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Explorer to a samurai

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Offline Mays24

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Explorer to a samurai
« on: January 12, 2017, 09:27:49 PM »
Hey everyone I'm new to this site new to samurai's and new to rock crawling. However i found the opportunity to start crawling cause i bought a samurai with 5:13 gears and aussie lockers front and rear. Im trying to do sort of a budget build so my plan is to use the 5 speed tranny, t case, and 4.0 v6 from my 92 explorer. If anyone has any tips on this swap please let me know or tell me im an idiot before its too late.

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Offline ebewley

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2017, 09:42:40 AM »
Is there something wrong with the Suzuki engine, trans, t-case? If they're good, I'd recommend sticking with that.

Good luck in your build. Post pics please! :)

Eric
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Online fordem

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2017, 03:49:43 PM »
I didn't want your first response to be a negative one, so that Eric has said his bit - I suggest you forget the idea (I actually wanted to tell you don't be an idiot ;) )

It's not going to be a budget build, and you'll probably end up destroying a perfectly good Samurai by turning it into an overweight, nose heavy vehicle with the only thing Suzuki left being the shell, and that is if you don't abandon the project after repeated failures & broken parts.

As Eric has suggested, wheel it as is, and let it grow with you, swap in t/case gears, maybe swap in a 1.6 from a Sidekick or Tracker, maybe a turbo diesel from a Volkswagen, you can spend a little at a time, it'll probably cost you less in the long term, and you'll have more fun along the way.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2017, 03:51:45 PM by fordem »
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Offline Drone637

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2017, 05:27:05 PM »
If you want speed you can go with a 2.0L or 2.3L from a Tracker or Aerio.  That will get you all the power you need for a rig that was only 1800 pounds from the factory. :)
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Offline Mays24

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2017, 09:26:37 PM »
I guess i forgot got to mention it didnt come with engine, tranny, or t case. And the explorers sitting in my yard so i figured use that

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Online fordem

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2017, 02:26:10 AM »
Whilst that little detail does make a difference, I still think its a bad idea - one of the things that has makes the Samurai as capable as it is off road is the lack of weight, and you're looking to drop a cast-iron V6 into a space that once held an all aluminum four cylinder almost one third it's size - you're still going to be looking at a lot of cutting and fabrication.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
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'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline Mays24

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2017, 03:49:32 AM »
Okay that makes sense. Well plan b is i just found a 22re and w56 on craigslist for a really good deal I could put in. any thoughts on
 that? And trust me i would love to keep it all samurai but samurai engines, trans, and t-cases arent cheap.

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Online fordem

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2017, 04:47:58 AM »
My thoughts are you're still headed in the wrong direction - isn't the 22RE cast iron also?

There are folks who have swapped V6s in, there are even kits available to make it easier (look for Suzuki Lightning Conversions), it's just that personally, it's not the way I would go, but, to each his own.

Look around for a 1.6 from a Tracker or Sidekick, see what those are going for.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Explorer to a samurai
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2017, 02:17:27 PM »
These are all just recommendations based on what we have seen work, sometimes the fun comes from just going for it.  :)

If you want to give the Explorer swap I would considering doing a full drive train swap.  Axles and everything, basically building an Explorer with a Samurai body and frame, treating it like a buggy build.

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