I just bought an 87 Samurai. Needs quite a bit of work. I'm not sure where to begin. All of the power seems dim, like it's not getting full power--wipers are slow, lights are dim, dash is dim. Someone had an alarm system in it, I cut out all of the wires I could find that were part of that, and that seemed to help some. What could be pulling the power down? I want to put a radio in it and speakers, no idea what wires to use to hook up a radio. I did find the antenna wire though. The shackles on the front are way too long, it's kind of top heavy and I'd like to lower it some or put different shackles on it but don't know how to do this either. I just got a newer, nicer dash to replace the one in it that's old and yukky. I have a haynes manual to help me along. It came with 31x10.5x15's on it and the drivers side tire was rubbing on the leaf spring in a tight left turn. I got new tires, 235x70x15s and they eliminated that problem. Need to pull the radiator, it's plugged with tons of crap. The clicky starter thing--is that where you turn the key and get nothing? I can get a new starter at O'Reilly's for $89--is this an okay way to go to solve the problem, or will i still have problems with the new starter? It probably needs new shock things, too. We did get a NAPA steering stabilzer on it, that helps.  Eventually I will have to get new seats too, and I'd like to roll the bed/floor with a bedliner, but those are later on. I did have a boyfriend that was pretty good with this kind of stuff, we revamped my 90 Tracker, but we're not together now so I'm on my own with the Samurai. Any help would be great, thanks a million, sorry I'm so clueless, but just because I don't have a guy around to help doesn't mean I want to get rid of the Sami now, too!  Heather

For the clicky starter fix you just need a relay, and the problem will probably follow you with the new starter.  You can buy one on E-Bay or just make your own.  There is a good description on it at:

http://www.zukikrawlers.com/showthread.php?t=10991

And I-Zook has a writeup on installation:

http://www.izook.com/reviews/clicky_fix/clickyfix.htm

For the radiator, I would just hit your parts store and pick up an aluminum replacement.  Better cooling and it will bolt right in.

As for the shackles, they are pretty easy to do.  Just jack up the frame then swap the bolts out.  Welcome to the forums, and we will do what we can to help. 

Where are you located at?  There might be a few members in the same area.

Wow, Drone, thanks for the help! It almost sounds kinda easy! I'm located in central Illinois, near Lincoln. Heather

The clicky starter fix shouldn't take you very long at all.  Same with the shackles, quick and easy.  I say get those two issues out of the way, then start to work on the next bit.  Because there is always another thing to work on. 

Welcome to ZukiWorld!

If it is indeed an '87 Samurai you can take the radiator to a radiator shop and have it professionally cleaned for less than a new one.  The 89 and newer radiators are made with plastic tops and bottoms which make them impossible to disassemble, clean out and reassemble by a typical radiator shop.  '88 and older radiators are all metal and can be cleaned and reassembled.

I had this process done with my '88 Samurai radiator several years ago when I installed a 1.6 8-valve engine.  It works great and it only cost $70 in 2003 dollars.

The Samurai Factory Service Manual is available by doinga search for fsm at Ack's FAQ - the link is in my signature below.

I hope that this helps!

your dim light problem is probably the battery. if it still happens with a new battery you need a new alternator

Thank you, Ack! I have been to your site a couple of times for wiring diagrams. Awesome.

The dim lighting issue seems to be gone. I tore the dash out over the weekend and tried to remove every wire and every splice from the old alarm system. Put it back together last night and everything seems to work okay except 1/2 the instrument cluster (fuel gauge, bright light beam light, dummy lights) and the heater fan thingy. They both worked before, so I just gotta do some configurating and see what's not hooked up right.  I also found a the ground wire, accessory wire and antenna wire for a radio; I spliced in a live wire so now I'll I have to do is hook it up.

Pulled the radiator and cleaned it the best I could, the temp now runs around 190-200 instead of 250-280, so I guess that's progress.

Dropped the shackle lift down 4 inches, I can't believe how much better she drives and how much more stable she is! Is there a way to tell if the shocks are OK where they're at now? I honestly think that whoever lifted the Sami in the first place did not change anything else, so now that I put it down 4 inches, things work better. But I don't know for sure. I'm assuming the gearing and all that other stuff underneath is stock. Any ways to tell for sure?  One more thing, I noticed the steering wheel is almost upside down when the wheels are straight now that I lowered the body--how do I fix that?

All of you guys helping me, thanks so much! You are all awesome! Guess I can be somewhat of a mechanic with some outside help, don't need a man here haha! Next on the list: install radio and need to put some exhaust pipe from the muffler to the end. Thanks!

For fixing the steering wheel I usually just unbolt it, rotate it to the proper degree, then rotate it back.  Since it sounds like you are off 50% you can probably just undo it from the steering box, spin it around and bolt it back in place.

For the shocks, I would try and find a place you can flex things a bit or just use a jack to lift up one side of the axle at a time so you can watch the other side droop.  As long as you have some travel both directions your shocks should be fine for driving around.