Hi guys.  After shopping around for about a year, I have finally purchased my first Samurai.  Unfortunately, the one I found is a 2WD but since the body is very solid, I bought it anyway.  Can someone give me some details as to what I need to convert to 4WD?  My plan is to do a frame-off restoration and install a 1.6 16V.  I have access to a '89 Sidekick.  I'm not sure if it has the 1.3 or 1.6 engine.  At any rate it's not a 16V so I'm not inclined to use it.  In my younger days, I did a lot of hot-rodding so feel pretty comfortable that I have at least the basic skills to do a decent job.

Thanks for your suggestions and advice.

Front axle, T case, drive lines, tools, patients, time, band aids, and a love of the addiction.....Boxcar...
 PS: You might want to find a complete bucket of a Sammy to use as a donor. It will simplify things...

Boxcar, thanks for your comments.  Can I use the drive train out of a 1989 4WD Sidekick.  Or, better yet from a 16V Sidekick or Tracker?

The Tracker/Sidekicks make a nice engine donor but the entire front-end is different.  You need to find a wrecked Sammy.

Yes I know that the Sidekick has IFS.  At the risk of being banned from this website, I'm giving some thought to converting my Sami to IFS.  Finding a wrecked Samurai for the necessary parts down in this part of the country is not easy, but I'm looking.  Also, I won't be doing much if any crawling, so SAS is not all that important to me.  I'll be on the road 80 - 90% of the time and the few times I need 4WD, it'll be mud and sand.  I think IFS will work fine for me, if it's not too complicated a conversion.

I'm not going to say that it can't be done. God knows I have done more complex conversions.
 But I will say that if you want a side kick buy a side kick....
If you need the parts to convert your Zuke to 4wd Just ask....I have them all.
 Of course, I live in Astoria Oregon. A beautiful place to vacation. Bring a trailer....Boxcar...

Thanks for the offer Boxcar.  I'm sure it would be a great trip.  But, yesterday I was able to make a deal to buy the necessary parts to convert to SAS 4WD.  And, they're a lot closer to home.  I do have one question though (for now that is); will I be able to use my 2WD transmission?

Thanks again for your help.  Oh, by the way, I love your Sami!!

Only if your using a divorced transfer case.  The stock t-case will not bolt up to a 2wd 5sp transmission unless you cut down the output shaft.  The splines start at the same point, but the 2wd is about 3-4" longer.  Not sure about with the auto.

Thanks for the offer Boxcar.  I'm sure it would be a great trip.  But, yesterday I was able to make a deal to buy the necessary parts to convert to SAS 4WD.  And, they're a lot closer to home.  I do have one question though (for now that is); will I be able to use my 2WD transmission?

If you are talking about a samurai, then yes.  Samurai's don't really have "2wd" and "4wd" trannys, since the tcase is not mated directly to the tranny.

Quote from: ZukiSami on April 14, 2012, 07:42:41 AM

Thanks for the offer Boxcar.  I'm sure it would be a great trip.  But, yesterday I was able to make a deal to buy the necessary parts to convert to SAS 4WD.  And, they're a lot closer to home.  I do have one question though (for now that is); will I be able to use my 2WD transmission?

If you are talking about a samurai, then yes.  Samurai's don't really have "2wd" and "4wd" trannys, since the tcase is not mated directly to the tranny.

Oh yea, this is the SJ thread.  I was thinking this was the X90 thread.  Man, I am off my game...

Sounds like all you need now is time...Boxcar...
PS: godd wrenching...