they are building a buget Sammy in peteren's 4 wheel and off-road.  looks like it came out nice.  i rear it well i was in a store.  i'll buy it later.

stu

I was gonna pick up this month's issue, but I couldn't find it in the magazine rack at the store I was at .

I read that article. It's part of the 4x4x$1500 Cheap Truck Challenge. The staff came up with the idea of everyone building up a budget wheeler with a total budget of only $1500, including the cost of the truck. The sami was the first one. It had potential, but too bad the head gasket went on it's first trip to the woods... Fixing it blows the budget no matter how they try to do it.

you ruined the end of the story!  i was going to make them read  it for that.  lol

stu

DOH! sorry....

Which month issue. June or July?

he said it had over heated a couple of times and the head on those will easily warp a high temps. he couldn't stop it from overheating. isn't as general practice for sammis that have been sitting for longer than 6 months to change the fan clutch because they r very pron to not ingaging fully.

Which month issue. June or July?

It's the July 2004 issue and BTW, at the end of the article, he said he was spending more money on it next month to do something to the engine.  In fact, he was looking for suggestions (via email) as to what to do to the 1.3 with the blown head gasket.   Haven't some of you put a 1.6 or bigger in place of your 1.3?

yup  

stu

Thanks for reading the story guys.

I'm still open to suggestions, though I'm leaning towards fixing the head gasket.  I found them at Napa for $180.  anyond done the job before that has any input?

I haven't done a head gasket yet myself, but that would seem to be the most cost-effective fix.

Out of any of the other coming 4x4x$1500 trucks, do any happen to be Track/kicks? Just wondering. Good luck and hope to see more of your sami in the magazine!

nope all the other rigs will be domestics, and most are fullsize rigs,

lets hope that I can get the 1.3 running and can then go show them suka's up.  I'm sure I'll be going almost where ever they go on the trail, but if we do much road tripping I'll need an early start.

Just make sure to have you head check for crackes and worpage.

I've heard of several that were fine with just a new head gasket.

Thanks for reading the story guys.

I'm still open to suggestions, though I'm leaning towards fixing the head gasket.  I found them at Napa for $180.  anyond done the job before that has any input?

Welcome Fred,

I haven't had a chance to read the article yet, mail is slow, but if you only need a head gasket there are a couple choices from the vendors here that would be much cheaper. For example, Hawk has the head gasket for $65 and a complete gasket kit for $79.ninetyfive!

As far as engines go, it sounds like you're going to compete in a contest where the vehicles have to cost $1500 or less? I don't know how much you have in your rig already but I've purchased good running complete (carb to exhaust manifold) 1300 engines a couple of times for $300 and less... Just an idea.

Hope this helps, -Eric

fred isn't the sammi EFI if so does the 1.3 EFI work on the 1.6 EFI that would be a badass sammi. u can find one at a junkyard for less than the headgasket kit. if u can't find one there i'm sure there are some guys here with plenty of spare parts for a good price. also contact hawk there have really great prices and are in washington state.