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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: davestr on April 14, 2007, 06:50:41 PM

Title: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: davestr on April 14, 2007, 06:50:41 PM
Saw one advertised and no mention of 4WD.  Were all the Samurai's 4WD?  Can I tell the model from the VIN?  Is there some sort of list of models that were made that year? 
Title: Re: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: calabrias1962 on April 14, 2007, 07:19:50 PM
all 4wheel drive unless modified
Title: Re: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: ack on April 14, 2007, 09:41:54 PM
There were a limited number of 2WD units sold, but nearly all Samurais are 4WD.

There were two body variations sold in the US -  Softtop 2-door and hard top 2-door.  There were at least two trim levels - Basic and JX.

The best way to tell if it is a 4WD unit is to actually inspect it.

Somewhere ther is a VIN decoder for the Samurai...  I just can't remember.

"Bewley?  Bewley??"   ;D
Title: Re: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: phloop on April 14, 2007, 10:03:03 PM
Yes, there are factory 2WD Samurai's. I saw a few of them when I was looking for my first one. That was over ten years ago, haven't seen too many here lately.

I can not remember if you can tell from the VIN if it a 4WD or a 2WD. But a 2WD would be really easy to convert to 4WD. Something to think about when you are looking at beat up 4WD's and happen to look at a 2WD that has been towed behind a motor home for most of it's life.
Title: Re: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: thefirstzukman on April 15, 2007, 09:07:00 AM
the cool thin about the 2wd samurai is that you can very easily convert it to a 4wd and they are usually very clean.  They have the same engine, tranny and rear end as the 4wd and even have a t case that has no front output.  The front has leaf springs and a solid axle housing and rus the same brakes and calipers.  swap the t case to a 4wd and throw in a front axle and you will have a clean rig.
Title: Re: '87 Samurai questions
Post by: calabrias1962 on April 15, 2007, 10:57:52 AM
Sorry 2wd sami is news to me. ???