Izzy's IO
So not much has happened since my first post, but seeing that was done in the introductions area, I figured I should start a build thread haha
There probably won't be a lot of posts in here, what with my limited casual wages and other work issues (we won't go into that here).
I went actual 4wding and all the guys were really impressed with the little iO, with its lack of lift and road tyres :) Bottomed out on an underwater log in a mud hole and had to get snatched. No damage except a bend in the front number plate and a hit to my pride. Ended up getting myself out of the next bog with a bit of physics and determination. Also did my first water crossing on this day on the way home. Crossing a riverbed with water touching under the car and flowing a reasonable rate, scared me more than any of the 4wding, but the old man and I made it out alive.
Got myself a 2001 model wreck from sydney at a steal of a price (we won't go into how much). Blown motor but most panels good, roofracks, towbar and 4 almost new tyres. Considered popping a 4g94 in it but the old man is slowing down these days, and I don't have the skill nor the patience to work out how to adapt a 4g94 from a lancer into what was a 4g18 or if it can even be done. Anyway, roofracks went on, came with a basket as well but that will only go on when I need it (probably never). Towbar will hopefully go on sometime soon as well (and by sometime soon, I mean sometime in the next 12 months). Still on the search for a bullbar/nudge bar/roo bar (hit a wallaby and now have a nice crack in the front bar so I've been searching everywhere, but airbag makes it hard).
Still have the flashing super select lights, but I do know now its not mechanical, as in all 4 modes work fine. Heading home to my parents' place on wednesday to get a few things fixed. No reverse lights at the moment, have checked bulbs so thinking its the reverse switch. Also have a right hand CV joint to probably replace, it has developed a nasty klunk, so the old man is going to check it out. Developed a vibration under the car when the aircon is on, but doesn't seem to be negatively affecting anything, still going to try tracking it down anyway (so happy the old man got himself a hoist, and I'm sure he is too!)
Also going to measure up the struts in the wreck, hoping they are the higher struts so I can put some bigger shoes on when it comes that time :) if not, I'll live. Not worth forking out more money for suspension upgrades when I've only been 4wding once in the 12 months I've owned it, and thats about how often it will be going off road while I have it.
Anyway, now I'll post some pics of (mostly) the old girl from the last 6 months
On top of a hill while 4wding
After 4wding (didn't get too dirty considering the weather, I think the inside was dirtier haha)
The wreck (bad photo, too early in the morning)
Roofracks
And a bonus sunset photo, with the Paj photobombing :)
And thats about it :)
Izzy
Yeah,I saw Claude's winch
Yeah,I saw Claude's winch mounting stuff, that inspired me to seriously consider a winch. It's only going to be probably a 4,500lb and use a pulley and I'm hoping to honestly never have to use it, but as more of a "just in case". Will have the set of Treds too.
Mounted the awning today, got it finished just before it started to rain, so I haven't even had it out yet. 2x3 fits the car perfect I reckon. Would have been too big for the 2 door though. Awning is actually mounted to the basket as I didn't want to drill my roofracks. After getting the basket and awning up there, I won't be taking them down in a hurry!
Izzy
Thanks, I'm just waiting for
Thanks, I'm just waiting for it to warm up a bit before the camping, I don't appreciate being cold and wet haha.
I just sold the 2 door I was driving. It's getting picked up this weekend (hopefully).
I always make sure I have spares, and my parents live in the sticks so I can get away with having a wreck or 2 :)
The IO's have become my new obsession, I can't get enough. I also love having a car that not many people have heard of (I hadn't ever heard of them until about a week before I bought my first one).
I've come from a Lancer and both my parents and my partner all own lancers, so we're a bit of a mitsi family. That's most of the reason I decided to go with the IO over the vitara, and I've been greatly impressed.
It's been a while since I
It's been a while since I checked in and updated my post.
Still not a great deal happening, but now have a little more funds spare, so the old girl has had some goodies purchased.
The one main event/issue I've had with the 4 door decided to crop up at the beggining of a camping trip.
We were due to head 5 hours north for a 3 day camp trip. Got up at some ungodly hour and started the trek. Got an hour up the highway, overtook a truck, going about 110km/h and the car starts swinging badly side to side. Calmly slowed back down to 100, I very nearly lost control. If any of you have ever lost control of a vehicle and over-corrected and the vehicle starts swaying, thats pretty much exactly what it felt like, but without having swerved in any way. After that, the car just felt off. Didn't help having about 30kg of roof top bag on the roof, but car should still not behave dangerously like that.
Rang my dad at 6am and explained everything, begged his Rodeo out of him so we could continue our trip. 2 hours swapping everything over as the Kings awning is attached to the basket, and the basket mounts didn't fit the Rodeo roof racks. A couple manufactured mounts and some massive cable ties later and off we went. Stayed one night and ended up leaving as it was right in the middle of that february heat wave and our 11 year old dog was not coping.
Returned to my parents' place, where it was decided I would drive my partner and our dog home, and come back to work on the car. We swapped the panhard rod and upper control arms off my SWB wreck into the 4 door, and replaced the front lower control arm bushes in it. Fixed the issue with being jerky while changing gears (figured it would anyway), but neither fixed the swaying.
So I lived with the issue for a while, as I just couldn't afford to spend any money on the car. Came time that I could, so chucked a new set of KYB shocks in the back, and lo and behold, it fixed some of the swaying, especially on corners. Car is still not right, but I now have a set of KYB shocks and bump stops waiting to go in the front, and all round King Springs on order. On that note, I find it curious that most King Springs listing will have the disclaimer about using them with the 334405's, but don't actually stock the SP's. I have ordered the springs through Sparesbox.com.au as they had 10% off King Springs. Called them up and explained the situation. The lady I spoke to was wonderful, put me on hold and called her supplier, jumped back on the phone and said she has ordered them from the supplier and will give them to me for the same price (which she technically didn't have to do as 1. it was the KMFS-900 that was originally on special and 2. The SP is not something they actually stock.
She's also had front main seal, water pump and timing belt done as I had oil pretty much pissing out the timing case, and just recently spark plug seals and new plugs as my plugs were drowning in oil. I am hoping I am at the end of the road of spending money on this thing. I've never had a car that needs so much work done/money spent on it, but I guess for a $750 car its still not too bad. I think the main cause is just lack of love from previous owners and wear and tear.
Still wish I never sold my 2 door, and kicking myself that I let it go for a steal when it had been so meticulously maintained.
Pic of the old girl taken a few months ago, with my other love in life, Yamaha DT200 (another love/hate relationship with having to spend money due to no love). Hoping for some camp trips where I can take the bike as well and have some fun :D
Izzy
Suspension is finally done
All round suspension is finally in, and she's starting to feel much more like she should. Also got a little bit of lift out of it. King Springs are a fair bit harder than the OEM, but its just what I want.
Also got my basket and awning back on that have been sitting at my parents' place since my horror camping trip, so she's all ready to be a camper again. Hoping to head out Bylong at some point and do some camping and have a go at some easy tracks :)
Comparison picture from 1 year ago VS now
1 year ago
Now (notice the height in relation to the neighbours' roof)
Overall, pretty happy with the old girl :)
Old girl has enjoyed a little
Old girl has enjoyed a little more love lately.
Wheel alignment, and new Achilles Desert Hawk A/Ts on some Outlander rims
I think the Outlander rims suit well. They are a 6.5" with I think a 38 offset. And still about an inch of clearance under the high pan struts with 205/80/16's
Now I'm hopefully done with buying stuff for her and I can just enjoy and maybe hit some easy tracks sometime soon.
rear swaying
hey - the swaying is a function of old worn shocks and soft rear springs.
new shocks and stiffer springs fix it. I found it nasty when cornering on the fwy at 110 and hitting a bump - would sway and bump-steer horribly
new shocks and stiffer springs just pushed the speed and force required to get the same sway up to 140km/h and heavy cornering (which i'd likely never do) so problem avoided
Im still spending money on it
I'm still spending money on it, lol
Recently replaced front LCA's, front wheel bearings, front shocks and bumpstops, engine mounts, trans mount, rear lower trailing arms, transfer case shifter bush, rebuilt the CVs and a heap of other stuff...
Some mods I've done to it include bashplate, front recovery hooks, dual battery system, rock lights mounted up as camping lights off the awning, ARB fog lights and diff breathers (havent done trans or TC). Still yet to put a snorkel on it, if I can get one cheap enough, I will.
Syndicate
4 door is on the road
Well, the 4 door is finally on the road. I've resigned myself to it being more of a camping vehicle than anything else seeing I dont have any friends that 4wd.
Got myself a Kings awning from 4wd super centre that is going on soon. Also grabbed myself some Narva spotties to go on (after having spotties on the 2 door, I can't be without them seeing as I do a bit of evening country driving). Going to get myself a set of Treds and maybe a winch (if the old man and I can suss out mounting one), then I should be set.
Here's a pic of the old girl the day she got rego'd
Love having the extra room over the 2 door and that little bit extra power. Keen to take her out for some camping when it gets warmer and hoping for a trip up Barrington Tops next year.
Izzy