Jack in Norfolk Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 I had a mechanic in Harrisonburg who raced an old 325i in the scca events at Summit Point in WVA. I remember for a while he and his partner (who had an mg with a ford tempo v6 in it, i think it had a blower) we ticked off at this guy who kept winning in a Suzuki Swift. He said that although the Swift was a tiny engine (I think it was the 3 cyl and not the hot rod swift gt) the driver was winding it out to like 13k rpms like a motorcycle. My mechanic said someone was talking about calling for a breakdown of the engine. Anyhow, if any of that is true and my facts are not all convaluted, I was wondering if a 4wd Justy (which I thought shared the Suzuki engine) might make a good race vehicle. So, if I am wrong about the 3 cylander's capabilities or the engine in the Justy or anything else, please pardon my ignorance. I have scanned thru the recent Justy posts but admittedly not paid that much attention. -Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rallyruss Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 well I have seen it before in rally X. the guy entered the thing in open class 4wd if I rember correctly. He talked so much smack about how he was going to clean up on the track. well the rest of us were just out to have fun and found him rather amusing. At the end of the day I (and quite a few others) beat the little guy by a decent margin. He just split, never to be seen again. yes I am sure you could build up a justy to handle some rally action and do well. they shows up here from time to time. but dont expect to have a first place machine just because its small and light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack in Norfolk Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 small and light is good, but I thought that the ability to wind the engine up to 12000 rpms would really make it compettitive. I was just wondering if anyone here could verify if it ran the same engine as the car my mechaninc was talking about. Another thing I just thought of is, I wonder of the hotrod Suzuki swift (dohc 2.2) would mount up in a Justy?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyrally Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 i remember that guy with the swift, pissed off a lot of people. i have a friend that races scca races. that guys car was fast. i could see a justy doing well if you can get the tuning done right. I had a mechanic in Harrisonburg who raced an old 325i in the scca events at Summit Point in WVA. I remember for a while he and his partner (who had an mg with a ford tempo v6 in it, i think it had a blower) we ticked off at this guy who kept winning in a Suzuki Swift. He said that although the Swift was a tiny engine (I think it was the 3 cyl and not the hot rod swift gt) the driver was winding it out to like 13k rpms like a motorcycle. My mechanic said someone was talking about calling for a breakdown of the engine. Anyhow, if any of that is true and my facts are not all convaluted, I was wondering if a 4wd Justy (which I thought shared the Suzuki engine) might make a good race vehicle. So, if I am wrong about the 3 cylander's capabilities or the engine in the Justy or anything else, please pardon my ignorance. I have scanned thru the recent Justy posts but admittedly not paid that much attention. -Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 having one less cylinder doesnt make the engine able to rev that high. its all about valve controll. not sure what a justys redline is, but you wont make any power past it without cams and alot of engine work... and a turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik litchy Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 why would high rpm make a car better? it would be way out of its power band just get a 323 GTX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wounded brat Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 I don't know abput 12,000 rpms or rally rule or what not what I do know for sure is my family had a 86 justy when I turned 16. that car took soooo much abuse from me and my brother and without any problems whatso ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack in Norfolk Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 i remember that guy with the swift, pissed off a lot of people. i have a friend that races scca races. that guys car was fast. i could see a justy doing well if you can get the tuning done right. Do remember which engine it had? I know that Suzuki marketed a sporty version of the swift. I think it was called the GT or the GTI (not to be confused with a VW). I remember being told be several car guys that it was quick. I also remember seeing a concept in Sport Compact or Motor Trend of the "Suzuki Speedster" or something like that. It was white and had no roof but two rollbars and body molding shaped like headrests (like the old AC Cobras). I guess I'm just wondering if any of this technology can be used on a Justy. Then you would presumably have all of the good go fast stuff and have power to all four wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyrally Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 i have no idea of what that car had going on with it. if i remember, ill ask about it when i go to the shop that has some of my stuff. Do remember which engine it had? I know that Suzuki marketed a sporty version of the swift. I think it was called the GT or the GTI (not to be confused with a VW). I remember being told be several car guys that it was quick. I also remember seeing a concept in Sport Compact or Motor Trend of the "Suzuki Speedster" or something like that. It was white and had no roof but two rollbars and body molding shaped like headrests (like the old AC Cobras). I guess I'm just wondering if any of this technology can be used on a Justy. Then you would presumably have all of the good go fast stuff and have power to all four wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 I dont know how many times I've said this but the similiarities between the suzuki 3 cyl and the US market subaru 3 cyl end at the fact that they are both 3 cyl. Nothing bolts between them, the suzuki is a 1.0l 6-valve, the subaru is a 1.2l 9-valve. The subaru justy land speed record car turned something like 11000rpm but it was destroked, and ran a custom cam/intake/exhaust setup. Ive had my justy up in the 8-9k range before for a short period, and there is some power there with the stock engine, but not beyond that. The justys weak point is the oil pump. There are some people rallying justys in ontario, but I've read that they keep throwing rods, presumably due to lost oil pressure. My current theory on the oil pump problems is that the inner and outer rotor are not hardened, and so debris chews them up fairly quickly. Also contributing is the possible lack of lubrication to the oil pump shaft. Other than that the motors are pretty stout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoJak Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Just a tid bit of info to add, my '89 carb Justy has a factory tach redline of 6000 rmp. I haven't had the car very long and don't think I've even got that high with it. It does like to run at higher rpms than anything I've ever had, it's also my first 3 cyl car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torxxx Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 I'd go with the Madza GTX Its a 323 with 4 wheel disc brakes, AWD and a turbo. I've raced against one on the ice track and all I can say is wow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 they are very cool, I wish I could find/afford one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WagonsOnly Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 The hot-rodded Swift was the GTi--until Volkswagen sued because they thought people would confuse a Suzuki with a Veedub. VW still has exclusive rights to the GTi nameplate in the States, and the Swift GTi became the Swift GT after the suit was settled. The Swift and Justy engines are exactly the same, if you happened to buy a Euro-market Justy after 1994. 1994 and earlier (encompassing ALL Justies sold in the states), the only commonality was the number of cylinders, as Bushbasher has already stated. Suzuki-made Justies were sold ONLY in Europe and utilize Subaru 4WD transmissions, a result of some convoluted General Motors scheme to bleed even more red ink... (Subaru and Suzuki were both part-owned by GM at the time, hence the parts bin sharing; GM also sold Swifts abroad as the Holden (Australia/NZ) Barina and in North America under the Geo/Chevy Metro and Pontiac Firefly nameplates) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zefy Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 i remember reading an article about the justy being used as a rally car in the late 80's or sometihng... they made it able to shift at 12k rpm... they did TONS of head work on it though... got something like 120hp out of it without a turbo...:cool: i'm also pretty sure they went through a motor every few races too..:-p i can't seem to find the article anymore... if anybody knows where it is...? there was a justy being used in a stage rally that i went to... it was a cool to see a justy in the same race as a 500hp sti...:-p (different class of course but it was still awesome...) they make cool rally cars... and with intake and exhaust done you can get like 75hp outa em... which when the car is gutted ain't to shabby... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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