Suzuki SJ discovery hybrid?

Because I still haven't received the bloody log book from my friend who sold it to me yet! So I've given up trying to get it on the road haha

Shame the axle fitting would be a IVA :/ but engine conversion is still interesting me, would go alright in a little SJ it's probably a ton lighter than a disco haha, also I love the fact it runs off veg oil, would be mega cheap!

Yeah I can see what you mean, I just like to be different! The disco body is shot and the SJ body is actually better than what's left of the disco haha

The SJ needs a new distributor anyway which is why I was toying with the idea of a engine swap as the disco isn't being used and has a great engine.

Only idea about coil spring conversion for the SJ is I've seen many build threads with land rover axles and it looks great! I also have a brand new 2" lift kit I want to use so using the axles on the SJ would be ideal

To be honest the engine conversion was just a silly idea because of the spare parts i have. My main interest would be the axles as coil spring convresions seem to be very recommend on other forums. The dizzy can be rebuilt for about £6 with condensor and points so thats not a concern really.

But my concern is that adding the mounts for the axle will cause it to need a IVA, although i have rear on this website that you can add to a chassis just not remove or cut anything from it?

xud9 peugeot and hilux axles fit relatively easily and make a great off roader even better.

Pic of mine before said axles fitted....

Propshaft pcds are wildly different, the Disco has an extremely long transmission, and I would hazard a guess the springs (even standard) would be too stiff for the SJ chassis and body. Why not convert the Disco axles to leaf spring, go spring-over whilst you're at it, and part out the Disco to fund a decent engine transplant? General rule is changing the suspension type is an IVA issue, regardless of any adding/subtracting rules.

Don't get me wrong it's a great idea, but the Landy tdi is a monster compared to the SJ

naah, SJ engine is significantly less than that, under the 100kilo mark by a long sight, put it this way a 62 kilo 6 foot beanpole of me can just about lift one!


quick google says the G13BA is 85kg all up, the G16 is 104 kg.

XUD as mentioned is a good lump to choose, fully dressed up wet weight for a turbo variant with ancillaries is 150 odd, that's for a 90 bhp lump easily taken to 120-130 with a decent cooler, 145 lbft as standard.

that weight is for a complete engine minus starter motor.

as for fitting the xud, I think most use adapter plates though there were XUD engined santanas, there were also XUD engined vitara's as well as DW10 (aka HDI) in late vitara's.

£400?! sod that, but it wouldn't stop me doing a conversion, it'd just mean an alternative source.

I fully understand what you are saying about using what you have to hand - ie the Disco parts. However they are in a different realm to the SJ so I'd say break the Disco, sell the bits and then use the cash to upgrade the SJ along "tried and tested" methods such as VW / Peugeot engine to gearbox adapters, SOA conversion and such. The beauty of the SJ is it's size and light weight - start adding Disco axles and engine then that goes leaving you with something that isn't as good as either a standard SJ or a standard Disco. A SJ in basically standard condition with known upgrades that are reversible is an appreciating vehicle whereas a modified SJ using, lets be honest, substandard & inappropriate parts is going to be worth less and you might be turning it from a road vehicle into just an off roader for playdays. Remember too the VED band will increase with engine change over 1499cc.
I've always fancied a SJ and was a little shocked at how much a decent STANDARD model now fetches. On the other hand modified tend to be worth the sum of their parts !
BTW the Jago Geep bodyshell easily adapts to the SJ rolling chassis

Paul H