Suzuki Samurai?

[charlz]

The best modification I ever did to my Samurai was adding the Weber carb and a Strictly Suzuki intake - it probably added 10 hp or so (and when you're going from 60 hp to 70 hp, that's a big jump!).

I had an '88 that I put the Mikuni carb kit on, made it sooooo much more drivable. Unfortunately I lived in CA at the time so couldn't make any other changes due to CARB. I switched the Mikuni on and off for smog tests so I would pass the visual inspection.

After being parked for almost 4 years I sold mine in '98 or so with 88,000 miles on it and the original brakes. Thing had the aerodynamics of a brick, just push in the clutch and it would slow way down Everytime I drove it from SoCal to Montana I was swearing I was selling it when I got back great for going to the beach though, you could park most anywhere.

Now that I have an RV I am thinking of getting another one as it would make the perfect toad for when we go camping in the mountains.

 

[RoyJackson]

Depends on if you know the history of what tractors are, and what people have used as agricultural vehicles.

...

Now things got interesting. If tractors can be vehicles, then why can't other vehicles be used as tractors? Easy to put a hitch on Stanley steamer or Model A and drag stuff around. And just jack up the rear end, put a pulley the wheel and use it as a PTO to run your sawmill, shaker bed, thresher, what have you. The old jeeps from WWII made great little agricultural/forestry tractors, and the Suzuki Samurai merely continues that use.

The post WW II Land Rovers had PTO's and were used for farming. Far cry from the yuppified Land Rovers of today.

 

[alchemysa]

Heres mine. I can't remember the year. I think its about '89. I've had it about 10 years. It lives by the sea so rust is starting to take its toll on the body but thats no big deal.

Something like this will cost about $500 to $1500 over here in Australia. A tricked up one might cost a lot more. Theres a ton of aftermarket stuff available. Mine is stock except for 15" F100 wheels (requiring the front bumper to be moved 2" forward.). Its virtually unstoppable on sand. (Unless you are trying to tow a big boat!. I have a $200 Spartan diff locker to fit when I get a chance that should solve that).

Stock standard they are rugged, reliable and simple. Very easy and cheap to get parts. The only thing I have ever replaced is a seized alternator. (Sealed beam headlights blew ages ago but I haven't replaced them). A jamming 4wd selector is a common problem. Its easily and cheaply fixed by replacing the rubber at the bottom of the stick. The gear stick might have a similar issue, but I can't remember. Big tyres make 'em a nightmare on the road at anything above 20mph.

Maintenance on this is almost non existent. About all I do is I spray lots of WD40 under the hood, and disconnent and reconnect the various electrical connectors around the engine and firewall. A dirty connector near the distributor is the only thing that ever stopped me.

 

[ultrarunner]

The post WW II Land Rovers had PTO's and were used for farming. Far cry from the yuppified Land Rovers of today.

I think Crosley offered a Farm Vehicle with a PTO and attachments to go with it post War.

http://microcarmuseum.com/tour/crosley-farmoroad.html

 

[RobertN]

So do the new Jeep, although they do not make 3pt hitches for them in a long time.

The Samurai just does something, that real Jeeps have done since the original Bantams and Willy's.

My buddy had a well set up SJ410. Didn't do anything my CJ5 couldn't do better. So I would just get a Jeep. Course, I was born in a '42 Ford GPW(war time production contract Ford version of Willy's), so...

Actually, If I could not have a Jeep, I would get an early Bronco. If I had to go foreign, then a 70's LandCruiser. The LandCruiser was actually prototyped for the US Military, as an all weather replacement to the flatfender Willy's; part of rebuilding Japan's economy. At the time though, there was no way the US Military could buy them, not with memory of WWII so engrained. So US kept on with M38A1(CJ5).

The old jeeps from WWII made great little agricultural/forestry tractors, and the Suzuki Samurai merely continues that use.

 

[ovrszd]

Heres mine. I can't remember the year. I think its about '89. I've had it about 10 years. It lives by the sea so rust is starting to take its toll on the body but thats no big deal.

Something like this will cost about $500 to $1500 over here in Australia. A tricked up one might cost a lot more. Theres a ton of aftermarket stuff available. Mine is stock except for 15" F100 wheels (requiring the front bumper to be moved 2" forward.). Its virtually unstoppable on sand. (Unless you are trying to tow a big boat!. I have a $200 Spartan diff locker to fit when I get a chance that should solve that).

Stock standard they are rugged, reliable and simple. Very easy and cheap to get parts. The only thing I have ever replaced is a seized alternator. (Sealed beam headlights blew ages ago but I haven't replaced them). A jamming 4wd selector is a common problem. Its easily and cheaply fixed by replacing the rubber at the bottom of the stick. The gear stick might have a similar issue, but I can't remember. Big tyres make 'em a nightmare on the road at anything above 20mph.

Maintenance on this is almost non existent. About all I do is I spray lots of WD40 under the hood, and disconnent and reconnect the various electrical connectors around the engine and firewall. A dirty connector near the distributor is the only thing that ever stopped me.

Ta heck with your Sami,,,, I just want your 4 way loader bucket!!! :thumbsup:

Actually the Sami is tough as a boot and a great work/play partner.

 

[dfkrug]

I found it on another board.

Nice unit!

I at last found a used Weber for my 88 Sami, so I can continue to make
my version of a Sami UTV. The original carb that comes in the late
80's Suzuki is the pinnacle of electronic carbs....and extremely expensive
to fix.

 

[RobertN]

Not sure it would help, but Ford Pinto's used a Weber type carb. Might be a source for parts or adapters or...

I at last found a used Weber for my 88 Sami, so I can continue to make my version of a Sami UTV. The original carb that comes in the late
80's Suzuki is the pinnacle of electronic carbs....and extremely expensive
to fix.

 

[alchemysa]

Ta heck with your Sami,,,, I just want your 4 way loader bucket!!! :thumbsup:

Ha, No way! That loader is worth about 5 times as much as the Suzuki. And incidentally they are called Sierras over here not Samurais. I don't know why. Theres no competitor vehicle called a Samurai over here. Perhaps there's another vehicle called a Sierra in the US?

 

[ultrarunner]

Ha, No way! That loader is worth about 5 times as much as the Suzuki. And incidentally they are called Sierras over here not Samurais. I don't know why. Theres no competitor vehicle called a Samurai over here. Perhaps there's another vehicle called a Sierra in the US?

Yes... GM/GMC has a line of trucks called Sierra.