MB OM617 powered Wrangler or VW TD powered Sidekick?

Clb

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Without having read the thread thru....
fwiw
I have been on many trails rated 7+ and never seen a sidekick, now sammi's yes, but I agree on the highway part.
 

saburai

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Without having read the thread thru....
fwiw
I have been on many trails rated 7+ and never seen a sidekick, now sammi's yes, but I agree on the highway part.

What I need is primarily and over the road vehicle with good off road capabilities. Here are two examples of sidekick or tracker builds first one is extensive buildup and the second is more likely something like I would do with the notable difference of a VW idit engine.

http://www.zukioffroad.com/1998-lror_geo_tracker-4-door/

http://www.zukioffroad.com/1995-sidekick-4-door-daily-driver/
 

Clb

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Well without locker's...
They are ALL the same.
Once you jump that it matters.

I guess me being in the rockcrawler club, makes me an adamant h8ter of "overlanding" and most likely makes me jaded .
Build what works out the best.
My guess is .... Wide track, long wheelbase, high clearance, and a.c. No trailer needed.
 

saburai

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Well without locker's...
They are ALL the same.
Once you jump that it matters.

I guess me being in the rockcrawler club, makes me an adamant h8ter of "overlanding" and most likely makes me jaded .
Build what works out the best.
My guess is .... Wide track, long wheelbase, high clearance, and a.c. No trailer needed.
Take a moment to scan the thread and take a look at my Jeep. It's no rock crawler, but it does okay for one of the dreaded overlanders! It's a daily driver, in fact my wife drives it and I drive the F-250. The Suzuki will be a daily driver as well...
 

Clb

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No diggs were intended ,sorry..
I was talking about the zuk... (Lockers)
THE snorkel club just irritates me cuz
"if the computer is on the floor what good is the snorkle???"
Not everyone wants to get vertical,
the best thing about the sport is accessing public lands, getting away and breathing fresh air.
But everything changes with lockers f\r (usually the amount of $$$ thrown at it) i wish my wife would drive one of my wheelers....
The big zuki would be my pick for mild family fun, the sammi if yer going full on, but they are tiny inside so pack carefully.
 
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Clb

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My bud at hollister hills, and yep that's @IdIot in the mancherro ferd.
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His wagon has done well on rubicon,barrett lake and a few others, why not use yours???
 
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saburai

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No diggs were intended ,sorry..
I was talking about the zuk... (Lockers)
THE snorkel club just irritates me cuz
"if the computer is on the floor what good is the snorkle???"
Not everyone wants to get vertical,
the best thing about the sport is accessing public lands, getting away and breathing fresh air.
But everything changes with lockers f\r (usually the amount of $$$ thrown at it) i wish my wife would drive one of my wheelers....
The big zuki would be my pick for mild family fun, the sammi if yer going full on, but they are tiny inside so pack carefully.
No worries, I didn't take it as a dig. Besides, I got skin so thick it'd shame a gator. The mall crawling, snorkeling JK crowd makes me want to barf too. I'm not quite sure what you're talking about with the locker reference. It would definitely be a four door sidekick /tracker build. Zukidub would be a smaller simple turbo diesel that would return excellent fuel economy. As to why not just put the OM 617 in my XJ, among other reasons, I'm sick to death of unibody platforms...
 

Clb

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As to the locker thing...
If you go from open\open to locked up or locked up to doubled....
And then wondered how you did it before!

Oh and I get the unibody thing, so much suck when the doors stick cuz of body twist (my personal fav.. The back door popping open!)
 

saburai

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As to the locker thing...
If you go from open\open to locked up or locked up to doubled....
And then wondered how you did it before!

Oh and I get the unibody thing, so much suck when the doors stick cuz of body twist (my personal fav.. The back door popping open!)
Yep.
ARB f/r on the Jeep.
 

Clb

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time for more eng. Searching...
Is there a mechanical inj. Vw???
Bump
 

YJMike92

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The old VW's had mechanical pumps. Late 70's early 80's Not too peppy but they were solid. I guess you could turbocharge one.
 

saburai

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The old VW's had mechanical pumps. Late 70's early 80's Not too peppy but they were solid. I guess you could turbocharge one.

If my research has correct VW made IDI diesels up until 1995. There were Factory turbocharged versions as well. This is definitely a back burner project for me only because I have so much other stuff on my plate. I'll update with more information at least, as soon as I find it...
 

Shadetreemechanic

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The 1.6 turbos are not uncommon. The 1.9 turbos were sold in canada I think but can also be had.
But I would spend my $$ on a benz diesel. Cast iron head beats aluminum any day.
 
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saburai

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The 1.6 turbos are not uncommon. The 1.9 turbos were sold in canada I think but can also be had.
But I would spend my $$ on a benz diesel. Cast iron head beats aluminum any day.

Agreed on a cast iron head issue! However a properly built 1.9 IDI VW in a Suzuki Sidekick would be competent both on the road and off while returning possibly 40 MPG
 

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