Hello everyone, great forums here with a wealth of info.

I just got myself an 87 Samurai 4x4.  It is bone stock and i need to lift it.  I was up way too late last night searching the forums for help. 

I am looking at Calmini 3" lift with springs and shocks.  Do i need anything in addition to that, like the steering components? 

I was also looking at Rocky Roads 5" Bolton SPOA  lift that includes shocks and steering.  But again, can i order this package alone and not be missing anything?

What do you all recommend?  Go with the Bolton package, or get the Calmini, and SPOA at a later time.  I pretty much want a usable lift without breaking my wallet, but i hate to remove/replace/upgrade parts a year later.  I just want it right the first time.

The first question is what do you plan on using the Sammy for?  Light trail use, heavy duty wheeler, back road bomber?  What size tires do you want to run?  There are a lot of ways to build a rig, but deciding what you want to use it for helps us toss out suggestions. 

X2 on Drone's questions... Help us help you!

Welcome!



-Eric

I've been on enough forums to know i should have explained everything.  Thanks for taking a look.

I plan to run 235/75 15 for the time being.  I will want to fit 33's in the future once i can change the gearing. 
I want it to be good on the road so my girlfriend can drive it, but i want it to be more than capable of going where i am afraid to take my 07 FJ.  My FJ has gone up some crazy stuff, but i almost tipped it on 3n34 in big bear ca.  I cant afford to pay a loan on a totaled truck, and that is where the Samurai entered the picture. 

I don't want to go fast.  1.3L engine is proof of that I want to crawl and climb.
I like hard moderate to difficult offroad, but not ready for anything extreme.

Small lift for the time being.... then when the $$$ permits shoot for a SPOA....

Small lift for the time being.... then when the $$$ permits shoot for a SPOA.... 

Agreed. 235's are 29" tires, about 7.5% oversize. Combine that with your early (higher) 5th overdrive gear, and you may want to consider a 4.16:1 transfer case gearset to get the 12% high-range reduction for the highway.   You could also change to the later (8% lower) 5th gear.  When/if you go to 33's, you could keep the transfer case gears and change the R&P ratios to around 4.6 to nicely compensate for the larger tires.
           

Hunt around for a SJ-410 transfer case to run with the 235 tires.  It has a 10% reduction over a stock Sammy t-case, that brings you right back into stock gearing.  Then you can safe up and drop gears in the Samurai t-case without taking your rig off the road. 

Let me know if this sounds like it might work out, or if im missing something.

From Rocky Road Outfitters  http://www.rocky-road.com/
    Bolton SPOA system  - 5" lift, OTT steering and shocks
    6.5:1 Trail Creeper gears 
    Samurai Lockright Lockers
    Superslider Rock Rails

Comes out to about 2k with shipping.

I will make my own skids and bumpers.