hi, I got my first samurai a week ago it is a 1987 jx longbody with the 1.3 I dont see too much of them any where I look is there a particular reason for this? I wanted a nice go any where hunting buggy and I see potential in this vehicle. I had to take off the aisan carb and tank it to get it running. I didnt have a carb kit at the time so it went back together with not exactly primo condition parts. I have found and ordered a kit from nardek and will properly rebuild when I get it. for now it starts fine revs to about 2000rpm then drops to about 800 it pops and backfires a bit but I dont want to mess with anything else untill carb kit is in. it also runs on for about 1-2 seconds after the key is turned off. whether this is ignition or carb I cant say yet. I have taken it today for a short uninsured run down the road and it seemed pretty weak, the speedo says 30,000 so I hope that is 130,000 and not 230,000 or worse . I took the top off and cut off the back roll bar flush with the top of the box, I also cut out about 200 lbs of rusted inner and outer fenders, then I made the door hinge fabrication for easy removal (all work and no play!!!!) I am not a rich man and I have spent every night this week gazing at suzuki info and parts galore that can make any samurai a real blast, so I joined up here to do some brain pickin on economical ,intelligent tips to give me a great hunting buggy. thanks dw. ps. its cold here in B.C. how can I get some heat out of this baby?

Good score on the LWB.  The reason you don't see many around is that they were really out numbered by the short wheelbases.  At least we have them in BC, they were never imported in the US.  It sounds like most of your engine troubles are carb related.  Check your kit when you get it and make sure it is the correct one.  I tried unsuccessfully to get a carb rebuild kit for my LWB.  They kept giving me a kit for a Hitachi I think and it turned out they could not get the proper kit in.  I know someone that ended up getting a kit from Australia for his.  I ended up putting on a Toyota carb and it works great.  

As for all the rust if you just want to use it for a hunting buggy consider putting fiberglass over it.  If you start to try getting rid of all the rust it can get pricey pretty quick.  Ask me how I know.  The more you dig into them the more rust you find.  Some days I wish I had never started on the rust removal on mine but it will be great when its done.  

For heat you probably need to clean out the heater box.  They tend to build up with leaves and crap.  They are a real pain to remove and clean so your best bet is to use a hole saw and vaccum to clean it out.  There is an article here http://www.izook.com/tech/samurai/body/heaterclean/heaterclean.htm.  

Welcome aboard.  

hey, welcome aboard, im in BC too, port coquitlam to be exact right near vancouver, and i also own a LWB... a rusty one
not a daily driver yet, but i spent about 250$ on a spoa lift, and plan on putting line locks on it soon for a cheap locker (there was a post on it a few weeks ago)
other than that, im just fixing small annoying things that make me not want to drive it, like the rusted window frame, bad wipers, no speedo or gas gauge
and the list goes on!!!
i saw one forsale on bc4x4.com for 2500$, was it taht one by any chance?

Andrew

Welcome to ZukiWorld! And congrats on getting a LWB. They may be rare there, but they're pretty much non-existant here in the states!  

Im yet another bc lwb owner!.. mines an 85.5 with the samuria thirds but norrow sj axle width and fender flares... mine came with the same issue's, rotted windsheild frame, rust in rear wheel wells, just finished rebuilding the 1.3L... the carb needed a little tuning, and now im putting a new crush sleeve in my rear pinion ... that info on the heater cleaning out seems interesting, I should probably do that haha

thanks for the comments and making me feel welcome. I bought this lwb in chetwynd bc for 800.00 dollars. I have ordered that austaillian carb kit for the aisan carb and if it looks like the picture posted it is the right one. I am going to hold off on the free spending untill the carb kit is in and tuned as good as it can get. is there a canadian suzuki parts supply? I am planning on fabbing in some sheet metal and then closing with fibreglass and hiding it all with some flares, for now then i am going to put on a couple thousand k`s and get some bugs out. my friends all have quads and they are allright I have moved meat from the bush to my freezer using them and it was nice but I want to take my little girl with me in some comfort and style ,hence the newzuki!!!

sounds like were in the same boat for rust mine has a kerns from north van sticker on it. i totally have removed front and rear bumpers and all 4 fender wells the drivers door has about 12 holes in it most everything works except windshield washer and there is no horn or interior light. i am gonna make it a daily driver for a while to get all the bugs out. cant wait till hunting season fopr real fun.

hey, welcome aboard, im in BC too, port coquitlam to be exact right near vancouver, and i also own a LWB... a rusty one
not a daily driver yet, but i spent about 250$ on a spoa lift, and plan on putting line locks on it soon for a cheap locker (there was a post on it a few weeks ago)
other than that, im just fixing small annoying things that make me not want to drive it, like the rusted window frame, bad wipers, no speedo or gas gauge
and the list goes on!!!
i saw one forsale on bc4x4.com for 2500$, was it taht one by any chance?

Andrew

ian I went to your website, cool I will have to look you up when I come through (my dad is in courtenay) where did you get your body parts and does your roof leak at all?

hey, welcome aboard, im in BC too, port coquitlam to be exact right near vancouver, and i also own a LWB... a rusty one
not a daily driver yet, but i spent about 250$ on a spoa lift, and plan on putting line locks on it soon for a cheap locker (there was a post on it a few weeks ago)
other than that, im just fixing small annoying things that make me not want to drive it, like the rusted window frame, bad wipers, no speedo or gas gauge
and the list goes on!!!
i saw one forsale on bc4x4.com for 2500$, was it taht one by any chance?

Andrew

Mine is totally disassembled right now (tub off).  I'm popping out the rear floorpan tonight.  For parts I got new front fenders from the local autoparts store (through Cross Canada Parts).  From the dealer I got new rockers, complete body sides and rear wheel wells.  I have to get the rear floorpan made at a sheetmetal shop as the dealer can't get them.  What started out as "I'll just fix this up cheap and throw some tremclad on it" has turned into an almost 2 year project.  

I have both the hardtop and factory full soft top.  The hardtop is notorious for leaking at the seal with the top of the windshield.  It also leaked from the rear windows.