Hey everyone,

I don't have a Samurai yet but I'm hoping to get one soon. I used to have a 2006 wrangler X with a 2.5" RC lift springs kit and 33x12.5x15 Toyo Open Country M/Ts. I'm missing it something fierce right now that summers about to be here. I had to sell it because it had 3.07 gears and I couldn't afford a gear swap/gas to visit my parents while away at college. I read a while ago about people swapping in turbo diesel engines that got much better MPG and just decided to look into it again. I saw a kit for a 1.9L VW TDI engine but it was $16,000! The Mercedes OM617 and Cummins b3.3t swaps are also around $8 and I definitely don't have the money for something like that. I did some more research and I found that a lot of Samurai owners swap the 1.9l as well and for a lot cheaper. After looking around a bit and checking out some forums/youtube videos I'm beginning to think a Samurai is a better option for me. I live right by the sand dunes in Pismo, CA and there are plenty of places to go wheeling around here that I never really got to take my Jeep on and if I could have a 4x4 capable rig but still be able to drive 4+ hours back home without breaking the bank than a Samurai is really my ideal vehicle.



Anyway,
On with the thread!

If you had $10,000 but had to spend some money to buy a samurai and do the vw 1.9l tdi swap, what would you spend the remaining money on?

What remaining money? You might be able to get some shiny eBay valve stem caps. Trust me this is not a cheap swap.

just go to a wrecking yard and pull a 16v samurai motor, wiring harness, and computer and then use the remaining cash on toyota axles, 35" tires, tcase gears, roof rack mount,rear swing away bumper, front winch bumper and winch.  from what ive been told by local guys here in utah its MUCH cheaper to do the 16v sidekick motor swap rather than the vw diesel motor swap.

Yep, just like Airman Williams said.  92-98 Sidekick/Tracker 1.6 16-valve motor specifically.  If you stay with 32" tires (plenty for the Samurai 80" wheelbase), you can retain the stock axles.  It will be a lot of work to build it up though as most Samurais are 20+ years old now.

just go to a wrecking yard and pull a 16v samurai motor, wiring harness, and computer and then use the remaining cash on toyota axles, 35" tires, tcase gears, roof rack mount,rear swing away bumper, front winch bumper and winch.  from what ive been told by local guys here in utah its MUCH cheaper to do the 16v sidekick motor swap rather than the vw diesel motor swap.

I can agrre both with J-Luck & A.M.W..... But I think for 10 grand I could buy a Samurai already built to my liking. From there it would just be a matter of turning the key and pointing it in the direction of the nearest trail......

Also; if you got a nice well built Sammy for 6k that leaves alot of coin for fuel. If you just have an affinity for diesels by all means go for it man. But don't be disappointed if you spend 7 k on a conversion and only end up getting 3-6 mpg better than a gasser. Been there.

I'd buy my Turbo Tracker for 7k, then spend the rest on a Trail Tough TrailSlayer Toyota axle conversion.

Personally as much as I love Sammi's and Trackicks, I would build a very capable Toyota truggy  with the works and pocket some cash. Thay already have the drivetrain you would swap to and with dual cases or a Marlin, lockers and four link rear those trucks are unbelievable. Not to mention they are still quite small.

Personally as much as I love Sammi's and Trackicks, I would build a very capable Toyota truggy  with the works and pocket some cash. Thay already have the drivetrain you would swap to and with dual cases or a Marlin, lockers and four link rear those trucks are unbelievable. Not to mention they are still quite small.

Sacrilegious I tell ya' that's as bad as jeep pics.!


This is meant as pointed humor, before anybody gets there panties in a bunch.

for $10k you could easily buy a Sami already built and be done. I saw two softtops on Craigslist a couple months back that had about everything a person could do to them already done for about $10k. Not sure if they sold or what but can't find them listed any more.
While $10k seems high for a Sami, the ones that are close to stock and in good condition are selling for $3-$5k here in SoCal. You add lift, lockers, cage, axles, gears, engine swap, ect... and you are getting close to being better off buying one for $10k already built. Key is finding one built and in good shape and not already torn up.

I would add up what mods you think you want to do and then see if you can find one built or if it is cheaper to build it yourself.
Keep in mind that alot of projects tend to go over budget and take longer than expected.

If you are putting CA plates on it, then don't forget about the smog requirements.

oh, almost forgot to mention....
**** for sale **** 1987 Samurai tintop alot of mods and in good shape - $10k  

Check out this bad boy 

http://slo.craigslist.org/cto/2381776539.html

His album is called "Project Teal Turd" haha.

I've been scouring craigslist for the past couple days and if I'm willing to do some driving I can probably nab a sammy for under $2000. I made a little budget list at home (I'm at the BioResource and Ag Engineering Department computer lab at California Polytechnic SLO right now or else I'd just post it) and everything added up (+20% for unexpected costs) ended up being $9,874. It consisted of a 6" SOA kit from Rocky-Road, a 1.9L TDI, new 33's and steelies, a guesstimated $2000 in labor, some fender flares, and a few other things I can't think of off the top of my head.

I'm not opposed to buying a pre-built Sammy, as long as I have money left over for the engine swap.  I've been reading around and a 1.6 TD seems favorable over the 1.9L TDI because of the price difference and simplicity of the swap. A 1.9l TDI would probably also require some upgraded components to handle the extra torque, right? What gears would be needed to be able to still do around 70-75 on the highway with a 1.6? I'm originally from Stockton, CA and it's a 4 hour drive from SLO and back. I can deal with an uncomfortable ride as long as I can manage at least 70 mph.


P.S. Another compelling reason I should get a Samurai:


My 7 month old German Shepherd puppy, Sammy.

Sounds like it's all figured out. Put the build in build diary's. Good luck and I don't think you will have to worry about "all that extra torque". To a failure Level.

If I had 10K to spend, I'd take my stock '87 Sammy, drop a 1L 3 cyl turbo zuk motor into it, lose the rear axle for a tube job, and make it dedicated FWD, lower it, put some 14"rims on it, and turn it into a decent daily driver, and probably still have 4 or 5 grand left over.

Nah.  Dumb idea.

Sounds like it's all figured out. Put the build in build diary's. Good luck and I don't think you will have to worry about "all that extra torque". To a failure Level.

I agree.
BUILD IT

I started with about $6k into mine (including the cost of the Sami) awhile back and then quit keeping track because I was done with it.
Did a quick list of parts now and quit adding when I got over $15k in parts alone.
Not including the cost of the Sami and no labor, tax, shipping, ect fluffed into it....

pretty crazy thinking about all that money gone and impossible to recover...oh well, it's all good unless my wife finds out.
  

Quote from: Foot on May 17, 2011, 02:28:22 PM

Personally as much as I love Sammi's and Trackicks, I would build a very capable Toyota truggy  with the works and pocket some cash. Thay already have the drivetrain you would swap to and with dual cases or a Marlin, lockers and four link rear those trucks are unbelievable. Not to mention they are still quite small.

Sacrilegious I tell ya' that's as bad as jeep pics.!


This is meant as pointed humor, before anybody gets there panties in a bunch.

Sacreligious?, it's Japan, Toyota's cousin started Suzuki when he got fired from Toyota for comin in late all the time He He). I guess I'm just speaking from a bad economy point of view, you never know when things could get worse. And I didn't think you could say jeep on here