Been wanting to get a Sammi for awhile with the eventual intention on converting to diesel power so I can run waste vegetable oil or at the very least B99.

 I am torn between a couple of rigs and wanted your experienced opinion on which would be the  better deal.

Sammi#1    1987 White base model.  154K miles 1 owner. Completely stock.  Asking 4K  California vehicle its whole life.

Sammi #2  1987, JX model, completely redone converted to 94 fuel injection  ( on ebay right now) white  redone suspension, seats, A/C front and rear bumpers etc etc...  reserve is $7K

Sammi#3 1988 96K original miles, 1 owner Red, with hard top and kinda cool chrome package Also completely stock JX model  $6K

Keep in mind the following.  1) Yes, I know the prices are high.  Sammi's are in right now.  Good non rusted unmolested or abused ones are getting harder to find

2) No, I dont want a tin top
3)The conversion might or might not take place ( to diesel) but for now I am planning on it.
4) Not too sure on the fuel injection conversion,  It looks like it was down right but what happens if/when something goes wrong down the road.  I didnt do the conversion so I would kinda be at a disadvantage
5) Im kinda torn,  while I do like doing the work myself so A) I know what was done and B) I can do it my way  There definitely is a major plus is having it done already as the cost would be substantially less.

Your respected opinions please?

If you have links to see these samurais that would be good, with a limited description it's hard to say. If you we're sure about the motor swap I would say get the cheapest one you can find but with a nice straight, rust free body.  Those prices seem a little high but without seeing them its tough. I see those premium prices on tintops more often than soft tops,

What state are you in?  If California, make sure that the fuel injected model will pass smog.  CA can be picky about that.  Best to buy a vehicle currently registered in the state where you plan to use it unless you're willing to risk trouble getting the car to pass inspection when you get home.

Before you get too excited about the diesel conversion, price the engines and conversion kits.  The kit alone will run $500-1000 and good engines of the correct vintage are pretty spendy.

Also, buying a restored Sammy doesn't mean you won't spend a lot of time doing your own work.  I'm doing that right now on mine.    I'm going front to back cleaning up the little things that weren't done as cleanly as they should have been.

Also, go look at the vehicles before you bid.  No exceptions.  If you buy a vehicle without inspecting it first, don't complain about how you got ripped off. 

ok, well the fuel injected one was snatched up on Ebay... just as well.. Im not crazy about mods that someone else did, especially when it comes to something that sophisticated.  No reference for when things go wrong.

Tell me, what is the difference between a JX and a base model and is it anything I cant get myself and make it like a JX?

oh and I AM in California... I just need to make sure its a motor that is newer than  or same as whatever year I am buying.  Since Diesels are exempt from testing in those years, it would simply need to be looked at by a referee.

I'm not an expert but jx have a tach, clock and different style seats, maybe a different pattern and material on the door panels too. The jx gauge cluster can be purchased and is an easy r&r swap, a working clock is harder to find (if any one wants to get rid of one let me know), I think a hole would have to be drilled for it,I'm not sure the other stuff is really worth changing. What part of Ca. are you in?

What size would you say that hole is? I just saw the coolest retro tach that was placed in that spot and I want to duplicate that.