Hey all,

New to this forum. I've been a hard core Zooker since 1994 when I bought a new Suzuki Samurai. Since then, many others, including a 2000 Grand Vitara that's full of custom CALMINI stuff (2.5" suspension, 3" body, 5.12 R&Ps, 4.24:1 t-case gears, yada yada) It's currently undergoing a SAS swap with Toy axles.

My good freind owns CALMINI/Full Traction/Pure Jeep, but he refuses to build anything for the Kias, as he says the market is just not there to make it profitable.

We just picked up a 2002 2dr stick Shortage for $600. No, it's not a turd, actually in perfect condition with 105K. See, my wife is a Kia dealer service manager here in smAlbany, NY. This came in on trade, and she bought it for trade-in. Kinda sickening that a 2002 is fetches about a half grand in trade.

I guess if y'all might need something corporate, give me a holler and she might be able to help.

Anyhoot, I followed a thread on turbos for the 2.0L. I can make a suggestion. I'v got a supercharger off a 2.5L Toyota Previa van 4x4. These are great. They are belt driven, sealed and remote from the motor (ducted in), giving you options on placement and such. I'm putting the one I have into my GV. Chargers are much better for off-road rockcrawling, since there is no spool up delay, and you are never

As for Solid Axle swaps. there may be an option from the Zooks. The Samurai has a solid axle, and with Spidertrax wheel spacers, would be great for the front of the Sportage. It's 5on5.5", so the wheels match. Only issue is strength. On a Sammy, they are fairly bulletproof up to a 31" tire. CV Unlimited makes a moly H/D Birfield (that's the CV-type joint similar to old Toy pickups) along with 4340 innershafts. That's what I run on my Sammy and bulletproof for up to 35" tire. Sammy axles can be had cheap.

4.62 R&P ratios are available in Sidekick front axles, and they fit the Sammy 3rd member, so they can match up to the Kia. But won't correct the taller tires. But you guys being Kia owners already know you can't correct via R&P easily.

Now, for lifts. What junkyard springs work to bump it up an inch or two? I've heard Tj coils, Aerostar coils and something else. Anyone have experience with it?

And what's up with the 2dr having electric door locks, yet no switch in the truck to open said doors. I know, I know. "It's a Kia thing, even they don't understand" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the sc info....

as far as what junkyard stuff fits....

nothing in the front, but tj coils fit the rear and give about 4" of lift. aerostar coils will fit, but will lift 5-6" and there's no way to even that out up front. front end can only be lifted a maximum of 4" without dropping the a-arms and such (lot's o work as nothing is available).

the Sportage comes with 4.78 ring gears in most US models, so the 4.62's would be a step down. also, the sammy and tracker ring gears are max of around 7" i thought, the rear Sportage ring is 7.5" the front is 7".

and one last thing- i was building a 4" suspension kit for the Sportage for 5 years. i have sold maybe 20-30 (i didn't keep many records). now that i've quit, everyone wants one, so, i think i'm going to get back to it very soon. i'll let everyone know when i'm ready.

hahaha .. I'm one of the prototype ^_^ .. hmm... does anybody remember me?

okay, so what's available for the front to lift it 4". hmmm, 4". Man, will the lady be pist. This is supposed to be my DD as all my Zooks are well built. Even my IFS Toy, which is supposed to be the garbage truck and tow rig ended up with a 3" lift, ya know, just 'cause.



Naw, I was thinking what Zook R&P would match a Keeya R&P ratio wise, so you could retain the Kia rear. 4.62 is the only things that will match. I wasn't infering that the Zook R&P would fit the Kia carriers.

Who makes the axles for Kia anyhow? Is it AISIN? If so, that would be interesting.

I was just floating the Sammy axle out there as a possible SAS donor. Since CV Unlimited came out with the Newfields for the Sammy (lifetime warranty against breakage), Sidekick/Tracker owners are starting to use Sammy axles for SAS swaps, retaining the Kicker rear axle.

Another option, while requiring a bit of fabbing (easy for me to say when I have a 230v plasma torch and a 230 mig) would be to swap the front and rear axles from a Sidekick into the Kia. The only real issue would be in the front marrying the inner half of the Kick CV to the outter Kia CV. Other than that, they are nearly dead on in width and size. This would allows a much greater R&P and locker selection.

However, you'd have to be pretty hardcore Kia to do all of that, as it would be easier to sell the Kia and build a Kicker. Ever wonder exactly how close Kia looked at the Sidekick before the built the Sportage? Too similar to be coincidental.



How much for a 4" front lift? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

When folks are putting coil spacers on the front, what are they doing for the strut so they maintain the travel? On Sidekicks, the top strut mount can be removed, flipped over, and reintalled to move the strut down a little over an inch. When coupled with a spacer, the wheel travel remains the same as stock, otherwise you lose travel. Can the same be done on the Shortage? I'll have to look.

ok, first, let me start with the 4" kit: the whole kit sold for 700 bucks plus shipping. but if you just want parts for the front, pretty much all you need is the coils and new upper strut mounts, which will run you between 2 and 300.

you may also want to replace the front struts unless they are pretty new, because the wear pattern of where the seal rides on the shaft can cause it to leak when it rides in a different spot after riding there for a long time. mainly talking road driving with only limited suspension movement for long periods of time.

if you lift the rear, you will also have to correct the panhard length. the one i sold was around 150.

you may also want to lengthen some of the links, i don't sell these yet, but i could make them if asked. it would be best to have a rig in my possession in order to test-fit, but i can make them to any length, no problem, if someone else figures out the math.

ok, now, as far as strut pucks go, the spacers go on top of the whole strut assembly, so, it doesn't affect the existing travel at all. conversely, with the new strut mount i make and taller coils, your wheel travel is actually increased 1.5-2".

don't think we ever figured out who made the Sportage axles, but some of the third members, rings, pinions etc. match Mazda parts directly and the rear axle housing LOOKS exactly like a Mazda housing.

and one last- i think the Sidekick axles are too small. the rear one might be ok, as far as width goes, but to be honest the Sportage parts are a tiny bit beefier. if one were going to swap axles, wouldn't one want to go at least a tiny bit stronger? like say in the Toy axle range?

actually, when the Sportage was designed, it was going to be the next small Ford Bronco, like the Bronco II. but Ford pulled it's 40% out of the company in the early 90's. if you really, really pay attention to size differences, the Sportage is quite a bit bigger than the GV, and much bigger than the Tracker/Sidekick. wheelbase alone is 11+ inches longer on the Sportage and the width on the Sportage axles is 61.5 or 61.75 WMS-WMS. the Sportages suspension links are about 20-30% larger diameter and the bushing joints are bigger. the Sportage is also wider in the interior. it's front CV shafts are 1.07" thick, the same as mid-late 90's toyota pick-ups and 4runners (and i think larger than Suzuki-built stuff, but not sure).

ps- i've been under a couple GV's, trackers, etc. just lookin'...... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

ps- one last thing- the Sportage's "strut" is actually a coil-over shock and only controls suspension movement. it does not attach to the top of the front spindle and rotate with steering movements. the front suspension is a double a-arm set-up. and the lower is pretty darn beefy.

Must be an East vs. a West coast thing. Oregon has a pretty large supply in Sportages on the road (I think Portland is where the first KIA dealership opened in 1994) I just looked at a white 2000 2d auto 4x4 at a budget car lot the other day and they wanted 7900 for it. I went back yesterday to show it to a friend and it was sold already. That's about blue book for the Sporties here in Eugene.
Maybe prices have come up in recent months because our gas is still $3.05 a gal. I know the used Metros prices are back up to $3000. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />
I have seen some really decent Sporties in Calif selling for 3500. So it depends on the market in the area. Sephia's and Rio are always selling used, But Sportages are a hard find here. I'm liking that! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Yankee Shannon has never spent over a grand on any Kia. Prolly 'cuz she works there.

I could imagine spending that much on a used Kia, but that's just me.

Now, a bone stock, rust-free EFI Sammy? That's a 5K plus trucklet.

Might just be a east/west thing. Kia's aren't even considered a real 4x4 out here. None of the Jeeper clubs let them ride with them (most only allow Toy FJs and Zook SJ to ride, as they are "***** Jeeps"). Even the Zookers laff, only because there is no real aftermarket support.

To me, it's a cheap ride that i can DD and beat the snot out of for a year, then crush it.

From what I got, the wheelbase is 98" on the GV, 104.4 on the Shortage. From my experince, I like SWB, as this is MUCH better in the tight rocks.

The GV is 164 overall length. The Kia 4dr is 159.4 to 170.3. Width, GV 70, Kia 68.1, Height - GV 67.8, Kia 65.2

Not to bust balls, but calling the Shortage quite a bit bigger is not exactly correct. If anything, they are matched to compete againt each other. You are right about the Ford thingy, but they did this to challenge GM which was selling the Zook under the Geo brand and needed a simialr offering. Supposedly, the CR report on the Sammy flipping stalled a lot of the micro-SUV market. The Sammy, oddly enuff, was originally supposed to wear the Geo Tracker badge.

Thanks for the lift info, but honestly, I'll prolly keep the Sporty stock and just run it. I am getting in a 95 rust free Kicker from FLA.

ANyone want a rust free maroon 2002 softie for $4000? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

To mis-quote someone:
"Who would ever want to belong to a club that would have any of us as a member...."
They are just nervous that a Sporty would show them up...or have to pull one out when they get stuck...lowers their resale value.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Pulled two jeeps out on last offroad trip........hmmm, funny how that works (and our a/c stays cold!) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />