Hi all, I recently traded into a lifted 1988 Samurai. It is SOA with 31" BFGs on beadlock rims.

The only thing is I am running stock gears, I trying to climb hills with it, even in 1st and low, it would run out of power.

Also its top end speed is about 55-60 mph.

I know i should re-gear both axles, and will eventually, but is there any quick and easy tricks to pullin a little more juice

out of these 1.3s? And would a 6.5:1 transfer case be a better first upgrade than R&P gearing? I have an extra T-case so I

thought re-gearing that first might be the way to go.

The t-case is easy to do, and the lower gears will also
lower the high range also, reducing or eliminating the
need for lower diff gears

If you don't go over 31" tires, the 4:1 low gears will work
for you, but if you want to go to a 33 or 35 tire, pony up
the bucks for a 6:1 and not do it twice.

You can also add a header and a 2" exhaust, that will help
the engine breathe better and change the air filter, basic
tune up with plugs and wires won't hurt, and check the
timing, the timing could be the biggest problem, set timing
to about 8* BTDC or follow the book, I can't remember for
sure what the advance is supposed to be, 8 is close tho

Wild

... 1988 Samurai .... SOA with 31" BFGs .... running stock gears,...  even in 1st and low, it would run out of power.... top end speed is about 55-60 mph.  I know i should re-gear both axles,... 
I have an extra T-case so I thought re-gearing that first might be the way to go.

     
The ideal R&P ratio for your rig would seem be around 4.6:1 if you have the early transmission (pre-88.5) 5th gear. You could use the stock T-case and regain your highway speed, 'cause the R&P would get your engine RPMS up to where they need to be in 5th.   
 
Every T-case gearset involves some additional reduction in high range, between 12-24 percent, which affects your highway performance.  If you add additional R&P gearing reduction to this, you can end up over-geared for the highway.  So it's best to first work out what you want to end up with, so as not to have to buy the stuff twice.

The 4.89 T-case gearset, in high range, nicely compensates for 31's, but does not get your speedo calibration back. A R&P change is needed for that (or dig into the speedo and manually readjust it -- it is adjustable).

has anyone here run the 6.5:1 transfer case with 31's? I'm going to be putting 33's or 35's on my sami eventually, but until these tires wear out I'll be running my 31's. transfer case is my next big upgrade. I'm just wondering if i may have gone overkill for the time being by buying the 6.5:1's. Will it still run out fine on the highway with 31's and the 6.5's?

Yea, a guy in my club runs that setup.  Your a little overgeared but as long as you don't mind keeping it below 60 it's fine.