Recommendations for very small nible 4x4 chase vehicle...

I am looking for some recommendations on a suzuki samarui or
compareables... Something in the 2-3K used price range...

I am looking for an in-expensive alternative to something similar to a
Polaris Ranger. I want a small light reliable chase type vehicle for
trail riding in Baja, Mexico. I have concluded that a Suzuki Sam may
just be the vehicle. Are there any others that I am overlooking?

The wagon will follow groups of a dozen bikes/quads on day trips of
about 100 miles in Baja. We have one polaris Ranger that does a
fantastic job, but at 8-9K new this is out of my price range. I have
concluded that a used suzuki may do most all the terrain a
Ranger/similar wagon will do at a third of the cost.

Having said that: I would like a recommendation on the best approach.
My instinct is to buy a used late 80s stock model and apply the basic
recommendations on the FAQ section here at off-road.com (tires/lockers
+ general maintenace hoses/belts etcc...) I have noticed some used
suzukis' lifted with a variety of upgrades, (axles/lift kits/etc..)
Not being able to tell anything about these components upon
inspection, should I avoid them or try to work them into the picture
through more research etc...

Any other info would be greatly apprciated! Thanks in advance...

Mesquito Creek wrote:
> I am looking for some recommendations on a suzuki samarui or
> compareables... Something in the 2-3K used price range...
>
> I am looking for an in-expensive alternative to something similar to a
> Polaris Ranger. I want a small light reliable chase type vehicle for
> trail riding in Baja, Mexico. I have concluded that a Suzuki Sam may
> just be the vehicle. Are there any others that I am overlooking?
>
> The wagon will follow groups of a dozen bikes/quads on day trips of
> about 100 miles in Baja. We have one polaris Ranger that does a
> fantastic job, but at 8-9K new this is out of my price range. I have
> concluded that a used suzuki may do most all the terrain a
> Ranger/similar wagon will do at a third of the cost.
>
> Having said that: I would like a recommendation on the best approach.
> My instinct is to buy a used late 80s stock model and apply the basic
> recommendations on the FAQ section here at off-road.com (tires/lockers
> + general maintenace hoses/belts etcc...) I have noticed some used
> suzukis' lifted with a variety of upgrades, (axles/lift kits/etc..)
> Not being able to tell anything about these components upon
> inspection, should I avoid them or try to work them into the picture
> through more research etc...
>
> Any other info would be greatly apprciated! Thanks in advance...


I may be prejudiced, but I would suggest the late
'80's Samurai ('88~89) as a "can't go wrong"
choice (I did!). There ARE other outfitters, but I
went with the modifications to the Sami by
Petroworks <http://petroworks.com/>. Several lift
kit approaches are available. Mine (the most
conservative) uses the same springs and moves them
OVER the axles for about a 4 1/2" lift. For more
articulation the front axle can be fitted with a
rear spring (called "Missing Link"), or for even
MORE articulation, Jeep CJ springs can be
installed. Each 'lift' approach will require mods
to the shocks and brake lines, and you will
CERTAINLY want to add some 31" tires after. Gary's
gear set for the transfer case is a MUST. He
designed the gears and the same factory that built
the transfer cases for Suzuki, makes the gears for
Gary. With the big tires you may never be able to
use 5th gear again UNLESS you install the gears.

In the next month or so, I'll be going for the
Side Kick 1600 cc 16 valve engine. The 1300 cc
engine is fine for around town and great for off
road crawling, but I'm struggling over long hills
on the freeways, sometimes to 50 mph in 3rd gear.
I took a ride in a rig setup with the 1600/16v
engine and it will surely EXCEED my needs (it ran
like a damn hot rod).

Hope that helps,
--
-- Jack --
=================================
Everything you see is temporary.
=================================
Clean Up Return Address To Reply
=================================
Poway, California (San Diego Co.)
N 32° 57' W 117° 04'
At 508' Elevation
=================================

hey " Spanky " don't waste yer' bling on a 1.6L Boat anchor......a SUMO
II 1.3L from AAPA will run the pants off any 1.6L out there
Get some 6 to 1's
and then you can run down the road at 70 - 90 mph like the rest of us
.........lol

The Dirt Weasel
"JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important

PR wrote:
> hey " Spanky " don't waste yer' bling on a 1.6L Boat anchor......a SUMO
> II 1.3L from AAPA will run the pants off any 1.6L out there
> Get some 6 to 1's
> and then you can run down the road at 70 - 90 mph like the rest of us
> ........lol
>
> The Dirt Weasel
> "JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
> if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important
>
=================================

Hey 'webtv', that 4 cyl 1.6L/16v sidekick in the
Sami will hang with ANY 6cyl Jeep! Don't kid
yourself. It will kill the 4cyl jeeps, but the
8cyl Jeeps will out run it. People have reported
110 mph with this setup, which is WAAAY faster
than I'd want to go in the Sami ;-)

The 1.3L that I'm running will NOT outrun much on
the freeways. Hills of any size on the freeway can
make me drop to 3rd and go to 5500~6000 rpm to
stay above 50mph. The 1.6L/16v motor can do the
same hill in 5th at 80mph.

Believe it (or don't),
--
-- Jack --
=================================
Everything you see is temporary.
=================================
Clean Up Return Address To Reply
=================================
Poway, California (San Diego Co.)
N 32° 57' W 117° 04'
At 508' Elevation
=================================

there are 175 Zuks in our club .....1.6L 16 valve F.I.,1.6L 8 valve F.I.
and Carb ,1.3L 8 Valve Weber/stock carb/F.I. 22R,V-6 4.3 Vortec, 400
Smallblock Chevys, 1.3L TURBO,1.3L Supercharged........Dude we R on the
cutting edge of Zukin'
I put 11,000 miles on last year alone off-road......and you did how
many?

do you know what SUMO motor even is?

Ask Gary (Petro) about an AAPA SUMO II motor his SUPERCHARGED 1.3L Zuk
can't beat one....
nor can any 1.6L. anytime yer in AZ drop me line and we will show ya'

I have not run a 2.0L Sammi yet....

I can SPANK a 4.0 HEEP anyday.....flat ground or a hill

OPEN CHALLENGE: my 1.3L SUMO II naturally aspirated Samurai on
32's..........against ANY 1.6L 16 valve/8 valve Carb of F.I. on 32's
(Kick/Tracker or Samurai) we will race from the Bottom of sunset Point
straight up I-17 to th top of the hill
Or in Sand/Cinders
Belive it I'll show ya' : )

The Dirt Weasel
"JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important

Hey Jack...... R U runnin' a stock carb ? what T-case gears ?4:16's
4:89's?

If U R runnin' a stock carb have U Modified the Vac. line to the
Secondarys ? it will give ya' more power on the Hills........

The Dirt Weasel
"JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important

Hey there (read on below ... )

=================================

PR wrote:

> there are 175 Zuks in our club .....1.6L 16 valve F.I.,1.6L 8 valve F.I.
> and Carb ,1.3L 8 Valve Weber/stock carb/F.I. 22R,V-6 4.3 Vortec, 400
> Smallblock Chevys, 1.3L TURBO,1.3L Supercharged........Dude we R on the
> cutting edge of Zukin'
> I put 11,000 miles on last year alone off-road......and you did how
> many?
>
> do you know what SUMO motor even is?
=================================
Apparently not.
=================================
> Ask Gary (Petro) about an AAPA SUMO II motor his SUPERCHARGED 1.3L Zuk
> can't beat one....
=================================
Will do tomorrow.
=================================
> nor can any 1.6L. anytime yer in AZ drop me line and we will show ya'
=================================
Sounds like it could be educational. I've done 2
trips to AZ in the past 4 weeks. I'm sure to be
there again soon. (I want to spend some tome in
the Chiracahuas, the Huachucas, and surrounding
areas in a couple more weeks.)
=================================
> I have not run a 2.0L Sammi yet....
>
> I can SPANK a 4.0 HEEP anyday.....flat ground or a hill
>
> OPEN CHALLENGE: my 1.3L SUMO II naturally aspirated Samurai on
> 32's..........against ANY 1.6L 16 valve/8 valve Carb of F.I. on 32's
> (Kick/Tracker or Samurai) we will race from the Bottom of sunset Point
> straight up I-17 to th top of the hill
> Or in Sand/Cinders
> Belive it I'll show ya' : )
=================================
Whoa down ;-) Testosterone alert! It wouldn't take
much to win a race against me, speed's not my
game. Do you know the story about the old bull and
the young bull? ;-)
=================================
> The Dirt Weasel
> "JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
> if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important
=================================
Perhaps the fellow who started this thread should
look into your SUMO setup. As a 'chase vehicle'
maybe cutting edge speed would be important. I
just want to be able to navigate the freeways as
comfortably as I'm currently getting around on the
trails.

Be Well,
--
-- Jack --
=================================
Everything you see is temporary.
=================================
Clean Up Return Address To Reply
=================================
Poway, California (San Diego Co.)
N 32° 57' W 117° 04'
At 508' Elevation
=================================

Hello (again ... )
=================================

PR wrote:

> Hey Jack...... R U runnin' a stock carb ? what T-case gears ?4:16's
> 4:89's?
=================================
I couldn't truly say for sure. It is Gary's G.R.S.
II case. I looks by his description that it's
(3.72:1). Does that sound right to you?
=================================
> If U R runnin' a stock carb have U Modified the Vac. line to the
> Secondarys ? it will give ya' more power on the Hills.......
=================================
Sounds like we need to talk. To answer the above:
YES the whole engine is stock. No modified vacuum
to the secondaries. Is there a resource that you
can point me to to show me what you mean?
=================================
> The Dirt Weasel
=================================
Signing off for this evening.

Later then,
--
-- Jack --
=================================
Everything you see is temporary.
=================================
Clean Up Return Address To Reply
=================================
Poway, California (San Diego Co.)
N 32° 57' W 117° 04'
At 508' Elevation
=================================

When ya' come to AZ. do ya' bring yer Zuk?
I'm up here in the Bradshaws......between Mayer and Crown
King........show up on the second Sunday of the month and Ya' can come
on a club run with "The Zuks of Arizona" largest Zuk club in the USA
Show up some other time and we can play around in the Bradshaws.....
R U Spooled/locked on both ends?
I hope ya' know I was only givin' ya' a hard time about the 1.6L swap
"To each his own"
We R just real proud of our SUMO motors?

The Dirt Weasel
"JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important

GRS II = 4.89 to 1 ...the 3.727 is your axle ratio
SUMO T-case is 6.129 to 1
EZ mod to the carb .......lookin'at the drivers side of the carb U will
C a vac. line with a white/orange plastic thingus' in the
middle.....yank the whole thing off and replace it with a straight vac.
line.........now the secondarys on the carb will open when your foot
passes the half way point on the pedal........not "when they feel like
it"
you will lose 1-2mpg

save the piece U will need it to pass yer' "Smog Check"

The Dirt Weasel
"JEEP..........It's whats fer' Dinner".....".Here Jeeper Jeeper "
if it takes more than 3 bolts .......... it's important