New 88 Samurai owner here.  It's stock with the exception of the 31 tires sqeezed in.  Am wanting to lift to comfortably put some more aggressive 32-33 inch tires under it and also will need to gear appropriately.  A few questions, first, will I be money ahead by selling my current solid 88 and buying a sami already modded to where I want it?  Also, when and if I do gear my sami, am I better off to leave stock gears and just do a lower geared transfer case??  As far as the engine goes, if I get a weber carb and some headers will that be sufficient enough to pull my 32-33 inch tires???  Any help or tips to a new sami owner would be much appriciated!  Thanks guys!  Chip

Chip its kinda hard to answer your question not knowing what you ant in the end.... Total Kick Azz Off Road Machine / On - Off Road sometime / Daily Driver - Lock em in when it snows /  Mall Cruiser.

How high do you want to go / How many creature comforts do you want?

Fuel efficiant / 1.3 - 1.6 - 4.3? Are you book smart / mechanically inclined / MotorHead+

See what I mean? To answer your question ya kinda gotta say a little more....

Or, I could just say buy 1 and get exactly what you want..... 

Thanks for the reply.  I still want it to be pretty road worthy, but would like to do some fairly serious off roading with it too.  So I'm thinking aftermarket gears for my transfer case and either weld or a locker in the rear.  Plan on runnin stock 1.3 till it dies (runs great right now with 122k on it) and then put in a 1.6 16v in after that.

In that case... SPOA lift, 1/2 high steer, regear front and rear diffs, 32" tires, extended shocks, extended brake lines, 1" driveshaft spacers.... and that should be a fair start to a smile on your face.....

Bah, T-Case instead of re-gearing the front and rear end.  Other then that what tux said. 

I like the transfer case better too... But most people can swing the $$$ for the 3rd members easier than the transfer case gears....

Thanks for the info guys!  I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible---on a budget.  I don't know as I need or can afford the SPOA lift, as I've only got 27" tires on it now.  I would like to improve the ride and slightly lift it, thinking of getting some yj springs from junkyard and doing a yj spring swap....  Advice???  Thanksk again

I think you need to decide what you really want.... I can't even figure out what tires you have or want based on your posts... LOL... 31"s 27's  want 32's -33's....

There is plenty of good advice in the forum and can be found by using the search function once you decide your needs / wants / budget... 

If you want to save money, buy one already built. You never get your money back when you build a vehicle/add aftermarket parts. If you want exactly what YOU want, build it slowly, one upgrade at a time and enjoy your vehicle along the way. I personally would keep a good running solid rig and slowly build it into what I want. Just plan your build so your not back stepping or purchasing things twice.

Zig

The last post is the best advice you will ever get....
You will definitely save big buying one already modded.
That is of course if you find one that is done correctly........
 IMHO it's always better to build your own.
 If you build it , you know it . If you know it , you can fix it...
SPOA for your projected 33s. Transfer Case re gear, Long travel shocks and mounts, Armor ,
 If your not mechanically inclined .... You'd better learn if your gonna wheel.
 No better way to learn than on your own build...
Lots of good advice and how to's on this site.
Study study study....Boxcar...

If you want to save money, buy one already built. You never get your money back when you build a vehicle/add aftermarket parts. If you want exactly what YOU want, build it slowly, one upgrade at a time and enjoy your vehicle along the way. I personally would keep a good running solid rig and slowly build it into what I want. Just plan your build so your not back stepping or purchasing things twice.

Zig

perfectly wrote.

It is easy to get high dollars into these in just parts. You will not get all that money back out.
I would buy something with alot of high dollar mods/parts for cheap.
I have seen a few Sami's for sale around the $8k-$12k range but they have over $20k worth of aftermarket parts on them. If you were going to buy those $20k worth of parts then it is a good deal.... if you don't want one built like this then it would be a waste.
Just gotta figure out what you want and go from there.

I disagree... maybe if you just shovel $$ into a project you won't get your $$$ back.

It is EASIER to buy something completed and thats it...!

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I bought a good base Zuk with some of the things I knew I would do anyway and I think it is coming along nicely.

I watch 3 Zuk Forums on a regular basis. I also follow Craigslist & sometimes Ebay. Samurai parts are pretty easy to come by but you need to be patient.

I might have $4500 in mine right now including the Zuk, lift, tires / wheels, 3 tops, 1.6 8V, and a slew of aftermarket mods that would choke a horse.

And yep I know every inch inside & out. Am I done nope. But I'm damn close... In the spring a lil paint and all of the major stuff will be done... I'll have about $5000 in it complete... and I am pretty sure I couldn't find 1 built like that for those $$$.

Here is the deal:

Decide what you want...
Set a budget.. (Consider the re-sale value)
Don't buy anything on impluse!!!
Set a goal for completion.
GO......

UNLESS..... You can't do the work...

Then it can still be done but your budget $$$ will have to be watched much closer.


I have been building 4wd's & Corvettes for a long time with 1 simple formula that always works if you know what the end product is worth in todays market.

I purchase vehicle that are 2/3's complete...

Good body - good drivetrain
Good drivetrain - good interior
Good interior - Good body

If you are only concenterating on 1 area you can always come out providing you know the repair cost of that area and that combined with the vehicle cost doesn't exceed the vehicles completed worth.

It's not complicated but you have to do some homework. Fortunitly this Forum is a great resource of information to help you out.

GOOD LUCK in your QUEST!!!

                                                                                 

I have been building 4wd's & Corvettes for a long time with 1 simple formula that always works if you know what the end product is worth in todays market.                                                                              

- highjacked thread -

I used to play with Vettes as well. I ended up getting a job at Mid America Designs (I think they changed the name now) just so I could get parts at cost... GOOD TIMES ! 
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-parts.html

Sorry to highjack your thread... I am done.

Thanks guys, for now I'm stuck with some 27 inch TSL Super Swamper radials.  I wanted bigger but couldn't say no as I picked up 5 of these that literally still had the rubber "tits" on em plus an 8,000 Warn winch for $500.  So my plans are probly for now just do a YZ spring and shackles to improve ride and a transfer case gear upgrade, and weld rear axle solid....  And run the piss out of it!

Quote from: tuxblacray on December 15, 2011, 12:57:45 PM

I have been building 4wd's & Corvettes for a long time with 1 simple formula that always works if you know what the end product is worth in todays market.                                                                              

- highjacked thread -

I used to play with Vettes as well. I ended up getting a job at Mid America Designs (I think they changed the name now) just so I could get parts at cost... GOOD TIMES !  
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-parts.html

Sorry to highjack your thread... I am done.

I am intimately familiar with Mid America Motorworks (new name) as well as Mike Yager and crew.... Longtime friendship with him and many of the folks from there as well as the Effinham / Highland area....  

Oh Yeah ....... Profile Name - Tuxblacray = Tuxedo Black Stingray -