Base plate install, Suzuki Vitara
I picked up a 1999 Suzuki Vitara to turn into a toad. Unfortunately it was not pull ready, so I have had to attach the base plate and the supplemental braking system. This post is about the base plate installation.
Disclosure - I'm not an ace mechanic. I can do the basics, oil changes, tune up, brake job, tranny service, and I have rebuilt a few A/C systems. I can turn a wrench, but I need to be careful not to get over my head.
I reviewed the available videos on the blue ox site and you tube, then jumped into the base-plate install. They list this as a 3 hour job. I did mine in stages, but would estimate it took me 5 hours and some bruised knuckles.
The instructions could have been better. Clear pictures of the various steps would have helped me. And an assistant would have been nice to have.
The general first step is to remove the grill and bumper cover. I took a black sharpy pen and marked the holes to ID the hardware that needs to go back in after the install. I found this helpful later. Most of this is held together by various push pins. I was only able to salvage a few of them, so save yourself some time and buy several extra ones from the hardware store. I actually liked the ones I bought from True Value better than the originals. While at the hardware store be sure to buy some red locktite and a 10" 3/8 drill bit which I found made some of the drilling easier.
Once you remove the front inside bolt from the suspension bracket on each side, you can use those two guides to get the base plate in position, then use the removed bolts to hold the base plate up. As soon as mine came out, one side shifted and it was a real PITA to get it lined up again. It is not easy to slip the base plate in and around the transmission line which runs left to right under the radiator. You dont want to violate that line. At first I was concerned that the base plate was going to rub on that line, but once you get the final install in place, there is about a 1/2" clearance. Once the base plate is in place, you can mark the holes you need to drill with a 3/8" drill. Here is where the 10" drill bit came in handy. With the shorter bit, I could not position my drill motor around various obstructions. Once you get those holes drilled out, put the provided bolts through the holes, then stop and ponder the order in which you will put the nuts on the bolts. They give you 6 nut plates which have a wire welded on each plate. You have to fish the nut plate through the frame opening in the front of the vehicle on each side. A small bright flash light helps, but you must attach the most distant ones first then work you way towards the front of the vehicle or you will not be able to fish the nut plate around a bolt with a nut on it. I also found that I had about 1/4" space that needed to be tightened up between the baseplate and the frame on each side. Their bolts were too short, so I picked up some slightly longer ones from the hardware store that allowed me to get the plates in juxtaposition so the provided bolts could be used. Then torque everything to specs.
I will try and follow up with a few pictures, but I hope some of these notes may help someone doing this for the first time.
Disclosure - I'm not an ace mechanic. I can do the basics, oil changes, tune up, brake job, tranny service, and I have rebuilt a few A/C systems. I can turn a wrench, but I need to be careful not to get over my head.
I reviewed the available videos on the blue ox site and you tube, then jumped into the base-plate install. They list this as a 3 hour job. I did mine in stages, but would estimate it took me 5 hours and some bruised knuckles.
The instructions could have been better. Clear pictures of the various steps would have helped me. And an assistant would have been nice to have.
The general first step is to remove the grill and bumper cover. I took a black sharpy pen and marked the holes to ID the hardware that needs to go back in after the install. I found this helpful later. Most of this is held together by various push pins. I was only able to salvage a few of them, so save yourself some time and buy several extra ones from the hardware store. I actually liked the ones I bought from True Value better than the originals. While at the hardware store be sure to buy some red locktite and a 10" 3/8 drill bit which I found made some of the drilling easier.
Once you remove the front inside bolt from the suspension bracket on each side, you can use those two guides to get the base plate in position, then use the removed bolts to hold the base plate up. As soon as mine came out, one side shifted and it was a real PITA to get it lined up again. It is not easy to slip the base plate in and around the transmission line which runs left to right under the radiator. You dont want to violate that line. At first I was concerned that the base plate was going to rub on that line, but once you get the final install in place, there is about a 1/2" clearance. Once the base plate is in place, you can mark the holes you need to drill with a 3/8" drill. Here is where the 10" drill bit came in handy. With the shorter bit, I could not position my drill motor around various obstructions. Once you get those holes drilled out, put the provided bolts through the holes, then stop and ponder the order in which you will put the nuts on the bolts. They give you 6 nut plates which have a wire welded on each plate. You have to fish the nut plate through the frame opening in the front of the vehicle on each side. A small bright flash light helps, but you must attach the most distant ones first then work you way towards the front of the vehicle or you will not be able to fish the nut plate around a bolt with a nut on it. I also found that I had about 1/4" space that needed to be tightened up between the baseplate and the frame on each side. Their bolts were too short, so I picked up some slightly longer ones from the hardware store that allowed me to get the plates in juxtaposition so the provided bolts could be used. Then torque everything to specs.
I will try and follow up with a few pictures, but I hope some of these notes may help someone doing this for the first time.
