Project suiSUKi

[suisuki]

Project suiSUKi 40" tires Sami body Toy drivetrain

Yep here it is. I have had this samurai for the past 4 years and I'm finnaly getting around to building it right. A good friend of mine gave this zuk it's name "SuiSUKi" back when I first got it and it's stuck to this day. Well over the years I've drained some of the suck out of it and it's become a pretty capable trail rig but still lacks in some important areas e.g. tire size, wheelbase, horsepower, seating, tire clearence, power steering, storage, ect... and with this build I hope to address each of them.

here's what I'm starting with '87 Sami hard top (chopped)

ps Thanks to Crash and 4Runnerrick on pirate for the inspiration

 

[suisuki]

so whene I first built this rig I had no kids and didn't see a use for the rear seat so I took it out an ran the cage back there, but now I have 2 boys and need the seating and some better protection so here's what I did

Thanks to crawler12 and the "lost samurai" for the inspriation

 

[suisuki]

almost finished product

 

[suisuki]

Thought I would take some preliminary articulation measurements for comparision later

here I'm getting about 29.5" under the rear tire, not bad for a 79" wheel base

 

[suisuki]

Well I'm planning on running 39.5" tires. I needed to make some room up front for them so off with the front clip.

 

[SLC97SR5]

Wow, progress from when I last saw it. Lookin' good R!

 

[suisuki]

while I was up there I thought I might as well pull the motor and trans, and while i was at it I thought I might as well pull out the t-case, drivelines and fuel tank.

 

[suisuki]

well I couldn't resist rolling the tires up to it. Here,s a pic of the tires at 106" wb, and the belly hight at 24" planning on 26" but the stands don't go that high ............. yet.

 

[suisuki]

don't think I'll run the rear axle quite that far back and I'll probably push the front out more, but you get the idea.

 

[suisuki]

Wow, progress from when I last saw it. Lookin' good R!

yeah thanks J

I guess you saw it on monday before any of the chopping huh

 

[redXJ]

looks good !

 

[crimsonride]

oh baby! I'm jealous already.

...And if you guys look in the background you will see the my multi-colored monstrosity FJ that will be the sui's wheeling companion.

 

[crimsonride]

Just curious... And I'm not sure why I didn't ask this yesterday...but if the rear axle is going to be mounted farther back why did you cut the wheel wells where you did?

 

[suisuki]

Just curious... And I'm not sure why I didn't ask this yesterday...but if the rear axle is going to be mounted farther back why did you cut the wheel wells where you did?

aah........ you know how plans change

That pic isn't accurate to my plans the rear tire will be more centerd on the wheel well than shown

The way it's cut now and with the rear axle like 3-5" farther forward than in the pic it should work out pretty good, since only the front 5" of the wheel well is actually functioal the rest is just for looks/ element protection anyway.

Personally I kind of like the way the wheel well exagerates the look of the stretch/big tires.

edit: this has changed now I'll be removing the rear tub and stretching the body

 

[SAMI]

soooooooo, wow... you deviated from all of the ideas we chatted about just last week..

either way, looks good.

please tell me you still want these zuk axles.. we're trying so hard to get rid of them

-Jason

 

[suisuki]

soooooooo, wow... you deviated from all of the ideas we chatted about just last week..

either way, looks good.

please tell me you still want these zuk axles.. we're trying so hard to get rid of them

-Jason

yeah one build at a time I guess

I'll take the axles that was the deal
guess I'll be the one trying hard now

 

[suisuki]

now that I'm back in the shop looking at it I think I'll open up the back of the wheel wheels some more.

Anyone who knows me knows I change my Plans like every day so......

here we go agin

 

[suisuki]

Here's what we got done today, Thanks crawler12 for the assistance!Got the front axle/suspension out, cut off the front of the frame, re built front frame, rolled the toy axle under and measured for steering geometry/clearence.I added 8"s to the front of the frame and just tacked the front bumper/crossmember on so I could shorten it later if I need to, right now it looks like it could be about 2" shorter but I'll wait untill everything is finalized and it's time for front tube work to shorten it up.oh and yes I will be adding fish plating/gusseting to the frame where the old/new meet.

 

[xjshorty21]

dang dude its looking good i love watching these zuk builds

 

[Coco]

dang dude its looking good i love watching these zuk builds

x2, I love the swamper tires too...wish I could afford the old ones!!!:greg: