ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: stunt double on March 09, 2009, 12:23:37 PM
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I ask this because that's the boat I'm in now. I've got an '87 Samurai that has some rust issues in the floor pan, front right fender, and the right side under the windshield, an engine that was partially disassembled without hoses being labeled, and not a whole lot of knowledge when it comes to these vehicles. I was thinking it would be a fun project to work on, but now I'm worried I may be in over my head.
I guess I'm just looking for some inspiration (or motivation) from some of you that may have been in a similar situation, or find yourselves in one now.
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This project was a complete basket case when I brought it home. EVERY bolt was taken off and put in little baggies and boxes. The neighbors thought I had brought home a washer and dryer set because it was white and looked like well, a washer and dryer.
There are patch panels available for some of that rusted stuff.
from the Article Archives:
http://www.zukiworld.com/month_020103/feature_gijane.htm
Good luck, Eric
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I have seen quite a few nice rigs reserrected from the dead. If yours is too far gone or beyond, you may want to use it as a parts car and find something a little more complete. My friend and I bought a Sammi that was not running and had years of back registration due, four of us have parts on our rigs from that one Sammi.
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Here's a vid I just made. It's just a quick walk around of my Zuk as it is now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ-M2v-ohuY
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Just checked out the vid, thats not as bad as I had pictured in my head. I would try to find some patch panels for the rusty spots and get a repair manual for the engine issues. Samurai's are surprisingly easy to work with. I think you have enough to work with to make a good little wheeler.
NorCal
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Thanks for the boost of confidence norcal. Just curious, are there any manuals that cover the vacuum system in the Samurais? The Hayne's manual I have doesn't have any detailed diagrams of the vacuum lines.
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Thanks for the boost of confidence norcal. Just curious, are there any manuals that cover the vacuum system in the Samurais? The Hayne's manual I have doesn't have any detailed diagrams of the vacuum lines.
I was gonna say get a Haynes manual, if you check chaper 6 emissions, there is some "plumbing" info. I used it when I had my carb rebuilt and had to put it all back together.
BTW, do you know why the engine was disassembled in the first place?
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Doesn't look that bad. Check the frame, if it's good, and you have the budget to fix it - do it. Remember tracker motors are going for $300 - $700 these days (in case the one you have needs a rebuild). If the rust isn't gone completely through, just use your favorite rust neutralizer, and slap on some spray in bed liner and call it done.
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norcal,
From what I gathered, it ran well, but the exhaust manifold was shot. The exhaust pipe pretty much ended a few inches below the manifold because it rust off. Also, the previous owner had planned on installing fuel injection, hence the reason why the intake manifold is off. Unfortunately they didn't label the vacuum lines or wires, I guess because they didn't plan on reusing them. I'm debating on just going ahead and getting the engine out and doing a rebuild, since it already has about 140,000 on the odometer. I'm also trying to figure out whether I'm going to re use the stock carb, or go with one of the other carb options I've seen. I'm planning on using it for a daily driver, so Im not sure I want to go with a Weber or not.
Jeremiah,
There only appear to be a few places where the rust goes completely through. Thankfully, the frame and underside look relatively clean, even as far as dirt goes.
The previous owner did have a spare 1.3 in his garage, but the cylinders and pistons had gotten a bit rusty. I'm debating on getting it and seeing if I can get things to free up. If so, I might just put a rebuild kit in that one and swap it out.
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Thanks for the boost of confidence norcal. Just curious, are there any manuals that cover the vacuum system in the Samurais? The Hayne's manual I have doesn't have any detailed diagrams of the vacuum lines.
http://www.acksfaq.com/Samvacuumlines.htm (http://www.acksfaq.com/Samvacuumlines.htm)
does that help?
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If it were me, I would put the $$$ towards a 1.6L or 2.0L swap. If it's a DD, it'll run better, stronger, be more reliable, and get better MPG - all for the same cost as a rebuild & aftermarket carb.
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Jeremiah,
I'm assuming the 2.0L engines are from the Geo/Chevy Tracker?
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The 2.0 is from the Chevy Tracker/Suzuki Vitara. 1999 or 2000 I believe, the newer body style.
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Yep, and 130 HP (maybe 140, I forget): http://members.cox.net/aftermarket4x4/current_proj.html (http://members.cox.net/aftermarket4x4/current_proj.html)
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Looks just as mine when I bought it! Body was rusty but frame was excellent in my case. As for the other parts, mine was totally dead, everything was broken or badly weared, or simply missing. So you stunt double, got not that bad Sam.
In a few words I'll tell you how happened with me.
I found my future Sammi in about 130km away, it's 80 miles, from home. The late autumn day I went for it, the very first heavy snow atarted. We get there in, maybe, an hour with a liitle driving on A6 Quattro. My trip back on recently bought Sammi, without front drive shaft and on slick tires , took me 4.5 hours + 1.5 litres of oil and a bit less than 10 gallons of fuel, snow was already 15-20cm deep (6-8 inch). You are driving and see Lexus LX470 smashed in a huge truck and then after 20km just something distantly alike vehicle with bloody snow around it.... 11 accidents, every single one with victims or dead. I got older for 10 years in those hours.
I've already given about $6.3k to my Sammi and finished everything except body, interior and most of lights wiring. Here is what it takes in my country. Rebuilding of 1.3 engine cost me $1.5k, transmission (t-case+tranny+front&rear drive shafts) 1.4k, suspension 1.1k, axles 0.95k, wheels (tires+rims) 1k and rest $350 for different other parts and works that was necessary to do.
Seemes a bit expensive, but consider that 75-80% of parts and kits was ordered from US and overseas shipping + customs clearance required (add about 35-50% to original prices and minimun of 2 weeks up to 3 month waiting), and still you ain't even imagine what it takes to perform customs clearance in my terribly corrupted and bureaucrated coutry (add about 4-5% more). While building my rig I wish I would live in US, guys you're so lucky having such a tiny prices for all those tuning kits, part pieces, paits and other usable stuff.
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Yeah, but Ukraine girls are hot 8)
Can't you order Suzuki parts from Japan, or Europe?
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Dimitros,
Now that is some dedication there. Of course it gives me even more motivation to get to working on mine. I'm going to do some checking around, I have heard there's a guy nearby that has a bunch of Sammi's sitting in his yard. Hopefully it will be a treasure trove..
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stunt double,
Your Samurai looks MINT! You have no idea how bad i wish my floor looked that good when i got my sidekick. I cut the WHOLE FLOOR out as well as all 8 body mounts and started from scratch with 1/8th plate steel. Took a few weeks but was well worth it, some sturdy now. I would deffinetly keep her and fix the rust, then gator guard the whole floor, inside and out. looks like a fun project, and good canidate for a 2l swap!
Bryce
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Bryce,
You're right, the body doesn't really seem all that bad. Maybe a few patches here and there, but otherwise it seems solid. I think the worst part is that the intake and carb were taken off without any of the lines being labeled. Just part of the fun I guess.
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Jeremiah
Yepp, they are hot, and here we have aprox 75% - hot, 15% - average to almost hot, 10% - others.
You see, one stock leaf spring costs somewhere around 400 euros here, new stock t-case gears 520 euros and so on. I figured it's better to get the whole 3.5" Calmini lifted suspension for the price less than just 4 stock springs and 4.89 GRS2 t-case gears with full rebuild kit for the price of just stock gears. It is a way cheaper to buy tuning kits and perfomance upgrades than stock ones in Ukraine, even though all those customs and shipping.
stunt double
Don't give up man, you will bring to that Sammi a new life! And you have an advantage - body of your car is just naked (no interior I saw), much more convenient to disassemble it from the frame and then you can do everything you want with it - welding, painting...
Good luck!
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I was also having some problems with my vaccum lines. Just go to your local suzuki dealer parts dept. and they will print off the schematic of where all the vacuum lines are supposed to go.