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'88 GL Wagon to off road beast?!


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I've got a 1988 GL Wagon, that i can't seem to get rid off and have decided to turn into a bush beater. I figure that i need to get a bit more clearance as the first priority, and that's what brought me here. I'm looking for some help, input, etc...I'm not going to doing any hardcore wheelin', not that i would'nt like too. Therefore i'm trying to find out the most economical way to get a few more inche's clearance, any help would be great.

With any luck i'll post some pics in the near future.

Chris

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Easiest/ cheapest way is to go with 14" or 15" Peugeot (Pug) wheels and some decent rubber. Some fender trimming may be required, but it doesn't sound like that's an issue. Be aware though, that the increased diameter will throw your ratios off a bit. (more top end on the freeway, less low end grunt)

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For cheap, I would go with fender trimming and the biggest tires you can fit while running the aforementioned pug rims. You can also get a few more inches of clearance in the rear by swapping in the front springs from an 86-89 Honda Accord.

 

After that, you'll have to buy or make a lift kit.

lift kits: www.ozified.com

 

Another good thing for offroading is swapping in the limited slip rear differential from a turbo model, or just welding your spider gears.

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to lift the back the cheap way unbolt the top of the rear coilovers, drill two new holes a few inches below, and get some bolts with nyloc nuts, and bolt em back in lower. This method lasted on my first wagon for some hardcore wheeling. Most you can go is a few inches though because the axles can only have so much angle on them. Couple that with some taller springs in the front like snowman says. You can also weld another strut top to the top of your strut tops to give 2 inches. Of course you need access to a welder though.

 

Besides pugs you can get 6 lug toyota pickup rims in 14" or 15" and stick some aggressive "real" snow tires or ats/mts, and drill the rims out for the 4bolt pattern. 2 of the bolts from the hub already fit, you just have to drill 2 more in each rim. in the front of my wagon I was able to put a 27" tire that would turn lock to lock with no lift, after beating on the back of the inner fenderwell, and cutting a ton out of the fenders.

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