ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: airdreams1 on April 03, 2012, 08:11:39 AM

Title: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: airdreams1 on April 03, 2012, 08:11:39 AM
Figured this needs a better title.....

A bit about me first & what I have in mind.

Ive been a bug nut since the 90's....   Ive owned 8 or 9 VW's in that time... 1 Manx,  2 bajas & the rest strreet.    2000+ VW toys or so in my colection.(last count was about 7 years ago)
 
   Ive always loved that  a highly moded VW motor can eat almost anything out there! (ferrari's mustang's, corvet's, etc.)  & even a mildly moded Baja can go almost anywhere a a jeep, toyota, sammy, broncos, blazers,  etc can go.      & yes Ive been there my self & proved it to many unbelievers.
Yah, Im a huge VW VW nut...  But am getting tired of having to rebuild the motor all the time. (I use my baja like a truck! Yes even I tow with it)

Here are a couple pics of the baja Ive been rolling. & as you can see I dont like the "norm." Nor do i fit in well with the local VW club.... they all either hate what I have done to my bug, think its wired, etc... I dont care what people think, I just do what I want & what I like.  It was bought as a wrecked rolling carcus...  As for the custom/fab work, Ive done it all my self & constantly am making changes....
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/VW/DSC02420.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/VW/DSC02418.jpg)
if you want to see more pics you can check it out |removethispart||removethispart||removethispart|@ http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=124932&hilit=66+baja (http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=124932&hilit=66+baja)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, in looking at the samurai, it looklooked like it would fit the VW baja body prety easly. wheel track width is the same as my baja.   Frame & drive line (wireing,brale lines, etc) would need to be stretched about 15 inches   & it would look cool having a Baja sitting up on a 4X4. Not something you see every day. Or ever as far a s I can tell.  + I love working on projects.


This is the Samurai I bought.  It is all stock except a webber carb.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/DSC05301.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/DSC05303.jpg)
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/DSC05302.jpg)

After getting it home it appears the motor is junk. It seems to have a blown head gasket acording to my mechanic friend (water in the oil & oil in the radiator) + burns lots of oil so it wouldnt pass emitions here in ADA County. :rolleyes:  It also has a remote silinoid on the fire wall for some reason. & after being ran it wont start again for about an hr or so,  till it cools down.  
Ultimatly I want a 1.6 for it & auto trans, but was hopeing to get by with this motor for a while. Guess its going to be a longer wate to get it going :lame:  Guess I way over payed for a vehicle again."shaking:


Anyway, I want a 1.6 & auto trans....  I also plan to run 31 10.5 tires.


Any help with what all I need or best/ cheepest ways to go about the motor, wireing, & trans swap  would be greatly appriciated.      OH  & I need this thing to be reliabal & pass emitions. It will be a DD/recreational off roader & need to tow a light trailer as well.

& I bought a set of new rear OME springs & will be getting some for the front.
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: mrfuelish on April 03, 2012, 08:55:33 AM
There is a golf cart sitting on a samurai frame in Emmett that looks cool not too far from you, my brother lives near you and I would pass by it going to his ranch.
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: Jonny Rash on April 03, 2012, 09:10:24 AM
Nothing wrong with VWs.  I own two in addtion to all of my Suzuki stuff.  One is a 1956 Beetle that I brought back from Germany and the second is a 1981 Rabbit Conv my dad bought new.

As far as the lowest cost conversion-find a Sidekick/Tracker at a pull it yard and take everything off it or buy a rolled/wrecked one.
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: zuksbiggestfan on April 04, 2012, 01:33:32 PM
as clean as the sam's body looks you should be able to get a pretty penny for it! mine was half wrotted away when i got it, and everytime i found a "new" tub it was just as bad. so endless hours of sheet metal work later, its back to normal....ish. i like your idea though! should be a fun build. 8)
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: airdreams1 on April 04, 2012, 10:13:54 PM
dam thing left me stranded the other day.  >:(
the starter was basicly toast. (& no it wasnt just the simple clicky fix)  I had to remove it, tare it down  & clean out all the grease,oil & dirt.  then needed to recut the com & clean the brushes.     Now it seems to start fine.



Going to try to get a "94" 16V  1.6 tomarrow.   But need to know what all I need to get from the doner rig...

here is what all I think I need:
~Motor, alternator, wire harnice & brain box......

Do I need the exhaust, starter  what else????????????
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: Jonny Rash on April 05, 2012, 06:47:45 AM
If the starter goes out, you can always push start it.  8)   Done that a time or too when a battery went dead or the starter went out.
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: Boxcar on April 05, 2012, 07:27:57 AM
Did a VW convertable to Scout 800 swap 30 years ago. Yes it's been done allot.  The 800 is a closer fit.
 My daughter runs a 69 dub. Thought about doing the Vamy thing myself. I like the looks of the Zuke , so I shelved the idea.
You have a lot of work ahead of you. As I remember (it's been 30 years) you will have to loose about half the pan (tranny hump)
 build a fire wall (we used a steel wheelbarrow) and run the radiator out back.
The automatic will need to come from a tracker or kick so your gonna need another downer. Run the entire drive system from the Trackick. IE: engine, trans, and T case. As well as all the computers from the Kick.
Good luck....Boxcar...

Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: Jonny Rash on April 05, 2012, 08:06:24 AM
Yes, I've seen several Suzuki Beetles on the web.  Here's one of the better ones.

http://www.hybridaction.com/bugzuki/index.htm (http://www.hybridaction.com/bugzuki/index.htm)
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: airdreams1 on April 05, 2012, 08:47:37 AM
cool litle rig....  But still not a baja. ;D
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: Jonny Rash on April 05, 2012, 09:22:24 AM
Just remove the fenders.  ;)
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: kreator on April 05, 2012, 12:51:04 PM
I'll get some pics of one in my shop and post them  8)
Title: Re: New to Zuki's
Post by: airdreams1 on April 11, 2012, 12:42:14 PM
picked up a 1.6 16 valve motor, starter, powersteering pump, alternator, air box, dizzy, computer & most of the parts needed for the swap.  still need to go back & get the harnice, power steering box.  find an exaust (they wouldnt sell me any of the exhaust!) & none of the local yards will sell the cat.  (they clame it may have a hole & would need to be preasure tested.  ::)) I think thats a load of B.S. they just want to scrap them for the $)

Jut need to sell off some more of my crap so I can buy more parts for this thing.
Title: Re: (name change.) Volksuki project
Post by: airdreams1 on April 13, 2012, 09:17:37 PM
got my wire harnice today  and the starter + alternator I forfot |removethispart|@ the counter.  ::) also realized I didnt get the tube that connects the airbox to the intake, so I got that.     but the speedo was sold >:(,  so Im on the hunt for one.
Title: Re: (name change.) Volksuki project
Post by: airdreams1 on May 01, 2012, 11:34:00 PM
Got the title in my name.  Friday the inspector comes out to document the build & take pics of both rigs....  So hopefully Ill be getting to start workig on it soon. ;D
Title: Re: (name change.) Volksuki project
Post by: Drone637 on May 02, 2012, 10:07:09 AM
Congrats!  Soon, no more garage space!  :)
Title: Re: (name change.) Volksuki project
Post by: airdreams1 on May 20, 2012, 03:39:50 PM
I have the Baja Body all striped & ready to remove (just the steeting is hooked up so i can move it around)
so now ill have to rangle up some help removing it at some point.

Still tinkering with the samurai & trying to gather some more parts before I get it tore down.
got 1 front wheel repacked & the studs replaced need to do the other side still (got to wate till I can get the studs befor I tare it apart). & going to get the suspention all done before I remove the body.
Oh, & I bought a set of wheels for my 31x10.5's
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: bugzuki on May 21, 2012, 09:19:12 AM
Cool project. I registered to the site so I could subscribe to the thread. Let me know if you have any questions.
I would be glad to help where I can.
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: airdreams1 on May 22, 2012, 02:10:20 PM
Im sure Ill have some more questions.

& When i get it all finished you can check it out in person if you want.   I still come back to the seattle aria  about  once a year. (i grew up there.) My best friend lives in Puyalup & I have relatives all over up there as well.
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: airdreams1 on June 30, 2012, 01:12:26 AM
Haven't made any actual progress, but:
Got the 31x10.5 on the new wheels.
 Picked up a full sidekick power steering set-up,  rear seat.
 Got a set of YJ springs.

probably forgetting some stuff.

Just need to start selling off all my other toys so I can aford to get the trailtough YJ suspension kit, 4 speed auto trans  & other parts needed,  so I can actualy start working on this thing. ::)
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: airdreams1 on July 20, 2012, 04:51:29 PM
made a bit of progress....

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/Volksuki%20Bugurai/DSC05464.jpg)
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: airdreams1 on November 01, 2012, 01:57:22 PM
Finaly got  some YJ brackets made so I could get started on this thing. Used a template I found on line.  But after making them all & then test fitting 1, I kindof wish I would have done them differantly (oh well they will work for now).  

If anyone want a set I could get a set made for around $50  (might be a bit less)  they are cut on a C&C plaz table.

(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t209/ysrriders/Volksuki%20Bugurai/DSC05540.jpg)

Still need to figure out what to do for shackles.  any sugestions?
Title: Re: Volksuki Bugurai project
Post by: Jonny Rash on November 02, 2012, 09:31:22 AM
Jeep Cherokee rear shackles?