Just to make you appreciate the 3.slo

[KidVermicious]

You do the real world math. 160 ish LB Samurai motor @ 100 HP compared to 400 ish LB 3.slow & the extra 200+ LBS for the masive trans/transfer case.... & anyone with a brain can plainly see that it would not be worth doing!

Ok, not sure how much a Samurai weighs on average, but let's say 2500 lbs. Also not sure where you're getting that 100hp figure - I've always heard 60-70hp for the 1.3l 8v and Wikipedia agrees with me, for whatever that's worth, so lets go with an optimistic 70hp.

2500 lbs / 70hp = ~35lb/hp

So, using your number of 160 lbs for the sammy motor and adding 100 lbs for the transmission and tcase (I'm pulling that outa my ass, feel free to provide cites for real world numbers), the sammy drivetrain that you're pulling out weighs 260 lbs. Again using your numbers, the 3VZE drivetrain we're putting in weighs 600 lbs. That's a net addition to the Samurai of 340 pounds. That's also a net addition of 75 hp (assuming a stock 145 hp for an early 3VZE - later models had 150). So...

2760 lbs / 145 hp = ~19lb/hp.

That's significant. That's more than doubling the horsepower under the hood, and nearly doubling the power to weight ratio. I dunno what world you're in, but it looks worth doing to me, assuming you like the 3.0 and you're willing to put in the work. There's probably better swaps out there, but if I had a project Sammy and a spare 3.0 kicking around, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Issues of drivetrain length and space under the hood can all be solved with a cutting wheel and BFH.

 

[SV_Dude]

KidV, why do you need to come in here with all your gee whiz math stuff and start making sense? We don't do that around here.

 

[airdreams1]

Dude I dont want to argue with you. Why dont you go look at a samurai in person & even possibly ride in one? You may learn something. the motor is tiny, trans is tiny. & the transfer is way tiny...... Similar in size to the Polaris side by side..... They about Same wheel base & track width....... I have owned 2 Samurais, & 10 VW's, 3 toyota 4x4's (2 were 3.0's), etc. 60+ vehicles in my life. Worked on all of them. I dont claim know everything, but hate when people think they do.

I said A Performance built 1.3 samurai motor with 10.1:1 compression will produce 100 HP... The motor weighs about 160 lbs.


Stock Suzuki Samurai specs.... Suzuki Samurai Specifications




Back to the OP.... Have you looked at the Jeep YJ suspension conversion? It makes tremendous difference in the way it rides, flexes. You can even stay spring under if you want. You can get the templates online to make the brackets or just buy them.
Also If you can weld, you can get a full cage kit for about $350. wish I could find something that cheap for the 4runner.

 

[riverview]

I have way less into my samurai that a polaris ranger a couple of years ago I was looking at side by side utv and was blow away by the price and quality and I bought a Honda mini truck it was ok but not very heavy duty. I had a problem snapping front cv shafts when ever the front end would come off the ground and hitting the ground with power on. I sold that and bought my samurai. I like the divorced transfer case and I had it on a scale 2179 lbs with me in it. to me it is a street legal utv

 

[airdreams1]

yep.... But it has a windshield & heat.

 

[airdreams1]

Oh & make sure to replace the shift bushing in the transfer case.... If it goes out you will get locked in neutral & not be able to go anywhere!

Samurai Transfer Case Shifter Sheet - Samurai Instructions - Instructions

 

[thatoneguy]

Ok, not sure how much a Samurai weighs on average, but let's say 2500 lbs. Also not sure where you're getting that 100hp figure - I've always heard 60-70hp for the 1.3l 8v and Wikipedia agrees with me, for whatever that's worth, so lets go with an optimistic 70hp.

2500 lbs / 70hp = ~35lb/hp

So, using your number of 160 lbs for the sammy motor and adding 100 lbs for the transmission and tcase (I'm pulling that outa my ass, feel free to provide cites for real world numbers), the sammy drivetrain that you're pulling out weighs 260 lbs. Again using your numbers, the 3VZE drivetrain we're putting in weighs 600 lbs. That's a net addition to the Samurai of 340 pounds. That's also a net addition of 75 hp (assuming a stock 145 hp for an early 3VZE - later models had 150). So...

2760 lbs / 145 hp = ~19lb/hp.

That's significant. That's more than doubling the horsepower under the hood, and nearly doubling the power to weight ratio. I dunno what world you're in, but it looks worth doing to me, assuming you like the 3.0 and you're willing to put in the work. There's probably better swaps out there, but if I had a project Sammy and a spare 3.0 kicking around, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Issues of drivetrain length and space under the hood can all be solved with a cutting wheel and BFH.

Yay! You typed up some math before I did!

Seriously, a 3.0 5 speed Sami sounds like a bad *****. One tire fires for daaays

 

[nevada]

Yay! You typed up some math before I did!

Seriously, a 3.0 5 speed Sami sounds like a bad *****. One tire fires for daaays

is there enough room under the hood to do the annual head gaskets without pulling the engine?:yo:

 

[Footofgod]

yep.... But it has a windshield & heat.

Heat, not so much in that cab.