'Ello 'ello,

I've been a 'dweller' on the planet forums, but thought I;ve have a wee gander over on here, as people talk about it quite a bit. I've got a 2.2 Amigo 4x4, '98. Bone stock at the moment, except for a crappy brush guard, and an awesome bug guard that boosts engine power by at lease 40 bhp. I'm working in Kazakhstan at the moment, but have a few plans for when I get back. 3" indy lify, hd tie rods, and possibly 3.07 transfer case gears, as someone recommended them. Not done much off roading, but want to get into t a bit more. I used to be a bit of a speed freak, and had a nice little modified MR2 turbo, which pushed out 300+ bhp. Very nice little car, and quite a sleeper!

Anyway, I have bored you enough. If anyone has any tips for a 2.2 I'll gladly hear them!!!

Welcome to the board. I have a 3.2, not a 2.2, but I'll be glad to help you in any way. Indy 4X is a great place to get what you need. Matt's a friend and neighbor. Below is what I've done with mine.

Pete
(PS - I've worked in Uzbekistan some, so I can imagine your working environment)

Lovin' the front bumper. You have a match on the back? Probably the only thing I don't like about the amigo is the stock bumper on the front. It's so 'soft'. Not even vaguely aggressive. I quite like the Calmini winch one, but afraid an extra 80 lbs on the front, with a 2.2 is too much. The tube one you have... how heavy is it? They look so much meaner with the increased height of the front! Me likey!

I've not been to Uzbekistan. Currently sailing up to the Northern Caspian after a time in Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. They tend to be OK in the city, with bars, restaurents, etc, but out in the sticks, you only have camels, goats, and rocks to keep you amused!

Matt Brown at Indy 4X made me a custom tube bumper. I wanted a very light bumper that was strong enough for a winch. I also replaced the steel winch cable with synthetic winch line, which is so light that it floats, yet has 20,000 pound strength. The bumper and winch only caused a quarter inch of sag in the front. It feels the same driving as the stock bumper - no substantial increase in vehicle weight. The bumper is welded right into the frame and I have done some really hard pulls with it. The rear is still stock. Calmini makes a nice looking bumper, but it is heavier and it may take up to a year to receive after ordering it. ARB is also worth looking at.

The larger tires are no problem with the 3.2, but you need to ask about how a 2.2 drives with the larger tires. You can run 265/75R16 (almost 32") with very minor modifications to the fender well. People who run 33's or larger tend to have body lifts in additional to suspension lifts (3"+3"). (I only have suspension lift).

My first mod was rocker bars (boulder bars, rock sliders). I wanted to protect the rocker panels and also provide a place to use a high lift jack.

Pete

I can't see me going to 33" on the tyres, purely due to the gearing effect it would have. I'll probably go with 31, or 32". A year to get a calmini bumper? I heard they were bad with the lift kits, but a year for a bumper is a bit pathetic. I might see what Indy can do later on after i've got the lift, etc. Thanks for the info.

Calmini could get it to you more quickly. It depends on how many other orders they have. When they get enough orders, they fabricate a run of bumpers. If it were a JEEP bumper, there would probably be no wait. Such is life when you don't run with the lemmings. You could always contact them and ask for a definite ship date.

Pete