Suzuki Blitz 4x4 build
- Thread starter kooder01
- Start date
Time for another update, managed to get a bit done though the week seen as its light a bit longer :rofl:
I got the gearbox, cleaned n painted up. I decided not to do anything with them as there wasn't any bad noises or leaks, If it aint broke, dont fix it!
Also got the prop shafts striped, cleaned and painted, even got one ready for re-fitting
Santa came early too...... the X brake from x eng was delivered, and you can guess what happened after that, I was under the blitz with my spanners!
Then I came up against a issue with the hand brake cable, all the brackets that were supplied were designed to fit the Sami body, they didnt fit the blitz. the cable would have pulled at too tight a angle if I put the bracket on the under side of the X member, So after a little think, I routed the cable through a 16mm hole I drilled in the X member.
I also fabbed up the steering box wedge for the Vitara power steering
Then offer it all together
I got the gearbox, cleaned n painted up. I decided not to do anything with them as there wasn't any bad noises or leaks, If it aint broke, dont fix it!
Also got the prop shafts striped, cleaned and painted, even got one ready for re-fitting
Santa came early too...... the X brake from x eng was delivered, and you can guess what happened after that, I was under the blitz with my spanners!
Then I came up against a issue with the hand brake cable, all the brackets that were supplied were designed to fit the Sami body, they didnt fit the blitz. the cable would have pulled at too tight a angle if I put the bracket on the under side of the X member, So after a little think, I routed the cable through a 16mm hole I drilled in the X member.
I also fabbed up the steering box wedge for the Vitara power steering
Then offer it all together
here's a little update from the past week, the Bini has thrown up a few problems this week so I have had to get that sorted out, new rear discs and pads, new front pads and while I was at that I found that the OSF wheel bearing was dead too! Also had a mates Bini over too for new pads and the calipers painting, only then to have him moan that he thought the price for the pads was a bit much, no pleasing some folk is there? £100 for new pads fitting and all the calipers painting inc parts!
I got the props on through the week, ran into a little problem with the transmission brake, tightened up the rear prop, this then locked the front pad tight up to the disc. After a bit of faffing about with shims that was sorted.
I decided it was time to dig the out the engine from the corner of the garage and start the clean up on that too
all the ancillaries taken off
after a dose of degreaser
while the engine was drying off, I got one of the arches out of the shed and set about getting it trimmed and fitted, needs a little more work to stop the front edge drooping down, but that should be easily fixed with a couple of bolts tapped into the frame.
Also this arrived this week
Hopefully it should be able to take the abuse!
Cheers
Gav
I got the props on through the week, ran into a little problem with the transmission brake, tightened up the rear prop, this then locked the front pad tight up to the disc. After a bit of faffing about with shims that was sorted.
I decided it was time to dig the out the engine from the corner of the garage and start the clean up on that too
all the ancillaries taken off
after a dose of degreaser
while the engine was drying off, I got one of the arches out of the shed and set about getting it trimmed and fitted, needs a little more work to stop the front edge drooping down, but that should be easily fixed with a couple of bolts tapped into the frame.
Also this arrived this week
Hopefully it should be able to take the abuse!
Cheers
Gav
Another update for you all, not really had much time on the blitz as I have been on with sorting the garage door out so I can get it in with the 35's on.
I got the rear arches fitted and sorted, I thought it would be a wise move to paint the inside of the arches with stone chip and seal up the fold in the bottom of the arch as it would be a prime spot to fill up with crud.
Also the arches sagged and flapped about a bit on the leading edge, so I drilled and tapped a hole into the box section cross member, that should hold them tight.
Also slung the new wheels on so I could get a height off it to see if the garage door frame needed remaking. Luckily it didnt, the door frame is 78.5" tall, the blitz is 77" with most of the heavy bits to go back in yet!
The courier dropped off my bits from Rob Storr this week aswell, I ordered a Rear Disc conversion Kit and his Hi-Steer kit aswell. All I can say both bits of kit look very well made! Nice bloke too!
I got the rear arches fitted and sorted, I thought it would be a wise move to paint the inside of the arches with stone chip and seal up the fold in the bottom of the arch as it would be a prime spot to fill up with crud.
Also the arches sagged and flapped about a bit on the leading edge, so I drilled and tapped a hole into the box section cross member, that should hold them tight.
Also slung the new wheels on so I could get a height off it to see if the garage door frame needed remaking. Luckily it didnt, the door frame is 78.5" tall, the blitz is 77" with most of the heavy bits to go back in yet!
The courier dropped off my bits from Rob Storr this week aswell, I ordered a Rear Disc conversion Kit and his Hi-Steer kit aswell. All I can say both bits of kit look very well made! Nice bloke too!
Managed to get a few hours in over the past couple of evening, I love the lighter nights!
As I had most of the bits to complete the brakes at both ends, it seemed a shame to leave all the bits in the boxes!
the rears
stripped right down
Rob Storr rear kit fitted
All done
and the near as well
Then on to the fronts, I also fitted the Hi Steer kit too, as it used the bolts holes that the calliper brackets do. While I was having a tidy up I found my Free Wheel hubs so they got fitted too after making some new gaskets.
all done
near side
Hopefully more to come after the weekend too!!
Gav
As I had most of the bits to complete the brakes at both ends, it seemed a shame to leave all the bits in the boxes!
the rears
stripped right down
Rob Storr rear kit fitted
All done
and the near as well
Then on to the fronts, I also fitted the Hi Steer kit too, as it used the bolts holes that the calliper brackets do. While I was having a tidy up I found my Free Wheel hubs so they got fitted too after making some new gaskets.
all done
near side
Hopefully more to come after the weekend too!!
Gav
Time for another update, I got some more done over the weekend. It felt like I was doing loads of jobs but some are still awaiting completion due to issues or waiting for bits.
The main bit of progress is that the engine and box are now back in the chassis after a bit of a spruce up
Etch primed
Silver paint
All the brakets, mounts and freshly painted sump on
fresh paddle clutch fitted
box on
finally, fitted
The exhaust manifold is not staying as I have a Calmini Manifold and system on its way, also ordered my seats today, I have gone for the GRP ones that are fitted to the new Caterhams. I have had to go with these as the blitz is a bit on the narrow side for most bucket seats.
hope you like!
The main bit of progress is that the engine and box are now back in the chassis after a bit of a spruce up
Etch primed
Silver paint
All the brakets, mounts and freshly painted sump on
fresh paddle clutch fitted
box on
finally, fitted
The exhaust manifold is not staying as I have a Calmini Manifold and system on its way, also ordered my seats today, I have gone for the GRP ones that are fitted to the new Caterhams. I have had to go with these as the blitz is a bit on the narrow side for most bucket seats.
hope you like!
update time again
After getting the engine and box back in, I thought it would be best to start on the wiring. As mentioned previously the loom that was in the blitz tub when I collected it is a bit of a mess. I'm fitting the loom from the original car as from what I could tell it was the better of the 2.
The old loom and the bodged up heater removed too, I have a plan for the heater, more on that a little later...
The donor SJ loom laid in and the column plugs connected. I stripped the insulation off most of it so I could move various multi plugs and cabling around so I can fit the dash where I wanted it. Also I pulled the section of the loom for the rear lights, reverse light switch and 4WD light switch out of the bunch that is usually out side the cab and pulled it inside. Its now clipped to the top of the transmission tunnel and routed down the side of the rear tray along side the NS arch.
As mentioned earlier the heater situation is sorted, I was digging about in the shed looking for something for the mrs and stumbled upon this.
I couldnt tell you what is come out of, If my memory serves me right it came with a boat load of bits that I bought for a mini years ago. Anyhow, it fits like this, makes a neat job of it too. It has the same size heater matrix as the original SJ one, so should help with the extra cooling. Since the fit its had a clean up and a lick of paint.
I got the the clocks and switches mounted, the dash wont be staying the bright ali finish as the sun was bouncing off it as I was fitting it, blinding isnt the word. So it will be covered in something once I decide on what
Back to the loom, seen as the front end removes with just 6 bolts, I thought It would be beneficial to split the front loom down so the that the lights are separate. Then I put in a multiplug so it can be split easily.
As the loom was now split out, I cracked on with mounting the front indicators and side lights. After knocking put the mounts of some ali sheet they looked like this
and look like this on the car
The brackets are now painted and hardening in garage before the final fitting
Once the loom is finished off it will get spiral wrapped to give it a bit more protection.
Thats all for now!
After getting the engine and box back in, I thought it would be best to start on the wiring. As mentioned previously the loom that was in the blitz tub when I collected it is a bit of a mess. I'm fitting the loom from the original car as from what I could tell it was the better of the 2.
The old loom and the bodged up heater removed too, I have a plan for the heater, more on that a little later...
The donor SJ loom laid in and the column plugs connected. I stripped the insulation off most of it so I could move various multi plugs and cabling around so I can fit the dash where I wanted it. Also I pulled the section of the loom for the rear lights, reverse light switch and 4WD light switch out of the bunch that is usually out side the cab and pulled it inside. Its now clipped to the top of the transmission tunnel and routed down the side of the rear tray along side the NS arch.
As mentioned earlier the heater situation is sorted, I was digging about in the shed looking for something for the mrs and stumbled upon this.
I couldnt tell you what is come out of, If my memory serves me right it came with a boat load of bits that I bought for a mini years ago. Anyhow, it fits like this, makes a neat job of it too. It has the same size heater matrix as the original SJ one, so should help with the extra cooling. Since the fit its had a clean up and a lick of paint.
I got the the clocks and switches mounted, the dash wont be staying the bright ali finish as the sun was bouncing off it as I was fitting it, blinding isnt the word. So it will be covered in something once I decide on what
Back to the loom, seen as the front end removes with just 6 bolts, I thought It would be beneficial to split the front loom down so the that the lights are separate. Then I put in a multiplug so it can be split easily.
As the loom was now split out, I cracked on with mounting the front indicators and side lights. After knocking put the mounts of some ali sheet they looked like this
and look like this on the car
The brackets are now painted and hardening in garage before the final fitting
Once the loom is finished off it will get spiral wrapped to give it a bit more protection.
Thats all for now!
Another update for you all,
I have had the time off between the 2 bank holiday weekends, although it doesnt look like much progress the wiring is almost complete.
The front lights and wiring are now complete,
Also the engine wiring so also completed too,
The front to rear loom is wrapped and clipped down and the rear lights are fitted.
I also started mounting the original fuse box, the additional fuse box and the extra relays aswell.
Also all of the wiring behind the dash has been wrapped too
I also settled on the covering for the dash board....
I can't knock the quality of the vinyl, very easy to work with too!
I have had the time off between the 2 bank holiday weekends, although it doesnt look like much progress the wiring is almost complete.
The front lights and wiring are now complete,
Also the engine wiring so also completed too,
The front to rear loom is wrapped and clipped down and the rear lights are fitted.
I also started mounting the original fuse box, the additional fuse box and the extra relays aswell.
Also all of the wiring behind the dash has been wrapped too
I also settled on the covering for the dash board....
I can't knock the quality of the vinyl, very easy to work with too!
Another update for you all, not much to report time has been a little limited over the past week,
My spidertrax bottom pullet turned up through the week, I was a little concerned about welding a vit and sami pulley together and getting it concentric, so this seemed a great solution, and it looks great too! shame you wont see it once the rad is back in!
I also sorted the power steering pump mount. All the bits have been stripped and painted, Ill post a pic of it all finished next time
Also I cleaned the webber up for it and noticed that the conversion plate is bigger than the original opening into the inlet manifold, as shown in black in the first pic. I didnt think this would be good for flow so I opened it up with the die grinder, although I forgot to take a pic of the finished job but you get the idea
I thought it would be wise to get the rad mounts sorted out before I get the power steering hose made up. I have slid the NS bracket inside the old mount that had to be trimmed to get the pump pulley in, this has moved the rad over to clear the steering box, so all Ill have to make up is a spacer for the OS
I also got these off ebay for a bargain price (£23 for all 4), should make a decent job of storing all the tools, ropes n bits and bobs.
Gav
My spidertrax bottom pullet turned up through the week, I was a little concerned about welding a vit and sami pulley together and getting it concentric, so this seemed a great solution, and it looks great too! shame you wont see it once the rad is back in!
I also sorted the power steering pump mount. All the bits have been stripped and painted, Ill post a pic of it all finished next time
Also I cleaned the webber up for it and noticed that the conversion plate is bigger than the original opening into the inlet manifold, as shown in black in the first pic. I didnt think this would be good for flow so I opened it up with the die grinder, although I forgot to take a pic of the finished job but you get the idea
I thought it would be wise to get the rad mounts sorted out before I get the power steering hose made up. I have slid the NS bracket inside the old mount that had to be trimmed to get the pump pulley in, this has moved the rad over to clear the steering box, so all Ill have to make up is a spacer for the OS
I also got these off ebay for a bargain price (£23 for all 4), should make a decent job of storing all the tools, ropes n bits and bobs.
Gav