Hi All...a newbie here. Great site with lots o' good info. I need to wade through more of it in the coming days.

But as a bit of a jump start to what I will learn later with more reading, I'm interested in getting a Samurai/Sidekick/Tracker as a project vehicle. 

Now I know this will seem like a motherhood question, kinda like what is the best food or how high is high, but I'd like opinions on what years were the best for 1. reliability and 2. easiest or most versitile to modify for solid off road exploration.

Are there years with problematic mechanical issues or years that something critical was introduced that solved prior problems? Are there prefered years for project vehicles?

The project will include little in power mods but will focus on go and not show ie winches at both ends, cargo racks everywhere, stronger suspension, lower gearing for taller tires...

The vehicle will be used as a support and scouting truck for our safari touring company here in Canada. With gas prices where they are, 4 or 6 cylinders are a lot less thirsty than the 10 we run in our Excursion!  www.geoqwestexcursions.com

Of course the build could use some sponsorship support...but that's a different story. I need to get the right era of truck to work on first!

Cheers...GeoQwest

Wellllll........

My 2 cents...  go ahead and find a later model with the 16 valve 1.6, but before 98, cause more parts are available aftermarket..  just my opinion, but I am looking for a clean 97...


One thing I noticed in your description was

"winches at both ends, racks everywhere"

Be careful.. one of the things that make these buggys go so well is their light weight.. start loading them up with thousands of pounds of stuff, and you will find yourself breaking parts.. cv's... axles.... etc...   just something to keep in mind...

2 winches, 2 winch mounts, 2 heavy bumpers and "racks everywhere"  along with large tires and wheels... suddenly you weigh as much as a Wrangler...  with a lot less power...


A well outfitted, 95-97 with the more powerful 16v 1.6l  would make a nice starter truck... and go from there..   More aftermarket support, and a pretty strong engine stock. 

The Sidekick/Tracker will give you more room that a Samurai and will give you a better ride at highway speeds and more comfort. If you are going to add weight, go with the Calmini 3" suspension lift. It is designed for heavily moded vehicles and their additional (for example: mine is highly moded with winches skids, roll bars etc.... and the suspension system works great on mine).

The huge advantage you would have with a Samurai would be the availibity of aftermarket parts for the vehicle. There is almist an endless selection of products for the Samurai.

You will find out that all of them will be dependable great vehicles. The ONLY typical problem I have had through each of my Suzukis (97 Tracher, 89 Sidekick, 98 X-90) Is that each one of them need the same two bearings in the manual transmissions replaved after 150,000 miles  Besides that, just routine maitnance and fixing stuff I break while beating my 89 off road.

Zig

In My Opinion:  1995 Sidekick or Tracker.  Be sure it has a 16 Valve engine.

That's the last year of OBD-I computer, and no air-bags - easier to do a body-lift on.

But then, I'm biased.  I still own my second and third 1995 Sidekicks (my wife traded her 95 Kick on a 99 Grand Vit).

Like bob said, i'd stick with the 95 year kick with the obd-1 computer and no air bags. Thats what i have and love it. However that was also the final year for the weaker 22 spline axles in the front end. In 96 and newer kicks the shafts are 26 spline. I upgraded my 95 to the 96 and newer shafts and it was a very noticeable size difference in the axles.

Like bob said, i'd stick with the 95 year kick with the obd-1 computer and no air bags. Thats what i have and love it. However that was also the final year for the weaker 22 spline axles in the front end. In 96 and newer kicks the shafts are 26 spline. I upgraded my 95 to the 96 and newer shafts and it was a very noticeable size difference in the axles.

Oh yeah - good point.  Of course, I've upgraded to 26 spline inners in front, and Toyota 4Runner outers/CV axles, and Calmini extra-strong rears.

85 samurai if you want a trail rig, stronger axles ( i was told), and sammys are sweet 

its good to see somebody else from bc on the board! i would have to agree on the 95 4 door - obd 1 and no air bags to go off in your face.

derek

Hello,

I had a 87 sammy,95 Tracker now I have a 90 tracker.

The sammy was underpowered,but would go anywhere(all stock)
The 95 tracker was brand new when I got it 0 miles...It was sweet lots more power,rode better,top was better,cup holders...would run very good...I wish I still had it :'(
The 90 was "cheap" its kinda in the middle.Same color as the sammy,more power than the sammy,I've had it twice now...bought it for $700...fixed it up..sold it $1500.Bought it back $500 needing lots of work...Clutch,engine missing,every thing on the rear brakes.It will not run like the 95. If I could find a 95 I would get it.But I just beat mine..."Trail buggy"

Later Tom K.