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LOADED 008: SUZUKI JIMNY
department. A stock M18A
produces 92kW and 170Nm.
Tim’s Sprintex version does a
bit better, try around 135kW
and 225Nm another 30% gain
and with little stress!
So with the horsepower in
abundance now Tim was keen
to sort out the gearing.
“The transformation
is amazing; power is
available everywhere,
no lag, it’s almost like
an electric motor...”
Diffs were swapped, the
manual stockies for those
seen on the autos with a 4.09
value meaning a compromise
was found for the highway and
off-roading.
Tim explains it this way,
“the original Jimny with the
non VVT motor would spin
at around 4,000rpm in fifth
at 100km/h, the newer VVT
models do around 3,200rpm
at the same speed, and mine
is in the middle at 3,500rpm.
Additionally I wanted the
non-VVT transfer case and
gearbox because they are
stronger and provide proper
4WD engagement with a lever
instead of the problematic
vacuum/electronic operated
button 4WD activation. You
always read about Jimny
owners being unable to
engage 4WD reliably because
the system has failed, mine is
foolproof, pull the lever, and
you know you’ve got high or
low range. With the manual
free-wheeling hubs, I can have
the best of both worlds, left
open for best fuel economy
on the bitumen, or locked and
ready for action as soon as I
hit the dirt”.
The transformation is
amazing; power is available
everywhere, no lag, it’s almost
like an electric motor, squeeze
harder on the accelerator, and
the Jimny leaps into action.
Tim likes the ‘sleeper’ form
the car takes now. “I surprise
a lot of people with this car.
Probably the best moment
was taking on a guy in a 200
series Land Cruiser at a set
of lights recently. Despite his
best efforts I totally smoked
him at the fall of the green
light! He had no idea what
Right: That’s the Sprintex
supercharger tucked away down
the side of the engine. It boosts
the 1.8-litre Liana powered Jimny
to 135kW and 225Nm.