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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: cur_dog on May 13, 2008, 10:29:14 AM

Title: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 13, 2008, 10:29:14 AM
I have a 1987 Samurai. I bought it with a spring over axle lift, 33� tires and stock engine and gears. As you can imagine, it’s sluggish. It’s going to be used mainly on my deer lease but I will also drive it on the county roads around our lease and sometimes drive it when one of the other vehicles goes out. I guess I’m looking for something that will still
work in the woods and the street.

Future upgrades but not anytime soon are a I Weber carb, header and exhaust. Before I bought it they installed a new clutch.

What are my options for getting the Samurai a LITTLE more peppy on the street and still be good off-road. Also, it’s not going to be used as a rock crawler, just good old East Texas mud! It would be nice to be able to use 5th gear.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: mrfuelish on May 13, 2008, 11:13:40 AM
I would put some 5.12's in it if it has the 1.3 engine in it, on the webber I have not had a lot of good luck with those, you could do an easy mod on the stock carb and I think that it would run better for the most part.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: Amilla on May 13, 2008, 01:16:14 PM
are Transfer case gears out of the question?


Amilla
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 13, 2008, 02:07:35 PM
I'm new to this whole samurai thing. I'm used to big motors! lol.

Nothing is out of the question as far as work goes. Do not want to spend a ton of money but willing to spend moderatly.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: Dazookster on May 13, 2008, 03:26:11 PM
Call around to junk yards and find two front ring and pinion sets from a sidekick or tracker from an automatic i believe are the 5.12 then order installation kits from a suzuki vendor for the install i did mine for under $200.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: bashzuk on May 13, 2008, 04:39:08 PM
I went the route of diff gears first and I have to say I would do t-case gears Only one thing to take out and work on ;)

Trailtough was offering to install and rebuilt for the cost of their 6.4 gears for a while

Looks like still are
www.trailtough.com
 Spring Sale
Buy a 6.4:1 Rockmonster gear kit at regular price of $719.00
and we will rebuild Your transfer case and install them for FREE...
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 14, 2008, 04:56:54 AM
To bad they are not around Houston.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 14, 2008, 12:02:39 PM
After reading through a BUNCH of threads I feel like I know more than when I started but I think I’m also more confused!

The more thinking I do about the Samurai the more I think I would like to run 31� tall tires, be able to drive it on the road and use 5th gear and be able to drive around some in the woods. There are no rocks where I live. . The samurai will be driven some, not everyday so I would call it a Semi DD.

I have done so many swaps on the big 4x4’s, Chevy and Fords, I really just want to enjoy the Samurai and not be jacking back and forth with swaps. Would like to do it one time and as long as I do not break anything, leave it alone.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: kingzoo on May 14, 2008, 02:07:22 PM
  That is everyones dream,but car karma holds sway here.Build it, wheel it,break it,fix it. It is the way of the universe.Or something like that.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 14, 2008, 06:25:47 PM
I have a set of 32" Super Swampers SSR Radials on my Chevy. I could break down the rims and tires and mount them on the Samurai. Would that make much difference?
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: bashzuk on May 14, 2008, 10:33:44 PM
I'm sure the shipping would be reasonable.

Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 15, 2008, 03:57:23 PM
Thanks for all the info.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: Drone637 on May 15, 2008, 07:05:03 PM
My cousin has the 8:1 and 33" tires on his Sammy, runs great down the road.  They share the hi range gears with the 6.4:1 kits.
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 16, 2008, 05:34:49 AM
So the only diff is the low range?
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: Amilla on May 16, 2008, 09:45:49 AM
The beauty of a samurai, is you don't really have to gear the Diffs.  They are more cost effective to gear the transfercase,  its a lot cheaper too do also.

Trail gear sells a 6.5:1 gear set for samurais for $475, if you run a 33 you will be perfect, you will have some crawler gears, but your hi range will be just fine to.

Most other vender's are going to charge quite a bit more for there gears, but from what i have read they all come with lifetime warranty's.


Hope that helps some what!

Amilla
Title: Re: Gears for running 33" tires on a stock Samurai
Post by: cur_dog on May 16, 2008, 04:30:24 PM
Make sense to me.