Hi all,

    First samurai , or any other 4x4 project. Just looking for some input. I just picked up 2 samurais ...1= 88, 1=  90. Neither has a working motor. The " package "did include a 1.6 16v taken apart accept for the pistons/crank, which i am taking to the local machine shop this weekend. the 88 has a stock 1.3 (locked up, it was in a flood) Body is very nice on 88 .... 90 has potential . My questions..... I know where I can get a set of toyota axles with rro yj conversion  hi steer and a set of beadlock wheels for $1400, or should I look for a set of cj5 axles? My plan is to build the 88 to be my dd , along with some moderate offroad. Then, as time and $ permit, turn the 90 into my trail rig. With that in mind I was planning to put the 1.6 in my driver, probably 32/33 " tires, was considering 4.9:1 or 6.5:1 transfer case....... You guys can fire away any suggestions ......

Send a message to mbruce, he has been doing a Toyota YJ conversion recently and has some fun stories to tell.  

what about gearing ? Also, I have been kicking around the idea of herculiner or similar on the outside........ any input ?

Ok ...... so I start tearing into this motor that I was told is out of 97 tracker ...... but it's a 1.6 8v , it is my understanding that 97 tracker only had dohc 16v Has 2CNBJ1863U6918016 stamped on block , any1 know how to find out what year , model this came from ?  Also , I got in a hurry and and managed to mix up the connecting rods and caps  , am I gonna have to replace connecting rods now  ?

If it is an 8v it should be from a 89-94 unless someone did an engine swap.  Are you sure you entered the VIN number correctly, this is what I get when I run it through a decoder:


Description     Position      Raw Data  Decoded Data
Region:          1               2              North America
Country:         1-2             2C            Canada
Manufacturer:  2-3             CN            Geo
Model Specific: 4-8             BJ186        Unknown
Check Digit:     9                3              Invalid
Year:              10              U              Unknown
Assembly Plant: 11             6               6
Serial Number:   12-17       918016       918016