Hello all. I am new to the forum and to the suzuki 4x4's.

I have the chance to pick up a 1988 Suzuki Samurai 1.3l 4x4. The truck has 98k miles on it. Has a brand new Bestop. Body is in pretty fair condition. A few holes in the rear corners and some rust on the bumpers. Was told the engine has a knock. From what I understand the top end sounds clean but has a knocking noise coming from the bottom of the engine. If I get the truck and drop the oil pan, what am I looking for in order to tell if it spun a bearing or worse? The owner only wants $500 for the truck.

If it ends up needing a crank, is there a place to get a new one for cheap. I am trying to build a budget offroad. I am planning on getting a Spidertraxx lift and getting diamond plate to cover the rocker panels and the rear corners.

Any suggestions from Zuk owners would be greatly appreciated.  THanks

Hello all. I am new to the forum and to the suzuki 4x4's.

I have the chance to pick up a 1988 Suzuki Samurai 1.3l 4x4. The truck has 98k miles on it. Has a brand new Bestop. Body is in pretty fair condition. A few holes in the rear corners and some rust on the bumpers. Was told the engine has a knock. From what I understand the top end sounds clean but has a knocking noise coming from the bottom of the engine. If I get the truck and drop the oil pan, what am I looking for in order to tell if it spun a bearing or worse? The owner only wants $500 for the truck.

buy it, and find a donor 1.6l motor to swap in.

If it ends up needing a crank, is there a place to get a new one for cheap. I am trying to build a budget offroad. I am planning on getting a Spidertraxx lift and getting diamond plate to cover the rocker panels and the rear corners.

diamond plate? I thought you said budget?

I have to agree with the 1.6 swap, best modification I have done to date.

Shop around before you get your heart set on the SpiderTrax Lift. If you are on a budget try looking at some of the set-ups from Trail Tough or Hawk.

If it ends up needing a crank, is there a place to get a new one for cheap. I am trying to build a budget offroad. I am planning on getting a Spidertraxx lift and getting diamond plate to cover the rocker panels and the rear corners.

If you want budget rocker panels, a couple pieces of good sized angle iron can be made to bolt right onto the rocker panels.  I haven't had mine bend up yet. 

Quote from: Stinger on July 06, 2006, 08:46:33 PM

If it ends up needing a crank, is there a place to get a new one for cheap. I am trying to build a budget offroad. I am planning on getting a Spidertraxx lift and getting diamond plate to cover the rocker panels and the rear corners.

If you want budget rocker panels, a couple pieces of good sized angle iron can be made to bolt right onto the rocker panels.  I haven't had mine bend up yet. 

I've been looking into this angle iron thing... have any pics of how you attatched them?


And - if the lower end of the engine is dead - just swap out a bottom end 1.6L. Would be the same cost as repairing the 1.3L, and you'll have WAY WAY WAY better power - and acutally better gas mileage. Just so you know - You'll need to get a mild lift, or modify the 1.3L oil pain to work with the 1.6L, as the 1.6L is "taller" than the 1.3

I haven't had mine bend up yet. 

yea, but you helped mine get trashed  (it's all good) ...

I think your trac needs to "follow me" some day ... 

I have to say buy it for $500 even if you part it out you can make back twice that in parts.
I would look at www.sky-manufaturing.com and the budget lift $380 they sell with the over the top steering correction I've been running it for a year with out any problems.
if is the only lift I found for under $500 that had the over the top steering fix.

Hey Bash, I finally put that check in the mail.  It only took me a month. 

Anyway, here are some pictures of the mounting for a simple rocker protection.  We used a plate of 1/4" flat for a backing to stop the bolts from pulling through the body and galvanized steel so it wouldn't look bad when we wore through the paint.

For the mounting we drilled the holes in the angle, put it against the body, marked, drilled through, measured, drilled the flat plate, bolted everything in position.  The first two bolts go into the cab, the second two go under the body.  With two people and a floor jack it took a couple of hours to complete.

yea, but you helped mine get trashed  (it's all good) ...

I think your trac needs to "follow me" some day ... 

How about I will follow you as long as the roads are paved.