The smoking is probably from worn valve guides/seals or worn piston oil rings.  So keep in mind, it may need rebuild soon.  Stock motors arn't bad but it depends on what you want to do with it.  With only 56 horsepower, you can't turn much, especially 38 in mud tires.  But with a small engine, it comes with good fuel mileage.  I have to say the stock axles are pretty strong, there are many improvments that you can do to make them stronger, although 38's may be pushing that limit.  Toyota axles are expensive but worth it.

Hell, I bet that Samurai will fly down the highway.  Especially now that it has legs on the highway from those 38" tires.   


Reality-this thing sounds like a total turd. 

Ummmm OK,not sure how to "follow-up" that last helpful post.38's are doable with the correct gearing,remember you can change gears in the axles AND the T-case.Maybe a Webber Carb and headers and Cam would help too.Local driving with a gear change you should be fine.Maybe you really just want to trailer it to the local mud hole,that will work too!You will also get the benefit of having a pretty TALL Samurai people will stare at!!Cool!! 

Samurai in the picture is a V6 4.3 ltr,NOT MINE!!I am working on a stock Samurai 4x4.

IMHO, pretty pointless and builds upon none of the strengths of a Samurai.

Over the years I've seen a few Samurais on 38s.  Most of them were just small town cruisers with no front driveshaft and stuck in low range.

I did see a couple more a Disney this past spring.  Pretty simple, stretched buggies that performed really well for what they were and how little money that they had tied up in them.

thanks for the replies. This sami for now will only be offroad.

I would say that 38s are a lot of tire for a Sami.  Heck, 38s are a lot of tire for just about anything.  For a normal passanger car/truck I just can't think of anything that has a tire near that large stock.

It woudl be good for mud play, but only if you can find a way to get the 4wd system working again.  To fit 38s I'm guessing the t-case had to be tilted down to get any time of drive line to work.  Just as JonnyRash said, I bet the front drive shaft is gone. 

I bet it would be in your best interest to sell the current tires and try to lower the suspension down to a point the drive line can be put back in order.  Then 4wd would be an option again and you could still run somehting like a 35" tire.

Good luck.  I would like to see a picture of what you currently have.

Rob

We have 38's on our 84 CJ7 and yes its a lot of tire (I don't know how they are turning them with a stock 1.3). It probably has a R&P swap already done and more than likely a transfer case gear as well. My Zuk has 32's and I went with a 6.5:1 case and it finally does like it should. The 38 will kill the factory axles if your too hard on the skinny pedal, just too much tire. I agree post up some pics if you can....