TeamSwift

Hello everyone, I'm new here. I recently purchased a 1990 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD and as far as I know, it's one of few or maybe the only one of it's kind in my country. I'm from Lithuania if that says anything to the world. Originally purchased in the UK back in 2000 and brought back here. This car's seen some rough times and is in pretty bad shape, rust all over the body, so a lot of metal work and welding. It's done about 500,000km and not long ago the engine started knocking. I checked the compression and was surprised to see 16bar(232psi) in all cylinders. Just so you know, it's been running on low octane fuel for about 10 years, so that could be the cause, but I'm making no assumption. Could this be the cause or could there be something else and if so, what are the possible causes? Is it worth rebuilding this engine, or should I just swap one from a Vitara or Baleno instead? I also haven't been able to find a service manual anywhere, so if anyone has any info it would be much appreciated. This will be a rebuild of the entire car, from engine to interior, so if there's anything unusual I might encounter, please post it.

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Check out my posts about these cars

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=90740
Make sure to make a post and get some pictures up please.
Just out of curiousity, what is the model number of your carb>

I couldn't find my carb number, but it's stock.

I'm well into rebuilding this car now. I've decided to keep this engine, as it wasn't in bad shape, just needed the piston rings changed and the crank was sent to the machine shop, so it's almost done. The body is stripped and there's so much rust everywhere, but I wanted to save it, since it's an original JDM import. I've learned how to weld and started on the body work. So far I've cut out and welded up several big patches on the front and the wheel arches. The biggest problem though is the bottom. Huge holes everywhere and there are barely any spots without rust, luckily it's not all the way through, so it's just a matter of time and my time is free Apart from that, everything is in good condition, the only part that needs replacing are the shocks and springs. Didn't find much after a search through ebay, so if anyone knows of any compatible bits from other cars, please let me know. I will post up some pics of the progress so far as soon as I get my camera connected

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Its been a while since i looked, but perhaps the old subaru justy / swift cultus 4wd items are compatible.
I have a feeling that the front suspension is the same as the swift gti?

I think you should bring it back to the uk and sell it me

Nah, I'm keeping this one

As far as I know the front brake assembly is different, not sure about other components, but I only need the shocks.

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Well I promised some pictures so here you go.

First off, this is how the car looked while it was still running.





Neglect, nothing more to say.

Now this, is how it looks at the moment, because I've been lazy.



Though I have had some work done by now, I taught myself how to weld and done quite a bit of body work.















You can see the extent of damage done, but that's not the worst part. The biggest problem is probably the bottom, as you can see the carpet of rust, and I do mean RUST, all over the floor and a nice big hole where the drive shaft center mount used to be.



A rusty boot and a rotted out fender. 3 of them in fact, 1 rear and both front.





In this next photo you can see the amount of metal that needs to be cut out in order to remove rust.



Most would probably call me crazy for doing this, but there are a couple of reasons for this.

1. It's an original JDM import.
2. This is probably the only car of it's kind in my country and probably there's not one other in a 1000 mile radius, so not gonna find another body like this.
3. And because I enjoy a challenge

Oh and don't mind the weld seams, I haven't attended to them yet, just patching it up Had to get the engine rebuilt as well as it has done about 300,000 miles, but that's already taken care of. But the car did have a set of Monroe shocks that I'll be using to make a set of "Phonis" later, again because I like the challenge

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Wow very good job.
I have NEVER seen one as rusty as that, but i am glad you are sorting it out
I guess the 300,000 miles does explain it

Do you have any spares? Carb etc ?

Here was mine, I ran out of money and the bottom end of the engine went, so the car was taken away for parts :



And here is my friends, he drives it every day

Love the spoiler, I wanted to get an evo 8-9 spoiler, but since they're carbon I can't afford one, maybe I'll fab one up No spares, but all the mechanics are in good working order, the transmission is in a surprisingly good condition for such mileage

EDIT: btw is that an evo 6 spoiler?

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

You sure got yourself a challenge there... good luck!

YOU must REALLY like a challenge.
a rust free shell of the 2wd version would have really
helped on patch panels.... but ya got to work with what you've got.
keep us posted!

I guess it would have, but the cheapest shell I could find was half what I paid for the whole car. I just got a big hood from the junkyard and chopped it up for sheet metal, works really well, plus I'm getting experience

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Awesome project, i wish i could find AWD sedan's here in Holland.

Car is AWESOME man!!! I'd LOVE to have an AWD 4-door.

_________________
All Wheel Drive-187 FWHP @ 18 psi...... SHE LIVES!!!!
METRO SS Certified honda H8R




AHM NOT AN AHSOE!!! DO I LOOK LIKE AN AHSOE!?!?!?

Some progress.

Welding up front - done!

Started working inside. After a closer inspection on the rust in the passenger area, it turned out it's mostly surface rust, but there were a few holes that needed to be welded up.



Had to cut out a huge patch of metal in the lower corner of the passenger wheel arch and welded up a nice thick metal patch.





View from the inside.



The drivers side had significantly more surface rust, but far less holes. Just started on that.



Hopefully I'll be able to finish up welding until winter, so that I can paint it and finish it up. Otherwise I won't have any wheels for the winter

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

wow that is so much rust in there. makes me feel lucky that my problems are limited to the rockers and rear wheel arches.

_________________
Silver 2000 Firefly 4DR; 16V SOHC, 3 to 5 speed swap, install PS and AC, remote and auto start, PL, PW, kill and start switch, Valentine 1, behind-bumper CAI, 55MM TB with coolant-bypass, polyurethane-fill engine/shifter mounts, modified to short shifter, upgraded electrical system, CS130 alternator, 90/160W headlights + relay mod, ceramic H4 plug/harness
To do: finish stereo, 4000K H4 HIDs, short block replacement
'sponsored' by Captain Crunch, Lordco, Felpro, Permatex, Royal Purple

It's not that bad, all you need is an angle grinder and time

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Kudos, props, and "attaboy's" a- plenty!!!

_________________
All Wheel Drive-187 FWHP @ 18 psi...... SHE LIVES!!!!
METRO SS Certified honda H8R




AHM NOT AN AHSOE!!! DO I LOOK LIKE AN AHSOE!?!?!?

$50 bux says Mike sat on that trailer hitch.

I'm just sayin'...

_________________
2017: I forgot if my memory loss is a good thing or bad thing.

LNLC Founding Member

Certified to advise if this thread is GAY

I have no idea what that means

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

A little update. Passenger side is finished, just have to relocate the rear control arm a bit, so there's some metal cut out under the back seats at the moment. The drivers side needed a new door sill, but I couldn't find one for a swift sedan, so I had a look around and bought an mk2 golf door sill and it was almost a perfect fit, just have to cut it a bit at the back. The rear wheel arch has rotted out, but I'll have one fabricated by a guy who's already done it a few times on this exact car



So welding's almost done and then I'll prep it for paint and do some fiberglass parts over the winter. Hopefully it will be done by spring and I can finally drive it Though I'm still desperate about finding that front lip

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

Found a really clean sedan for sale locally. The guy wants $570 for it, maybe I can knock it down to 500 or even 400. But even at 570 it's a bargain, very clean, especially considering our roads and winters, probably imported from Germany not long ago.



Was wondering, I need rear arches replaced, both front fenders, all are $50 a piece, maybe even more, so I though I could buy this and use for fiberglass molds. And on top of that I'd have a daily drive, since I'm kind of jacking my girlfriends mom's ride atm Then when I'm finished with my current project, I might do another 4wd sedan from this one, all parts necessary are available locally

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

at $550 that would be a STEAL... esp. if the inside is as nice as the outside

Was going through the adds just now and guess what I found.



Looks solid enough and it's posted for $50! No MOT, so there's probably something wrong with it and it's 300km away, but hell, for $50 I'll take it! I'd pay that much for a new fender and I only need it for a fiberglass mold. And I need a new windshield which costs a $100 Suspicious though, have to look into it...

_________________
I ride a Honda, but I drive a Suzuki.

99 Honda CB600F Hornet
90 Suzuki Swift 1.6 GLX 4WD

that's the slow engine, but can be fixed later

_________________
Silver 2000 Firefly 4DR; 16V SOHC, 3 to 5 speed swap, install PS and AC, remote and auto start, PL, PW, kill and start switch, Valentine 1, behind-bumper CAI, 55MM TB with coolant-bypass, polyurethane-fill engine/shifter mounts, modified to short shifter, upgraded electrical system, CS130 alternator, 90/160W headlights + relay mod, ceramic H4 plug/harness
To do: finish stereo, 4000K H4 HIDs, short block replacement
'sponsored' by Captain Crunch, Lordco, Felpro, Permatex, Royal Purple

Any update on this?
Guess what? I have just bought the 4WD one with the Evo spoiler from my friend I'm not sure what Evo the spoiler is off, I will ask him.
It needs a lot of work so I am putting it in the garage.