Suzuki Samurai Custom Camper Build

[windsock]

So how fine did you sand before painting?? 220 grit enough?

It was so long ago now I cannot remember the exact grit number. We got it to the smooth stage with no visible sanding marks. Possibly around the 120 - 180 mark. We then two-pot gloss coated it to a fine finish then used cutting paste and polish head for the final polish. These were open water cruising sailboats up to 42' long. This was from the water line up. Water line down was finished in antifoul so a gloss finish wasn't necessary.

Are you using an idiot board? Long lengths of sand paper remove a lot of material for a marginal increase in effort.

 

[gahi]

For a high gloss automotive finish you go to 600.

 

[airmanwilliams]

on that paint job you ought to give that guy parker that you bought the wheels and tires from a call. he did mine and I had him use the rustoleum gloss black that way when I need a touch up I can get the paint in a spray can for an easy touch up. Looking great by the way. Oh and if your interested in getting to know lots more samurai owners here in utah I started a facebook group called UTAH SAMURAI OWNERS and we have 27 members so far.

 

[trackhead]

Thanks for the painting ideas and advice. Probably another couple weeks before I can paint.

 

[airmanwilliams]

any updates on the painting? what color and paint have you chosen?

 

[trackhead]

any updates on the painting? what color and paint have you chosen?

No updates because progress has been limited. I've spent some free time getting my moto ready for a Colorado trip in two weeks.

The last month has been spent removing ALL the paint from the Samurai, then priming. I'm almost finished prepping the roof (bondo/sanding/etc) and should have it fully primed and ready to paint end of next week. This body work has been really tedious, but I'm almost done. I'll post pics of it when it's painted.

After it's painted, the interior work, suspension work, and transfer case gears are all that will be left to do. That stuff will go much quicker than all the endless sanding.

 

[trackhead]

Got the ugly thing primed/sanded, then the first coat of paint. Haven't sanded this brown coat yet. It'll probably change a little, might add more black. I suck at design, so it's goofy, but functional.

It's nice to finally move on from endless fiberglass sanding. Hopefully I can finish up the painting this week and then do the suspension lift next week. Then finish the interior, then the transfer case gears.

 

[gahi]

Every time I do a project, by the time its close to getting done there are already a lot of things I would have done different. Thats how you learn and move forward. So dont be too hard on yourself about design elements. You can fix them all this winter

 

[trackhead]

Every time I do a project, by the time its close to getting done there are already a lot of things I would have done different. Thats how you learn and move forward. So dont be too hard on yourself about design elements. You can fix them all this winter

Funny how that works, isn't it! The main thing I would have changed is how I built it, not the structure, dimensions, or any of that, but just the build process. I could have saved a LOT of time. But, live and learn.

This little piglet will be in service in a couple months, and I plan to use the crap out of it.

I sold my motorhome this springs, so this is my new "motorhome".

 

[trackhead]

Forward progress is slow these days with the 2 month old in the house. Despite that, I managed to install the blinkers/lights and get them all wired up. Took some fiddling to get the reverse lights to work after finding out the switch on the tranny was wore out.

Now that the exterior is more or less done, I'm going to start on the interior and get the basics done so it's road worthy. That shouldn't take too long, then it's time for new suspension. After that, I can start driving it around to test it out and make sure it's road worthy, reasonably reliable, etc. Transfer case gears, pop top, and interior finish (in that order) will come last.

I'm putting auxiliary lights over the cab, but haven't cut out the openings for them yet.

 

[trailrunner]

Looks real cool man!

 

[trackhead]

Slow progress as of late due to the baby in the house and a recent moto trip. Managed to put some new transfer case gears in this week in between changing diapers and thawing out breast milk.

If all goes well, I'll install the case back on the Samurai next week, and hopefully go down and pick up new shocks/springs/steering stabilizer.

 

[Toyotero]

Are you going to install a anti-sway bar on the rear ? (or do Zukes have them from the factory?)

 

[trackhead]

Are you going to install a anti-sway bar on the rear ? (or do Zukes have them from the factory?)

Not sure. I guess when it's finally ready to drive around, I'll load it up and see how it does. Doesn't seem like a bad idea though.

 

[zukrider]

what gears did you go with?