WTB: 4WD Samurai Tin-top

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

I haven't come up with anything on my own yet, so I thought I'd throw it out there...

I'm looking for a tin-top Samurai. Fuel injected would be nice, but not critical. Vehicle must be in average to better-than-average condition, and definitely nothing that's been all cut up (although some tasteful modifications would be perfectly acceptable). Not looking for a rock crawler rig, but rather a second vehicle that would be used for economical weekend exploring in the NW. Close to home (OR/WA) would be great, but not absolutely critical.

Have something you've been thinking about selling? Know of something that sounds like it might fit? Let me know. If I buy your rig, or you post or PM the rig that I end up buying, I'll pay a finders fee by way of a cool piece of expedition gear being sent your way.

:victory:

 

[troy]

Have you looked at www.zuwharrie.com on the forums? Suzukis are great, even a nice one will only set you back a few thousand. http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/ is my favorie suzuki vendor. Sells all the major brands and may be able to point you in the diredtion of a good Tin Top.

 

[Jeff@QuadShop]

Just an FYI, tin tops were never offered in the US with EFI. If you find one with it, it will have been swapped in.
I see real clean ones on eBay quite often.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Great to know, Jeff... thanks! I'm new to Samurai's, and I'm sure that I have a lot to learn about them. My only experience with the Samurai in the past is doing some mods for customers, and installing a Petroworks fuel tank for a friend. However, I've been driving around in a Samurai that is on loan to me for the last week or so, and I've really grown fond of it. For the most part I dig the rig, but not so much that it's a soft-top.

Maybe I should be looking for a tin-top in great physical condition and lousy mechanical condition, as well as a soft top EFI in great mechanical condition and lousy physical condition, then mate the two. With how simple these rigs are, I'd bet that it could be done in a weekend.

I have some pretty groovy ideas for both the soft-top and the tin-top, but I think the tin-top ideas are cooler (at least in my head), so I'd like to pursue those first before commencing work on a soft-top.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

No sooner do I mention just mating two different rigs, and I come across this body 45 minutes from me! I called the guy, and he told me that it's supposed to be picked up by another fellow on Saturday . I've got my fingers crossed that the other guy doesn't show up, as I 'm thinking that it's a heck of a lot easier to find a great, cheap, EFI soft top, than it is to find a pretty clean and inexpensive tin-top.

 

[tombodad]

http://medford.craigslist.org/cto/2137704205.html

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/2137000991.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/2139737904.html

http://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/2140558538.html

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/2133702618.html

 

[Jeff@QuadShop]

Personally I'd look for one that's in good driveable condition with little rust. The one in your link looks like it could be a money pit.
If you do ever get one a want to convert to EFI, you'll want to use a Sidekick/Tracker motor instead of the Samurai EFI one. These are basically the same same block but have different displacements, heads ect. They have quite a bit more power than the Samurai EFI motors and are an easy install.
You can also go with a VW turbo diesel swap, I did this on my last Sammy and it is incredible!

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Thanks for the help guys! I see most of the stuff on CL, at least here in the NW anyways, but if you see something that looks really great, please feel free to post it anyways!

Jeff- lets move some conversation to email, as I'd like to pick your brain a bit about swaps... that is, if you don't mind. Check your PM's.

 

[mattafact]

I've owned 4 Samurais and their gas mileage isn't as good as one would expect for having such a small motor. If economy is your main concern I would look elsewhere. However if you want an extremely fun rig to cruise around in the Samurai is hard to beat, especially with a 6.5:1 T-case swapped in. One of those with some 31" tires is a pretty versatile rig.

 

[corbin8or]

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/2144257257.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/2141747654.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/2140731468.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/2130339253.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/c...slist.org/cph/cto/2127915845.html0269346.html
is that enough for you?

 

[zukrider]

not affiliated

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/2125729605.html

 

[Storz]

Near Raleigh -

http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/ctd/2146814491.html

 

[Bullsnake]

We have a local Place called Rod's Samurai salvage that has a couple of nice tin-tops for sale right now-don't have a link, but you can google him under his business name in Marsalltown Iowa.

Now if you can make a soft top work I have a nice one ready to go with the high-performance engine and weber carb / manual choke with a spring over lift that I will BLOW out just to clear up the driveway! PM me if you, (or anybody!) is interested!

 

[arcteryx]

There is one down the road for me. Not sure of price. It's an 86 with 52K miles. Silver. Some fading on the roof. Looked clean on the inside.