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GC
Junior Nomad
Posts: 70
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Suzuki Samurai
Just purchased a 1987 Suzuki Samurai JX for the main purpose of using as a toad behind a motor home. However, I do plan to explore offroad with it
also. I have been looking at all of the forums I can find to see what I need to do to the
Samurai to run BFG AT 235/75R 15s on it. Since I have already put the tires on the car (they required a little trimming of the inside of the front
bumper) I am commited to the project. Seem to be okay driving around Ensenada, but don't think I should go off road until I do some type of Lift.
Any Nomad Samurai driver's out there with recommendations?
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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george, if you jack it up enough you will be able to tip over in your driveway
Bob Durrell
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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Rod's in Marshalltown, IA
http://www.samuraisalvage.com/
this is the guy to talk to...
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Zuki
Try this link, then go to the forum...has plenty of info:
http://www.zukiworld.com
I have a Chevy Tracker and put on some 1" wheel spacers
from Rocky Road:
http://www.rocky-road.com/
And a 3 combo lift kt from Masterkit1:
http://www.masterkit1.com/SiteANG09.htm
I run 235x75-15s with no probem and have a 2" wider stance
Will have it in Ensenada soon as my run around town car
[Edited on 4-29-2009 by bajaguy]
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18388
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by GC
, but don't think I should go off road until I do some type of Lift. Any Nomad Samurai driver's out there with recommendations?
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Is the 1987 Samurai about same as the 1980 LJ80? I think it is. I had a soft top LJ80 overseas, and the stock version could go places most full
size 4WDs could not go. Clearance was never an issue, as it was adequate in stock configuaration, and the wheel base was so short and width so
narrow, that you could drive around most any obstacle, whereas full size vehicles had to go over obstacles. LJ80 was so light that it was impossible
to get stuck.
What year did Suzuki get in trouble for roll instability? I think after that year the stock models in US were lower to ground.
In general, putting a lift kit on a 1980s vintage suzuki is a recipe for instability. 1980s vintage suzukis are top heavy death traps --- avoid high
speed trips, especially if you put on a lift kit.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
........What year did Suzuki get in trouble for roll instability? I think after that year the stock models in US were lower to ground.
In general, putting a lift kit on a 1980s vintage suzuki is a recipe for instability. 1980s vintage suzukis are top heavy death traps --- avoid high
speed trips, especially if you put on a lift kit. |
Thats why I put the 1" wheel spacers on....widens(sp) the
track by 2"....more stability.
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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I have an 87 Zuki that has a 1.6L Sidekick Motor and it has been lifted 6" over axel. I am trying to figure out how to include a photo on here.
[Edited on 4-29-2009 by CortezBlue]
[Edited on 4-30-2009 by CortezBlue]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
I have an 87 Zuki that has a 1.6L Sidekick Motor and it has been lifted 6" over axel. I am trying to figure out how to include a photo on here.
[Edited on 4-29-2009 by CortezBlue] |
The pixs have to be under 50K. If so then call it up using the browse for attachments that you see when replying (not the quick reply) then just
attach it.
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GC
Junior Nomad
Posts: 70
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Thank you for the inputs. There is sure a lot of information on the Samurai out there and I am having fun researching it. Cheers, GC.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
I have an 87 Zuki that has a 1.6L Sidekick Motor and it has been lifted 6" over axel. I am trying to figure out how to include a photo on here.
[Edited on 4-29-2009 by CortezBlue]
[Edited on 4-30-2009 by CortezBlue] |
If there wasn't someone in the vehicle it would look like a Big Foot type vechile with those oversize tires. What size differential ratio do you use
with such a mall engine?
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BajaBruno
Super Nomad
Posts: 1035
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: Back in CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy
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My experience mimics mtgoat666’s. I rented one of these in Belize many years ago (a totally stock soft-top) and then drove it hard for many hours
over miserable dirt roads into southern Belize, along beaches, then at NASCAR speeds over brutal dirt roads to Tikal, Guatemala and back—all with four
occupants.
Although the ride for those in back was much less than comfortable, the car was perfectly serviceable in stock condition and did everything we asked
of it.
I have always been hesitant to mess with the stock suspension engineering unless I wanted to tailor a vehicle for a very narrow range of use. I
figure those factory engineers know more about a car’s geometry than I do, or the knuckleheads at the local hillbilly truck shop.
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
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If there wasn't someone in the vehicle it would look like a Big Foot type vechile with those oversize tires. What size differential ratio do you use
with such a mall engine? [/quote
Not sure what the gear ratio is, but the 1.6L engine is an upgrade from the 1.3L
I think the tire are 33's. All I know is I have pulled many a high dollar sand rails out of the sand n 4wd low.
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Cyanide41
Nomad
Posts: 303
Registered: 1-7-2009
Location: Tijuana
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
1980s vintage suzukis are top heavy death traps --- avoid high speed trips, especially if you put on a lift kit.
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This is a SUZUKI we are talking about. My first car was a 91 sidekick. It
topped out at 85 on the freeway with a huge straight away and then the doors were about to fall off. We beat the hell out of that poor thing and
never had any issues.
[Edited on 5-11-2009 by Cyanide41]
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
Member Is Offline
Mood: getting ready!
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Had an 88 never ever had any problems went through the desert for two weeks with no problems one time from orange county to la paz boy do i misss my
Samurai good old days....
READY SET.....................
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rpleger
Super Nomad
Posts: 1087
Registered: 3-12-2005
Location: H. Mulegé, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Was good.
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This is my third Samari and they just keep going and going...
Lost my other two in the Mulegé flood, gave em to my mechanic there back to running again....The Best for Baja
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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wsdunc
Nomad
Posts: 179
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: So Cal
Member Is Offline
Mood: Upbeat
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Lots of info/knowledge/parts at www.petroworks.com
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oldjack
Nomad
Posts: 350
Registered: 1-26-2006
Location: Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
Mood: retired
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I was thinking of getting a Suzuki to commute from SJD airport to Los Barriles... which model.... not wanting to off-road(except for all the
construction) just something less expensive than leaving the Tacoma parked at the airport for 3-4 weeks at a time... which model would be the most
comfortable driving down the highway????
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Bajajack
Banned
Posts: 370
Registered: 5-20-2007
Location: Arizona
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oldjack
I was thinking of getting a Suzuki to commute from SJD airport to Los Barriles... which model.... not wanting to off-road(except for all the
construction) just something less expensive than leaving the Tacoma parked at the airport for 3-4 weeks at a time... which model would be the most
comfortable driving down the highway???? |
1998 Tracker, almost exact drive train as Samurai but with a
bigger engine.
Samurai's are ok off road but it's tough trying to keep any speed on the Hwy.
Put any oversize tires on them and you will be rowing 3rd and 4th constantly, forget about 5th, it ain't gonna happen.
\"take what you can, give nothing back!\"
We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the
American people.\'
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
We can have no \"50-50\" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all.
Theodore Roosevelt
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18388
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oldjack
I was thinking of getting a Suzuki to commute from SJD airport to Los Barriles... which model.... not wanting to off-road(except for all the
construction) just something less expensive than leaving the Tacoma parked at the airport for 3-4 weeks at a time... which model would be the most
comfortable driving down the highway???? |
if just commuting and highway driving, then a passenger car is more comfortable. suzuki small suvs are not as comfortable as a sedan, not as fun to
drive. get a toyota or VW sedan.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Jack
Check this website:
http://www.zukiworld.com/
click on the forums and read away....
Lots of good info on Suzukis and Trackers......If'n I was you, I would look for a 95-99 Suzuki or Tracker 2 door, 2 or 4WD.
They are NOT road cars......I drove mine from Grants Pass to Carson City in one day.......not a fun trip. Top speed about 65, hit 75 a couple of
times......fun off road, a tow car or a driver to town, but not a lot of creature comforts for a long drive.
[Edited on 5-13-2009 by bajaguy]
[Edited on 5-13-2009 by bajaguy]
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