The pumpkin might disagree with you on that one. I just don't think you'll be able to move the perches *that* far inboard...unless you don't mind the axle being offset to one side a few inches...
That's the one I've ridden with a few times at Windrock...It's possible, but with the amount of fab work invovled not very practicle. I also have watched Sammis on toy axles and 35's spank ass on stuff with tons/rockwells/etc.. and 44's. When you're starting out to build something it's hard to grasp how much the weight of something is going to effect it, but build something that weighs a lot and you'll figure it out quickly.
I like the sound of this project, pm me and I'll meet you somewhere. I just live off of hwy 73 near Lake Howell (down from Odell School). I'm sitting on pretty much the same set up you're talking about 'cept in a CJ. I lean'n toward kicking my frontend out right now about 6-10". I like things that are completely custom and off the wall .
Scott
They are right about the front to, the perch is part of the pumpkin on that side. I got around that on mine by narrowing the long side 4" and the springs sat right on the perches (spring over) with the same stickout on each side. Or, do the 'yota thing or make a full width kit for it.
Worked on it all day today, pulled the motor and all the running gear (except for the axles) and started ripping out all the electrical stuff and anything else I could find that wasn't body, will pick up the 302 saturday most likely, but for now there's not much else I can do till i make some $$$.
As far as the axles go, I wont be able to pick them up for a while because of school but when i get em i will have to check out the perches.
Completly finished ripping everything out, took off the dash and ripped everything out from behind it, there is officially nothing left but body/and a dash now. I guess there's no place left to go but back up! Will post some pics tommorow probably of it all gutted.
Well, since you've gone all "Pimp my Ride" on the Sami and stripped it down it is prolly a bit late to give any advice.....but
If it were me, I would take the Sami, fix what was wrong with it. Take the rest of your liquid assests and buy a tow rig. You would not have needed much due to the size of the Zuk. Then you could wheel and modify as needed based on what you were using it for.
If you are going to build it up in the air, you will eventually need a tow vehicle to get it anywhere. For one, it will not be legal on the streets, and two, that small a vehicle up that high will be very unstable on the roads.
From a Sami owner/driver of 17 yrs. ....DON'T DO IT!.. ..too late, I know.
Now...
I run a zook w/ CJ/RUF and SPOA. I'm roughly 7.5" over stock height. I still have my old 30s and they'll do fine ( get ALL the flex ) until they wear out and I get 32s. I tried a buds set of 34s and they were too big for my lift ( and gearing)w/out loosing the bumper and trimming.
So , I would imagine that you would need around 15" (minimum) and leave the body lift. And depending on the flex....Samis can get some MAD flex.... you may still have to cut.
IMHO....If I wanted that much work on a zook, I'd buggy it.
You'll be limiting the capability of the axles and engine by trying to leave it that much zook.
btw-I am close to being a purest and really wouldn't even consider yotas unless I was going waaay hardcore.
i see more sammys on 31-32'' kickin ass then any sammi on bigger tires. dint waste your time with all that extra work. just wheel it with sammi drive train.
Yea, I aint tryin to knock on the small samurai's, the guy named eric who invited me and the rest of Beast Inc up to his mud bog over christmas had a samurai that did just about as well as my truck did. I just want to build as close to a fullsize rig as i can without making it too ridiculous.
BTW....
Whatcha gonna do w/ all the stuff you take off? If ya need somebody to haul away all those Sami parts.....gimme a PM. I'd be interested.
D-shafts and axles would be good as spares. PM me about any/all of it.
...just pm me...
Will this rig be built for MUD? I think thats all it will be good for especially if you manage to get everything to fit. Have you figured out what type of driveshafts will work yet? I can almost tell you (NOTHING). Again samis aren't built for big wheeling. you should try to keep it light and small the closer the wheel length the smaller the tiresize.
I have seen a 53 willis with 44's on it
a 81 toy with 18 inches of lift and some really huge tires
and neither were wheelable very much at least.
but really fun in the mud.
the reason was the lift was so high to clear the tires that it was way too top heavy.
the jeep had a flat one day and when he pulled off the road to fix it he rolled into the
ditch on his side. same principle except your gonna be a little wider I guess.
we used to use the tires as a ladder to get in the willis.
it practically floated in the mud though with 44's had a 351 under the hood at a
severe downward angle to help with drive line angles in the rear.
you didn't have to wrry about getting high centered since the wheels were about
25 inches apart. it hopped like a rabbit if you went over 30 miles per hour as well
your wheel base will be a big concern with those big meats under a sami. So stretching
it will probably be a (have too) for it the even be wheel able. or you'll be rolling it over backwards or forwards constantly.
i have been watching this thread latley and see that most pp are telling you the same thing and i agree.
i think your biggest problem is the length. you NEED to stretch it, especially with that big of meat under a sammy. WOW. i put 40s on my jeep and needed to stretch it and i wouldn't go higher. your just asking alot for that little thing.
if you do it. id like to see it
Yea well I'm still gathering parts, need a 5.0 and the AOD, but of course i need $ first. But anyway once I get those parts I will start designing stuff. I got distracted here lately and put a sound system in my daily driver buick .
While your at gathering parts I hope you are thinking about strengthening the frame as well. By the time you have finished this thing you could have went and bought a jeep body and frame put your parts on an wheeled it. It's not impossible to build this thing but do you have any experience with welding, engineering or swaping something like this around? You do understand that when you cut the firewall out it will need to strengthen it as well? When you put tires and axles like that on something that small with an engine that big other parts of the frame will need to be strengthen as well. Basically you need to cut the hood and front half of the frame and body off cut the firewall out and lengthen the frame. Your going to have way more money and time into this that buying a K5 X 4 especially if you don't already have all skills needed. I'm not trying to make fun of you at all just hope you know the direction it's going?
I just don't think you'll be able to move the perches *that* far inboard...unless you don't mind the axle being offset to one side a few inches...
. 
..too late, I know.
) until they wear out and I get 32s. I tried a buds set of 34s and they were too big for my lift ( and gearing)w/out loosing the bumper and trimming.
.
