Hey y'all, I haven't posted here much and my previous thread is pretty much not relevant now.  I just picked up what is now my new Samurai.  It's not papered yet, so I'm hesitant to foolishly invest any money in it until I know all that it needs...which gives me time to be patient and to ask some real Samurai gurus like yourselves for suggestions.

It's basically just a stock Tin Top with a 130amp alternator and a weber carb that I need to fine tune (it lived at 4000-6000ft before I bought it, lives at sea level now).  It has none of the main luxuries (no heat, no a/c, no radio).

The only mods I am interested in right now are these:

Disk (ABS?) Brakes for the front (or is rear better on the short wheelbase?)

Power Steering (Any experience with the Toyota power steering conversion?)

Add a very loud and horrifyingly annoying horn. (Train, Tractor?)

Braided stainless brake lines.

Anything beneficial to boost MPG (getting 23-27) or power.

Good all-around use, stock size, tires.

Winch.

Lights for the trailer hitch.

Comfy Front Seats for someone 6'+ (Do I have to move the seat mounts back?)

Better Windshield Wiper motor/new wiper switch.

What do you think?

How do I tell the difference between the 88 and the 88.5?  This thing has been completely sanded down and rhino-lined.

If you could suggest the right places for a novice wrencher, that is also a monetarily poor upcoming beekeeper, to get the parts he needs...I'd really appreciate it!

To get it registered here I need to add front blinkers, a muffler (has he catalytic converter already), and a horn...that's it I think, will find out what else tomorrow.

...and a seatbelt...sorry.

no passenger seat, keeping it a 2 seater.  I want the space for beehives and equipment.

Easiest way to tell 88.5 is square dash vents and non removable radio housing

Forgive me, I meant to pass inspection (brake tag) rather than to register.

This one has no vents and a custom dash.  Hmmm...

Thank you for the input, though!

I also get a drive train shake from about 10-30mpg & again at about 60mph, and in 4wd reverse it doesn't roll well while idling.  I figured that I would replace all of the U-Joints.

Any opinions on what I described?

Not sure what you mean about 4wd reverse not rolling while idling.. as in it doesn't drive in 4wd-R?
As for the shaking, and I'm guessing you meant mph not mpg. The transfer case bushings often cause what you describe. (correct me if I'm wrong guys)

As for low budget mods, I don't know about your list but I'd just get an auto-locker in the back and a little beefier tires.. get you a Lot of places..
power steering, abs (kinda not really possible?) and braided brake lines sound a little random to me. And if you're really on a budget a hand winch will pull you out of most things.
as for comfier seats dodge neon seats are perfect fits and much more comfy. Otherwise just about any seat you want to work into the poor thing will work. I've heard of mercedes seats and all kinds of stuff. Hope that helps

Yeah, MPH.

Sorry, y'all, I'm working with an iPhone.

ABS aren't possible eh? Disks are, though, it seems. Is that a mod that is mostly for rigs with big tires?

I'll hit up a junkyard to see about Neon seats.

When in 4hi, in reverse, it will not move unless I give it gas. It has no idle pulling power it seems, feels like its getting bound/wound up or something... Forward works great, reverse in 2wd works great too.

I need a modest, reliable, daily driver. The braided lines because the old lins are 24yrs old, seems like it would just be a lower maintenance replacement to the stock version.  Power steering, perhaps I'm mistaken in the idea that it would keep the steering tighter with less bump steer.

I figured a harbor freight winch would be cheap and work well enough. Hand winch might be cheaper though...

Bushings are as good a guess as mine, or better, since I thought it may be u-joints.

Thank you!

All samurais have front disc brakes! And there is really no reason to upgrade the brakes unless you go with 33" or larger.

Powersteering is nice, but has nothing to do with bump steer at all.

Stainless brake lines should be replaced as often as regular rubber ones. You do however get a bit better pedal feel if you are lifted and run very long lines.

I had no idea about the front disks, neat...that's fine with me. I plan to keep stock wheels/tires because I'd rather high MPG than ground clearance.

Do you have suggestions for bump steer fixes?

I didn't realize that about the stainless lines either, thought they'd last a lifetime (guess sometimes they do).

Obviously I'd not very experienced, but learning...and need to get another Chilton manual...



Does anyone have experience with the Petroworks Bushing replacement kits? They replace all of the rubber bushings, don't they?

Manimal . Can you post some pictures of your Zuke?
 It will be much easier to advise you if we can se what we are dealing with....Boxcar...

alright I dunno about the other guys but a little rule or advice from me: Don't fix it if it's not broken. If your brake lines break then you can replace them with whatever you want.

I don't think you're a dealing with traditional bumpsteer, if you open your hood (or just look the grill) you can see the little steering box, to the right of the radiator while facing the car. On top of that there are a few pieces including a nut with a philips head. Take this with a grain of salt, or advice from one of the more experienced guys but I'd bet you'd fix your problems by adjusting that correctly.
Which for me meant unscrewing the nut then tightening the screw until snug then un-tightening like 3/4 of a turn.

As for the brakes, I like the idea of all wheel discs too even stock, I think it just looks better.
But if you don't and you're actually doing it for practicality you really don't need it, just change all the pads and possibly the rotors.

I'm assuming you mean Anti-Lock Braking System by ABS. In which case I'd probly just forget about that, my 96 subaru had the original anti-lock and it sucked. Not to mention adding one would be Difficult and Not budget.
You'd have to find a way to ad the little extra discs that get attacked. Not to mention the computer that knows when to attack them so you don't just randomly stop everywhere you go.

I'll try backing up in 4hi in a little bit, but I don't really think you should be concerned.. maybe reverse doesn't go through the front output and it binds the axles a tad. No idea, ask the other guys if you must but I wouldn't be worried.

I think you're talking about the petroworks transfer bushing set, I'm putting my money on that. your u joints could probly using greasing or replacing but I would guess they'd have more consistent problems.

A harbor freight winch that would actually do any better then a hand winch for a Stock samurai would be somewhere around 250-400$ a hand winch being under a hundred. Not to mention you'll probly never get stuck enough to use it, but a hand winch will do what you need in an emergency.

Oh and I think you'll find most of us don't have a/c, it was a rare option and More rarely still Works. But a heater might be possible and definitely a radio.

Hope that helps a little??
Guys lemme know if I screwed up or gave mis info, kinda new at the whole advice thing.. thought I'd try it..

Vuzuki, awesome reply...thank you very much!

Boxcar, I'll try to get some pics in the morning. I should have it all properly papered tomorrow too.


Thank you, everyone, for your contributions...I'm a newbie to the Samurai world, really...collectively, I've owned two for less than a year & own one now, so I have a lot to learn and would really love to learn all that I can.

Driving Floyd around is almost as fun as being a Beekeeper, really brightens my day and gets a lot of smiles and thumbs up from people to boot.  I fully intend on keepin him until it's not possible to do so anymore for whatever reason.

As far as your vibrations at speed go I would start with the tires,balance first then if that's not it check for tires being out of round or flat  spotted.   From there I would check to make sure my drive shafts were installed correctly and then check the u joints for play.    Good luck.  c

Tire balance could very well be it, they are mix-match tires.  I'd actually like to get a new set of stock sized tires, may go ahead and do that.

The U-Joint from the t-case to the intermediate drive has the rubber/plastic gasket worn off...so I think it's exposed to the elements.  I can replace them no problem, $20 each give or take a dollar or two for a comfy ride and clear mind is worth the $ I think.

I drove him home 2000mi from California to Louisiana, and he did well...just a little bleeding from the oil filter, which I think must still have the old rubber gasket on it or something, to be causing the leak.



When I turn my steering wheel I get this weird kinda-muffled sound, and I think it's the rubber steering dampener?