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BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.

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Offline Merlin93

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Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2011, 01:56:33 PM »
31's are often 10.5'" wide and specify 7" (min) rims.  OEM rims are 5.5" and way too narrow for the tires you're considering. Tire manufacturers usually publish a (narrow) range of rim sizes for their tires. I'd stick with their numbers. I prefer 7" rims 'cause they're lighter on the highway -- less un-sprung weight.  Regrettably, 7" alloys are somewhat rare, and "nice" ones rarer still.  Note that in California you can (rarely) get cited for tires that project past the fender flares.  Also, OEM Samurai transfer case high-range ratio is 1.41:1 -- somewhat non-standard.

Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #16 on: December 05, 2011, 02:13:27 PM »
  • Pickup stock wheels, and mount 31 or 32" tires and re-gear for taller gearing.

Congrats ! Sounds like you scored a nice Sami.

If you decide to get rid of the tires and/or wheels, I may be interested.
I am running Pro Comp 31" tires and was thinking about going to the 33" tires.


Of course, I'll post them up if it comes to that.  But, they'll go on our local Craigs too. (Zuke owners get first dibs)  ;)


31's are often 10.5'" wide and specify 7" (min) rims.  OEM rims are 5.5" and way too narrow for the tires you're considering. Tire manufacturers usually publish a (narrow) range of rim sizes for their tires. I'd stick with their numbers. I prefer 7" rims 'cause they're lighter on the highway -- less un-sprung weight.  Regrettably, 7" alloys are somewhat rare, and "nice" ones rarer still.  Note that in California you can (rarely) get cited for tires that project past the fender flares.  Also, OEM Samurai transfer case high-range ratio is 1.41:1 -- somewhat non-standard.

Thanks for the info... I'm already very aware of rim and tire size recommendations. YET, my daily driver has run 35" tires on 7" wide wheels, and it's a heavy beast (Ford Excursion Diesel). I prefer the skinnier tire look and how it works over the wider stance with a wider wheel. You'd be surprised at what I've found already ... off our local Craigs.

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Offline tuxblacray

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Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2011, 03:26:13 PM »

She looks sweet!!! I think you got a great buy and I can almost see that silly grin on your face rite now..... Congrats !!!  ;D
I know the voices aren't real.... but they have some pretty kewl ideas!!! Tux.....  ;-)
I get my Sammi parts here, and you can too... http://www.mikodaindustries.com/http://stores.ebay.com/sticksnstones4x4samuraiparts

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Offline SnoFalls

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Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2011, 04:18:11 PM »
A couple of things ...

The 4.56 gears are NOT from a trac/kick (but could be legit from <company escapes me at the mo>)

The "rear hubs" makes me think perhaps it has a full float ... but never heard of that.

I think you got a good rig there ...

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Buy-it, Build-it, Beat-it, Part-it

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Offline SnoFalls

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Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2011, 04:45:56 PM »
... I'll be taking it out within a week or so (our desert is only 1.5hrs away) to try it out.
^^^ THIS FTW ^^^

Sounds looks like a very nice rig, and before you go "all crazy" changing stuff (not that you are, but some do), run it around a bit.

It does sound like perhaps it's a bit too low-geared.
Might be simple enough to try the stock thirds (3.73?) with some 31's.
Beauty would be when you do want it to crawl, swap back to the 4.56 and 33's.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Buy-it, Build-it, Beat-it, Part-it

Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2011, 05:07:42 PM »
She looks sweet!!! I think you got a great buy and I can almost see that silly grin on your face rite now..... Congrats !!!  ;D

Thank you.  And you know it...  love it already! Just wish I knew more about it. I'm impatient when it comes to learning and knowing... so, in due time I think my grin will even get bigger.  8)

A couple of things ...
The 4.56 gears are NOT from a trac/kick (but could be legit from <company escapes me at the mo>)

The "rear hubs" makes me think perhaps it has a full float ... but never heard of that.

I think you got a good rig there ...

I'm sorry if I meant the gears are FROM a tracker... I meant, that he told me the rear axle housing is from a tracker and it's running 4:56 gears.  It'd make sense if the tracker's axle width is wider then a Sammi, as he had to put a large spacer up front to bring the wheels out to match the rears (no spacer). If that's not the case, I'm ... lost again.

He added the rear hubs and I too had never known of them or anyone to add them to the rear. In fact, I can unlock either side and it's not as bad on the street. Of course, it feels like a welded gear-set. Even if I unlock one side... the inner side of a turn will bark that tire. So to say if I unlock the right rear, it won't bark around a right hand turn. But the left will, on a sharp left turn. And vice-a-versa. 

Thanks, I'll post more about it as I know more. I'll do a thread on what's in it, and all that good stuff with pictures... and as I fix little things here and there (like wiring, I noticed he's not the wiring guru... wire nuts on wires, and some connections not even soldered, crimped or covered in insulation like elect. tape --- scary)  I'll clean all that up... and then work on some of the body dents (two big ones).  And so on....

... I'll be taking it out within a week or so (our desert is only 1.5hrs away) to try it out.
^^^ THIS FTW ^^^

Sounds looks like a very nice rig, and before you go "all crazy" changing stuff (not that you are, but some do), run it around a bit.

It does sound like perhaps it's a bit too low-geared.
Might be simple enough to try the stock thirds (3.73?) with some 31's.
Beauty would be when you do want it to crawl, swap back to the 4.56 and 33's.

Again, thanks. It's pretty nice as it's got lots of "stuff" already done to it. I mean, it even has two line-locks under the hood... new, never connected. Also has a dial-proportioning valve for the front/rear disc brakes. I've got to get the lock-lines connected as I don't like using "park" as a brake... let alone, when "wheeling" I'm sure.  So, the "all crazy" will only be to get it more dialed in...  the gearing will come once I know exactly whats in it and what it needs to be, in due time. Of course, I'll take'er out and have some fun with it. But, so I'm not left out in the middle of BFE... I need to correct the "little things" I see first.  And asking about all this here, helps me learn about the Sammi.

... best part, is it's the first thing to fit in my garage (automobile wise)... since I bought the house!!! (a 2 car garage, machine shop, and dirt bike lair).  I'm heading out now to put in my new starter.... no more click, click, click, click, vroooom!

Re: BUYING my FIRST Sami... need your expertise, in knowing what to look for.
« Reply #21 on: December 06, 2011, 09:54:42 AM »
Congrats! She's a nice one! All the searching paid off. I would LOVE to have power steering and disk brakes! lol