The tranfomation begins

[bearhunter338-06]

Well with the weather getting warmer and with the ice off the lake, the wind coming off the lake doesn't chill you down to the bone. I started transforming the Tracker.

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker002.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker001.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker004.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker003.jpg

So yesterday I got out my grinder and the reciprocating , put the Zip Cut wheel one the grinder and a mettle cutting blade on the reciprocating saw, and started removing the cage.

[bearhunter338-06]

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker005.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker007.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker006.jpg

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker008.jpg

I have a 2" receiver to be welded onto the back bumper. The 2 best tabs on the rocker guards will be welded to the front bumper for my driving lights. Yes I do know that the front bumper is 3/4" lower on the drivers side. That will be repaired when the winch gets installed.

[bearhunter338-06]

I havent had to much time in the last week as I have been taking a work shop through the local unemployment center, along with yard work. I did manage to get a few minutes here and there to get some welding done

The mounts for the axillary lights came of the rock guards:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker009.jpg

The rear receiver was an extension I had for my old truck:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker010.jpg

I found a snap in wiring kit for the trailer lights, that I ran through a rubber grommet that I found with other wires running though to the gas tank.

The cash out put for the project including the Garmin NUVI GPS unit (Air Miles are wonderful) which is to arrive tomorrow (Monday) is $70.
I am hoping to get it in at the end of the month for tranny maintenance and 2" exhaust.

Now I will be looking for a Back Roads SD card (Cheap)
Driving lights.
3" lift kit (not 100% sure I want one)
New timing belt (simply because I don't know how old the one I have is)recommended to be replaced every 100,000 K's)
Plus a few modifications on the interior I have planed.

[hillclimber]

looks like its coming along good. as far as lifts are concern calmini has some good options.. should be able to clear 30's or 31's with the 3inch lift

[CanuckShooter]

I sure hope your going to paint that ugly mirror??? ;-)

Suggest a portable winch, reciever on the front and your good to go either direction when you bog down....plus you can keep the whole rig out of the weather until you need it.

[bearhunter338-06]

I sure hope your going to paint that ugly mirror??? ;-)

Just for you I'll paint "That Ugly Mirror"

The truth be known I have been waiting for some warmer weather to paint the front bumper and the mirror.

[bearhunter338-06]

looks like its coming along good. as far as lifts are concern calmini has some good options.. should be able to clear 30's or 31's with the 3inch lift

There is a couple of companies in Kelowna that make lift kits for the Tracker/Suzuki's

[CanuckShooter]

Just for you I'll paint "That Ugly Mirror"

The truth be known I have been waiting for some warmer weather to paint the front bumper and the mirror.

You keeping the body colour??? Lin-x body guard along the bottom edges would rock!! Maybe some camo paint?? Ditching the white?? How about the interior.........

[bearhunter338-06]

The interior is in really good shape. I have removed the back seat to give the dogs some extra leg room. I am in the process of building a "Dog Bed" in the back. By doing this it will give an extra 10 - 12 inches in width. There will be 2 pull out draws for storage of equipment. I have a 4 X 5 foot trailer that I will be customizing for pulling behind the Tracker. I will be utilizing the cargo rack from the original rack and a boat rack I bought last year.

[bearhunter338-06]

I have had several people who deal/specialize in the Suzuki/Tracker's tell me it would be well worth my time to do the body work, but I will put that off till next year. I was going to tackle some of the body work my self and replace the 2 front fenders, $70 each ready for paint.

[WesHarm]

looks like an awsome ride! I've always wanted to get a tracker to transform myself!

[bearhunter338-06]

Over the next few months I think I will try my skills at some body work and work out some of the easy dents. I'm a wood worker by trade so I should be able to do it, it has been a long time since I worked in an auto body shop. I plan on making this a fun project.

Should call this project "Tracker on a budget"........

[Squamch]

Don't lift it, get some tires, figure out how much sheet metal needs to move and do it that way, as long as you have a reasonable sized spool of wire, cheaper than a lift kit. 45 gallon drums are a great source of wheel wells.
Great practice working on the inner welds, and by the time you're doing the outer welds on the fender you'll be good at it.

[Barracuda]

squamch your kidding right?

[bearhunter338-06]

the 225/75R/15 tires are as tall as I can go with out looking into changing gears (4.63 gears) because it is an automatic. Yes I know I can get away with 235/75R/15's but for a 1/2" I'm not going to bother. If I do lift it then I will maybe put on some 30" Toyo Open Country M/T's. I'm trying to keep this as a budget build.

Don't get me wrong I do not plan on cheeping out on parts. I have been talking with a person in Kelowna who has been specializing in the Tracker/Suzuki products for 17 years, going as far as designing his own parts. He has even saved me a few thousand dollars by telling me some of the modifications I was first planing where not needed. Just for this reason I have recommended him to others. I hope to have a 2" performance exhaust installed at the end of the month. Yes a 2" exhaust is to big (and even my guy will be the first to tell you this) but he has designed a restriction unit. This will give me more power (how much ?) and improve the fuel economy. And all this for the cost of a stock exhaust.

I'm not one to jump into something feet first, took me over 10 years to find the right Tracker/Suzuki. I do a lot or research and ask a lot of questions. Then I start looking for what I want. I got to say that I am living a second childhood working on the project.

My GPS arrived today so I will be figuring a place and way to mount it on/in the dash. And looking for new toys for the project. This weekend I hope to start working on the tag along trailer.

[hillclimber]

if your looking at building a wood box in the back i found a pick of a cool set up with a neat gun rack. just give me your email and i can send you it

[bearhunter338-06]

I sure hope your going to paint that ugly mirror??? ;-).


Just for CanuckShooter:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker012.jpg

[bearhunter338-06]

I think I found a place for the GPS, not 100% sure yet:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/Ruger338-06/Tracker011.jpg

[bearhunter338-06]

Friday she go's in for some service work on the transmission (slipping when cold and has a little shhhhhhhhhing sound), while its up on the hoist I will replace the stock exhaust system with a 2" performance exhaust system. With the new exhaust I will get a slight in-cress in power and fuel economy.

[CanuckShooter]

just for canuckshooter:

http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/ruger338-06/tracker012.jpg


sweet!!!...........;-)

[BlackwaterMerc]

You getting Skid plates! Its seems to me that on this ride if you got skid plates its nearly unstoppable. Great protection, also lowers your center of gravity even more. Thats the first thing i would do.

[bearhunter338-06]

The skid plates are on the list of options.

[Squamch]

squamch your kidding right?

About what?
I'm not kidding anywhere though.
You should be ok with bigger than 235's though, we run 33's on a Sami with a 1.3L and 5.13's.

[bearhunter338-06]

The transmition was serviced and checked out in excellent condition.On Tuesday I had the exhaust replaced with 2", and eliminated the Cadillac converter. I have noticed a slight increase in power and fuel. I will monitor the fuel for the next 3or 4 tanks and see just how much it will be.

[Barracuda]

how are you finding that gps? does it show logging roads?

[bearhunter338-06]

The GPS shows some of the numbered roads but not all. When I get the map book SD card it should be better with the logging roads and trails. I had 215/70/15 tires on when I first got the GPS. The speedometer was out by 7k at 100 (100 kph = 93 kph). I put the 225/75R/15's back on today, speedometer now reeds spot on with the GPS.

[bearhunter338-06]

Well I left Monday afternoon for Coquitlam, me, girlfriend, 2 dogs and our stuff. This is the second time going down in the Tracker with the same approximate load weight. I filled up in the same places as the last time. First time down Tracker was stock. Since the first trip I have installed a K&N air filter, new NGK Platinum spark plugs, tranny has been serviced and I have had a 2" exhaust installed (Cadillac converter removed). I noticed a defiant although not much power gain and save 3/4 of a tank of fuel on this trip.

On the way down I filled up in Kamloops. On the return trip I then filled up the tank in Mission (370.3 KM/36.76 Liters). I then filled up in Chase (351 KM/37.26 Liters). These numbers also match up with the Nuvi GPS. So if we add this up 721.3 KM. with 74.02 Liters of regular gas I got 9.74 liters per 100 KM.

Yes I know that some will say this is bad. I say it is good when in add 600 pounds in the vehicle the Coquihala ( Spelling?), and a 1.6 liter 98 horse engine with over 260,000 KM's.

[bearhunter338-06]

Now that I have the formula:

721.3 KM X 2.8125 ~ 74.02 Liters of fuel = 27.41 MPG.

Sounds a lot better then 9.74 liters per 100km........lol.

More to come...lol

1) a less aggressive all terrain tire. (Toyo Open Country AT) 225/75R/15
2) RV style cam and timing key (when I change the timing belt)
3) 3" suspension lift for the extra ground clearance.

With the first 2 modifications I should gain 2-4 miles per gallon.

I have also been thinking of contacting one of the local trade schools and getting them to do the body work/paint.

[bearhunter338-06]

Just a quick little up date for all who my be interested in the transformation.

I am buying a second Suzuki Sidekick from a fellow member on the sight. I will be using it as a parts vehicle. The engine is has lower kilometers then my engine, so I will most likely use that engine for the cam swap. I will have both engines tested for compression and chose the best one. If I can remember where I found it.....lol. I found where I can buy a kit to build a rock crawler.

And I thought guns where addictive..........

[hellojello74]

nothing like some good wheeling and building, and there is never an offseason, only wheeling building
ps im sure you have heard of pirate4x4 ? good resource for mild to wild

[Squamch]

A kit to build a crawler? Trailgear.ca

[SimilkameenSlayer]

looks great

some arb air lockers a winch and a lift would also be great

[bearhunter338-06]

looks great

some arb air lockers a winch and a lift would also be great

They are on the list.
I have done a lot of research and asked a lot of questions on different Suzuki/Tracker forums about cams, there just is not anything out there for the fuel injected motors. This will allow for a mini spool for the back diff. I hope to have a 3" lift in it this summer. I have a buddy who is a welder/fabricator and he will modify (and straighten) the front bumper for a winch (just need to decide on which winch I want).

I am thinking of contacting one of the local schools to get the body work and paint done. I have just a couple problems with this project 1) damn work keeps getting in the way 2) I'm just having to much fun driving this thing............:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

[bearhunter338-06]

Well I have been reading up on the Seafoam product. So I took the plunge and put a can in the gas tank. The fist tank with the Seafoam gave me an extra mile per gallon (29 miles per gallon to 30 miles per gallon). I noticed a slight power gain also. I drive by watching the tack more then the speedometer, and notice my engine is not revving as high for the speed I travel.
The second full tank of gas was a surprise 409.7 KM X 2.8125 ~ 33.88 = 34.01 miles per-gallon.

Even after the transmition flush I was having problems with the tranny slipping between 1st and 2nd when cold, it was as if it just slipped out of gear. So I got a can of Seafoam Trantune, problem salved. Next I will be putting a can in with the oil and flush out the engine.

If you have not tried this product I would suggest you give it a try. Google it and see for your self.

[bearhunter338-06]

It's been a bit from my last up date, but I have been laid up the past bit, with unforeseen illness. I have 16 days left till I see the cordialoligest (spelling ?) and get the go ahead to drive again. So today I ordered the Back Roads Map SD Card for my Garman Nuvi GPS I got for the Tracker. I plan on doing some road scouting, yes I said road scouting, I have several places I have been wanting to check out for a few months.

[bearhunter338-06]

Well I now have my SD card plugged into my GPS and ready to do some driving up in the local mountains. Now for the hard part, I have to wait till Monday to find out if the cardiologist will give me the go ahead to drive, this is making for a very long weekend.