should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai

Bobthebiker · 11-01-2009, 05:07 PM

I am presented with an opportunity, and I"m wanting a tinker project now that my S10 is pretty much complete.

A friend has an 80's Samurai 4x4 in his garage that hasnt run in 4 years, and has the typical oil leaks(nothing I cant handle) and a bit of surface rust from living up north originally. Its worth around $400 or so, but being I havent heard it run, but it has a title, I'm thinking $250 is a fair offer, since its still solid and just needs minor things to make it a good daily driver.

What do you guys think?

rcsoundn1 · 11-01-2009, 05:13 PM

i had 1 that i bought for 400 and sold for 2000 on ebay. drove it for 3yrs, and did minor repairs, like fix oil leaks. loved it. was a lot of fun, easy to drive, and went through everything. id def do it. its easy to work on also.

Bobthebiker · 11-01-2009, 05:27 PM

Just looking at it, I can tell its like the S10, its easy to find everything, which means fixing stuff wont be hard. plus I've done a bit of research on common issues, which I'm keeping to myself so I can use that as a bargaining chip on the price. It looks like a sturdy vehicle, and probably LOADS of fun to drive, so for the price, I'm figuring I cant go wrong honestly.

Speedy2222 · 11-01-2009, 05:28 PM

do eeeett.. been wanting a sami for a while

**roboticsguy** · 11-01-2009, 05:42 PM

Hit up user Kach22i. He can teach you how to zebra stripe it.

Bobthebiker · 11-01-2009, 05:44 PM

I was gonna go with military camo patterns to make it more appropriate.

draggindime072010 · 11-01-2009, 06:12 PM

i saw one at the mud boggs last summer it was lifted really high with 44 inch tires under it

i could almost walk under it lol

SmokeeJay · 11-01-2009, 06:17 PM

I have wanted a Samurai ever since the issue of MiniTruckin' back in the 80's that had "Gumby" on the cover.

rmoore911 · 11-01-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by roboticsguy

Hit up user Kach22i. He can teach you how to zebra stripe it.

**high five**

capspauld · 11-02-2009, 06:36 PM

I remember when my Mom bought one brand new, I think like in '88 or something. It was pretty sweet, I would say do it.

circa · 11-02-2009, 06:44 PM

Owning a wrangler.... they are a nice jeep substitute. IMO.
I dont go through mud or anything, we just wheel on trails.

They are pretty badass with v8's in them and not lifted too high.
Being as small as they are they are pretty sketchy when super lifted.

http://www.suzukiconversion.com/

Bobthebiker · 11-02-2009, 07:54 PM

My intent is to keep the stock height and wheels, since its already narrow, raising the center of gravity isnt a good plan without increasing the width to help stabilize it some.

Glad I"m looking at a worthwhile platform. Its got potential, I just need to sink the time into it. maybe I'll get a chevy 4.3 in it if I dont use it as a gas saver. although 2000 pounds is NOTHING for most any motor over 2000cc to move.

SoloSDN · 11-02-2009, 08:04 PM

hell yes..i wish i could fin one in my area for that price,running or not. in good condition u can get upwards of $3k for them...i have a nice 355 for one if i ever find one lol.

circa · 11-02-2009, 08:17 PM

with the right gearing the 4.3 could get better mpg then the stock sami.

an ls1 would def get more mpg too.

SoloSDN · 11-02-2009, 08:21 PM

my old 4.3 was gettin about 18-20 on the highway,that was in a bd fullsize too.

circa,hows puyallup nowadays..i was born there and lived for about 9 yrs.

circa · 11-03-2009, 01:45 PM

Check with some people about what kind of mileage they get. My jeep as a 2.5l gets like 17mpg and with a 4.3 it would of been probably 24mpg. Some ls1's have been getting 26+. And Sami's are lighter!

Puyallup has grown....big time. Still a small town feel but with alot more people. Wish it would stay small town though.

Bobthebiker · 11-06-2009, 11:19 AM

well, my motorcycle sold last night, so now I'm going to buy it unless anyone can present me a reason not to. honestly I dont see any reason I should pass it up.

***What?*** · 11-06-2009, 12:20 PM

I'd buy it if I were you, good deal, sounds like simple fix and they aren't hard to work on either.

goddspring · 11-06-2009, 01:43 PM

shit for 250 i'll buy it!

Bobthebiker · 11-06-2009, 02:35 PM

Thats what I thought. Worst case, I could fix it up easy, and probably get 750-2500 from it depending on how much work I do.

11-01-2009, 05:07 PM	#1
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai I am presented with an opportunity, and I"m wanting a tinker project now that my S10 is pretty much complete. A friend has an 80's Samurai 4x4 in his garage that hasnt run in 4 years, and has the typical oil leaks(nothing I cant handle) and a bit of surface rust from living up north originally. Its worth around $400 or so, but being I havent heard it run, but it has a title, I'm thinking $250 is a fair offer, since its still solid and just needs minor things to make it a good daily driver. What do you guys think?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 05:13 PM	#2
rcsoundn1 Nieman Studios Age: 28 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 379 Location: NJ User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai i had 1 that i bought for 400 and sold for 2000 on ebay. drove it for 3yrs, and did minor repairs, like fix oil leaks. loved it. was a lot of fun, easy to drive, and went through everything. id def do it. its easy to work on also.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Just looking at it, I can tell its like the S10, its easy to find everything, which means fixing stuff wont be hard. plus I've done a bit of research on common issues, which I'm keeping to myself so I can use that as a bargaining chip on the price. It looks like a sturdy vehicle, and probably LOADS of fun to drive, so for the price, I'm figuring I cant go wrong honestly.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 05:28 PM	#4
Speedy2222 My mirror hates my sub Age: 21 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,976 Location: Vincennes, IN User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai do eeeett.. been wanting a sami for a while
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11-01-2009, 05:42 PM	#5
roboticsguy Truckless Member Age: 33 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,947 Location: Seattle, WA User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Hit up user Kach22i. He can teach you how to zebra stripe it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 05:44 PM	#6
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai I was gonna go with military camo patterns to make it more appropriate.
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11-01-2009, 06:12 PM	#7
draggindime072010 ROLL TIDE!!!!!! Age: 18 Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,205 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai i saw one at the mud boggs last summer it was lifted really high with 44 inch tires under it i could almost walk under it lol
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11-01-2009, 06:17 PM	#8
SmokeeJay It's 4:20 Somewhere! Age: 38 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 711 Location: Douglasville, GA User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai I have wanted a Samurai ever since the issue of MiniTruckin' back in the 80's that had "Gumby" on the cover.
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11-01-2009, 09:15 PM	#9
rmoore911 Registered User Age: 32 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 7,335 Location: chillin' with uncle ruckus, no relation. . . User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Quote: Originally Posted by roboticsguy Hit up user Kach22i. He can teach you how to zebra stripe it. high five
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11-02-2009, 06:36 PM	#10
capspauld Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 934 Location: Waterdown, Ontario User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai I remember when my Mom bought one brand new, I think like in '88 or something. It was pretty sweet, I would say do it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 06:44 PM	#11
circa ɔıɹɔ& Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,085 Location: Puyallup, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Owning a wrangler.... they are a nice jeep substitute. IMO. I dont go through mud or anything, we just wheel on trails. They are pretty badass with v8's in them and not lifted too high. Being as small as they are they are pretty sketchy when super lifted. http://www.suzukiconversion.com/
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 07:54 PM	#12
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai My intent is to keep the stock height and wheels, since its already narrow, raising the center of gravity isnt a good plan without increasing the width to help stabilize it some. Glad I"m looking at a worthwhile platform. Its got potential, I just need to sink the time into it. maybe I'll get a chevy 4.3 in it if I dont use it as a gas saver. although 2000 pounds is NOTHING for most any motor over 2000cc to move.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:04 PM	#13
SoloSDN Custom User Title Age: 21 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,235 Location: Texas User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai hell yes..i wish i could fin one in my area for that price,running or not. in good condition u can get upwards of $3k for them...i have a nice 355 for one if i ever find one lol.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:17 PM	#14
circa ɔıɹɔ& Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,085 Location: Puyallup, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai with the right gearing the 4.3 could get better mpg then the stock sami. an ls1 would def get more mpg too.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:21 PM	#15
SoloSDN Custom User Title Age: 21 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 4,235 Location: Texas User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai my old 4.3 was gettin about 18-20 on the highway,that was in a bd fullsize too. circa,hows puyallup nowadays..i was born there and lived for about 9 yrs.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-03-2009, 01:45 PM	#16
circa ɔıɹɔ& Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,085 Location: Puyallup, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Check with some people about what kind of mileage they get. My jeep as a 2.5l gets like 17mpg and with a 4.3 it would of been probably 24mpg. Some ls1's have been getting 26+. And Sami's are lighter! Puyallup has grown....big time. Still a small town feel but with alot more people. Wish it would stay small town though.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 11:19 AM	#17
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai well, my motorcycle sold last night, so now I'm going to buy it unless anyone can present me a reason not to. honestly I dont see any reason I should pass it up.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 12:20 PM	#18
*What?* Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 18,059 Location: AZ User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai I'd buy it if I were you, good deal, sounds like simple fix and they aren't hard to work on either.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 01:43 PM	#19
goddspring Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,133 Location: staples, mn User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai shit for 250 i'll buy it!
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11-06-2009, 02:35 PM	#20
Bobthebiker Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: should I? late 80's Suzuki Samurai Thats what I thought. Worst case, I could fix it up easy, and probably get 750-2500 from it depending on how much work I do.
	[Reply w/Quote]