Ray_G
Explorer
The work driven move to Japan afforded the chance to start a new build so I'm moving out of just the Rover forum and figured I'd start a thread here.
The subject is a 1994 Suzuki Jimny (aka Samurai in the US), in this case with a 1.3l turbocharged engine, automatic transmission, and as you can see is a hard top. Picture below shows the day she showed up from mainland Japan and we brought her back from the port. Overall in better condition than we expected given the age, but still...it's a 1994.
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After getting it registered/titled/etc the process to determine what needed to be done, and what should be done, began. First thing out of the gate we did the usual maintenance to baseline. This included having the transmission serviced before she was shipped. Oil change, filters, etc all done too. The first real order of business modification wise was the suspension given that the leafs were likely the original. This turned into a chance to do tires too.
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For the lift we tapped into the JDM scene and got Motor-Farm 2.5" leafs. Shocks were a mixed bag given availability, I ended up just throwing Rancho 9000's on the front and OME on the back. Not sold on that setup yet, but it was a better ride than what we started with so that's success. The tires are Yokohama Geolander MTs in 185/85/16 (so an aggressive 29", which is just hilarious but it all looks right and keeps the automatic transmission capable of moving the truck). Got lucky and scored a set of Ray's wheels off a newer Jimny being scrapped. The end result:
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Now it's time to fix the interior up, since there is a rat's nest of wiring associated with the decrepit radio and such. All told it's a perfect truck for running around Okinawa since the streets are small and the speeds are slow. The back does well holding gear (this was a pic on hand from throwing in some of our rock climbing gear before heading north).
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Long term intent is to take her back to WV for eventual duty around there as a de facto street legal side by side. Yes, the license plate is actually 666....no we didn't ask for that. The wife was horrified, the Marines thought it was hilarious, the chaplain just shook his head and I find it an ironic tribute to what is basically the same level of technology as a Series Rover (albeit with A/C).
More to follow!
r-
Ray
The subject is a 1994 Suzuki Jimny (aka Samurai in the US), in this case with a 1.3l turbocharged engine, automatic transmission, and as you can see is a hard top. Picture below shows the day she showed up from mainland Japan and we brought her back from the port. Overall in better condition than we expected given the age, but still...it's a 1994.

After getting it registered/titled/etc the process to determine what needed to be done, and what should be done, began. First thing out of the gate we did the usual maintenance to baseline. This included having the transmission serviced before she was shipped. Oil change, filters, etc all done too. The first real order of business modification wise was the suspension given that the leafs were likely the original. This turned into a chance to do tires too.


For the lift we tapped into the JDM scene and got Motor-Farm 2.5" leafs. Shocks were a mixed bag given availability, I ended up just throwing Rancho 9000's on the front and OME on the back. Not sold on that setup yet, but it was a better ride than what we started with so that's success. The tires are Yokohama Geolander MTs in 185/85/16 (so an aggressive 29", which is just hilarious but it all looks right and keeps the automatic transmission capable of moving the truck). Got lucky and scored a set of Ray's wheels off a newer Jimny being scrapped. The end result:


Now it's time to fix the interior up, since there is a rat's nest of wiring associated with the decrepit radio and such. All told it's a perfect truck for running around Okinawa since the streets are small and the speeds are slow. The back does well holding gear (this was a pic on hand from throwing in some of our rock climbing gear before heading north).

Long term intent is to take her back to WV for eventual duty around there as a de facto street legal side by side. Yes, the license plate is actually 666....no we didn't ask for that. The wife was horrified, the Marines thought it was hilarious, the chaplain just shook his head and I find it an ironic tribute to what is basically the same level of technology as a Series Rover (albeit with A/C).
More to follow!
r-
Ray