Hi,

I just picked up a 88 samurai and I am on a extremely tight budget.
I have a set or 33x12.5-15 tsl radials that I plan to use on the samurai.

What do I have to do to fit these tires in the cheapest way? (suspesion, steering, driveshafts, etc)



Thanks,
-Matt

cut the fenders or body lift

To do it properly, do a Spring Over lift.  That should give you 5-6" of lift.  Sky makes a great base Spring over kit that has everything you need.

Trim your fenders or just remove the front ones.  I'm a fan if trimming myself.

Put a 6.5 or 8:1 transfer case gears in.

Put a High Steer kit in from Sky Manufacturing.  You don't have to go with the complete high steer kit, I just use the one arm without any issues.  You can also modify a set of Mercadies steering arms to make your own highsteer kit.

Long term, invest in a rear traction bar and some new front chromoly front axles from Trail Tough (on sale now).

Yeah, Spring-Over Axle kit and trim will be the cheapest way to go.

If all you want are 33"s, and cheap, it's simple.  Follow the lead by examining a Kaiser M17 truck (basically a Jeep J-series truck).

Take sawzall, cut out offending metal, install tires.  This would yeild the most stable, lowest COG 33"-shod Sammy you can build.  No lifted Sammy on 33"s will match the stabiliity.

Wheel spacers or backspaced rims may be in order as well.

What are your fabrication skills? Do you have access to tools, can you weld?
If so you can make a spring over kit for very very little money.
Spring perches, brake lines, and possibly some Drive line spacers will just about do it.

Amilla

a spring over with an additional 1.5"-2" of lift will clear 33's no problem. Just use slight lift springs or lift shackles. Or do a YJ spring conversion with a spring over. That way they fit and you get more travel.

YJs are where its at!

Amilla

YJs are where its at!

Amilla

Your just saying that because they work and you have them. 

Quote from: Amilla on November 17, 2008, 11:38:04 PM

YJs are where its at!

Amilla

Your just saying that because they work and you have them. 

Somewhat true...
Its a night and day difference on and off road with YJs compared to Stock zuk leafs.

You could always go with a 3/4 elliptical or buggy set up (what ever its called)  I have seen some mass amounts of suspension travel from it.  Its also pretty cheap to do, you just need some extra springs laying around.

Amilla

mine is sprung over with rears up front and ml's in the back and i have lots of room fro my 32's.
i also have wheel spacers and diferent wheels. mines a 85 with the narower axles though.

What are your fabrication skills? Do you have access to tools, can you weld?
If so you can make a spring over kit for very very little money.
Spring perches, brake lines, and possibly some Drive line spacers will just about do it.

Amilla

I can weld, dont have a welder but I have access to many.

Thanks everybody for your input. 
 I just ordered perches, driveline spacers, longer brake lines, and a steering arm with a draglink. 
I was planning on buying or getting some measurments and making a yj spring swap kit but I dont not have the extra money(or time )
eventually I want to go that route(yj springs).


along with the soa, Im going to make some shackles or get some lift springs so hopefully it will be enough lift for my 33's, if not, I will trim till it does