Hello everyone

 I'm going to be replacing my main oil seal on my 86 samurai, I was wondering if there is any helpful information that you folks could share, and how long does it roughly take and is it straight forward ? Is there any out of the ordinary tools that I will need ? I'm hopefully going to replace my oil pan gasket as well! Also these little things use timing chains not belts right ? 

The front or rear crank seal?

The 1.3L suzuki uses a timing belt.


Probably best that you head over to Acks Faq site and do some reading up on the sammi. The FSM's are one the site,  http://acksfaq.com/

Hello everyone

 I'm going to be replacing my main oil seal on my 86 samurai, I was wondering if there is any helpful information that you folks could share, and how long does it roughly take and is it straight forward ? Is there any out of the ordinary tools that I will need ? I'm hopefully going to replace my oil pan gasket as well! Also these little things use timing chains not belts right ? 

I would NOT use a gasket on the oil pan.  RTV silicone will work fine (that is what it has on it from the factory).  Just clean up both surfaces, put the RTV on, let it set up for 10 minutes or so, put the oil pan on, torque the bolts, let it sit overnight to cure, fill with oil.
Front or rear seal?  For the rear, you have to remove the tranny and clutch/flywheel or torque converter/flexplate to access it.  For the front, you have to remove the crank pulley, timing cover, timing belt, lower timing belt cog to access it.  Neither is hard, just time consuming.  Figure on most of a day, since you are not familiar with the procedure.
As far as special tools, not really.  Just basic tools and a torque wrench would be good, so you can torque all the bolts properly.

Run the pan gasket!!!!!!!! Some were glued (NOT RVT----GLUE ) some were not and used a gasket from the factory. The problem is that once you remove a tin oil pan from any engine, it is no longer flat, it must be peen-ed flat before re installing it. Not a perfect science.
That's where a gasket comes in.....Thin coat (and I mean thin) the gasket on the pan side with RVT and glue it to the pan, let it sit for an hour or so. Then thin coat the crank case side of the gasket, give it 1/2 hour or so and then install the pan.
 DON'T torque it right away. just snug up all the bolts hand tight.....Give it an hour and then final tighten them....
If you rush through this procedure, all the gasket goo in the world won't seal that pan.....
 I've been an engine builder for 35 years....ALLWAYS USE A PAN GASKET........... Boxcar...