Re: Fixing up the car for the desert
Posted by Alan on February 08, 2002 at 20:13:32:
In Reply to: Fixing up the car for the desert posted by Lara on February 07, 2002 at 23:27:34:
My previous car was a Suzuki Samurai, similar to the Geo Tracker. (Geo is made by Suzuki.) The ten gallon gas tank was a pain, but never really a problem off paved roads in Death Valley. I'd be careful to fill it at the last gas station I came to, and never had to worry about running out of gas. The only problem with that is that I had to fill up in Furnace Creek or Shoshone, neither of which is known for it's low priced gas. I once filled up in Shoshone, drove into Death Valley, through Warm Springs Canyon, over Mengel Pass, out through Goller Wash, through Trona, and down to the 395. I think this would be the longest route in Death Valley between gas stations, and I had no problem with gas.
The main problem with Suzukis is that the engines are not reliable. If you have a good engine, then go for the upgrade, but if not, think twice before you start this project. I rebuilt my engine, and it promptly went out again (on my way to the Mojave Phone booth. . .and now it's not there anymore), the mechanic redid it, and it went out again. I should have put that money into the Blazer I later replaced it with.
A good source of parts for any Suzuki/Geo 4x4 is www.calmini.com. One solution to the engine problem is to buy a kit from Calmini to put a Ford V-6 into the Geo. They used to have this kit on the web site, I don't see it now, but it may be in the catalog.
Have fun, drive safe, maybe we'll run into each other in DV.