THE CURRENT BUILD

[@chrisbainrot5731]

Brilliant Dave, great to see you are still motivated to the brand .

[@dercombi-camper8641]

Super! Für mich ist der Sportage einer der meist unterschätzen Wagen der Welt. 👍 Great! For me, the Sportage is one of the most underrated cars in the world.

[@craigharmon2400]

Thanks Dave, been waiting for this to inspire me for my Sportage build.

[@rogermcwilliams6786]

Now that is sharp! You went all out! I love driving mine. 02 w 130,000mi ! Still has cold air lol.

[@alejandromorales5822]

looks great!! thanks . thinking about getting one.

[@harryfp1494]

Get a tracker . Kia is nice but seems like the Korean parts are difficult

[@Chroma_noha]

Good video, I want to ask where I can buy a lift kit? Thanks for any advice

[@KiaDave]

Go to the Facebook page "micro monsters" and ask about lift kits. There's still a kit available from UpYourKia, but I don't remember who is selling them at this point. However, I recommend not getting a kit. I recommend getting individual parts that make more sense. The issue is the front lift springs aren't being made anymore. But there are custom coil makers in the US.

[@Chroma_noha]

@@KiaDave Thanks

[@javiermontero9138]

Muy buen trabajo

[@alessandrocorrea4850]

FICOU MUITO BOM ESSE GUINCHO EMBUTIDO NO PARACHOQUE , TEM VIDEO PARA ME ENSINAR COMO FAZ E PARA PELO LINDO CARRO

[@KiaDave]

@@alessandrocorrea4850 I didn't make a video for the winch installation, sorry.

[@jayrgolle6245]

sir what size of your rim and thier mags?

[@KiaDave]

I have 35x12.5-15 bfg km2. Rims are 15x8.

[@dustyv5724]

For the spacers if I just buy the spacers do I need to buy anything else to install? Or can factory springs work ?

[@KiaDave]

that's a very open ended question... which spacers? just front? front and rear? etc. just front? yes, there are no additional parts needed, but i don't ever really recommend spacer lifts up front because the strut will then contact the cv boot and eventually tear it up. i prefer the extended forks from picorp and taller springs. or if you can find someone to make an internal spacer to go in the strut assembly with the spring, that could work too.

[@DiegoSouza-gi3lm]

Boa noite , qual o tamanho do pneu?? Motor desenvolve bem??

[@KiaDave]

tires are 35x12.5-15. no, the engine needs more power for the highway, but is good off-road.

[@cebado4x4]

what is picorp?

[@KiaDave]

A company from Korea. Email [e-mail] . They have parts.

[@sofo0n162]

Can You please specify what did You do with the diff mounts? I didn't quite understand, what was the mistake/problem. And how did You fix it?

[@KiaDave]

The mistake was lowering the diff in the first place. After welding the broken pieces back onto the frame, I mounted it back into it's factory position. Yes, the CV axles are strained, but I have to live with it

[@KiaDave]

Let me be more clear on the mistake - not only should I not have lowered the diff, but the mount on the cross member should have been a solid stationary mount instead of a shackle type mount. It allowed too much movement which is what broke the frame mount. And one more thing - the reason all of this occured is because of the amount of lift and down travel I have. It droops so far that it pushes the CV axles inwards to the point of collapsing entirely and pushing on the diff. When the diff is lower, the CV axles collapse sooner in the suspension travel. That's what caused all the pushing and pulling on the diff and broke the mount.

[@sofo0n162]

@@KiaDave Thank You for the explanation. I'm looking to install 35s myself as well, but I'm trying to understand what I have to do.

[@KiaDave]

I have 5.5" of suspension lift in front and 1.5" body lift. My springs are 2.5" discontinued Eibach springs. Plus the Picorp extended forks, PLUS two 3/16" plates on top of the strut assembly. I have not yet moved any of the suspension arms, but that would be the next evolution. In the rear I have coilsprings from a Ford Aerostar van, 1994 I think, plus I extended the upper mount on the axle by about 3" up and 3" back, plus I extended the frame side panhard rod mount down about 5", and extended the upper link about 3-4" and the lowers about half an inch. That's pretty much everything.

[@craigharmon2400]

Are the front and rear diffs the same size? Any idea what model Miata Torsten diff fits in the front or are they all the same? Thanks.

[@KiaDave]

No the rear is 7.5" and the front is 7" (ring gear), different bolt pattern, different carrier size, everything. The Miata diff comes from the early 90s models, like I think around '94. I'm not 100% sure on the specifics. When I decided to buy one, it was on eBay listed for Miata, Sportage, and 1 or 2 other vehicles.

[@chrisdevouza7997]

Now with 35 tires it runs good with stock engine??

[@KiaDave]

it runs ok with the a/c off, not awesome, it still struggles on hills even without the a/c on, but with the a/c on, sometimes, i think it's not gonna make it on the highway!

[@chrisdevouza7997]

Because I want now to buy pinion gears 5:38 and put 33 tires...

[@chrisdevouza7997]

And do you remember the site you have buy torsen lsd for the front diff???

[@KiaDave]

@@chrisdevouza7997 I bought the Torsen LSD from a guy on eBay, not a company.

[@ednew8254]

What size steel tube u using with the bungs?

[@KiaDave]

Unfortunately I don't remember the OD on the bungs, but with just a little bit of sanding, they fit inside the factory link tubes. Then the tubes are sleeved with an extra .120 wall tube. The heims are 3/4" shank.

[@ednew8254]

@@KiaDave thanks man really gives me a starting point doing some shopping.

[@ednew8254]

Oh and I found the website to the extended forks and contacted him the guy is selling the forks again while in demand.. selling for 150 plus shipping.. I'm ordering mine next week.. Thanks for the help..

[@KiaDave]

@@ednew8254 uh, website? We have just been using email... Thanks for your effort to connect your friend to us.  Please refer to below our two e-mail as you using for your friend. [e-mail] [e-mail]

[@oldboy9416]

Can you send me a link on picorp Korea? I want to order that extended fork

[@KiaDave]

[e-mail]

[@glangrys]

wow