well i guess i should start a build thread......

so i bought this 88 samurai a while ago. Bought it with:
-SPOA
-Revolver shackles
-2" body lift
-33" swampers
-complete rollcage
-bucket racing seats
- 4 point harness
- 6.5:1 tcase with twin stick
- weber carb and snorkled

this truck is pretty solid, has body rust but it is what it is. since ibought the thing i've had nothing but problems. everything has been wired like shit, so rewireing lights and dash will soon take into effect. the front axle which i took apart this weekend completely tool a shit on me. lucky i had an extra front axle even though my pinion is beat on that. so i have a sitting lawn ornament at the moment. everything is leaking and i dont know where from. my steering boxis going and im sure along with everything else.

AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, I MADE A POOR DECISION BUYING THIS PROJECT........... I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Edit 8/1: When i bough the truck.

I would handle it a couple different ways depending on budget.

1) find a unmolested stock samurai and transfer all the desired components from yours to it. (junk the body lift)
2) park it and start a front to rear rebuild/refresh. (probably a more expensive way in long run)

so did the axle you just worked on grenade on you? did you ever get that spring pad welded on?

Thanks man

The spring pad was on the spare axle housing and yes i did weld it on but i was going to swap the third members and axle shafts from spare to replace the shit one. but turns out the spare pinion threads are stripped so i have to buy a new pinion or just go all out and buy my ring and pinion gears and be done with it

Last week i tore down the front axle and completely cleaned out the housing and you will see why.

To start off with i had to take out my front drive shaft to begin with do to the fact that both yokes were not matched up or aligned right. so that took place where i then tore down the axle because my third member was completely beat

SORRY ABOUT THE SHITY VIDEO. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE THIRD MEMBER, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR THE CLICKING.


from there i tore down the hubs and lockers and so forth





Shortly after i ran into this


WHO SHIT IN MY THIRD MEMBER?!

That is one ugly mess.

you're telling me. i want to finish the third member so i can get her back to rolling

I understand exactly where you are. I've done the same thing. I bought a 84 SJ410. I knew I had motor issues with it but the guy swore up an down everything else was good in it. Seems like after I've got the motor rebuilt everything else is was shot as well. I've already sunk over a grand in it and haven't even got to drive it over a couple of miles. Still got more to do before I can take it wheeling. I definitely understand your pain man!!

I just want to get this thing on the road without sinking any more into it. At least so far I think my axles are good. The wiring is so screwed they even used a extension cord to wire part of it! I've almost got the wiring sorted. Fuel gauge and blinkers aren't working. Alternator regulator is fried. Steering was not set up right so I put a high steer on it and now it rubs the front springs because they are shot. I'm picking up some springs this weekend. Still trying to decide which direction to go with the alternator and my funds are fading fast. Hopefully i can get this thing going before I completely run out of cash.

I understand exactly where you are. I've done the same thing. I bought a 84 SJ410. I knew I had motor issues with it but the guy swore up an down everything else was good in it. Seems like after I've got the motor rebuilt everything else is was shot as well. I've already sunk over a grand in it and haven't even got to drive it over a couple of miles. Still got more to do before I can take it wheeling. I definitely understand your pain man!!

I just want to get this thing on the road without sinking any more into it. At least so far I think my axles are good. The wiring is so screwed they even used a extension cord to wire part of it! I've almost got the wiring sorted. Fuel gauge and blinkers aren't working. Alternator regulator is fried. Steering was not set up right so I put a high steer on it and now it rubs the front springs because they are shot. I'm picking up some springs this weekend. Still trying to decide which direction to go with the alternator and my funds are fading fast. Hopefully i can get this thing going before I completely run out of cash.

You and I are in the same boat brotha. I have a lot more work to go. I need to finish up the front axle and drive shaft then move to wiring, which is going to be a NIGHTMARE!  I may eventually have to pull the motor and trans but i hope i wont have to take that route.

The wiring a lone is going to be such a huge project due to the fact i have to work around this cage and cut out the dash and figure out how im going to shorten the dash to move it forward so i can shorten the steering to make more room. This will be an ongoing project for a long time. Im about $1500 into the entire thing and I feel its just going to get worse.

At least you know your not alone lol. I've done pulled the motor and transmission out if mine. Rebuilt the motor completely. I was hearing a knocking sound out of the transmission but it turns out it was because there where no bolts holding the transmission to the mount. Someone had just set it in and never bolted it.

I've been fighting wiring all evening. A loose wire hanging down suddenly gets power and touches the tail pipe and starts burning. I get it off of the tail pipe and the wiring issue I was working on starts working!! I just unhooked the battery and came in the house before something burns down lol. I hate wiring!! I would rather take a beating than tackle wiring issues.

Anyway good luck with your project. I hope it turns out ok for you. It will be interesting to see which one of us gets ours on the road first.

yeah man i hear ya. Im so short on money its not even funny. So I am doing everything i can to keep moving along with this project and to save myself money. The wiring is going to be hell. i started it but have yet to keep moving forward due to the fact i had to take care of the front axle. Im just about done that and then i will move onto the wiring some more.

The wiring will be such an ongoing problem that im just going to take a little bit at a time. label EVERYTHING and just keep on keepin on.

Even after that i have a lot more to worry about like i said with the engine and trans but we shall see how well everything goes from here.

I hope everything goes well on your end as well

Where are you from Bro?

Maple Shade. a SMALL town in South Jersey. how about yourself?

I'm from West Tn. I've picked up a set of springs that I'm hoping to get on the truck tomorrow. If I can get a alternator on the truck I beleive it will be drivable. Can't wait to get it on the trails!

WELP, i finished the front end. got everything rebuilt, and now im getting ready to start some more on the wiring and figure out my motor leak issues.

I will upload some photos i have from all the progress i made today. Pics to come soon.

So here are the pictures for the front axle rebuild

First off rebuilt the knuckles

Right

Left




From there i went and put the rotor housing and lockers along with the wheel spacers back on and proceeded to finish my rebuild.





This was a two days ago I finished the front end and im still annoyed due to the fact my third member still clicks. I have no idea why but it is what it is for now..................

Yesterday i started to tape up and mark the wiring harness. Today i pulled the dash and proceeded to tape and mark off.










So this is just a small step towards the whole rewiring process but at least its a start in the right direction.