- Joined
- Jul 4, 2024
- Messages
- 2
Making a thread for my Samurai finally
Picked it up Feb 3rd in Reno NV, it had been on the side of a shed for a while. Had Toyota axles and a 1.6 swap. So for a guy on a budget, who has never owned anything similar, it seemed like great first step into a solid axle rig.
View attachment 42183
Once I got it home I spent some time getting it registered, patched a hole in the transmission tunnel with some license plates, and got a drive shaft made for the front. It would drive around but after getting the correct driveshaft in there I quickly figured out the front differential ratio was different from the rear.
Figured out the ratio of the rear and matched the front. Ended up with a 5.29 gear set, a spool in the front, and I believe the rear is welded. Shortly after a buddy helped me throw in some front shock hoops and a cheap set of 12” pro comp shocks. I took it out on some trails to shake it down for the first time that weekend.
After that shake down run I figured out I had a lot more to tackle if I wanted to take this thing on any other trails. The most glaring problem was the transfer case mounts were all loose and torn up. I quickly ordered a ZOR cradle and as soon as I got it installed, the clicky starter issues began. I wasn’t too sure where to start so initially I thought it wasn’t getting fuel, so I replaced the pump. After that didn’t do much for starting it, I changed the connector on the starter signal wire and it was back to starting.
Shortly after I started driving it around town a bit more. Found a sweet deal on a used roll cage and picked it up (still haven’t installed it but it’s definitely on the list!)
My goal was always to be able to run take off tires from my broverlander. I refreshed the steering joints and I took an old set of 37” Patagonias off my truck and mounted them on some cheap rough country steelies. Mounted em up and used good ol forky at work to clearance the fenders
I brought it back out to the trails, and although everything felt awesome with the t-case now held in place. It was severely needing lower gearing.
Picked up a rebuilt tcase with 6.4:1 gears, and although it made it more difficult to drive on the road, this has to be the best modification I’ve done to this lil rig.
I got excited and took the rig out on some rocks before I actually got all the recommended reinforcements welded in for the ZOR cradle with the 6.4:1 case (too much torque for the thin Suzuki metal) and I bent one of the t-case mounts.
Spent the time to get that repaired and reinforced. Once that was done all bets were off it was time to put some dents in the doors!!
So that’s about how it sits right now, i have some sliders ready to get welded on to it and the clicky starter came back but I swiftly got that fixed. I broke a rear leaf spring a few months ago and finally have the right set on the way so I can get back out on the rocks.
Sami John has been an absolute blast to learn how to build and drive so far. I don’t really plan on letting it go, just continuing to build it up and make it better with time. If you made it this far thanks for coming to my ted talk
Picked it up Feb 3rd in Reno NV, it had been on the side of a shed for a while. Had Toyota axles and a 1.6 swap. So for a guy on a budget, who has never owned anything similar, it seemed like great first step into a solid axle rig.
View attachment 42183
Once I got it home I spent some time getting it registered, patched a hole in the transmission tunnel with some license plates, and got a drive shaft made for the front. It would drive around but after getting the correct driveshaft in there I quickly figured out the front differential ratio was different from the rear.
Figured out the ratio of the rear and matched the front. Ended up with a 5.29 gear set, a spool in the front, and I believe the rear is welded. Shortly after a buddy helped me throw in some front shock hoops and a cheap set of 12” pro comp shocks. I took it out on some trails to shake it down for the first time that weekend.
After that shake down run I figured out I had a lot more to tackle if I wanted to take this thing on any other trails. The most glaring problem was the transfer case mounts were all loose and torn up. I quickly ordered a ZOR cradle and as soon as I got it installed, the clicky starter issues began. I wasn’t too sure where to start so initially I thought it wasn’t getting fuel, so I replaced the pump. After that didn’t do much for starting it, I changed the connector on the starter signal wire and it was back to starting.
Shortly after I started driving it around town a bit more. Found a sweet deal on a used roll cage and picked it up (still haven’t installed it but it’s definitely on the list!)
My goal was always to be able to run take off tires from my broverlander. I refreshed the steering joints and I took an old set of 37” Patagonias off my truck and mounted them on some cheap rough country steelies. Mounted em up and used good ol forky at work to clearance the fenders
I brought it back out to the trails, and although everything felt awesome with the t-case now held in place. It was severely needing lower gearing.
Picked up a rebuilt tcase with 6.4:1 gears, and although it made it more difficult to drive on the road, this has to be the best modification I’ve done to this lil rig.
I got excited and took the rig out on some rocks before I actually got all the recommended reinforcements welded in for the ZOR cradle with the 6.4:1 case (too much torque for the thin Suzuki metal) and I bent one of the t-case mounts.
Spent the time to get that repaired and reinforced. Once that was done all bets were off it was time to put some dents in the doors!!
So that’s about how it sits right now, i have some sliders ready to get welded on to it and the clicky starter came back but I swiftly got that fixed. I broke a rear leaf spring a few months ago and finally have the right set on the way so I can get back out on the rocks.
Sami John has been an absolute blast to learn how to build and drive so far. I don’t really plan on letting it go, just continuing to build it up and make it better with time. If you made it this far thanks for coming to my ted talk
