Hey every body,
 I just bought an 86 samurai JX and I love it my dad had one and after going on one trail ride with all his J**p buddies they all had one by the next weekend So now I have my own and I want to start building it to be a 4wheeling machine. I don't have a lot of money and will be doing this one step at a time so I was hopping that I could get some advice on what to do and where to start. Thanks

P.S. I don't want to build it cheep eather

Wheel it stock - you will be surprised at what a stock vehicle is capable of, there is nothing wrong with doing it cheap as long as it's done right, I don't recommend it but a shackle lift is a quick way to stuff slightly taller tires under it TEMPORARLY, other than that do a search and the ideas will flow 

First thing I would get would be some rocker protection.  Other then that take a look at other vehicles on the board and see what mods have been done.  There are quite a few ways to build up to your perfect vehicle.

First thing to ask yourself though is how hardcore of a rig are you trying to build?  Are you going to sacrifice roadability in exchange for off road fury or are you trying to build a nice combo of the two?  Mud bogging, trail running, or rock crawling?

Thanks for the advice guys. I am looking to make it a combo of both highway and off road but want to build it nice enough that the guys at work stop harassing me about buying a Samurai intest of a je.......well you know that other thing

Thanks for the advice guys. I am looking to make it a combo of both highway and off road but want to build it nice enough that the guys at work stop harassing me about buying a Samurai intest of a je.......well you know that other thing

As your dad's friends demonstrated, that little problem tends to go away on its own the first time they hit a trail with you.

my dad had one and after going on one trail ride with all his J**p buddies they all had one by the next weekend

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 Thanks for watching your language....  O[IIII]O 
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Thanks for the advice guys. I am looking to make it a combo of both highway and off road but want to build it nice enough that the guys at work stop harassing me about buying a Samurai intest of a je.......well you know that other thing

I would go with either 1.5" or 2" lift springs and some 30" tires or a SPOA with 31" tires after the rocker panels.  Then a 4.8:1 transfer case and some lockers.

Or you can just throw some 29" MTR's, a pair of lockers and some body protection and conquer any trail you point it at.  It will just drag a bit over rocks, but you can get a winch to help with that. 

Personally I like the small zooks,I.E. not sprung over. Locked up,geared and 2" or so lift with 30's is perfect. The only thing you can't do with them is big rocks and deep mud. Plus everyone will think it's stock until you pass them on the trail.

Personally I like the small zooks

Um.....

Thanks for the input guys. I am excited to be appart of the Samurai family. Drone that is exactly what I wanted to hear because I have no idea where to start I haven't been wheeling since I was in high school and my Toyota was held together by bayling wire.

Well, if you keep it small and light, it's hard to go wrong.