As a tracker guy... I've been wondering where this tracker ended up. Mine is a first gen tin top. I have a lot of videos on my channel about it. There are a ton of common parts between the first gen and second gen tracker. Do NOT buy from Calmini. You will pay them but never get your parts. TRE 4x4 has an affordable E locker and ARB does make an air locker for it. Trail tough up in Oregon is a good source for parts and information. The front diff from 89-04 will bolt in. The 00-04 vitara with the V6 and 5 speed have the steel diff. There are some minor differences in the pumpkin, but the housing bolts in. I'd update the front to manual locking hubs and use an older pumpkin so you don't have the weird air actuated differential. You can also just weld it in the engaged position. There are some spline count differences in the front axles on the pumpkin end from the first gen to the second gen, but the manual hubs from the older one will bolt on. Also, the axles on the front are different lengths.
@jasonxterra8 ай бұрын
Plus 1 on Calmini. They are garbage!
@SkunkPresant8 ай бұрын
As an Escudo owner I can confirm this info as “Excellent”.
@MooreFabWorks8 ай бұрын
Trackers are amazing. Used to have one in Alaska with 235 mud terrains and it rallied all over the place! So much fun!
@thedirtheadshed8 ай бұрын
Good video Fred. The day of wheeling that thing was so much fun
@kennybonnefin88138 ай бұрын
They are super fun Fred. Glad you got this thing for yourself. I have a 1999 tracker/vitara 2-door in the shop right now getting a full workover.
@ScooterJGarage8 ай бұрын
Hey Fred, excited to see this build, the 2nd Gen Tracker, GV, Vitara, xl-7 are super cool rigs, I've built several. The steel diff you're talking about can be sourced from the 99-2005 Grand Vitara V6 manual. Or, 01-03 Xl-7 manual trans. . Yours being a 16v it should have 5:12 gears, if so, you'll have to swap your current gears if still good, or the 5:12 can be sourced from 01-03 XL-7 automatic. The steel diff is a direct bolt on, so no modifications needed. ARB offers lockers for both diffs. Going the ARB route is the way to as it will remove the air actuated disconnect (A.D.D), or can source the carrier from 1st gen. 88-98. The beefiest route is the 04-06 xl-7 front 7.75" diff. It's a direct swap for the housings, and 5:12 gears can be sourced from Partsouq or 2010+ 4cyl automatic Grand Vitara which are AWD, so the carrier doesn't have A.D.D. You can always weld the A.D.D, but the spider gears are tiny, the 06+ have much larger spiders. 4xfourart is a good source for aftermarket. Stay away from Calmini as many others have said.
@evinsteven138 ай бұрын
I got an '06 XL7 with the ADD. I always thought after '06 the front diff was changed. Good to know that I can just snag the carrier from one for stronger side gears!
@TorquePowerVideo8 ай бұрын
Looks like it's gonna be a fun little rig! I remember seeing it on DED.
@dmarshall84738 ай бұрын
Fred could you show us around your property and show all the random vehicles you have??? Would love to see all the vehicles you've collected. Just an idea for a dirt daily or multiple dirt daily. Love the content thank you!!
@MrBillsfishin8 ай бұрын
He was inspired by the "Cat Converter Story" and will be by with a flat bed and trailer at 2am on a random day to liberate his favorites. 😂😂 Obviously just joking. Lol
@stephendee78396 ай бұрын
@@MrBillsfishin it does read like that
@MastaT_1508 ай бұрын
I sure miss DED… Stupid Motortrend… 😞
@Atodaso-pg9kq8 ай бұрын
Yup!
@Rattlecanjeff8 ай бұрын
Really needs a straight axle!
@nicholassbardella60458 ай бұрын
Some sticky SXS tires on it and keep it very simple and lightweight
@PullStartStables8 ай бұрын
Since it needs exhaust, what about a small turbo? For efficiency purposes, of course.
@JonStein-mu5eb8 ай бұрын
Platinum and Paladium are the precious metals in catalytic converters and are stolen to extract the metals.
@yellow599rider8 ай бұрын
Stay away from calmini parts. They may get you your parts but their delivery and service sucks for the normal folks among us. Check out alter ego suspension
@powerwagon-wy2fo8 ай бұрын
If you are looking for a dirt cheap suspension upgrade for a tracker look into the Buick regal strut swap and Chevy cavalier rear shocks. You do that and swap out springs and it will give you about a 4 inch lift and a much better ride. I did this to my first gen tracker for about $100 and I absolutely love it. I’m not sure what interchanges with the second gen but it’s definitely worth looking into.
@christopherhuff42218 ай бұрын
Can’t wait to see the direction you go with the tiny4x4. Friend had one just after high school and would go wheeling with all of us in full sized blazers, bronco, jeeps and yotas. We even put a homemade lift on it for him.
@_JJAJJ_8 ай бұрын
I was just on a SXS ride yesterday and was saying I wanted to see someone build a tracker/Suzuki into something that could compete with a SXS. Looking forward to this build.
@RadRaf8 ай бұрын
UTV fighter is exactly what the projects begs to be! I look forward to the build series on this!
@thedoubleB158 ай бұрын
Stay as far away from calmini as possible they used to make nice stuff but as of the last few years they have and are currently being sued for not fulfilling orders after they take your money. It happened to a buddy of mine. He bought his original lift years ago and was super happy with it but eventually broken a rear arm and ordered a new set. Payed them $800 or so and never received his parts and never got his money back
@brentmay63798 ай бұрын
100% this...Calmini sucks
@hanselgretel85638 ай бұрын
Please keep the tall and narrow tires and do a review on its performance on the not-so-hardcore wheeling. Maybe some 235-85-16?
@ultra4suzukisamurai6798 ай бұрын
Stay away from calmini. Sketchy company. Suzukis are rad!
@wildwestexplorations80978 ай бұрын
Building a 2001 Chevy tracker right know 6inc lift and 31x10.5x15 tires
@brandonbarton126210 сағат бұрын
Tdi swap would be cool
@notajeep4x48 ай бұрын
@4xFredWilliams hear me out, toss the Tracker body and put a Flattie body on it, have the look of a Flattie and a more comfortable modern driver, plus if it's registered as a 40's Jeep, you may not have to worry about smog?
@offgridliving41288 ай бұрын
Subscribed. I just bought a 1989 JLX two door. Planning a budget build myself. Already got started with a set of 29” Goodyear A/T’s and a BDS lift.
@adamr18524 ай бұрын
Fred, love the Tracker, have a 94 and use it as my poor man’s SxS and a dingy to pull behind the truck camper. Will you pick this project back up?
@Kevin909098 ай бұрын
The average catalytic converter contains about 1-2 grams of rhodium, about 3-7 grams of platinum, and between 2 and 7 grams of palladium. While the market value of these metals has decreased, they still can fetch a pretty penny. Rhodium is averaging $146 a gram, Platinum $30 gram and palladium is selling for about $38 a gram.
@bghouse28538 ай бұрын
look up the geo tracker rockstar project from mike hagen! very simple build with great performance!!
@jorgeherter8 ай бұрын
Yo Fredo...they make a new Suzuki Jimny which they sell in Mexico 450,000 pesos brand new...they could never be registered in the U.S. I doubt...but they've been popping up in junk yards. how cool would it be to get the running gear out of a wrecked new one and stuff it in the old sidekick? Have a better aftermaket for the newer car, for instance.... shit ton of work I know.
@carportchronicles19438 ай бұрын
I had a 2000 or 2001 with the DOHC 4-cylinder and 5-speed. It was a great little SUV and got around 24mpg. Unfortunately, a bad hydraulic timing chain tensioner led to it jumping out of time and bending all the valves. I pulled the head and had it rebuilt for around $1,000. I screwed up and didn't set the cam timing right and trashed more valves. I was done and sold the thing off as is for $1,000. I would have just put another motor in it but a live in a very rural area and there was nothing available nearby. I do miss the thing though. Lots of fun and easy on gas.
@carldarlington73958 ай бұрын
Engine computers drain batteries dead in a few weeks. My modern Chevy sedan cranked slowly after sitting for two weeks.
@fcorivers8 ай бұрын
Where I grew up Sidekick was the 2 door version and the Vitara was the 4 door version in the 90's, the boxy model. There was also the Vitara Sport which was the 4 door with a 2 tone paint and body kit. After 1996 there was no more Sidekick, all of them were Vitaras. This were also rebadged as Geo Trackers although i have never seen a Tracker 4 door in 2 tone with body kit trim, only in solid body colors. Then in 2001 the body changed and there was 3 version, Vitara 2 door soft top, 4 door, and Grand Vitara 4 door V6 (if im not mistaken) with a 2 color body paint with a wider body kit, if we dare calling it that. Which i also saw rebadged in solid colors, never in 2 tone. And then there was the XL7.
@RedneckITbyROB8 ай бұрын
I have few part trackers. Sure I have cats. You can have and any other parts. I'm in wv about 45 minutes from insane alyuma you visited on UA.
@BWalker-yg9en8 ай бұрын
Im in Oregon. I bought a cheap Amazon cat for like $50 for my 4cyl yj because i was tired of the exhaust smell. Someone also took mine. Which is funny because i couldn't imagine much was left of it after 30 years. I'm sure California has strict rules on cats though and that's probably not an option.
@caseyjones19998 ай бұрын
It's funny I used a 2001 Chevy tracker four-door as a snow plow rig. One day I had a bit too much wheel hop when I was stuck and broke the front diff mounting bracket. I managed to rig it back together but it's good to know there's a steel option. It worked okay angling the plow was useless cuz the whole vehicle would just angle and effectively do nothing.
@pijama4wd8 ай бұрын
I've seen the Zuki Nation 4.5" lift in other channels and it looks very nice. You can fit up to 32s. I am not in us, so not sure if there are better options. I have mine in my country. Looking forward for Tracker videos
@denby-r72088 ай бұрын
16inch rims will solve the brake caliber issue In New Zealand the cheat for a lift is using the springs from the 4 door in the 2 door to give a low cost 2” lift for bigger tyres
@bigboom28-y6b8 ай бұрын
I have a 99 chevy tracker 4 door with a 2" Amazon lift kit and 30 " mud tires with 1 inch wheel spacers on stock rims and I love it ,it goes pretty much any were I want
@M_H_M936 ай бұрын
Uk company called vitmods or jimnybits for all the suspension components, lockers are available for both front and rear, steel diff housing available from either 2.0td or 2.5/2.7 v6 if youre going to go over 3 inch suspension get aftermarket lower a arms from jimny bits or calmini (dont buy full suspension kit from calmini) the consensus seems to be theyre not as well engineered as the cost might suggest, its adviseable to get a short shaft mod for the front diff which enables you to use the bolt type axle on both sides, other than that if you go for a solid front axle then the samurai is a great donor as the vitara diff drops straight into it
@burnsdesignco55938 ай бұрын
I love you you have the tracker and an 80s series cruiser. Those are mine and my wife’s “fun” vehicles ❤
@rascalwind8 ай бұрын
Platinum in the cat. Melted down and sold black market $908.80/oz.
@nathano1488 ай бұрын
Platinum is in side the cats. I had slowed down that junk yards an such wont touch it. Bummer people took the wheels an such feed but you got it back.
@architjones32808 ай бұрын
Dude! I wonder what it would look like if you did a full build up with a 90s era blazer. Frame n all 😂 that would make it mean looking and you could beef it up moderately and it would look like a 1000 hours of fab for like what a g
@phatdaddy19558 ай бұрын
Love the idea of an entry-level rig! Thanks for the awesome content!
@alexhanna30148 ай бұрын
Altered ego/ zukination in Kelowna BC Canada has great lifts for this vehicle. lots of other goodies as well
@timwilliams20358 ай бұрын
Even the Tracker has become inflated in price but still cheap by comparison to say anything Toyota. Like a tin boat with a 9 on it there fun and cheap
@flyingpeter8 ай бұрын
I have a little toyota kei truck, I think the code is kp39, the thing is rusted and I've been thinking that the body would fit nicely on one of this tracker chassis
@MightyMouseOffRoad8 ай бұрын
I’m about to build mine up, either 35’s or 37’s, on FJ80 axles.
@NomadGringo8 ай бұрын
Just say no to cats...they cost more than it's worth. It's lighter now. You own a trailer. 🍻
@JRWperformance8 ай бұрын
Altered Ego Motorsports has a couple different lift kits for this tracker.
@bsterris16158 ай бұрын
I'd go FJ80 axles and a VW diesel. Keep it 'stock' parts and on the cheap.
@jakegackle73987 ай бұрын
Since you want to keep it small wheels, have Dave make you an air ride kit for it and make a poor man's land rover. I'd love to see the air conversion done.
@garnethart11378 ай бұрын
The steel front diff is from v-6 models of that era. Weak link is the axle disconnect built into front diff
@brentmay63798 ай бұрын
As a owner of a 2001 2 door on 33's....I approve this series!!!
@runman748 ай бұрын
Catalytic converters have platinum in them which is a rare and expensive metal.
@joshslackslack81158 ай бұрын
Make a Baja buggy and add a exo cage be a nice crawler add some portals to it so it gets a little more ground Clarence
@j.danaclark21668 ай бұрын
I live in Manitoba Canada. We need a cat housing. Nothing is done to ensure there is anything inside.
@MontanaDirtRoads8 ай бұрын
1980-1996 f150 wheels fit right on
@trackerfarm8 ай бұрын
If you wanna wheel it up in Canada i can show you some tracker trails.
@carldarlington73958 ай бұрын
Living is California, the good gas mileage is a bonus.
@TheKasper148248 ай бұрын
Calmini is the worst place to get parts or kits
@AlienBmxican8 ай бұрын
I remember looking up calmini reviews when I was thinking of purchasing parts for my sidekick and found an overwhelming amount of negative reviews and bad experiences with them so decided against buying parts from them
@mehGyver8 ай бұрын
yep. Avoid at all costs. I have too many friends that never got their parts from them.
@jimvancampen92478 ай бұрын
Put the front wheels on backwards for now..
@jamessteinbeck8 ай бұрын
Little bit of lift with slightly bigger tires…. Done✅
@benstanziale8 ай бұрын
Frederico, I mustache you a question
@Rugrat18 ай бұрын
rem not wheel tire assembly not tire and wheel.
@theIronmerchant8 ай бұрын
Where those the wheels on lemon pie?
@foygill7118 ай бұрын
Dude just build something . The sponsor crap is getting old . We are waiting
@Beat98TJ8 ай бұрын
What part of this video was sponsored?
@foygill7118 ай бұрын
@Beat98TJ not talking just about this video. But most of the videos lately
@RudgerBrewer8 ай бұрын
Where did you get the battery disconnect
@d.collier_82808 ай бұрын
I want to see the build up of this one Fred
@tg29638 ай бұрын
Can you get that tire in 9.00-16
@carldarlington73958 ай бұрын
There was a Samurai before this one.
@CTMadModz8 ай бұрын
Don’t buy anything from Calmini, they are being sued for not delivering parts and taking peoples money. Also we call them Trackicks or Gen 1 and Gen 2 trackers. The steel front Vitara diffs are hard to find, and if you find them for sale people ask $800-1000. I had a gen 1 tracker that I put a steel samurai front third member in and Gen 2 axles and side gears with a locker and it’s still wheelin… I did a video on my channel about it
@richardmiller12568 ай бұрын
Looks like 5×4.5 to me. That front axle is passenger side drop. Before you throw in a Toyota solid axle, look at Isuzu or larger GM front IFS. You might be able to put something stronger in there and maintain the driveability. My Isuzu rodeo had a lunchbox locker that worked great. In that little truck it would be pretty solid.
@richardmiller12568 ай бұрын
Actually, that would make for a great rear end swap as well. Find you a 4cyl Isuzu with the 4.56 gears. All the rears were a version of Dana 44 and all the fronts were sort of GM 10.5. Fronts are passenger drop so you can use the existing transfer case and drive train. It would be like 1/4 ton swapping your 1/8 ton truck.
@xwhogafx8158 ай бұрын
Vehicle will be great for the gambler
@starmauser8 ай бұрын
solid axles and 38's in my opinion ;)
@SkunkPresant8 ай бұрын
Front splines come in 22 and 26 varieties. Check what you have. There is a mod to fit Toyota front axles to replace the CVs with stronger ones. I have no idea if the US got those Toyotas though.
@trackerfarm8 ай бұрын
In that year ( 99 to 05) they are only 26. 22 spline is 89 to 95
@trashpandaoffroad35488 ай бұрын
I'm glad you got this back. Hopefully you get this thing going and we can meet up on the trail sometime. Maybe bring the tracker to Zukicon on the Rubicon
@Chris_by_four8 ай бұрын
Cool! Trail tough has been helpful. I needed a flex plate for mine and they got me one asap. Mine has the non CA cast manifold, that took a couple years to find at pick n pull. Still waiting to find the elusive steel front housing. I did the trail tough lift. I like it but the altered ego suspension would be cooler and a little better for “go fast”. Can’t wait for more tracker content. Possibly a 2.3 Aerio “big block” swap…..?
@aidanmedici55408 ай бұрын
I wonder if it’d be too much of a pain to put an IFS unit out of a s10 or blazer in front of finding a cast iron front differential proves to be difficult to source
@ceciltomlinson36198 ай бұрын
Those ifs blazers have there own problems. If you do anything more than Suzuki parts for Suzuki parts, solid axle swap it. I have 2 s10 blazers and both have their front end problems. One is currently apart and the other is being daily driven but the 4x4 doesn’t work due to the poorly designed vacuum front axle actuator. Pls if they are aluminum you can’t put a locker in.
@dumbestoyster8 ай бұрын
Dang! I'm in Alberta, Canada. & I just junked My Tracker, still has the full factory exhaust. I would have shipped you the cat
@number1yota8 ай бұрын
Little 4x4s are so much fun, the little 2 door SUVs like these and the early 2 door Rav4s. Even the old 2 door short bed small pick ups like the Toyota HiLux/ Pick Ups, and 1st Gen Tacomas, or the old Frontiers and Danger Rangers, S-10s. Everything keeps getting bigger and bigger. Current Gen Tacoma's are bigger than 1st Gen Tundras. We need more small size Trucks and Real SUVs again.
@brianhaw93988 ай бұрын
Tdi swap,toyota axles
@alpineskiman8 ай бұрын
The stuff in the background is always so interesting. Like, let’s talk about that D130….😊
@phillipredfern64618 ай бұрын
I remember when you tried to stick with IFS on Clampy...just sayin' 😉
@turbostoybox21828 ай бұрын
2-2.5” lift and 31” tires would be super rad. I did that with a 4dr one and it was an excellent trail rig.
@gnwithi8 ай бұрын
In the UK these are called a suzuki vitara gv1600 . So many offroad parts for them.
@ectolle548 ай бұрын
it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast then a fast car slow. It definitely goes to 4 wheeling. Back in the late nineties I got a wrecked Isuzu trooper for free. 2.8, 5 speed 90 and i put 31 TSLs. I had a square body on 38s but I loved that trooper even though it was basically stock with a winch and giant skid plate. You could bomb that thing all day and not hurt it
@CTMadModz8 ай бұрын
We put ATV tires on them in Alaska and wheel the heck out of them.
@ezranobles15288 ай бұрын
No cats here in Georgia
@jameszurlinden89258 ай бұрын
Yes! so glad you got this back from MT! Definitely looking forward to this build.
@ShopJock8 ай бұрын
Currently building a small beach jeep. Something that does what a golfcart or utv would do but fits in a toyhauler, is light and street legal to drive in town while camping at the beach. My starting point is a cj3a
@MrBillsfishin8 ай бұрын
The little bit more modern and comfortable Samurai. Don't blame you for wanting to wheel this. Little simple ones are light and fun and fit in places the full size just can't. Also doesn't matter that they don't have tons of power because they have enough for what they are capable of doing. Should be fun to watch.
@darkellxj00298 ай бұрын
Second gen Tracker nice... i have a blue first gen 94 8 valve im gonna start doing some stuff with hopefully. Still have my 2000 XJ Cherokee but really missed working on smaller quirkier rigs. My first Offroading experience was in a 1986 Mitsubishi Montero 2 Door so the lil Tracker shouldnt be that far off from that
@robertrusso8778 ай бұрын
Cool project, Fred. Can’t wait to see what you do with it and I’m still waiting to see what you do with the PORSCHE! Do you still have it?
@loganliller7587 ай бұрын
They are so fun and the same size as mist sxs's. Had one and loved it. Had actual sxs tires on it and the rear was welded and it would go anywhere.
@dennisthompson77078 ай бұрын
I built and wheeled a 95 Kia Sportage, (in fact I started the upyourkia lifts). Same basic suspension as the Suzuki but was so much fun and even did the Golden Spike trail with a bunch of Jeeps and it held it's own. I now have a built 98 TJ but miss that little Kia sometimes. I'll be watching your tracker build.
@karldavies29548 ай бұрын
I'm glad I've came across your YT channel, I miss your show on Motortrend, hopefully I can itch my need to 4x4 shenanigans here.
@irsever8 ай бұрын
the smooth orange rims and retro pizza cutters look outstanding. You could make anything look cool with those
@bdd14698 ай бұрын
A cheap tracker is the most fun you can have without ending up with a wart on your pecker. And those front diffs are a lot stronger than you think. My cousin runs one in the front of his 1000 hp sand drag Jeep, and has only broken it once in over 20 years.
@xwhogafx8158 ай бұрын
Throw cans throw hands
@sweed77778 ай бұрын
I loved the tracker episode. If you do SAS it, I think it would be cool to run a samurai axle and 31s. I think it's a good balance of being capable and pretty strong.