Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this whole Pikes Peak Suzuki thing, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. I wanted to share what I’ve been up to, mostly ’cause it’s been a learning experience, and maybe someone else can get something out of it.
It all started with this crazy idea. I saw some videos of these insane Suzukis ripping up Pikes Peak, and I thought, “I wanna do something like that!” Now, I’m no professional mechanic, just a guy who likes to tinker in his garage, so I knew I was in for a challenge.
Getting Started
First, I needed a Suzuki. I managed to find an old, beat-up Sidekick. It wasn’t pretty, but the engine seemed to run okay, which was a good start. I spent a couple of weekends just cleaning it up, getting rid of all the rust and grime. That was a messy job, let me tell you.
The Teardown
- Engine: Pulled the engine out. Man, that thing was heavy! Disassembled it, cleaned everything, and checked for any major damage. I replaced some gaskets, the timing belt, and the water pump – just basic maintenance stuff.
- Suspension: The original suspension was shot. Completely useless for what I wanted to do. I got my hands on some used coilovers from a junkyard and spent hours figuring out how to make them fit. Lots of cutting and welding involved.
- Body: I stripped out the interior. Seats, carpet, everything went. I wanted to make it as light as possible. I also started patching up some of the rust holes in the body. My welding skills are… well, let’s just say they’re improving.
The Build
This is where things got interesting. I had this vision of a stripped-down, lightweight machine. I started fabricating some custom parts. Things I did not complete:
- A roll cage, because safety first.
- Mounts for some bigger tires.
Honestly most of the time I spend on this is in my head figuring out how to tackle the next stage of the build.
Current Status
It’s still a work in progress, that’s for sure. The Sidekick is sitting in my garage, half-assembled. I’ve got a pile of parts waiting to be installed, and a whole list of things I still need to figure out. But I’m making progress, bit by bit. It’s frustrating sometimes, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when I finally get something to work.
I’m learning as I go, making mistakes, and figuring things out. It’s a long way from being a Pikes Peak contender, but it’s my Pikes Peak project, and I’m having a blast with it. Will follow up once I make more progress.
