My new Suzukular Project

Hey all!

This weekend I picked up my greatly anticipated new toy, a 1988 Suzuki Samurai Tin Top. I picked it up on Saturday. Here it is loaded on the tow rig

By Sunday, I tried it out at Gen’s place…and it was indeed fun!

I’m totally and completely impressed by a worn-out, stock, Samurai’s offroad capability. Granted, we’re not experienced offroaders, and we probably didn’t take it anywhere worthy of respect…but I’m still impressed! Heck…the tires are on their wear indicators…and they’re certainly just street tires.

The Samurai has a really soft brake pedal right now…so the first thing to address is the brakes. I need to see where the leak is (the reservoir was basically empty), fix it, and then bleed the system. The front bumper mount tube is rusted out…so it was barely hanging on. A little .032 safety wire did the trick nicely to get us out into the pasture.

This thing has lots of little issues…but none of them, at least that I’ve found yet, include the drivetrain. It’s rusty as can be, the interior is a best defined as a combination of “broken” and “missing.” The door limiter strap on the driver door is gone, the passenger door handle on the outside is broken and the window regulator is shot (with signs of previous vicegrips-instead-of-crank-handle action), the headliner is partially gone, and the rest is falling, the cheesy aftermarket tach doesn’t even work, and the list goes on ad nauseam.

At the finish of the day, I ended up riding a fallen tree trunk into it’s respective stump which further boogered up the front bumper. It was pushed back enough that the bumper was rubbing the tire. The same tube that was rusted out on the driver side was almost as rusty on the passenger side (big surprise, huh?) and it bent easily with just the slightest tap against the stump.

We were worn out enough that we decided not to get out the chain and pull it back out…but that’s probably the next mission for the little Samurai. The brakes and the front bumper situation are certainly at the top of the list for it though…

I guess it's my first try posting photos on the new board...

Little help?

Clem

Use the camera icon in the posting area - new site uses HTML in lieu of that old BB stuff.

Sure Clem.. you can click the ? help icon (the blue circle one) in the formatting controls for some tips. Clicking the camera makes it pretty darn easy. There's more in the FAQ: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/the-big-new-site-faq/445/page1/

Thanks All,

For the record...I DID look in the FAQ but must have missed in the whiner-fest...I guess. I even searched the FAQ thread for "img" and came up empty. I'll play around and hopefully get it right now!...

Edit: Fixed it. I like the old way better...but I'm sure we'll get used to this (...not trying to complain too much ;)).

Thanks, Clem

There's a lot of stuff in there!

This is just a test:

fixed..

Here's the markdown syntax (if I can get it to appear):

    ! [ any alt text that should appear if they image doesn't load ] ( http://path/to/img.jpg )

So it could be as simple as:

    ![](http://path/to/image.jpg)

Hey, welcome to the fold! I'm glad I'm not the only red-headed step child out there.

And yes, they are fun!

There's an ultra-rare 2WD version of the Samurai. I always have an eye out for one. I think it would make a neat starting point for a Locost-type car.

Yes,

I saw a 2wd model for sale here in town once...the guy wanted WAY too much for it.

The cool thing is that they're REALLY easy to convert to 4x4. They have a straight beam axle in the front, so you just bolt a real front end on, and then get yourself a transfer case and a driveshaft. I'm sure there's more to it, but probably not much!

The 2wd even had a dummy transfer case...at least that's the way I understand it.

I love those old samurais.. especially the tin top ones (odd considering my love for convertables) and someday I will have one.. with a VW diesel

ClemSparks, a coupla helper sites:

http://bbs.zuwharrie.com/content

http://www.pirate4x4.com/welcome1.php

http://www.hawksuzukiparts.com/main_parts.htm

http://www.zukiworld.com/

http://www.rockcrawler.com/

http://www.rocky-road.com/index2.html

I don't know if it made it over from the old board, but someone used a Sammy drive train in a Model T rat rod. Should be enough.

Regarding my front bumper issue. It appears that it is pretty universally accepted that Samurais run with no front bumper or an aftermarket or custom fabbed one ;).

Really...I'm just sort of joking...but when you look at photos on the net, you see two types of Samurai. Ones without a bumper...and ones with an aftermarket/custom.

That tubular crossmember on the front of mine is pretty much shot from rust. I'm thinking about fabbing up some front and rear bumpers that I can tie a removable roof rack into so I can put a boat on top!

Clem

As you're fabbing away, think years down the road when you may need a winch.

Dan

Will do.

I was thinking about that already, actually...and I'm wondering if there is a winch mounting standard? I suppose I'll just put a receiver in it so I can have a receiver-mounted whinch of my choosing. However, if I was to put a mounting plate for a winch...what should I look at using?

Because I'm thinking...I would probably start with a cheap HF winch (that I already have to go on my trailer) but may need or want bigger/more capable later on.

Clem

mad_machine wrote: I love those old samurais.. especially the tin top ones (odd considering my love for convertables) and someday I will have one.. with a VW diesel

It's funny you should mention it. I have zero use for convertible sportscars (I wish they made factory hardtop/coupe miatas!) but would actually kind of enjoy a 4-by without a top. However...I'll feel more safe in this rollie-polie with my kids in the backseat knowing that theres some 18 gauge steel over our heads :rolleyes:

;) I really do feel like the tin top is inherently safer for the kids (and me too...but I don't care as much about me)

Clem

ClemSparks wrote: Will do. I was thinking about that already, actually...and I'm wondering if there is a winch mounting standard? I suppose I'll just put a receiver in it so I can have a receiver-mounted whinch of my choosing. However, if I was to put a mounting plate for a winch...what should I look at using? Remove the bumpers and see what's there and how rusty it is. You could make a receiver out of 2" square tubing for the front and the rear. Now you can winch from either direction. Mount the winch to a 5/8" plate and weld that to a 2" receiver. Because I'm thinking...I would probably start with a cheap HF winch (that I already have to go on my trailer) but may need or want bigger/more capable later on. Rule of thumb is buy 150% the weight of what you're moving. 2000" Sammy needs 3000" winch. If you run with military vehicles or PowerWagons however.... Clem

Oh yeah, if you're wheeling with the kiddies, think about more overhead protection, maybe a roll bar.

I'm not doing any real wheeling. I was kind of referring to the tendancy of these things to be rolled on dry pavement.

I don't plan to lift it or anything like that soon. I "wheeled" around in the field and forest at Gen's house. Let's just say that the rig is plenty capable stock...the driver, probably not so much.

There's just not sufficient opportunity around my parts for any wheeling. And I'd rather be back 40 racing anyway ;)...

Clem

A buddy of mine took a convertible Samurai, dropped a 4 cyl Datsun diesel, fabricated a custom turbo exhaust manifold, dropped a little T3 on it with 36" military wheels and tires and that thing is a total blast to drive.