Sami buildup

[jeepin_in_az]

I am going to pick up a Sami tomorrow morning, I have never seen it, and don't know much about it...I have heard it runs good, needs a new windshield and seats. Soft top is in good shape, body is straight, and tires are newer. I can't beat the price - FREE!

So watch for the Simply Offroad buildup of Project Sami. Like that has never been done before :rolleyes:

Plans so far:

Go get it!

I do have a D30, D44, D60 and Ford 9" sitting in the garage so I will most likely put one of those in it. Thinking 44 and 9" would be the best combo...

I will post pics of it soon!

[paparonbo]

You certainly can't beat the price :). I'm looking forward to the build up. I have thought several times about doing a small project with it.

[rockwerks]

working on a sidekick for my son.......... HP dana 30 front 4:88's dodge 8 3/4" rear 4:88's cherokee front short arms 4 link, cherokee rear leaves fun backwards with antiwrap bar. np231 with sye, aw4 with 4 cyl bellhousing, and 2.5 05 3.4 v6............looking for the motor.......got everything else

[k7mto]

Maybe it's this one... :D

Simply Offroad Sami
S.O.S
...---... (morse code)

I see a theme here...

http://www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/2006/images06/222/shaft.jpg

[jeepin_in_az]

Damn you Matt...I was going to post that picture today! :D

[jeep4offrd]

Thats what I was just getting ready to do to. Matts too damn quick. :mad:

[jeepin_in_az]

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4833&stc=1&d=1142798222


http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4834&stc=1&d=1142798222


http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4835&stc=1&d=1142798222

[Hunter]

Ahhh.... Sure is cute!

[Devil Man]

Ahhh.... Sure is cute!
heck yes its like a little bunny wabbit

[Blkruby]

:eek: Whats it going to be when it grows up:confused:

[jeepin_in_az]

heck yes its like a little bunny wabbit

It's better than what you have right now DM...:D:eek:

[jeepin_in_az]

More info:

It's an 86 JX, 17,000 miles (or could be 117,000, but by the looks of the engine, carb, tranny, axles, it is EXTERMELY clean).

[Devil Man]

It's better than what you have right now DM...:D:eek:
thats fer sho:eek:

[DsrtJeeper]

The biggest mistake made when building a Sammi is not taking what you have seriously. The Japs built a great vehicle here and kept it light. Throwing large/heavy axles and larger engines in these hampers the performance. Look to the pros for lessons in lightweight rigs. Throw a FI 1.3 or 1.6 in these, regear the t-case and go with yota axles, birfield eliminator kits and 37's. Stretch the rig to 102" and it's unstoppable. Sammis are right at home with stock YJ leaf packs and front shackle reversal. Sidekick power steering will round out the package. The best part is the #2000 weight of the rig when you're finished. ;) Check out this link for pics of the '90 I built. I wish I had kept it. http://community.webshots.com/user/dsrtjeeper

[Dave@desertfab.com]

Mike,

We need to talk.... call me in the AM when you read this...

[jeepin_in_az]

It's alive!

So far we put in a new ignition, battery, battery cables, and 1/2 tank of gas. Started right up! Pulled it off the trailer last night, and went around the block.

[DsrtJeeper]

It's hard to kill those Sammi engines. Keep a good timing belt on it and retorque and LockTite the crank nut and you're golden. Also; you might want to pop the valve cover and look for loose screws. I can't remember for the life of me what the screws were for, but they work loose from the factory and lay in the oil troth of the head. Reinstall the screws and tighten. Now take a punch and gently tap a swedge into the edge of the screw and the piece it's screwed into. This will keep the screw from loosening again. I want to say that these small screws/bolts go into the blocks that hold the cam down. While you're in there; adjust the valves.

On the crank nut deal; the factory figured out years later that the nut should have had more torque applied. The nut loosens and allows the drift key to wallow out the crank. Give Brent @ www.trailtough.com a ring and he can give you the specifics.

[xjcrawlr]

Another out-of-the-box idea for the Sami is to use a set of narrow-track Waggy 44's, from a full-time 4x4 with the offset rear ;) , its a PERFECT match!

[jeepin_in_az]

Thanks for the suggestions...

Little history on Samurai's and us (my brother and I). Had an 87, fliped the axle perches (SOA), and ran 35's. Doesn't seem like much now, but back then it was about the biggest one. The damn thing wheeled like no other. I remember going to the river (needle rock) and wheeling way back, floating accross the river the sami would not stop.

[BRUZR]

The biggest mistake made when building a Sammi is not taking what you have seriously. The Japs built a great vehicle here and kept it light. Throwing large/heavy axles and larger engines in these hampers the performance. Look to the pros for lessons in lightweight rigs. Throw a FI 1.3 or 1.6 in these, regear the t-case and go with yota axles, birfield eliminator kits and 37's. Stretch the rig to 102" and it's unstoppable. Sammis are right at home with stock YJ leaf packs and front shackle reversal. Sidekick power steering will round out the package. The best part is the #2000 weight of the rig when you're finished. ;) Check out this link for pics of the '90 I built. I wish I had kept it. http://community.webshots.com/user/dsrtjeeper
Now... I know I posted a reply to this last night... WTF?

Since I've been Jeepless, I've been looking really long and hard at Samurais as a new project... How much money typically has to be put into one to get it to this point? I don't really care what it looks like. I'm going to go with the basic color scheme I used on BRUZR... Because, of course, when I get it going, it'll be BRUZR2...

Anybody know where to pick one up cheap (...OR FREE:D )?

[rockwerks]

Now... I know I posted a reply to this last night... WTF?

Since I've been Jeepless, I've been looking really long and hard at Samurais as a new project... How much money typically has to be put into one to get it to this point? I don't really care what it looks like. I'm going to go with the basic color scheme I used on BRUZR... Because, of course, when I get it going, it'll be BRUZR2...

Anybody know where to pick one up cheap (...OR FREE:D )?

well my son and I are building a sidekick...........using jeep drive train, doodge rear end, cage work etc.......including the 91 kick we are estimating 3000.00 total for a very worthy trail rig, daily driver. most going into axles and 2.5 efi motor,

[DsrtJeeper]

Now... I know I posted a reply to this last night... WTF?

Since I've been Jeepless, I've been looking really long and hard at Samurais as a new project... How much money typically has to be put into one to get it to this point? I don't really care what it looks like. I'm going to go with the basic color scheme I used on BRUZR... Because, of course, when I get it going, it'll be BRUZR2...

Anybody know where to pick one up cheap (...OR FREE:D )?

If you can do the work yourself; Sammi's are much cheaper to build. I had a custom hybrid rear axle built, geared and locked for just over $600.00. That price included a spool in the rear. Compare that to Jeep custom axle prices. :eek:

Look for a '90 or newer that is FI. You'll find these cheap in snowbird communities as they are often towed behind motorhomes. Ajo; AZ is full of them. Also try the Auto Trader online.

[FrenchChili]

http://fuerapiche.eresmas.com/fotos6.html


can u say FLEX!!!!
http://fuerapiche.eresmas.com/marcas/samurai%2063.JPG

[DsrtJeeper]

Holy rear steer Batman!!! :eek:

[BRUZR]

If you can do the work yourself; Sammi's are much cheaper to build. I had a custom hybrid rear axle built, geared and locked for just over $600.00. That price included a spool in the rear. Compare that to Jeep custom axle prices. :eek:

Look for a '90 or newer that is FI. You'll find these cheap in snowbird communities as they are often towed behind motorhomes. Ajo; AZ is full of them. Also try the Auto Trader online.
Where would one get a custom axle as such? By hybrid, do you mean you used parts from a Yota axle, like with Birfields or Longfields?
What did you do in the front?

I can do most, if not all of the work myself and with my Vegas friends' help...

[DsrtJeeper]

Where would one get a custom axle as such? By hybrid, do you mean you used parts from a Yota axle, like with Birfields or Longfields?
What did you do in the front?

I can do most, if not all of the work myself and with my Vegas friends' help...

Just the rear was hybrid. It uses a Geo Tracker center section for larger ring gear. I used www.Trailtough.com for everything. Ask for Brent. I went with his largest spring over lift using stock YJ leafs and Missing Link shackles. This allowed for 33" tires. Don't discount the small tire size as these Sammis have lots of ground clearance and can hold their own. I regeared to 4:69 diff gear with a 6:1 transfer case gear change. The added torque will rip the rubber transfer case mounts loose. You must use their "Mighty Kong" transfer case support/skid. I dumped the stock steering for their upgraded crossover setup. Then add Sidekick power steering and you're pretty much there. It's pretty easy to fabricate bumpers for these. I went with www.shrockworks.com for side sliders/rocker guards. You can find alot of used parts on Pirate, Ebay and the various Sammi boards.

[xFallen]

Holy rear steer Batman!!! :eek:

No kidding. That thing would be a real pain to drive off-road. Looks like a ramp/parking lot queen thing anyway. :eek: :rolleyes: