Purchasing a Samurai, looking at a 1987 with a carb, and a 1991 with EFI what are your thoughts? both are 1.3L,  I have never owned a Samurai, the 87 with the carb is has new starter, fuel pump, new clutch the 91 has had nothing done to the motor. besides that they are both fairly even.

I'd take EFI over a carb any day.

If the engine is your deciding factor then I agree the EFI is a great choice. But surely your not gonna leave us hangin and not tell us a lil more........

                                                                      Tux..... 

The EFI is leaking in a few areas and has a small amount of rust behind the drivers seat top of the hump, the carb one has no rust at all. I'm leaning to the carb one as the motor has also been rebuilt, it has the stock carb but runs great. I am flying out to view the two in the morning, and hoping to drive one home.

Normally I would take age into consideration,so the newer EFI equipped vehicle would be my first choice - BUT - we're talking thirteen years as against nine - so you really do need to pay more attention to condition ...

NO rust, and a rebuilt motor gets the nod.

Well after checking both out I went with the older carb model and very happy with my decision, I picked it up and drove it 12 hours home and had no problems, only thing I need to do is figure out how to get a little better power out of her, here is a picture.

........only thing I need to do is figure out how to get a little better power out of her, here is a picture.

Don't we all, lol.  I'll say it before someone else does:  Motor swap!

Quote from: alpineman on November 07, 2010, 07:13:01 PM

........only thing I need to do is figure out how to get a little better power out of her, here is a picture.

Don't we all, lol.  I'll say it before someone else does:  Motor swap!

Thats what I was thinking, Is the 1.6 the best way to go? or is it still a little small with the 31" tires.

The 1.6 is the most cost effective and easiest to swap in.

I'm going to do the 1.6 8V EFI and I run 33's.  It's all about the gearing.

The 1.6 is the most cost effective and easiest to swap in.

I'm going to do the 1.6 8V EFI and I run 33's.  It's all about the gearing.

Yep, you are correct, it is all about the gearing.  So why are you doing a motor swap and not a gear swap?  The 1.3 will pull 33s just fine....with the proper gearing.

My front and rear are locked what would you recommend for gearing with the 1.3l, also can I go from a 1.3carb to a 1.6 8V EFI or would you stick with the carb? Thanks guys I appreciate your thoughts.

My front and rear are locked what would you recommend for gearing with the 1.3l, also can I go from a 1.3carb to a 1.6 8V EFI or would you stick with the carb? Thanks guys I appreciate your thoughts.

Whether or not the axles are locked really has nothing to do with what gearing you should run.  What size tires are you running and how much highway driving do you do and at what speeds?
Alot of people upgrade up the 1.6 purely for the EFI.  If you are going to put in the 1.6, I would definitely run the EFI and not half-ass it by running the carb.

Quote from: alpineman on November 09, 2010, 05:16:06 AM

My front and rear are locked what would you recommend for gearing with the 1.3l, also can I go from a 1.3carb to a 1.6 8V EFI or would you stick with the carb? Thanks guys I appreciate your thoughts.

Whether or not the axles are locked really has nothing to do with what gearing you should run.  What size tires are you running and how much highway driving do you do and at what speeds?
Alot of people upgrade up the 1.6 purely for the EFI.  If you are going to put in the 1.6, I would definitely run the EFI and not half-ass it by running the carb.

x2 on the EFI.  Running the carb is just lazy imho.