r/SuzukiSamurai • • 2h ago

Seat sliders / rails - driver’s side

Thumbnail
gallery
9 Upvotes

I was originally trying to get my hands on some replacement seats for a 1983 Suzuki Sierra / Samurai, but they seem to be super hard to come by. So, I’ve settled for getting some original-ish sliders and then aftermarket seats.

Has anyone had any luck finding these? Mega zip seems to be out of stock at the moment (see pic attached for the parts), and a few eBay places haven’t returned my messages

Anyone got ideas? This is the last main piece holding up this beauty


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 10h ago

Rebuilding my Suzuki Samurai - Asking for tips and recomendations

8 Upvotes

Greetings from Portugal

I’m rebuilding my Samurai (an SJ70, to be exact) almost entirely, and right now I’m almost done disassembling the chassis.

I’m going to keep the original Samurai.

I’d like to know if you have any tips or things I shouldnt avoid during the restoration.

Here are a few questions I have at the moment:

- My plan was to strip and metalize the chassis and then apply anti-gravel paint; I’m not sure if that’s the standard procedure, what do you recommend?

- For the body, the same question applies: strip it, apply primer, and repair any corrosion and them paint it.

- Should I use galvanized screws?

- For those in Europe, any recommendations for stores where I can buy parts?

I’ve watched some restoration and repair videos on YouTube, but any help is welcome.

Thank you!

Note: This is my first time doing any mechanical work.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 13h ago

That time a muscle car tried to race my Sami and got dusted :)

Post image
8 Upvotes

r/SuzukiSamurai • • 13h ago

A little tip if you are using the petro works fuel tank kit on your Suzuki Samurai

Thumbnail
youtube.com
2 Upvotes

I was having an issue where my filler hose inlet to the tank kept deforming when tightening the hose clamp causing a fuel leak. (I think maybe the previous owner over tightened it but the plastic could also just be softer from age)

I used a 1 1/4” barbed hose fitting to fit inside the inlet to prevent it from deforming and it solved the issue for cheap.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 22h ago

Timing belt ‘95 1.3 carb

Post image
3 Upvotes

Anyone happen to know whether or not this is the right timing belt? Car is a 1.3 carb from ‘95, and as far as I can tell they were produced with both trapezoidal (like these) and round teeth. This is the belt that’s been on since I bought it, never had any issues, but it doesn’t seem like it fits properly? I want to replace it and be sure I’m putting on the right one 😁


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 2d ago

RRO YJ Shock Issues

Post image
32 Upvotes

I am putting a Rocky Road Outfitters YJ SPUA kit on my 87 Samurai. I am using stock height YJ springs. The project has been going ok with a few hiccups here and there but tonight I ran into a bigger issue (at least in my mind at the moment).

I am using the original upper shock mounts for the rear shock but after getting it all together, I found that the shock is hitting the “cage” that holds/protects the gas tank making a god awful noise when bouncing the car up and down.

Has anyone else ran into this issue when using the Rocky Road Outfitters kit? If so, how did you remedy it? I don’t have any pictures of it now but I will add them to this post once I get some. In the meantime, hear is a pick of my work on progress.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 3d ago

Hard top samurai, this is a first for me

Thumbnail
gallery
67 Upvotes

r/SuzukiSamurai • • 4d ago

Clutch has a tough point NSFW

19 Upvotes

Hi, i inherited an old Suzuki samurai SJ410 from my grandpa, which he mainly used to drive around in the forest, as he was a forester. The clutch has a weird tough point in the middle, I don't know how to explain it. When you push down, it goes smoothly until you hit a certain point, that takes quite a lot of effort to push through. When you do, it goes straight to the floor. It does work though, it can be driven fine, but it's very rough to shift and to get going. What could be causing this and what could one do to fix it? It bites before the tough point.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 4d ago

1.8T Samurai at Holly Oaks ORV

Thumbnail
youtu.be
6 Upvotes

Took the ol’ turbo Samurai to Holly Oaks ORV park in southeast Michigan for the annual 4Fest event. Joined by a buddy’s TDI 4Runner, and LS swapped wrangler TJ.

Had a great time and looking forward to going back!


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 6d ago

My 40 years old rust bucket

Post image
24 Upvotes

r/SuzukiSamurai • • 6d ago

Sourcing more houndstooth fabric?

Thumbnail
gallery
23 Upvotes

Fabric on my side panels is in amazing shape, but the seats are pretty beat up. I can sew, so I’d like to reupholster the seats with matching fabric. I haven’t been able to find any samurai’s with this interior. Any idea where I could source it?


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 6d ago

Back seat brackets

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Looking for pictures of the front backseat mounting brackets as I have no idea what im looking for in my parts pile, the go to where I have circled In photos


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 6d ago

Maruti Gypsy / Suzuki Samurai. Harsh ride & zero off-road flex on 5-leaf flat pack setup.

Thumbnail
gallery
10 Upvotes

​

​Hey everyone!

​I'm currently working on my Maruti Gypsy project car, trying to make it drivable, comfortable, and actually enjoyable again. Right now, I’m having serious issues with the suspension:

​On-road: It's brutally stiff and bounces violently over minor road bumps, even at speeds as low as 20 km/h.

​Off-road: The suspension has virtually no travel/droop. The tyres refuse to flex down into ruts, causing the car to lift wheels and lose traction on really easy trail paths.

​I’ve attached photos of my current setup. It’s running a 5-leaf flat bar configuration per wheel.

​

​I wanted to check with the community:

​Is this heavy 5-leaf setup known for binding up on these lightweight Suzukis?

​Has anyone here successfully pulled leaves out (e.g., converting to a 3-leaf setup) to fix this, or is a switch to parabolic springs the only real answer?

​What leaf spring & shackle setup are you running on your rig, and how does it perform for on-road comfort vs. off-road articulation?

​Would love to hear your experiences and see what setups are working best for you guys. Thanks in advance


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 9d ago

Heater issue

4 Upvotes

My heater barley blows any heat, I can hear the fan working, and the heater control valve works. Wondering if there is anything else specifically I should check before tearing it apart


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 10d ago

Round Dash Clock Upgrade

95 Upvotes

Im trying to get the interior buttoned up after making new seat covers. Since my factory clock is broken I've been inspired from others who have made something similar.

I'm still working out the kinks and screen arrangements. I plan to 3D print a low profile bezel and wrap it in matching vinyl. I wish they made a round screen a bit smaller in diameter so it would fit in the factory clock housing to maintain the look. Maybe as these become more common another size will be come available.

The screen size is actually good but ther is about a 1/2" band of unused surface that makes it too large.

Clock

Outside Temp

Inclinometer

Altimeter

Compass

Vehicle Voltage

GPS Speed.

Dims screen with headlight activation (all configurable by percentage)

I'll be adding a trip meter and possibly water and oil pressure down the road.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 11d ago

Finally have it back!

Post image
50 Upvotes

1885 SJ413 was down for a bit, got a ZOR SPOA, all new brakes (lines, calipers, pads and shoes) and 30x10.50r15 sxs tires


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 10d ago

Overheating from (probabily) untuned carb, what other options are there?

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, a while ago I got my santaja sj410 engine's rebuild and after fixing some electrical problems something else showed up: temperature fluctuations with the pedal pressed. To be clear, this is not the engine's temperature going to the top and staying there, it's raising to around 2/3s of the scale when pushing the engine hard-ish and coming back to normal (1/3) after some time.

Things I ruled out:

  1. faulty thermostat (both I tried are opening and closing at the correct temperatures),
  2. faulty sender (there are actual fluctuations near the sender and in the oil filter, I tested it with a thermometer),
  3. problem in the head (there is no mix of oil and water), problem in the cooling circuit itself (no leaks).

What I couldn't rule out:

  1. something INSIDE the cooling circuit, even though I purged it again and again (the level of coolant raises and plunges quickly in the expansion bottle),
  2. the radiator is too big for the car/newly installed water pump (I installed it before engine rebuild and it actually stopped the car from overheating when idling, so I don't see it making any sense unless the water pump that was there was stronger than the one they rebuild it with, which I doubt)
  3. The final carb tuning was badly done and it's too rich when revving, which would also explain some (burned) gasoline smell and higher than expected emissions when revving.

Have any of you had a similar problem before? What of the 3 possible causes do you find most likely? I do know how to tune carbs but I'm more used to smaller/simpler engines, so I don't want to mess with it unless I'm positively sure that that's the cause.

Thank you!


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 13d ago

Composite Spring Upgrade?

Thumbnail
drnanoinc.com
6 Upvotes

I recently bought a stock 1987 Samurai that I plan to use semi-daily. The harsh ride is a pita, but maybe I have a solution? I wanted to go with the Rocky-Road coil spring setup, but that comes in only 6" or 8" lifts, and I don't want a lift. So I found a composite spring setup made by Dr. Nano in India (click the 'Open' button above). Has anyone tried one of these setups, or know anyone who has? Or know of another composite spring supplier (besides the several of them on eBay that are all out of India) based here in the US?


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 13d ago

Hesitation from idle

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone I could use some brainstorming help. I have an ‘87 Samurai with the 1.6 16v and it has a subtle hesitation from idle to when you put your foot in it. No other noticeable performance issues.

So far it’s had the following replaced
Injectors
Fuel regulator
It’s been timed
TPS
New vac lines
New distributor cap
New timing kit
Idle air control valve cleaned
Throttle body cleaned
New mass air flow
New fuel pump (petro works)

There may be a few other things I’m forgetting. All this work has helped it some but hasn’t gone away. It also cranks a long time before starting which initially led me to believe I had a bleed back fuel problem but I’ve verified this is not the case. When cranking I have to move the go pedal a bit like a carbed motor for it to start…

Scratching my head here 🤔


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 14d ago

What is the rollover angle for a 1988 model?

Post image
47 Upvotes

I have been getting into off roading and climbing with my stock Sami and was curious of the stationary tipping point, not when driving at certain speeds (boo consumer reports). I couldn’t find anything conclusive about the rollover angle online so I came to the next best place. Thanks!


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 14d ago

SJ413 in its natural habitat.

Post image
116 Upvotes

r/SuzukiSamurai • • 13d ago

413 with an automatic transmission?

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! Does anyone here drive a 413 with an automatic transmission (with the stock engine)? Is it a lot of work? Is it usable for daily driving (60-80km/h) ? Is it very loud and underpowered? Are you disappointed?


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 14d ago

Would you daily drive a Samurai? Am I out of my mind?

16 Upvotes

I’ve been driving my trusty 2014 Toyota Yaris over a decade now, and honestly, it’s been the definition of an "old reliable." It just works, eats virtually no gas, and never gives me headaches.

That said, every single time I see a Suzuki Samurai cruising around the island, I can't help but stare. They just look so cool, and I’ve had this itch for a while to buy one, put some solid money into it, and maybe... daily it?

Before I make a financial mistake, I wanted to get a reality check from people who actually own or have built them out.

If I dump money into upgrading the suspension, restoring the engine/drivetrain, adding modern AC, and fixing up the interior, is a Samurai actually dailyable around? Or is the reality of living with leaf springs, zero sound deadening, lightweight highway instability, and classic car quirks going to make me hate my life after two weeks?

Part of me feels like it’s a fun project that could work for the daily commute, but another part of me is telling me to keep the Yaris for the daily grind and strictly save the Samurai for weekend beach runs and mountain trips.

For those who have taken the plunge: can you make a Samurai comfortable enough for everyday use, or is it strictly a weekend toy? Appreciate any honest thoughts!


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 14d ago

Problemas eléctricos

2 Upvotes

Hola llevo unos 6 meses con mi Suzuki samurai , y en los últimas semanas tengo algunos problemas eléctricos, a la hora de presionar el pedal de clutch con el carro encendido y en ocasiones con el carro apagado el voltaje cae por debajo de 11v y me apaga/reinicia la radio y otros accesorios. Además los intermitentes en ocasiones se aceleran ( parece problema de tierra) dependiendo las rpm del motor. Alguna idea de qué puede ser?

Gracias y quedo atento a cualquier comentario.


r/SuzukiSamurai • • 14d ago

Whats this sound

7 Upvotes

Theres also a knocking sound that comes from the back as I start to slow down to a stop that also gets slower as the vehicle slows, but I'm not sure if its related.