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OverEasy
02-21-2011, 04:09 PM
Well after some questions and a few pm's about my Samurai I thought I would post my build thread here. Its still under a build and the progression has been on and off over a couple years so I'll start from the beginning.

Here we go...

So after I traded my 89 FS K5 on 40" TSLs for a Samurai that had sat in a field for two years I wasn't sure I had done the right thing. :crazy: The family I got my Zuk from had used it as a storage building for the two years it had sat. It had about three / four inches of sunflower seeds all through it, microwaves, old shoes and other random junk in it. The smell alone made you want to puke. The Zuk had mold all over the outside from where it was in the shade under a tree/bush thing but I still wanted it.

K5 I traded. Yes I was on a car. Its a pic of a pic but you get the idea.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1362-1.jpg

After cleaning for two days, vacuuming and the sunflower seeds out, tearing all the carpet up, taking the back seat out, sanding it down and laying a coat of flat black on it it looked like this...

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0168-1.jpg

Yup, another stock Zuk. HA! It used to be a kinda nice silver with a factory decal down the side. Well silver no more! I don't like shiny.

I wheeled the tiny thing for a while like this and had a blast out of it. I put on a set of 28/29" tires on the stock wheels and drove the piss outa it!

I did the normal stuff like a new radio, new cb, bought some mild recovery equipment and just had fun!

4x4Dalton
02-21-2011, 04:36 PM
Good write up so far man. Cant wait to read more on it.

bigjim350
02-21-2011, 05:54 PM
Well silver no more! I don't like shiny.



I agree I like mine with no shine too. Looking forward to the rest of the build :popcorn:

OverEasy
02-21-2011, 06:26 PM
Good write up so far man. Cant wait to read more on it.
Thank you sir!


I agree I like mine with no shine too. Looking forward to the rest of the build :popcorn:

Thanks! Yeah, I'm not a fan of flashy stuff. Hope I don't bore you all with the build... :D


So, after cleaning, getting it to run decent, smelling fresh and clean with the help of a bottle of Frebreeze I wheeled it stock for a long time. After a little over a year I bought a 6" full SPOA kit and a over the top steering upgrade for it. The install . . . I know these are crappy pics but its all I have of this process. It was before I had a digi camera. Please forgive me.

Install of the 6" spoa and steering upgrade.

Sitting at a friends house with the rear up getting ready to get pulled.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild003.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild002.jpg

Tires and wheels off, brakes undone, shocks out. . .
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild004.jpg

Rear out.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild005.jpg

New rear shock beside the old one. Both are fully extended.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild010.jpg

After finding the angle for the perches they were welded in place and painted with some black paint.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild007.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild008.jpg

The rear was rehung and the upper shock relocation bar was installed along with the extended brake lines and drive shaft spacers. After that the shocks were put in place and the back was done.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild013.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild009.jpg

The front was just about the same way.

Front up with axle out.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild011.jpg

Some welding on the perches.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild016.jpg

Perches on.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild012.jpg

Lower shock mounts welded in place.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild017.jpg

New front shock fully in, old shock fully extended.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild014.jpg

Both fronts fully extended.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild015.jpg

Front axle hung,(new steering getting hooked up), extended brake lines hooked up, shocks put on, drive shaft spacer in place....
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild018.jpg

Done, these were taken about a week after the lift was done. I found a set of old Coopers that were 29"ers. They were slapped on until I could get my new treads
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild019.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/samibuild020.jpg

Once again, sorry for the crappy pics.

4x4Dalton
02-21-2011, 06:29 PM
Looks good bro.

OverEasy
02-21-2011, 06:33 PM
:D

We used to call it Super Fly back then cause it looked like a Fly on steroids. Other than that crappy tribal flame job I did. Spare paint can make you do bad things. LOL!

4x4Dalton
02-21-2011, 06:35 PM
:D

We used to call it Super Fly back then cause it looked like a Fly on steroids. Other than that crappy tribal flame job I did. Spare paint can make you do bad things. LOL!

Well look at my XJ its done in flat black spray. Have 3 cans in back so when I do a walk around and notice some chipped off...shake,shake,shake instant paint job...lol.

OverEasy
02-21-2011, 06:38 PM
Well look at my XJ its done in flat black spray. Have 3 cans in back so when I do a walk around and notice some chipped off...shake,shake,shake instant paint job...lol.

LOL! Yeah! Mine is sprayed with the Krylon High Temp Grill & BBQ Paint. :rotfl2: Its the only thing I found that wont fade. I just REALLY hated those stupid flames after they were put on. Thats more of what I was saying. I had some extra yellow laying around and thought it was a good idea at the time.... :headshake:

4.3LXJ
02-21-2011, 07:14 PM
I'm not a fan of flashy stuff. Hope I don't bore you all with the build... :D

Maybe you wouldn't like mine. It had all the trim and simulated burl wood dash

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/Samurai/IMG_0953.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/Samurai/IMG_0955.jpg

OverEasy
02-21-2011, 07:23 PM
Maybe you wouldn't like mine. It had all the trim and simulated burl wood dash


Hahaa, Nah, its cool! I just don't like my stuff shiny and flashy. I'll paint chrome black with the quickness! LOL! :thumbsup:

Now that custom wood cluster is uhh . . . special! :D

alwaysxj
02-21-2011, 08:51 PM
I love this.. I had a 88 on 33s back on the day. I want another one to wheel but the wife will not let me. lol

4.3LXJ
02-21-2011, 09:24 PM
Hahaa, Nah, its cool! I just don't like my stuff shiny and flashy. I'll paint chrome black with the quickness! LOL! :thumbsup:

Now that custom wood cluster is uhh . . . special! :D

The wood dash was stock. I just removed the stock gages and put in Autometer stuff in its place.

OverEasy
02-21-2011, 10:42 PM
I love this.. I had a 88 on 33s back on the day. I want another one to wheel but the wife will not let me. lol

Any old pics of it? No comment on the wife not letting you. But I will say thats why I am not married. :thumbsup:


The wood dash was stock. I just removed the stock gages and put in Autometer stuff in its place.

Ya, yours and one other are the only ones I've ever seen with that. I haven't seen either in person, just over the net. Looks pretty good with those guages in though. Its not bad.

OverEasy
02-22-2011, 12:42 PM
Well after wheeling and daily driving it for a while like this I needed tires, BAD! I saved up and bought 31"ltbs with 15x8" wheels. While waiting for the tires to show up I did a few things.

In the general time of the lift and tires I went ahead and put some Hellas on the hood, CJ hood latches on, drilled some more vents in the hood...

With the tires and lift put on...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0172-1.jpg

Went up to Shoe Creek (local trail) and checked out the new capabilities of the new mods...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0307.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0305.jpg

Was fun for a while but still wasn't enough...

OverEasy
02-22-2011, 12:51 PM
After putting on the new lift, tires w/wheels I wheeled it quite religiously! It somehow started to get a bit boring again. I was going where I wanted to but not as easy as I wanted. I wanted to do a rear locker but some other problems arose before I could buy the locker.

My clutch started to let go. When I'd hit the trails I would start to smell that nasty burnt clutch smell then it would just give out. Then my Alt. started to die on me. (both problems at the same time, within a week of each other)

I went ahead and replaced the stock clutch with a Centerforce Stage ll clutch, got the flywheel resurfaced. It now grabs pretty well and allows a little slipping for the needed off road slippage. So that squared away the clutch issue.

As far as the Alt. goes, I bought and replaced that with a stock one from Advanced Auto. After replacing with a new one I still had a prob. with it so I replaced that one. Still had a prob. :mad0090: Found out the replacement stock Alt. wasn't putting out enough to handle all the things I had added. So to fix that I added the GM 2 wire Alt. upgrade from Trail Tough. Also added a brand new Yellow Top Optima Battery. I have had NO problems since. :thumbsup:

Still wanting to do more while saving back up for a locker a good friend of mine talked me into cutting off my front bumper before lifting it and adding a "custom" (home made) one that would someday have a winch on it. Sooo we went for it! On to a front bumper build!

The same friend also had just bought a new manual tube bender and having a few piles of "scrap steel" laying around, we made a front bumper.

Wanting something that one day would lead to a front exo. possibly and liking the idea of a front stinger we got to work.

Started with this...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0226.jpg

Then bent this up and cut to fit the square tube...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0224.jpg

Starting to get the idea?
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0232.jpg

While it was only tacked in place we mounted it to Robbie's (the friend) Sami that he was building to check the angle out.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0229.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0230.jpg

Liking the angle it was welded in place!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0235.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0237.jpg

Painted it black, bolted it on, went wheeling!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0579.jpg

After replacing parts, building a bumper, I was still was bored with it.

XJ4IV
02-22-2011, 01:05 PM
THATS IT I gotta find me antoher one of these to build up for the kids, Did they make an automatic version?

OverEasy
02-22-2011, 01:34 PM
THATS IT I gotta find me antoher one of these to build up for the kids, Did they make an automatic version?

LOL, I don't know exactly how to take that! Come to think of it, I don't think a auto Sami was ever produced. I know there have been plenty swaps done.



OK, so after a new lift, steering, tires and wheels, clutch, battery, alt., and front bumper things progressed from there pretty rapidly.

After about 6 months of wheeling open/open like this I finally was able to do something in the traction area! I finally was able to lock the rear.

Also, I figured with the help of a rear locker that some T-case gears would help out! So I went ahead and ordered my 5.14 tcase gears. The gears at the time were back ordered.

Few pics of the locker install. . .
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/locker.jpg

So now with Gears on the way and a rear locker in, What to do? How about a rear bumper this time?! Well being that my friend Robbie is a pretty good fab guy I went to him again! We started on some ideas and came up with this thing!

Off goes the stock rear bumper.... POS
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0610.jpg

Only thing I asked for was the light style and D-rings, he did the rest!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0600.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0602.jpg
Each D-ring has a total of 6 welds on them. 3 top /3 bottom!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0608.jpg

After it was done he cut the angles on the sides and capped them. We painted it black, bolted it on, wired up the lights and there it was!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/DSCN0029.jpg

OverEasy
02-22-2011, 07:20 PM
Well the t-case gears finally showed up. They were on back order so when I finally got them happy wasn't the word! I couldn't wait to see the difference they would make.

After the install, I couldn't believe how low low range was. I got up on his 32" tire in 3rd gear, 4 low.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0486-1.jpg

So after getting the gears I thought it would be a good investment to go ahead and get something to cover the bottom of the Zuk and protect the new investment. I called up Trail Tough and talked to Linda and ordered two of their skids. I bought one for me and one for Robbie. I owed him anyway!

Skid plate from Trail Tough. How it showed up.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0737.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0738.jpg

How it went on.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0745.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0746.jpg

After wheeling the Sami for a while more, I still wanted more! I went ahead and installed a front locker. Holy S#!T did things get a little bit easier. One locker was fun but f/r locked was a new world to me!

So now the toll is...
6" SPOA, OTT steering, 31" LTBs, 15x8 steel wheels, CF stg ll clutch, GM. alt upgrade, Yellow Top Optima, Home made F/R bumpers, 5.14 t-case, lockers f/r and now a belly skid!

I still wanted more....

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 12:59 PM
So now that I had lockers, gears, lift, decent tires and now a belly skid I found myself getting into rougher and rougher spots.

After taking what felt like a really hard hit on my passenger side rocker I thought it was about time to put some rock sliders on. I had a friend ordering the same set I was wanting so I asked if I could put my order in with his. So they were ordered.

They finally came in the mail. I thought it was going to take forever. They were well worth the wait though!

Slider installation...

Stupid stock plastic rocker cap.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0314-1-1.jpg

Plastic cap off. I cleaned up the rust the best I could and painted the area.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0836.jpg

Slider installed! I then used a silicone bead to try and keep water from getting in behind them.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0837.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0838.jpg

I think they were one of my best investments!

OK, so now that the rockers are now straight and squared away I was wheeling in spots that were getting a bit tougher and tougher I was thinking about self recovery. Time for a winch!!!

I went by the local Tool & Equipment store. They were having a sale on all their winches and most winch related items.

I went ahead and purchased a Ramsey 8.5e. Figuring that was more than enough for the Sami. Also bought a RF for it. Soooo I called Robbie and the fab work was done to the front bumper and the winch was mounted. The stock tube across the front had a pieced of pipe that was just a little smaller in diameter beat in and then welded in place to help add strength for the mount. You can't really tell in some of the pics but the winch actually is recessed into the grill a bit. We cut the grill out so that it sat in a little bit and didn't stick out so far. We used a winch plate and cut where it was needed and made it work with what I already had.

Winch on the front with the RF.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0361.jpg

After installation I had no where to put my Tag. So I went and purchased the Mag light clips and screwed the clips to the tag and cliped it to the RF. It worked!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0821.jpg

In between the sliders and the winch I went ahead and installed rock lights on the corners of the Sami. I used 4 of the 3 1/2" tractor lights that I picked up from the same tool store that day. Picking up the lights is where I noticed the winch sale that was going on!

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 01:05 PM
After doing all this to the Samurai, it being a daily driven Samurai just wasn't really working out. I started to have a little problem with the stock radiator in the Sami. I used a little of that "stop leak" stuff and it seemed to work for a bit. (I knew it wasn't good to do but I knew it was on its last leg anyway.)

The wear that the lockers were starting to put on the tires and just the wear and tear from trail abuse .... I decided to go ahead and do one of the biggest mods I could have done to help the Sami out. . . . . . . . . . I bought a 01 Jeep. :thumbsup: I'd always liked them and finally broke down and got one.

The Cherokee had a decent price on it, low miles and was only driven by a older woman who never did anything with it.

Pics of the El Stocko the day I got it home.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0900.jpg

So I can't at least not have a little fun with it!
Not thinking that I WASN'T in the Samurai I had to pick on this rock! Well, the rock almost won... It came really close to being a bad day!
:shocker: moment.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1500-1.jpg

Well now having a daily driver I was free to do whatever I really wanted within reason to the Sami now! I got the Cherokee with the majority of the reasoning that I could trailer the Samurai with it and have a decent DD.

Well the Samurai had been getting wheeled and driven some around the town and started to have issues. The radiator started leaking again, the Sami had always smoked a little but it started to get really bad, I started to loose power. Now when I mean loose power, I mean in something that's underpowered anyway... It got really bad.

Some changes were made to help this out!

4.3LXJ
02-23-2011, 01:07 PM
Nice additions to the sammy. I snagged a piece of stainless for my rock sliders that I have not mounted yet. Thought I would match the trim - more shinny stuff :D I also did the mag clip thing on my XJ and then had someone "borrow" it. They could have at least left the plate. I got stopped later and cited for that. I now have a hinged license plate holder that flips up when I use the winch.

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 01:12 PM
Nice additions to the sammy. I snagged a piece of stainless for my rock sliders that I have not mounted yet. Thought I would match the trim - more shinny stuff :D I also did the mag clip thing on my XJ and then had someone "borrow" it. They could have at least left the plate. I got stopped later and cited for that. I now have a hinged license plate holder that flips up when I use the winch.

Thanks and LOL!

I've been lucky enough that someone hasn't walked off with my tags so far. I thought about it when I did that but haven't had a problem. Where did you find your flip up tag mount? I've heard of them but never really looked for one. I've got a friend that asked about one the other day, he wants one.

4.3LXJ
02-23-2011, 01:13 PM
Well the Samurai had been getting wheeled and driven some around the town and started to have issues. The radiator started leaking again, the Sami had always smoked a little but it started to get really bad, I started to loose power. Now when I mean loose power, I mean in something that's underpowered anyway... It got really bad.

I just plain wore my engine out. It was starting to knock, which is why I pulled it out. I found out at a Suzuki stealership that they are not too keen on their machining the cranks or the line bore on the crank. Apparently there are a number of stock crank and rod bearings that they are assembled with depending on the size of the journals and alignment. Not quite what I was used to. Plus I was daily driving up and down foothills floor boarded all the time doing a whopping 62 mph. So I trashed that motor. One of these days when I get the Mighty Mite running I will tackle the Sammy and put some real horsepower into it.

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 01:26 PM
So after all the things I had done, I wheeled and was having a good O'l time! The Zuk started to smoke a little more and I kept noticing that it would lose power going up hills and on the trails, not to mention when it was running there wasn't a bug in sight. :smiley-laughing021: To top it all off the radiator took a crap on me again. Now back a few posts I had used some of the "stop leak" stuff and it worked pretty good for a little bit. (I only used a little bit. I know that stuff is bad news.) Not to mention all the oil leaks that I had started to deal with every time I drove the thing.

I wasn't going to get someone to fix/weld the radiator when it wasn't that much to replace it with another one. I just ordered a new one. A all metal replacement. It came in three days later!

So after pulling the radiator out the Zuk, Robbie had stopped by to see what was going on and we had a grand idea.....Lets pull the engine out! :rolleyes:

Not knowing really what was all to it and having no lift, Oh well out it came!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-WEpMQ_mak

All empty...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0825.jpg

Dirty and junky...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0830.jpg

So being that its out and on the ground at the whim of a thought .....NOW WHAT? :popcorn: Not everything is thought straight through all the time!

After a couple weeks of planning and figuring the best way to go about it I decided to go ahead and build the stock engine (With some changes :thumbsup: ). I had wanted to do a 1.6 swap but just decided against it. I wanted to see just what I could do with a 1.3.

Being that I am no mechanic when it comes to these little things, I handed it over to a good friend of mine who is. Hes all into building the Honda's and "import cars". He has TONS of "know how" with high horsepower 4 cyl. motors. Plus hes a lead mechanic at a local high end shop here in town. It was in good hands.

How he got it....
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Jul15_0003.jpg

So the first thing he did was take it all apart and clean up everything.

After tearing it down he came into a small problem. I had noticed the last time I had put plugs in the Sami that the one didn't feel like it threaded all the way back in... I wasn't sure. It didn't feel crossed up and the one that came out didn't look all tooo bad to me....

Well come to find out The plug wasn't going in all the way and the head had started to melt. Yup, that's right... started to melt, rings were gone, valves. . . well I won't even mention them. :eek: My friend wasn't really sure how I went the places I did with how the internals looked. Luckily I had another head that I had bought because I got it for a steal and thought it might come in handy sometime!

bluedragon436
02-23-2011, 03:53 PM
Aww yes... Honda's... they are another engine that you can virtually remove by yourself... Got to love the small engines that you and a friend can remove, no engine hoist needed. Can't wait to see what you end up with in the engine department.

XJ4IV
02-23-2011, 09:11 PM
LOL, I don't know exactly how to take that!
Sorry for misleading you , I like them for the fact of the size is good for the kids and LOTS cheaper than a wrangler and I love em! the 60 HP is PLENTY of poop for the kiddos to start out with! plus I could just about fit it on my trailer NOW along with the XJ!

4.3LXJ
02-23-2011, 09:17 PM
To me, it is what kind of wheeling you do and how far you have to go to get there.

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 09:30 PM
HOORAY! 100th POST!!!

Anyway...LOL!


Aww yes... Honda's... they are another engine that you can virtually remove by yourself... Got to love the small engines that you and a friend can remove, no engine hoist needed. Can't wait to see what you end up with in the engine department.

Yeah, I like the fact that I can carry the complete running gear all myself if needed to. Engine, TC, Transmission, axles.... with ease. :thumbsup: What I ended up doing was within my budget so I thought. After was all said and done I could have swapped something else in there but I am NOT complaining about what I've got. I'm more than happy with it and the power I have now.


Sorry for misleading you , I like them for the fact of the size is good for the kids and LOTS cheaper than a wrangler and I love em! the 60 HP is PLENTY of poop for the kiddos to start out with! plus I could just about fit it on my trailer NOW along with the XJ!

LOL, I was just kidding. I get joked on a lot for having a Samurai to begin with. I'm always told its to small, under powered, top heavy... When at the end of the trail and I've followed everyone everywhere and I'm not broken.... the jokes always end there. ;)

I think they would be great to start kids out in! A friend is making a buggy out of one here locally for his kids... If I can find a link I'll post it. I haven't talked to him in a while...

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 09:41 PM
To me, it is what kind of wheeling you do and how far you have to go to get there.

As far as?

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 09:57 PM
After wanting to do the Tracker engine swap but not wanting to spend that much money I got a friend of mine to just build the factory 1.3. Couldn't be that bad, right?

I originally was just going to rebuild it. (that changed quickly.) I mean its a tiny little engine. What could you do with this right!? :rolleyes:

First after finding out that the original head off my motor was melted in one corner (and I had no idea) and being that I already had a replacement my friend tore the other head down, cleaned, then sent it off to the machine shop where they took off .030

While the head was at the machine shop I went ahead and ordered a cam. I ordered a torque cam. It was the only one I could find that wasn't on back order for three months.

While waiting on the cam to show up, I also ordered a header.

New Stainless Header.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0948-1.jpg


While waiting for these things to come in he cleaned the engine block and got it ready for reassembling. During the waiting time he ordered the rest of the internals. Top and bottom.

So after he got the head back from the machine shop, got my parts in and the stuff he ordered showed up, it all went back together. Also, he did the work to the block. The head was sent off to someone else to speed up the build time.

Before he started the build we had talked about one day maybe doing a small turbo setup on the Sami, so before he started he told me he would build it now so that later we could do the turbo setup later.

Old and beat.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Jul15_0003.jpg

New freshness!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Jul14_0005.jpg
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Jul15_0005.jpg
LOL @ the puny 1.3!!!

With the painted valve cover.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Jul22_0003.jpg
Finally! This thing was down for a couple of months.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0949-2.jpg

After getting it back in this thing sounded great! I couldn't get over a little O'l 1.3 engine with mods could sound like this!! The cam hits so hard it shakes the whole truck. lol I have people pull up and ask " Whats in that thing?" then when I tell them they look at me stupid. !

Vid of the Sami after it ran for a bit. The Vol. is kinda low you may need to turn your comp. up a bit. It was taken with a cell phone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1aH75Z6jQ

After driving around with just a resonator behind the header, that got old quick. I needed a exhaust system put on.

Sami at idle without exhaust Vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmZDdGwNoqc

I got another friend of mine that owns a exhaust shop here in town to put a exhaust on for me. I just asked that he keep it high and tight.

With new exhaust Vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFusqCsNYns

I know, I know... It's crap. It works though and its mine though! :thumbsup:

4.3LXJ
02-23-2011, 09:57 PM
If I have to drive more than a couple of hours, I would prefer the XJ. Or if it is over 100° I am wheeling in the AC. I think that the XJ is a little more capable in large obstacles just from the wheel base stand point, but the Sammy is certainly more maneuverable. If I was in the trees, the Sammy for sure. Also more fun to drive around town.

OverEasy
02-23-2011, 10:18 PM
If I have to drive more than a couple of hours, I would prefer the XJ. Or if it is over 100° I am wheeling in the AC. I think that the XJ is a little more capable in large obstacles just from the wheel base stand point, but the Sammy is certainly more maneuverable. If I was in the trees, the Sammy for sure. Also more fun to drive around town.

Oh yeah, most def. I agree. Although I don't care about AC. My Jeep has it and I still never really use it.

I try and stay FAR away from mud. I am more at home in tight, rocky. . . trails. That's my type of trail though, I like the more technical, tighter, harder trails. I can put this thing in places that bigger vehicles would destroy their sides on. The wheel base thing does kinda suck though, it does make things fun though.

4.3LXJ
02-23-2011, 11:02 PM
Sammies are very popular in Oregon where the trails are tight also.

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 01:28 PM
After getting all this done to my Samurai I was getting ready to head up to OakRidge for a U4WDA event. I had taken a really hard hit at a local trail and put a nice size dent into my front dif. Being lucky that I didn't poke a hole or push it into the gears I thought I would go ahead and invest in some dif. guards. So once again I called up Brent & Linda at TrailTough and ordered a set of theirs! Got them welded on and Headed off to OakRidge!

So while at OakRidge I was having a ball! It had rained and snowed and was just a big blast to be wheeling with all kinds of different makes and models! :thumbsup: I hit up the vendor sec. after coming back from one of the trail rides and decided to go into the tent that said Independent4x. Oh boy, why'd I do that....lol! :D

Being that I know they are a local shop here in the state and having stopped by there a few times after some BigDogs events I had to check them out! The owner and a guy that workes in his shop talked to me about some new recovery gear. Being that I had a winch now and some new mods my old gear was OK but I needed a few more things. The owner of Independent4x built a recovery kit for me with one hell of a price I couldn't pass up.

New bag.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1366.jpg
The new stuff w/ some old.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1369.jpg
The new stuff that I bought was :

Large ARB Recovery Bag
One 3''x 30' ARB orange recovery strap
One 3''x 10' ARB green tree strap
ARB tire air down tool
One 3''x 16' tree stap (yellow)
One Warn 1900lb Snatch Block
Two Warn 3/4 D-rings
A Warn winch lead, thought it could be a spare. (even though I have a Ramsey Winch 2finger )

I still have all the other things along with the new stuff! Also have a...
HighLift
Oasis Trail Head tire valves
small shovel
extra rain ponchos
hand tools
extra winch remote
extra wireless winch remote (Yes my winch is also wireless :D)

I know this post other than the Diff guards really isn't part of the build but it goes along with the Samurai.

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 01:35 PM
Well I had been wheeling the Sami for a while like it was and having a great time and my 31s were really starting to show it. I have a friend and his dad that are both into off road and his dad had just put on a new lift and thought his 34" tires were a bit small for the ZJ. He was wanting to step up to 36" TSLs. His son told me that his 34s were for sale. I ended up with them. :thumbsup:

A pic of the ZJ with the 36s on it.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Crozet%202-19-11/new025.jpg

His son's XJ on 36s.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Crozet%202-19-11/new035.jpg




The tires I bought are the 34" LTBs. He had them on for a little bit and they never really hit the pavement. He had a set of 5 and I got them for 400 bucks. Can't beat that!

My new feets!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1691.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1693.jpg

Now I just needed to figure out how to run them with what I had. Not really wanting to cut up my tin top... Hmmm.....

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 01:39 PM
Being that I had just bought these tires and was wanting to run them, another lift wasn't really in the plans. I had kicked around the idea about running a YJ swap one day but that, in my eyes was a ways down the road for me. (so I thought)

I have another friend that works in a shop that puts lifts and accessories on off road vehicles. He called me one day and asked what springs I needed to do the lift I had wanted to do, I told him that I wanted the springs out of a square headlight Jeep. The factory ones. Well, he told me he had just taken a set off a YJ and if I wanted them to come get them before the scrap man got them. :thumbdown: I went and picked me up some free springs! :D

Now having a fresh set of bigger tires and a set of springs to do a YJ swap with, why not look into doing another lift... :confused:

Being that I already have done a 6" spoa I already have quite a few things that I didn't need to buy.

Weighing my options/ calling a couple bigger name shops and talking... I though....

I already have.
Extended brake lines F/R
Front lower shock mounts
Rear lower shock mounts
Rear Upper shock bar
Drive shaft extensions (Not the best of things but they are there. I'm gonna change em out)
OTT steering

So I figured I'd just go ahead and do it. So I ordered .....
Front YJ spring setup w/ missing links (revolver style shackles)
Rear YJ spring setup w/ missing links
Front upper shock mounts (ford truck shock mounts)
Adjustable spring perches
Two sets of YJ spring bushings

Then there was waiting on the Big Brown Truck again...:popcorn:

4.3LXJ
02-24-2011, 02:01 PM
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1369.jpg
The new stuff that I bought was :

Large ARB Recovery Bag
One 3''x 30' ARB orange recovery strap
One 3''x 10' ARB green tree strap
ARB tire air down tool
One 3''x 16' tree stap (yellow)
One Warn 1900lb Snatch Block
Two Warn 3/4 D-rings
A Warn winch lead, thought it could be a spare. (even though I have a Ramsey Winch 2finger )

I still have all the other things along with the new stuff! Also have a...
HighLift
Oasis Trail Head tire valves
small shovel
extra rain ponchos
hand tools
extra winch remote
extra wireless winch remote (Yes my winch is also wireless :D)

I know this post other than the Diff guards really isn't part of the build but it goes along with the Samurai.

Your new stuff is similar to what I carry. Although I don't have the fancy air down tool. I just have four that screw on and depress the valve. I use two at once and two that inevitably end up being loners.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0443.jpg

I run short chains on the ends of the recovery strap. That way if someone does not have tow points, I can still extract them.

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 02:10 PM
Hmm... Never thought about getting some short chains w/ hooks just in case. About 95% of the guys we run with have recovery points but there is always that 5% that don't. Good idea.

4.3LXJ
02-24-2011, 02:19 PM
Hmm... Never thought about getting some short chains w/ hooks just in case. About 95% of the guys we run with have recovery points but there is always that 5% that don't. Good idea.

Thanks. Many people don't like the idea, however it has come in handy many times. Like when I need to pull my pick up nowadays to start it. It has no tow points. Also, if I am going to be a good samaritan, you can bet they will not have tow points. We are expecting snow on the valley floor this weekend. I will probably end up using those chains.

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 02:35 PM
I don't like the use of full length chains because I have first hand experience with one breaking and going through a windshield, not by not liking them because of what someone posted on he net. Its personal with me and chains. Not that I haven't broke straps before, the straps that did break have caused ZERO damage.

I do like the thought of running the short chains just for the purpose of a hook up without recovery points. They could also come in handy in a rollover.

And you're correct. As soon as you stop to help someone there will be no recovery points... lol! Been there and done that... :thumbdown:

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 03:05 PM
After coming home from a shitshitshitty work day I had a package on the porch. Damn thing was heavy.

Brought it into the house and checked it all out.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1696.jpg

All was good!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1698.jpg

Figured I would send the parts off to the paint booth.




Through the paint booth the parts went! ;)
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1699.jpg

All painted and ready to go!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1700.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1702.jpg

4.3LXJ
02-24-2011, 03:31 PM
I don't like full length chains either, even though I have two. But they are not for wheeling. But the shorties do make up for those times you can't get a clevis around something. They also save getting the strap greasy if you hook to the undercarriage.

OverEasy
02-24-2011, 10:08 PM
After everything came in and time was found to start it, finally started the new lift.

Before pics....
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1703.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1704.jpg

Took the rear shackles off, disconnected the brake lines, disconnected the shocks, removed the springs from the front spring hangers...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1706.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1707.jpg

Thennn removed the rear axle.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1709.jpg

After removing the rear axle we took the stock rear shackles off and hung the new Missing Link Shackles. Also mounted the rear front spring hangers.
Stock rear shackle beside the Missing Link setup.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1710.jpg

Missing Links hung on the rear and the front spring hangers mounted.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1712-Copy.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1713-Copy.jpg

Rear front spring hanger.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1711-Copy.jpg

Pulled the Sami springs off the rear axle.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1715-Copy.jpg

The YJ springs I will be using. The fronts are 4 leaves and the rears are 5 leaves.
Rear spring on top and the fronts on the bottom.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1705.jpg

Stock Samurai rear leaf spring beside a rear YJ spring. Sami spring on top.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_1714-Copy.jpg

So after fighting with pulling the stock bushings out of all the shackle sides of the YJ springs (the spring hanger sides needed to be cut out and boy is that a MFer.) We replaced the bushings in one spring and went to hang it and found out I put the wrong sleeve in the bushings. I had the damn things backwards. :mad0090: So being tired, we called it a day.

All that's left to finish the rear is swap out the bushing sleeves that I had backwards, put the bushings in the other spring, put the sleeves in the right way, cut off old spring perches on the axle, weld on new ones then hang the axle back in place!

The next day...

Got the rear axle spring perches off. Where I had done a spring over lift the last time both the top and bottom perches were still on the axle. So after what seemed like a lifetime of grinding on the axle it was clean and the old perches were gone.

Got the rear YJ springs hung. The spring bolt sleeves that came with the Energy Suspension Bushings didn't fit in the spring hangers so they to had to have almost 3/8" taken off them to. (more grinding...... Yayyy)

OverEasy
02-25-2011, 12:57 PM
After getting back over to the Zuk, the rear had finally been finished. With not having the time I've needed, this build was a "when we could" kind of build. With that said. . . The rear was finally done.

The rear with the 31 still on it. Just took the pic to look at hangers setup.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild002.jpg

Started on the front and got the front pulled completely out, Both sets of old spring perches were cut / ground away. Got everything prepped to go back under it. Grinding and cutting took the majority of time. :(

Also got the rear 34" tires put on, finally looks proportioned.

Pics...
The front axle after just cutting. Still needed to be hit by the grinder and cleaned.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild004.jpg

The front with its arms out welcoming rocks to play!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild005.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild001.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild003.jpg

Side shot with the 34s on the back and the spare on the back. (No, the spare is not going to stay there.)
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild007.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/newpicsofbuild006.jpg

Forgot to mention that after I got my tires I thought it would be a good Idea to go ahead and regear my tcase. My boss (at that time) had bought a Zuk off a friend and was needing to gear his. I sold him my case with the 5.14 and with that money I bought a set of the 6.5s. Then went and found a case to put them in. So, I'll have some 6.5 tcase gears going in soon as well.

4.3LXJ
02-25-2011, 01:46 PM
That is starting to look really tall. Is your speedo going to be right with the 6.5s on the 34s?

OverEasy
02-25-2011, 02:27 PM
That is starting to look really tall. Is your speedo going to be right with the 6.5s on the 34s?

Looks tall because it was still on jack stands and my spedo has been off for years... lol! :rolleyes:

OverEasy
02-25-2011, 11:00 PM
This pretty much brings my build up to where it is at this time.

After another great day for work on the Sami we put it to good use. After getting everything cut and ground away from the axle that wasn't needed the work began.

Finding the "angle of the dangle".
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai002.jpg

Robbie welding the perches on.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai004.jpg

Weld, let cool, weld, let cool. Repeat.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai003.jpg

Almost done.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai005.jpg

Welds done and the axle in place.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai006.jpg

Got the rear brake lines put on, rear shocks on, front spring pins flipped, perches welded on, axle hung, tires/wheels put on, front brakes done, front shocks on (for now, it wont be staying like this), steering hooked up, frond spring bracket brace bolts drilled and bolts in place, front shackle bump stops on, exhaust hooked back up.... I think thats all.

More pics!


Front sitting on its own.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai015.jpg

I think I'm gonna have to cut the front fenders a bit where I moved the front axle forward 1.5" ...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai009.jpg

I'm wanting to just get rid of the flares and mounts all together just worried about other stuff first.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0011.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0010.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai012.jpg

They see me rollin. . . . :D
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0014.jpg

I just like this pic.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Samurai014.jpg

OK, I'm done whoring it out for now. I'm super happy with how its sitting. I was a little worried about the height but now that it has settled a little it sits fine with the 34"s on it.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with the front d shaft,
order some wheels with proper bs,
get the case gears in the tcase and put it under the Sami,
mount the front shock towers and get shocks.
Couple of smaller things. . .

Just a little more left to work on now. Hopefully soon it will be done (for a while) and I can wheel it again! :driving: I can't wait to have it back especially after all the work and $ dropped into this turd... :rolleyes:

Geo Fry
02-26-2011, 02:57 AM
Cool build man! So how does it flex with the new suspension set up? Pics?

OverEasy
02-26-2011, 01:26 PM
Thanks!

Haven't had a chance to do any kind of flexing yet with it. I still need to get the tc gears installed and then get the tc under it. Then I'll have to flex it to see how I need to modify the front D shaft, bump stops and limiting straps. Hopefully this coming up week I'll be able to get the case in and it running. I'll be sure to update with pics and info as long as there is interest in this build.

OverEasy
02-28-2011, 10:29 PM
Hopefully tomorrow I will have some progress to post dealing along the lines of . . . .

These.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0031.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0032.jpg

Hopefully! ;)

4.3LXJ
02-28-2011, 11:11 PM
OOO, shiny new gears

OverEasy
03-01-2011, 03:51 AM
Yup, Ive had them a while now just sitting in the Samurai. They are shiny because they just got cleaned... ;) When I got them in the mail they had cosmoline all over them. It looked like someone soaked them in thick ear wax. *shivers* I am a gun nut so I had a couple extra bottles of Hoppe's # 9 solvent laying around so I cleaned the crap of of em. After a #9 bath I blasted them with brake clean for good measure.

4.3LXJ
03-01-2011, 09:35 AM
If you have ever had military stuff, like a Mighty Mite or M38, parts were always cosmolined. Good stuff really. You can store gears in any kind of salt or water environment and they will always be shiny. Any kind of solvent or diesel fuel will take it off easily, as will gently heating them.

easttxhunter
03-01-2011, 12:39 PM
awesome sami. I buddy of mine at our deer lease has one with tsl's on it. Thing will go anywhere.

OverEasy
03-02-2011, 01:52 AM
If you have ever had military stuff, like a Mighty Mite or M38, parts were always cosmolined. Good stuff really. You can store gears in any kind of salt or water environment and they will always be shiny. Any kind of solvent or diesel fuel will take it off easily, as will gently heating them.

Only thing military Ive ever had was firearm related and yeah, it had it all over it. That's how I came up with how to clean it off. I thought about heating it slightly but just decided against it. They came clean easily enough. And yes, that stuff makes quite the bond on metal. Very good at protecting and will last forever...


awesome sami. I buddy of mine at our deer lease has one with tsl's on it. Thing will go anywhere.

Thank you! Very surprising little vehicles! Always underestimated but always over achieve!



So I wasn't able to get the darn gears put in yesterday (family situation came up) but hopefully today it will happen!

bluedragon436
03-02-2011, 01:56 AM
I hope you are able to get your TC gears installed today... who the heck puts family in front of their toys?? What a newb... you'll learn!! LOL... JK!!

OverEasy
03-02-2011, 02:07 AM
I hope you are able to get your TC gears installed today... who the heck puts family in front of their toys?? What a newb... you'll learn!! LOL... JK!!

What??? You insensitive . . . . . . .

Hahaa, newb? Not quite. I've been in the game for 16 years now. Driving my own for 15. I have a little under my belt. ;)

JK! Yeah, it wasn't on my part. It was on a friends part that was doing them for me. Sometimes things happen, no biggie! :thumbsup: I hope they get put in today also! Then all I have to do is put in the TC, bleed the brakes and I'll be able to drive this thing! :shocker:

We'll see!

OverEasy
03-04-2011, 01:56 AM
Well got some work in the other day, just been pretty busy...

Progress is progress right!?

Anyway. . .
Install pics. Sorry not the best of quality but I was more into the install than a photo shoot. :D

After being pulled.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0039.jpg

first things first...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0040.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0041-1.jpg

(size comparison) New on left, old on right...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0045.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0044.jpg

(size comparison) Old on left, new on right...
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0043.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0042-1.jpg

After case was cleaned and the new seals installed the gears were put into place.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0046.jpg

Then it was put back together!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0047.jpg

Hopefully the next time I go to work on it I'll drive it away. I still need to bleed the brakes, Install my Alt. bracket and Atl. (its being borrowed at the moment), and hook up the drive shafts.

hopefully soon I'll be putting around in it! :thumbsup:

4.3LXJ
03-04-2011, 10:43 AM
It is nice working on those light little divorced cases. Nothing like working on an NP205 :D

OverEasy
03-04-2011, 06:06 PM
It is nice working on those light little divorced cases. Nothing like working on an NP205 :D

LOL! Yes, that's another reason I love this little thing! The 205 is a BEAST! I've been that route also.... not a fan. :)

bluedragon436
03-07-2011, 02:10 PM
Glad to see you got the gears in... did you get the TC installed too?? I got a friend of mine who is following your build closely as he is a huge Suzuki fan.. he is looking for a Tracker or Samurai up in this area to start building..

OverEasy
03-07-2011, 08:55 PM
Glad to see you got the gears in... did you get the TC installed too?? I got a friend of mine who is following your build closely as he is a huge Suzuki fan.. he is looking for a Tracker or Samurai up in this area to start building..

Nahh. I didn't get to install it, we got a late start on things and ran out of time and daylight. Its OK though because the next time i'm over there I hope to drive it away. I may go sometime this week and bleed the brakes and get that out the way... I'm also waiting on my transfer case shifter sheet to come in, the shifter sheet in my case had all but disintegrated. It was very little left of it. I ordered another ss today to put in.

That's cool, If it were me I would try to find a Samurai. The Samurai already has the solid front axle. Other than the size of the Tracker/ Sidekicks, they also have the bigger engine. You would step up from the 8 valve 1.3 to the 16 valve 1.6.

The price of the Samurai has gone up but can still be found sometimes cheaper than the Track/ Kicks. If you/ he goes T/S, if he wound up doing a sas it can get pretty pricey. With the Samurai, you just swap the parts over. Still can get into the pocket but its not really that bad considering the price of other vehicle builds.

Does you friend have a account on here? If not he should make one!

Thanks again! :thumbsup:

bluedragon436
03-08-2011, 01:29 AM
Nah he isn't on here... but going to work on that... and also found some Sami's on CL so will mention them to him...

OverEasy
03-08-2011, 01:38 AM
Nah he isn't on here... but going to work on that... and also found some Sami's on CL so will mention them to him...

Ya, def. get him on! And do that with the finds! Links please... You mind?

Just want to see what they are going for.

bluedragon436
03-08-2011, 02:30 AM
http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/2176203023.html
http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/2252733244.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2189937096.html

OverEasy
03-08-2011, 05:48 AM
http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/2176203023.html
http://lancaster.craigslist.org/cto/2252733244.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2189937096.html

The first doesn't look all to shabby, plus he says hes going to paint it.
Second one just scares me and the price. . . . NO.
Third one doesn't look all to cosmetically bad... seems to have some new parts...

All seemed to be over priced to me. I know its a asking price but damn... They are hard to come by but still... :stars:

The guy helping me with mine hasn't paid over 1500 yet for one and he's on his fourth. His most recent one he bought for $450. It was completely stock and had even been on its side once. The guy was asking $800 for it.

This is it after locking it F/R and putting a skid under it w/ some 29" Swapmers, ditched the front sway bar.
If you look close hes only 2 wheeling it here... lol!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/100_0799.jpg

Now its like this... Sprung over 4", locked f/r, 5.38rp (tracker cc), 5.14 tc gears, knckle over steering, 33 KM2s. . .
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0015.jpg

Just have to really look them over, check the electrical stuff on them. Gremlins in the electrical systems w/ these is pretty common. Rust is another issue, along with the drive train. Check out how the tranny and tcase shifts. If there is any problems through shifts it could be something as simple as replacing a shifter sheet in either. 20 bucks at most.

Don't let me get carried away here. . . LOL! I just really like these little things and have been working on and with them for quite a few years now... :thumbsup:

bluedragon436
03-08-2011, 05:53 AM
Hey you can get as carried away as you want.. it's your build thread.. LOL..

OverEasy
03-08-2011, 05:59 AM
Hey you can get as carried away as you want.. it's your build thread.. LOL..

LOL, I just really like the little Samurai's. Ya know!? A lot of the time they don't get the credit they deserve as a great wheeler platform. Been working / building on them for quite a few years now. 7 almost 8 years.....

bluedragon436
03-08-2011, 06:12 AM
yeah they are good... just got tromped on by the Jeep Wranglers... like every other good wheeler out there... even other Jeep models..

OverEasy
03-08-2011, 06:16 AM
I will tell you though... with my first build on 31s, I was following Wranglers on 35s with no problems. I can't wait to finish this build.

bluedragon436
03-08-2011, 06:21 AM
well quit putting it off then... shessh... you could be working on it instead of being on here... LOL.. JK.. I understand how it is to have to travel over somewhere to work on your rig... makes it take longer and real inconvenient to work on it little by little as you got the spare time... I wouldn't mind getting one of these things now, but don't want to stop my XJ's build, and I def. can't afford two builds at the same time... maybe I can pick one up as a DD since I would imagine it would have to be way better on gas mileage than my XJ..

OverEasy
03-09-2011, 08:55 PM
LOL, If it were only that easy. Yhe place that my Samurai is at is a friends parents place and his dad works third shift so we cant be over there making noise all day. Plus I can't be there without him (the friend) soooo it has to be when he has time as well. It's complicated..... I know.... but I've waited a year. I can wait another couple weeks...

Yeah, if you could get one as a DD and just let time do its thing.... they are great/ fun little vehicles! Just a glorified golf cart. That's all! :D

OverEasy
03-15-2011, 11:49 AM
Waiting and waiting and waiting on the Big Brown Truck to show up...
:rolleye0012:

4.3LXJ
03-15-2011, 03:22 PM
Waiting and waiting and waiting on the Big Brown Truck to show up...
:rolleye0012:

That is why I like the red white and blue truck. Airplanes are faster.

afbond03
03-15-2011, 08:51 PM
Niiiiiiice! Hopefully I can get the lift on my Samurai this weekend since I hopefully FINALLY have all the parts.
I need to borrow Robbie, lol. Love them bumpers, nice and simple and serve the purpose they need to.

OverEasy
03-16-2011, 01:45 AM
Niiiiiiice! Hopefully I can get the lift on my Samurai this weekend since I hopefully FINALLY have all the parts.
I need to borrow Robbie, lol. Love them bumpers, nice and simple and serve the purpose they need to.

Thanks man! Can't wait to see the lift put on yours, glad you got all your part (I know the feeling). I'm awaiting a transfer case shifter sheet now.

You should also start a build thread on your Sami, i'd like to follow what all you do to yours as well.

LOL at borrowing Robbie! Yeah, the guy does really good work! I've been pretty impressed with everything he has either welded or made for me. Everything from the custom f/r bumpers, winch mount, tcase arms. . . pretty stout stuff!

Thanks again!

BrianXJ
03-16-2011, 02:06 AM
that ride is sweet. I want to drive.

OverEasy
03-16-2011, 04:30 AM
That is why I like the red white and blue truck. Airplanes are faster.

All I have is time.... :indifferent0028:


that ride is sweet. I want to drive.

LOL! If we ever are on a trail together, you bet!

OverEasy
03-16-2011, 03:41 PM
Well, just got back from UPS. Got back you might ask?

Well, UPS (for me) is usually right on time and the Driver knows me by name now through all the parts over the years of ordering but this time it was a little different. I ordered a shifter sheet for my Samurai about a 6 days ago, got it usual ground delivery because it's not a 'have to have' part right now. Well I've been patiently waiting on the truck to arrive at my place today (the delivery day) and no truck. I checked the email that has the tracking # and it said it was in Lynchburg and the delivery was scheduled for today by the end of the day.... but I usually gt my stuff pretty quickly in the day. Not sure if its because I now know the driver and we carry on when he stops by (and always checks out what i'm working on) or what. So it got to be about 2:30pm and I checked the email again to see what was up.

The email said that my delivery had been rescheduled by the receiver. Do What??? What did this mean? I didn't reschedule a delivery. So I called the # UPS had posted in the email. On the phone (sounded like) was the sweetest lady in the world, sounded young and kept calling me sweetie and sweetheart! (which I don't mind!) Being I wans't upset, mad, pissed in the slightest I just wanted to know what was up with the rescheduling.

She told me that she had my info (she asked me some ?s) and would let the Local hub for UPS ground know my info and I would get a call within a hour or so. I said that was fine and she told me " Well have a good rest of your day baby doll" and I laughed and said same to you and hung up laughing!

Within (no kidding) 5 mins of hanging up the phone.... an woman calls me back from the local hub. She is just as sweet to me just with out all the sweet love names. She told me that My package had gotten stuck in the "roller system" and that by the time it was found, the driver was already out on hos route. Still not mad a bit, I explained that it was OK, but why did it take so long to notify me in my email? That, she said she didn't know but that I should have been notified when they found it. She then told me that they closed at 5:30pm and I was more than welcome to come and pick it up, which I told her I would be more than happy to do. Off to the UPS pickup I went.

The lady that I talked when I got there was another sweet lady, she was more than nice and apologized for the inconvenience and putting me out of my way. I explained that is was no biggie and that I enjoyed talking to the first lady (sounded my age or younger) all the way to the last and that everyone including her was more than pleasant to deal with. (still wouldn't mind talking to the first chick again :D )

She then handed me my package and asked me to sign for it and I was on my way! Now, I had NO clue how close the local UPS hub was to me. I took me less than 6 mins to drive to it. LOL! Never knew that! All these years I had seen the trucks entering and leaving but never knew.... Oh well, do now!

Well, thanks for reading if you did. I was bored, nothing better to do so I decided to tell about my polite and good dealings with UPS today. I can honestly say, I still haven't had a problem with them yet.


This is what it was all for... this little thing...

My transfer case shifter sheet.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0054.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0055.jpg

All I had to show a size comparison. LOL!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0056.jpg

Yup, thats it. That little thing ... all the way from Medford, Oregon.

bluedragon436
03-16-2011, 03:48 PM
Nice... at least you have a good relationship with your UPS driver... even if you are going to bypass him and just pick it up at the hub from now on... LOL.. That thing really is amazingly small...

Mudderoy
03-16-2011, 04:26 PM
Well I must say I'm a little disappointed. With all the girl talk I expected some kind of love connection or at least a picture of one of them! :popcorn:

cantab27
03-17-2011, 04:25 AM
way cool,,,,nice build ,cool little rigs

OverEasy
03-17-2011, 09:59 AM
Nice... at least you have a good relationship with your UPS driver... even if you are going to bypass him and just pick it up at the hub from now on... LOL.. That thing really is amazingly small...

Yeah, I think for now on (depending) I may just pick my stuff up from the hub instead of waiting on stuff. I drive by there all the time, never knew it was there...

Its tiny (shifter sheet). I can't shift the case without it.


Well I must say I'm a little disappointed. With all the girl talk I expected some kind of love connection or at least a picture of one of them! :popcorn:

LOL! I am as well. To be honest though, only the first one I talked to sounded...:tongueroll: The rest sounded ....:thumbdown: and the last one that I talked to was older and :headbag:. I should have asked the first one a few more questions myself and found out where she was from.... :rotfl2: Oh well...


way cool,,,,nice build ,cool little rigs

Thank you sir!

Thanks again guys!

4.3LXJ
03-17-2011, 12:15 PM
Glad you got it. Those bushings and the tranny shifter pin are notorious for wearing out. We had to replace a shifter pin on the Mighty Mite too, and it was a 5?16" bolt, which had broken.

OverEasy
04-13-2011, 09:44 PM
Well, got more done today! A whole 30 seconds worth! I put the tcase shifter sheet in today! :p




I know, not impressive. I thought I was going to get off early today and be able to put in some work. . . . thought wrong. By the time I got over to the Zuk, I just didn't feel like doing anything. (Hate to say that) However, I do now have my Alt., bracket, tcase arms (short side and long side) ready to go in! I also discarded all the old bolts and nuts and am getting Robbie to pick me up all new ones so I don't have to hunt the old ones down if there are some missing.

The plan is, i'm supposed to go over there this coming Sun and HOPEFULLY (*praying*) have it running again!

Wish me luck! :rolleyes:

bluedragon436
04-15-2011, 10:41 AM
Good luck!!

OverEasy
05-01-2011, 09:21 PM
Started at 3 this afternoon and got a little more done today!

Got the GM alt. back on. Pretty much had to reinvent the wheel because the alt. would't fit with the upper adjustment arm. We had to grind more out of the adjuster and some out of the actual housing on the alt. After fitting and grinding, fitting and grinding it finally went back on. All to find out that the belt was to small. Luckily my friend has a collection of belts and had one that fit pretty well.

After the alt. went back on got the steering straightened out and cotter pins put in. Thats good to go now!

We then moved to the tcase and tcase arms. I got all new bolts and washers because hunting down the old ones was damn near impossible. Got the arms put on and mounts attached. All to notice that three bolts were going to be 1/4" to short, bummer. Oh well, I look to have this buttoned up and drivable this coming Wed!

Here are a few pics taken with my phone from today.

These guys have apparently taken up residence under my hood. I cant be a ssa and evict them at such a young age so hopefully they grow up soon and move out to a bigger place of their own.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0047-1.jpg

After reinventing the wheel, GM 2 wire alt. and Trail Tough GM bracket was put back on. All ready to go.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0048.jpg

Custom tcase arms. Long side and short side.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0052.jpg

Arms mounted to the case and the mounts on also.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0056-1.jpg

Pic of the Zuk for the hell of it.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0049.jpg

Now just need to put the tcase and arms under it, hook up the Dshafts, bleed the brakes!

OverEasy
05-08-2011, 11:40 AM
I figure it's about time I update my build thread a little. I've been busy working on this thing and helping friends get ready for a drag race event that they were hosting.

Sooo...

Well Thursday got the tcase and mounts under the Zuk, got the brakes bled,and the rear drive shaft hooked up, filled the tcase with the proper amount of gear oil. After bleeding the brakes (the last thing that was left) we primmed the engine twice for 30 seconds w/ the dist. cap off. After the second prime I waited about 15 seconds and it started right up w/ NO problems or issues! Ran like a champ (other than the stale gas that was in it). I couldn't believe it being that it had sat since last March.

After letting it run for about 10 mins. I went ahead and put it in gear and shifted into first and it rolled forward for its first time in forever! I then tried reverse, that worked to! Hahaa!

I then decided to go ahead and try out 4 low, I backed out from where it was and turned the wheels up the hill put it in 4lo / 1st gear, released the clutch and it lurched forward like a snail. I was amazed at the idle speed pulling it up a hill. I tapped the gas and it shot up to 4 grand on the tach and moved about a foot. I didn't try that again. LOL!

So I got it up to the road and took it for a small test run. WOW, TALK ABOUT A SOFT SUSPENSION... IT'S LIKE DRIVING A WET MACARONI NOODLE DOWN THE ROAD. It ran well though for stale gas and me not being used to it.

I worked up enough nerve and drove it home!!! I'm SO HAPPY! (stopped a couple times to check stuff out and make sure everything was ok)

Here's a pic of it back in my driveway!!! WOOT WOOT!!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0078.jpg

Went to the drag race events that were held at Natural Bridge Dragway and figured it would be a good drive to put some miles on the Samurai and new gears. . . OH boy was it a sketch drive through the mountains with all the ups and downs, switchbacks, tight turns, I was glad to get there.

Some pics at the races. . . :D
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0079.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0080.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0081.jpg

4.3LXJ
05-08-2011, 11:57 AM
Must be time to wheel

OverEasy
05-08-2011, 12:10 PM
Well as far as right now, it's still 2wd. No front drive shaft. I'm taking it Mon to see about getting the front and rear shafts lengthened. Still need new wheels and shocks also. My biggest priorities right now are the shafts.

4.3LXJ
05-08-2011, 12:14 PM
Well as far as right now, it's still 2wd. No front drive shaft. I'm taking it Mon to see about getting the front and rear shafts lengthened. Still need new wheels and shocks also. My biggest priorities right now are the shafts.

I have a brand new set of driveline spacers for a Sammy.

OverEasy
05-08-2011, 12:17 PM
You wouldn't also happen to have a front shaft would you, w/ the small flange? I think the 86, 87, 88 year one? I'm not wanting to go the spacer route again.

4.3LXJ
05-08-2011, 01:29 PM
You wouldn't also happen to have a front shaft would you, w/ the small flange? I think the 86, 87, 88 year one? I'm not wanting to go the spacer route again.

Yes, I have one. But shipping clear across the country would kill you on it.

OverEasy
05-08-2011, 05:49 PM
Yes, I have one. But shipping clear across the country would kill you on it.

Would you be interested in looking into it? :D :popcorn:

4.3LXJ
05-08-2011, 08:39 PM
I will need to confirm the size of the flange. Mine is an 88 1/2. I understand there were a few changes made then.

OverEasy
05-09-2011, 05:17 PM
Ahhh, I believe that would be the bigger flange (I think). Mine is the smaller one.

4.3LXJ
05-09-2011, 05:24 PM
You may be right. I can't remember.

OverEasy
05-15-2011, 10:27 PM
Well trying to find out what to do with/ for my front drive shaft I came across this for sale. . . The guy selling let it go for a pretty good deal on the shaft and the shipping on it! I couldn't pass it up. Hopefully it should be here by midweek this week!

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Random/gallery_albums_userpics_22853_20110418165740.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Random/gallery_albums_userpics_22853_20110418165723.jpg

This is it... (specs) http://www.rocky-road.com/kad.html

It's so close to being 4wd again! I can't wait!!! Now all I need is wheels and shocks.

4.3LXJ
05-15-2011, 11:10 PM
Those long splines will come in handy to go with your spring conversion

OverEasy
05-16-2011, 01:10 PM
Those long splines will come in handy to go with your spring conversion

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Especially with the missing links. The drop on these things are incredible. The shocks that are on the Zuk right now are acting like my limiting straps and bump stops at the moment.

The guy I bought the shaft off of said it came off a Sami with the exact same build as mine. The only thing I may have to do is clearance my crossmember a little so it doesn't bind up on me when flexing.

OverEasy
05-18-2011, 09:33 PM
As was promised, My front shaft came in today!!!

Right out the box.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0085.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0086.jpg

My size 12 flop beside it
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0088.jpg

Now under my Sami and ready to rock!!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0089.jpg

4.3LXJ
05-18-2011, 11:30 PM
Is that going to be long enough, it looks like a lot of spline hanging out

OverEasy
05-19-2011, 12:07 AM
Is that going to be long enough, it looks like a lot of spline hanging out

I flexed it out quite a few times today. I crawled over and on EVERYTHING I could find around and didn't have a problem. It looks like a lot hanging out but it's 4.5 / 4.75" hanging out. I still have 5.25 / 5.5" of spline still in. We'll see.

OverEasy
05-25-2011, 11:38 PM
Well today I decided to mount my spare tire somehow... I went out to Lowes and for $4.99 I bought these little D-rings and mounting tabs. I then went down to Valley-Fasteners down the road from me and got the Hardware for a dollar.

The only one that was a real PITA was the one in the rear, passenger side. The bolts are right over the fuel lines and gas tank and right above the frame rails. Barely enough room for my hand to get to the bolt. I had every extension that I have + swivels put together to put the 7/16 nut on the d*** bolt. Not fun, a lot of cussing was done. The others were reachable.

I mounted the D-rings and tabs to the bed of the Samurai.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0122.jpg

Then used my ratchet straps to secure it to the bed.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0123.jpg

The rings and tabs are supposed to hold up to 1,000 lbs and are big enough to accept bungee cords w/ the straps attached.

Also went ahead and mounted my CB antenna. It's about the best place I could find for it.
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0124.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0125.jpg

Mounted my Skid Plate the other day, but while I was taking pics.... Why not! LOL!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/IMAG0126.jpg

cantab27
05-26-2011, 02:50 AM
very cool...must be time for some zuk action shots...........

4.3LXJ
05-26-2011, 10:25 AM
That will work. Are you going to build a rack above it for other gear?

OverEasy
05-26-2011, 02:11 PM
very cool...must be time for some zuk action shots...........

YES SIR!! This weekend is my shakedown run on a trail near my house (about 30 mins away) Some friends and I have planned a Trail Run / Trail Clean Up since tards don't know how to not leave trash behind. Who would of ever thought about throwing trash in a trash can?

Anyway, hopefully everything holds together. I've played and tested a little. The trail will let me know. Nothing Hardcore, fun none the less! Pics will be provided either way! :D I can't wait!


That will work. Are you going to build a rack above it for other gear?

Yeah, the spare isn't going to stay there forever. After I get me front shocks and wheels squared away I plan on putting a 12gal fuel cell in the rear. Also, looking at some rear stinger/ tire carrier options. That way it will also free up some room to house things needed for when i'm out playing with it. (The Samurai :p ) So yeah, the straps will work for now I guess, they are momentarily keeping my spare out of someone else's grill.

Ideas are welcome! ;)

OverEasy
05-31-2011, 11:53 AM
Well, took it out over the Memorial weekend and wheeled during our Trail Ride / Clean Up. I wasn't exactly easy on it but didn't beat on it either. Everything held together, nothing broke! I have some new pops and clunks, I think that may be the poly bushings poping and the shackles clanking together. (I hope) I almost fully flexed out the front end and the new Drive Shaft stayed in with room to go! I was pretty happy with that. Also no problems out of the stock rear Drive Shaft.

A few pics. There will be more when I post about the trip. . .
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/ShoeCreekMay28-292011050.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/ShoeCreekMay28-292011042.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/ShoeCreekMay28-292011026.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/ShoeCreekMay28-292011023.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/Picture035.jpg

Doing a little cleaning up and hauling away... lol!
http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv311/watjeep/Shoe%20Creek%205-28-11/ShoeCreekMay28-292011060.jpg

4.3LXJ
05-31-2011, 03:03 PM
Glad ot hear everything worked out OK. Those little rigs are lots of fun. Someday mine will run again. But too many projects now as it is.

Geo Fry
05-31-2011, 07:19 PM
nice pics, you rig looks good. i know you stated earlier but, what size tires are those? they look like 33s

OverEasy
05-31-2011, 07:58 PM
Glad ot hear everything worked out OK. Those little rigs are lots of fun. Someday mine will run again. But too many projects now as it is.

Ya, i'm extremely happy with it now! It's all I will need for a long time. All tires stayed planted on the ground and I had it pretty twisted up in some spots. I completely understand the project thing. . . I'm fighting the urge now on making the little Samurai or my Cherokee a project.... :crazy:


nice pics, you rig looks good. i know you stated earlier but, what size tires are those? they look like 33s

Thanks, I appreciate it! It's been a long process and a learning one at that! I'm just thankful I have patient friends!

The tires are basically a narrow 33" tire. Interco (Super Swamper LTB's 34x10.5x15) They measure out to a 33.7". I have them on a 8" wheel and in these pics i'm running 8lbs of air in the front and 6lbs in the rear. I still wasn't happy with the tire flex, they performed well just still need to drop a little air out of them.

OverEasy
06-04-2011, 07:21 PM
Couple vids of me getting to play around on some rocks at one of the bigger campgrounds at Shoe Creek. Fun Fun!!!

http://youtu.be/4a-RRAtX3Jc

http://youtu.be/worFZgID5Io

pikapp504
07-26-2011, 04:59 PM
I think you need to post up the pics/vids from the last 2 trips to York's place....this thing is a BEAST!!!!