Okay folks... I'm now a new Sammi owner, and proud to say it!!!

However, I picked up a Sammi with 33" tires, and 4:56 gears, stock T-Case.
... it's got a 3 speed auto trans, with a 1.6L 8V motor. I'm not sure what it tops out at yet, but it's not fast enough for me to run surface streets to the market. I'd say, (without ringing out the motor...) it does 45mph or so. But that's not too comfortable... and I'd like to see 60 comfortable (not rung out).

I'm also going to be taking it down to 31" tires. I'm not a rock-crawler type... so I need it to be a grocery-getter from camp and still be fun in the dirt/hills.  Adding to this, it has a doubler in it... so, I'm sure I could go a bit taller on the gears than what an average zuker would do. Or, just put in the proper gearing and use the doubler to bring it to a crawl when off-roading.

Let me know, what you all have experienced... or, would think it needs to be capable of 60mph and still in a "comfortable" RPM range (being it's not a 5spd, I hope you all can help!)

TIA!

You mention it's "got a doubler" ..

By that do you mean it has dual tcases? (e.g. one from the donor and then the sami case).
If so, are you sure the sami tcase is stock? (might want to verify)

If you go down to 31's then the 4.56 diff gears are going to be WAY too low.

Also, 4k RPM's is perfectly acceptable.

Sounds like you got a good rig. Have fun with it.

Since you have a 3 speed auto in it, it won't have an overdrive.  So by dropping down to 31s, the engine will run even higher RPM than what it does now at 60MPH.
If you have the tracker/sidekick transfer case and samurai transfer case combo, then high range ratio is not affected by the double tcase setup (it is just like you are running a samurai tcase by itself, since the trackick tcase has a 1:1 high range ratio).
If you are sure it has 4.56 axle gears, then you could change to 4.30s and it would lower the RPM at 60MPH.
I don't know if you are familar with samurais and 4 cylinder engines in general.  But they will run higher RPMs than what an 8 cylinder or even 6 cylinder will.  They kinda have to, to be able to maintain speed.
A constant 3500-4000RPM on the road is acceptable for a 1.6.

You mention it's "got a doubler" ..

By that do you mean it has dual tcases? (e.g. one from the donor and then the sami case).
If so, are you sure the sami tcase is stock? (might want to verify)

If you go down to 31's then the 4.56 diff gears are going to be WAY too low.

Also, 4k RPM's is perfectly acceptable.

Sounds like you got a good rig. Have fun with it.

A two speed doubler, attached to the transmission and hard connected to the transfer case. It's a Geo Tracker engine/tranny so I'm not 100% on "what" doubler it is, or who makes it (I'm working on that with the original owner). But it's a high/low stick in the cab, and works amazing for bringing the sammi to a crawl.

I'm perplexed at his account that the t-case is stock, but I'm working on asking him that too.

... I know the problem with 31s, and 4:56s....  So, the thought was to go back and try stock gearing (as I have two stock axles to pillage from) but retain the 33s and see what happens with the doubler and T-Case ... leaving it AS-IS.  Being it's all a mystery at this point, it's a bunch of guess work.  Either way, the 33s are growing on me daily... it's just a bit scary to drive at speed, and knowing even a 32" tire might help makes me like the idea (for the wife). 

Keeping a 32" tire, and figuring out the gearing... so it can run up to 60 without trouble, is my goal (at this point).

Thanks for the info on the RPMs... it's tough when I'm so used to my diesel truck and it's low RPMs.  Once I replace the starter (in about an hour), I'll take it for another drive and see how it's all calculated (rpm, speed and tire size).

Since you have a 3 speed auto in it, it won't have an overdrive.  So by dropping down to 31s, the engine will run even higher RPM than what it does now at 60MPH.
If you have the tracker/sidekick transfer case and samurai transfer case combo, then high range ratio is not affected by the double tcase setup (it is just like you are running a samurai tcase by itself, since the trackick tcase has a 1:1 high range ratio).
If you are sure it has 4.56 axle gears, then you could change to 4.30s and it would lower the RPM at 60MPH.
I don't know if you are familar with samurais and 4 cylinder engines in general.  But they will run higher RPMs than what an 8 cylinder or even 6 cylinder will.  They kinda have to, to be able to maintain speed.
A constant 3500-4000RPM on the road is acceptable for a 1.6.

...see above.  But ya, I know how gear ratios and tire size effect RPM.  Of course I wouldn't put 31s on and not re-gear. 

Something that will solve a lot of this... is at minimum, a picture of the doubler and t-case setup!!  I'm on it... give me a minute.

Here's some pictures of the doubler, mated to the tranny and back to T-Case (I didn't snap any pictures of the "stick" inside the cab, since it's pretty self-explanatory);

   

looks to me like a 2wd donor 3sp tranny mated to the sami tcase

ya that's some good stuff ...

What you have is a trackick tranny, with a trackick tcase, with a samurai tcase behind it.  No matter what gears the trackick tcase has in it, the high range will still be 1:1.  The stock samurai tcase has a 1.409:1 high range and if it has lower gears in it, then the high range also gets lowered (like 1.7:1, etc.).

doh, what skihiranger said  ... still good stuff

What you have is a trackick tranny, with a trackick tcase, with a samurai tcase behind it.  No matter what gears the trackick tcase has in it, the high range will still be 1:1.  The stock samurai tcase has a 1.409:1 high range and if it has lower gears in it, then the high range also gets lowered (like 1.7:1, etc.).

Let there be light!! 

So awesome to have someone who knows what they are looking at, as I don't!!  I only know what i was told, so to hear something with model/make info... is just great!

So, what your saying is that it's 1:1 into the Sammi T-Case, and to think... that the Sammi T-Case may be "geared lower" could be correct?  (simply because of the LACK of speed at 4000RPM, in 3rd gear - 2WD High).  When I shift the doubler down to low, it really brings the overall mph speed down considerably. Would it be safe to think... 2:1? Or less than that, seems it'd be drastic.

... becaaaaaause my thoughts were hoping my sammi t-case wasn't stock, but geared lower. That way, I could leave the axles and only change the t-case if I wanted a taller final gear ratio. Seems "simpler", but who am I to say!

The previous owner called me back and shed more light on this...

The actual "Doubler" is from OTT Industries. And is a model 3, as seen here;
http://www.ottindustries.com/kicker3.htm



He's also thinking the Sammi is stuck in low range... saying, last time they had it out... it ran 55 no problem and kept up with everyone else (in their group). He also mentioned, it doesn't wind out like I talk about to get to that speed.... so, I'm going to see what I can get it to do tonight (or I'd loss sleep wondering). 

Maybe, between him and I... are thoughts on "winding it out" or "high RPM" are way different. Who knows. But he too is a dirt biker like me, and we're on that same playing field... so, I have my hopes it's just "stuck" and not going into high.

Wishful thinking....

In high, 2wd... at 4000rpm, I do 50mph. 

I have a stock 5 speed and t case that I would swap you for that OTT junk you have!

I have a stock 5 speed and t case that I would swap you for that OTT junk you have!

If you had a stock 5spd, and a geared down t-case... and it came with removal, installation, and drive lines... I'd think about it.  

Otherwise, I'm going to use it and I'm sure it'll end up growing on me.