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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Build Diaries, How-To, DIY => Topic started by: etcatmeat on November 14, 2012, 03:23:09 PM

Title: Samurai (aka Snowball) build in 90 days
Post by: etcatmeat on November 14, 2012, 03:23:09 PM
Hello all, new here and just built up a Samurai in the last 3 months.  Thought I would share my story and pics.  I bought a 1986 Samurai 3 months ago that needed lots of TLC.  Body was beat up, needed maintenance and clean up (at first glance).  It had a cage, bumpers, shock hoops, and rear locker so I figured it would be a good start for me to build in to a little off roader.  I planned to clean it up, paint it, install a front locker and run it.  Little did I know that would not be so simple!

Here's how I got it
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/5L35Ee5Kb3M43pb3Hec8217d7be9fd40b17f4.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/5Ia5Ed5U43G73I33N2c826eec7f3e80cd1892.jpg)

First thing I did was remove the home built rear top thing and clean all the junk and debris out.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1387_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1386_1024x768.jpg)

Next step was to modify upgrade and install.
Install new seats, install front locker, make brackets, modify bumpers/cage, bedliner interior, install half doors, new tires, sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,sand,paint/powdercoat yada yada yada

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1473_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1485_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1562_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1501_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1519_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1507_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1530_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1543_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1546_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1549_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1540_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1576_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1584_1024x768.jpg)

I took it out on it's maiden voyage and it did OK for about a day.  Realized that it needed to be geared lower right away.  After the first day on the trail, it started to go downhill.  Motor started smoking like a mofo and got to the point where you could barely drive it.  Luckily I trailered it so I loaded it up and took it home.  I decided that I didn't want to mess with fixing the 1.3 and would look for a 1.6 8v and do a quick swap.  This is where things started to snowball a bit.

If I'm swapping motors, why not just do a 16v w/EFI?  OK
Why not rebuild the transfer case to 6.5:1? OK
Why not do power steering? OK
Why not do High Steer? OK
Why not do a header? OK
Why not do a new clutch? OK
Why not do a complete new exhaust? OK
Why not do new custom front springs? OK

So all that happneed.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1629_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1639_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1651_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1655_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1680_1024x768-1.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1709_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1738_1024x768.jpg)


Done.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1772_1024x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1752_1024x768-1.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/Samurai/IMG_1804_573x768.jpg)
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd488/etcatmeat/IMG_1774_576x768.jpg)
Title: Re: Samurai (aka Snowball) build in 90 days
Post by: Drone637 on November 21, 2012, 01:18:10 PM
Fast build.  :)

What size is the trailer your using to haul it?