgot to give you your brass bar back. Dang. I'll run it over one of these nights.

ANd a big thanks to my brother Brian for helping me so much today.
 
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