Author Topic: My good fortune......free samurai!  (Read 2366 times)

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gomi

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My good fortune......free samurai!
« on: February 11, 2007, 07:26:36 PM »
Hey guys. I used to work at a gym once a week, but it was sold and the entire staff met for dinner tonight. Fran, a fellow coworker and his wife were sitting across from me and we started talking about my jeep. Turns out they have a 1988 suzuki samurai that they said I could have....for free. Get this, it has 47k original miles, and they are the only owners. I couldn't believe it, I know it's not a jeep, but it's cute and free. This is what I know so far, it is in perfect mechanical condition and has never had any problems. They start it and drive it around the block once a week, and the wife told me that there is some rust on the outside, but from her description I couldn't tell how much. So I pick it up either mon or tues depending on when I have time. The best part is that it's free!!! I guess they bought it new twenty years ago and are to old to really work on it or even care. They were about to just take it to the junk yard but as luck would have it they saw me in my jeep and offered it to me. I think I'm going to use this as an opportunity to really learn about 4x4's. My tj  is my daily driver so if I screwed it up I would be out a ride. Any advice will be much appreciated.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2007, 07:29:35 PM by gomi »

lanulos89

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2007, 07:33:33 PM »
sounds sweet, posy up some pictures of it and you jeep when you pick it up....

gomi

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2007, 07:54:59 PM »
I need to get a digital camera. I just figured out how to post pics, but need a new camera.

Offline chardrc

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2007, 06:14:10 AM »
sounds like a sweet deal...
1990 YJ 4cly, ax5, 2.5 inch BDS lift, 31 MTr\'s,  Powertrax-lockers all around, track-bars removed, boomerang shackles, warn m8000 winch, electric fan. [sold but not forgotten]

2007 jk Rubicon 2dr

Offline jagular7

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2007, 07:29:36 AM »
Congrads. I've owned 3 myself prior. Simple and easy to work on. You basically will only need a 10, 12,  and 13mm wrenches and sockets. Everything is either phillips or those size. You'll have to trim the door hinges to be able to remove the doors like a Jeep. Rust can occur under the carpet anywhere but mostly in the rear floor, behind the kick panels of the rear wheelwells, under the windshield wipers, under the plastic cover under the doors, and in the front wheelwells. Best thing would be to give it a good bath under the flares and plastic covers. All wiring will be water tight connectors. To get better highway accel, there is a trick to do with the carb. Some tube replacement. There is still lots of following for these things. If you need to flip it, you probably wouldn't be sorry with the mileage on it. There are lots of Sami/Zuk forums and clubs out there also. Do a little web search to locate something near you.

They are small, light weight, fun to drive on city streets, suck on the highway, bounce hard on the street, noisy, slow, and fun to drive stock. One location near me on the highway, there is a swoop in the road. Driving the Sami at 65mph felt like I got some air.
Jagular7
97 SE - Rubbered and locked for fun
94 SE - stock, collecting parts for 37s

Offline Jeffy

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2007, 10:02:00 AM »
Sami's are nice.  I wish they still imported them into the US.  They still make them in Japan and for other countries.  They are fairly tough and can be built up fairly easily.  The biggest advantage is their size and weight.  If you put 33's on them, they will perform as well as a Jeep with 35's.  They look nice on 33's too.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNlr60GXH5OlKIFrT7P6mg
My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."

Offline Sidscan

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2007, 10:29:52 AM »
Gomi,

These little guy's are real fun.  You will have a blast.  Play with it on the city streets and off road but, you take your life in your own hands on the freeway and some hwy's.  You definitly will not be able to get out of your own way if you hit any kind of incline.   They are really fun, especially for free.  :nod:
97 auto, 31x10.50, 4.0 tb, 1" ebay tbs

gomi

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2007, 11:54:21 AM »
Thanks for the advice guys, I still can't believe my luck. I'll pick her up tomorrow.

lanulos89

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #8 on: February 12, 2007, 01:55:47 PM »
http://calmini.com/

if your in the mood to mod it at all.  im trying to get my dad to get a lift for his tracker. :biggrin:

Offline chardrc

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2007, 02:51:32 PM »
  The biggest advantage is their size and weight.  If you put 33's on them, they will perform as well as a Jeep with 35's.  They look nice on 33's too.

thats what i like about the old willys jeeps.. there small enough to sques down almost any atv trail or overgrown forest trail. and if you spend the time to add lockers a little lift some tires and power steering you can have nice trail rig. my grandpas cj2a still surprises me with some of the things it can do with the original 4banger.
1990 YJ 4cly, ax5, 2.5 inch BDS lift, 31 MTr\'s,  Powertrax-lockers all around, track-bars removed, boomerang shackles, warn m8000 winch, electric fan. [sold but not forgotten]

2007 jk Rubicon 2dr

Enjoi

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #10 on: February 12, 2007, 05:50:10 PM »
went wheeling with a guy with 33s on his sammy  :smile: he showed me up to say the least.

Offline jagular7

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2007, 09:19:47 PM »
With the offset case, you can actually mod the case with different gears (both hi and low) to compensate for the larger tires. Stock axle gear is 3.73. The t-case gears are 1.4 high and 1.8 low. T-case gears go for 12 and 18% lower in both hi & lo, and more in the low side. Flip in some lockers, rebuild the front axle with seals, and keep the tires to 31's with SOA (rear springs up front, CJ rear springs) and have something that'll be hard to stop. 33's are a next step and are pushing the stock axles. Easy swap to Toyotas, Wrangler springs with bolt on kit, and you are set for 35's.

Give some pics.....

Have you found a forum near you for them?
Jagular7
97 SE - Rubbered and locked for fun
94 SE - stock, collecting parts for 37s

Loke Groundrunner

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2007, 07:52:41 PM »
a FREE vehicle is NEVER a bad thing (are you KIDDING ME??!!??) ......PLUS....i've seen pics of Samis flexing in EXTREME conditions:





allright, maybe the last pic is a little hairy....... ;)

it should be fun for some 4wd tinkering.

nice score on the Sami. i know what you mean about "threatening" your "daily driver". mine is as well. i just bought a new torque wrench and a can of PB Blaster, though......i think i'm gonna "dig in". wish me luck. :uhoh:

p.s. (for anyone) my karma has been pre-designated as "+0/-0". what exactly does that mean?
« Last Edit: February 13, 2007, 08:38:04 PM by Loke Groundrunner »

gomi

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2007, 09:19:59 PM »
Here she is, what do you boys think? Is the rust really bad? I can't tell. It's rusted under the fender flares as well :'(






« Last Edit: February 26, 2007, 09:24:39 PM by gomi »

Offline Jeffy

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Re: My good fortune......free samurai!
« Reply #14 on: February 26, 2007, 09:58:54 PM »
Hmm, it is a bit rusty.   I'd go at it with a wire brush and see how bad/deep the rust is on the frame.  If it's not bad then paint it with some Rustolium and call it good.  The rust on the body isn't bad at all.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZNlr60GXH5OlKIFrT7P6mg
My Jeep: http://4bangerjp.com/forums/index.php?topic=2783.0
"If the motor car were invented today, there is absolutely no way that any government in the world would let normal members of the public drive one."