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11

Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Most Popular Suzuki Samurai Builds

« Last post by ebewley on February 21, 2026, 03:11:31 PM »

Huh?! I didn't realize you don't have a Samurai... Now, i see it on your .sig file... Must me cool having a Jimny!    - Eric

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ebewley on February 21, 2026, 02:57:14 PM »

Has anyone found a new center locking console for these? I know there was one from a manufacturer in the past but I can't seem to find that either... -Eric

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ebewley on February 20, 2026, 04:20:38 PM »

thanks for checking!

-Eric

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Most Popular Suzuki Samurai Builds

« Last post by fordem on February 16, 2026, 02:47:06 AM »

I don't have a Samurai, but I want one, so my vote is based on how I would build it.  It's also how I'm building my current daily, which is the five door Jimny.

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ButchW on February 15, 2026, 12:05:44 PM »

Eric.. It’s been a long time since i bought it…. I looked through all of my Zuk receipts and records and can’t find the receipt.. It may have been from a Zuk supplier or even eBay and not Amazon.. I know it wasn’t much $ though.. But with the new tariffs the price is probably at least doubled.. I just googled it now, and there are some places selling them… More than I spent though..Sorry buddy..
Butch

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Most Popular Suzuki Samurai Builds

« Last post by ebewley on February 15, 2026, 09:33:27 AM »

When you search around the internet, you see specific types or styles of Samurai Builds. Which one of the following do you like best? Is your rig built that way?

Most Popular Suzuki Samurai Builds

The Trail/Off‑Road Rock Crawler Build
Typical mods
- 6.5:1 or 4.16:1 transfer case gears
- SPOA (spring‑over‑axle) lift
- 31–33" tires
- Lockers (front/rear)
- Chromoly axle shafts
- Power steering swap
- Tube bumpers, sliders, and skid plates

The Daily Driver / Overlanding Adventure Build
Typical mods
- Mild lift (2–3")
- 235/75R15 or 30" all‑terrain tires
- Roof rack + cargo system
- Upgraded seats
- EFI swap or 1.6L engine swap
- LED lighting
- On‑board power and camping gear

The Restored OEM‑Plus / Retro Build
Typical mods
- Factory‑style paint and decals
- Refreshed interior
- Rebuilt 1.3L or mild 1.6L swap
- Upgraded brakes and suspension
- OEM wheels or period‑correct alloys
- Subtle modern touches (Bluetooth, LED bulbs, etc.)

Samurai Buggy / Tube Chassis Builds
- Hardcore rigs with Samurai VINs but almost no Samurai left.

Samurai LS/Big Engine Swaps
- Rare but viral

Samurai Lowrider / Street Builds
- surprisingly popular in certain areas

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ebewley on February 15, 2026, 09:15:04 AM »

Ah, that's a good one. Getting better lighting inside. Do you happen to have an favorite seller for this on Amazon? I've kind of given up on having a good dome light and just keep a magnetic one available but fixing what's there is better.

-Eric

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Re: Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ButchW on February 15, 2026, 08:15:50 AM »

Eric... I've done neither of those things, but my Samurai is mostly street with a few desert roads thrown in... A cheap mod I made when I 1st got the car was to up grade the interior light to a LED... The old incandescent light was useless... A couple bucks on Amazon...
Butch

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Suzuki 4x4 Forum / Samurai - Cheap Mods That Actually Improve Trail Performance

« Last post by ebewley on February 14, 2026, 08:17:47 AM »

We've started a project to revive a couple of our first project Samurai (GI Jane and Wedgee) for an upcoming adventure. It'll be a bit of a 'restart' for these two rigs and we're going to stay on 30 in tires for Jane and remove the Dana 44's and put Samurai axles back onto Wedgee. So, what's the consensus on the best, and perhaps the first, cheap mod one should do when building there Samurai? I can think of two right off the bat

-- remove the sway bar
-- remove the 'chiin strap' hitch mount on the back

What do you think?

-Eric

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Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair / Re: Water Pump for JB33W Jimny vs SJ413 Samurai

« Last post by Thirty-Nine on January 05, 2026, 07:10:51 PM »

Turns out the leak I have isn't from the water pump, but from the two heater hoses underneath the thermostat housing.

You can see the leak here.

https://youtu.be/VxoMvSYq7Ho?si=4VyeD0QsulbL5ISi

I haven't had a chance to dig into it much, but I assume the hoses go into the thermostat housing? Or is the thermostat part of the intake manifold? I'll have to check later.