New (to me) Samurai

[Somecallmetimm]

The Zuk's new sound system came in today. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend?

No head unit, marine grade amp with 4 - 6.5" speakers. Just a stereo jack and volume knob will be seen. I'll be setting those on the aluminum plate next to the tachometer.
A friend has been running the same unit for several years with amazing results. Pix to come.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IAP52Q...olid=37STRLXJ8AXT9&coliid=IJIB3H0H68CPD&psc=1

 

[Somecallmetimm]

After much debate, I ended up moving the CB and removing things from the dash that I will never use... like the ash tray. Keeping with the brushed aluminum theme I started with the plate i used on my tach mount... I cut out a new plate to enclose the cb, mount the volume and jack as well as relocating the power point. Removing all the unneeded dash created a lot of space so the amp sits behind the plate along with all the wiring. I still have 2 speakers to mount and some fine tuning to do, but i'm very pleased with the outcome, and can enjoy tunes at highway speeds. Well... as fast at that little thing can go anyway.

20160222_191225a by Tim, on Flickr


20160222_191232 by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

To solve a debate I had to move a few things around. I'm not a huge fan of keeping gas cans in the travel compartment. The whole fume thing is a little bothersome.
So the spare tire was removed from the tailgate and I made better use of the space by adding a jerry can mount.

2016-02-28_06-09-11 by Tim, on Flickr

2016-02-28_06-08-57 by Tim, on Flickr

 

[Somecallmetimm]

After putting the gas can on the back, i was itching to test it on some dirt roads, to make sure it wasn't going to tear off the tailgate.
So a couple friends and I headed down to a waterfall not far from town. It was an adventure. it took nearly 3 hours to drive less than 60 miles. The newest vehicle lost a caliper bolt and the right front tire locked up. Fortunately there was a hardware store just about 8 miles from where we were at, so a quick run there got us back up and running.

Wrench fest...
IMG_5029 by Tim, on Flickr

The Zuk waiting patiently.
IMG_5034 by Tim, on Flickr

Spring springing.
IMG_5033 by Tim, on Flickr

I love this tree.
IMG_5035 by Tim, on Flickr

The falls.
IMG_5077 by Tim, on Flickr


More photos if you're interested
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8695186@N02/albums/72157665790567326

 

[Somecallmetimm]

I'm thinking of converting the Zuk to a pickup. In part to fight the rust once for all, and also to have a unique vehicle.
Considerations...
It's already just a 2 seater.
More room for camping gear
Longer wheelbase.
Less sheet metal.
Opportunity for big gas tank.

Your thoughts?

 

[PPCLI_Jim]

this is what i did to an old tintop i was trying to salvage but stuff happened and now i dont have my original ragtop all I have is this body and a bunch of random parts . not enough to make a new used sami

 

[Somecallmetimm]

I've seen a lot of them that had the back part of a tin top enclosing the cab. I'm thinking of going the hacked soft top route.

 

[Darkrider]

A buddy of mine had a Tracker that he turned into a truck by ditching the rear soft top section and just building a simple bulkhead out of plywood. Wasn't a bad little unit really. Each time i get reading about samurais i want one bad lol.

 

[christianoffroad]

Cant believe it took me this long to find this build. You forgot to mention you had started it!
This little Grasshopper has come a long ways. Lookin forward to getting it and Scrappy back out next week!

 

[Somecallmetimm]

It's about freakin time!!!

That's ok... i know where you live. he he.
Scrappy won't be joining us this trip. The rapid and violent bumper removal that happened in Oklahoma a while back has caused me to re-think my hitch situation. So currently, i only have a bumper, but no way to tow anything. So... Everything will have to be on board. Zach and I will be traveling "light". But then it's only one night, so we'll be good.

Between now and next weekend, I'll be more focused on maintenance items, so no tow for Grasshopper, the escape pod.

 

[christianoffroad]

Wait, no Scrappy, no Ca-moo? SMH...... :REExeSwimmingHL:

 

[Somecallmetimm]

Not this time... I considered taking the Tahoe for that reason, but why would I give up the comfortable quiet ride of the Zuk?

 

[Somecallmetimm]

So this past weekend our club did a fund/food raiser for a local Church which fights hunger through serving the homeless as well as having a food pantry for the needy. It was the 7th year we held the event. An unfortunate pattern has developed over the last 3 years where we've had to deal with rain. The weather this year was the worst by far. But that didn't keep everyone away. With periods of sprinkling mixed with breaks in between drops, we still had nearly 50 vehicles come with donations coming to an estimated 600# of food and $250. Much less than previous years, but still a resounding success in the battle against hunger in harsh times.

The benefit drew vehicles of many styles, from stock XJ's to Discos hauling an expo trailer and even a 1 ton Ford sporting a Wildernest, all the way to CJ's on 42's and a diesel truck on 46's. My little Zuk hid among them all enjoying the show. The most noteworthy of attendees was the driver of a 1916 Model T who ran that thing up the RTI ramp and out scored the vast majority of the vehicles there.

I'll work on gathering more pix, most of them are on FB right now. But here's a vid of the Model T.

https://youtu.be/TXhvwkFIv0o

 

[Somecallmetimm]

YAY! Small exploration trip in South East Kansas this weekend. Every escape is worth taking!

 

[Somecallmetimm]

SWEET! Scored an extra T-case for a sweet price!