OTIS The ultimate Suzuki 4x4!

When Pat Callinan wanted to build something different, he started with a long-wheelbase Sierra. But how do you make a Sierra called Otis more capable, and a whole lot different to every other Sierra out there? You bung in a fuel injected Commodore V6, that's what! Being slightly larger than the old 1.3-litre powerhouse, Pat didn't believe that the Sierra running gear was up to the task, so he bolted in HiLux axles, and a HiLux transfer case stuffed with Marks Adapters Gearmaster rockcrawler gears. Pat reckons those gears are fantastic when you're crawling down steep hills, because with the Hurst Cable shifte locked in first, the blue Zook idles down. Plus, with the wider HiLux track, the Sierra is a dead-set weapon and withstands side angles with ease. But that could also be because of the custom offset Eastern Wheel Works wheels and 15.5-inch wide Mickey Thompson Baja Claws!

The engine breathes through a custom stainless steel snorkel from Mannell Motors, the same company that completed the engine and diff conversion. The smart bar work was completed by M&M Engineering and Chaos 4X4, which includes a custom front bar, side bars, tray and roll cage. Mounted off the tray is a PWR alloy radiator with custom cowling and twin Davies Craig thermo fans. Why back there? Because it simply didn't fit under the bonnet with the V6! Under the tray sits a custom made 106-litre fuel tank, built by the experts at Out of Town 4WD. The front bar has been fitted with a couple of rated recovery hooks, and a Warn 8000lb Hi-Mount winch, enabling Pat to use lightweight but strong Dynamica winch rope. A mass of lights abound on the Zook, with four Lightforce XGTs on the roof, and two Lightforce 170s out front.

But inside the rig is no less impressive. Behind the seats sit two batteries, taking the total to three! These babies power the winch and the fridge, with plenty of room to spare. The front sports seats were acquired from a Honda Prelude, and are as comfortable as the day is long. The cabin also houses a tough GME waterproof and dust proof UHF radio, and a waterproof Fusion marine MP3 player for those mud runs. But what this rig is all about is having fun off-road, and to that end, ARB installed a set of their air operated differential locks, turning the truck into a tractor. But it's not just the diffs that can help with traction, and when the going gets tough, it's best to air down in the mud or the sand. So in went a set of internal pneumatic bead locks, to hold those tyres on the rims no matter how low you go. Nice.

It seems Pat has installed the full shopping list on Otis, with Rancho adjustable RS 9000 shocks, as well as Snake Racing rear shackles and wrap bar. There's 4Runner leaf springs in the rear, to give an extra long wheelbase, and max articulation. And to keep the body nice and high and out of the muck, 2-inch alloy lift blocks from Snake Racing were bolted in at Mannell Motors.