SJ Samurai Revival
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:45 pm
Tame stuff compared to some on here but I thought I would post up a few pictures of my SJ Samurai. Not quite as pretty as it was when I first got it back on the road in Feb.
It started out as an ebay indiscretion, bid low, didn't expect to win, bought unseen. It had been used to pull a boat in and out of the sea so body rot was a serious issue although the chassis was good.
5kg of mig wire
and a few quid later I've got a rust free fun car 
As it was a restoration on a tight budget I've kept it fairly standard
The bolts where totally seized into the spring bushes so I went for poly bushes which were an easy fit, whether they have improved the car I don't know. Something I've not seen before but the castellated nuts on the front suspension and steering had virtually rusted away and needed urgent replacement.
Although it came with 2 soft tops I fitted a ebay bargain hardtop if only for additional security.
Nothing much done under the bonnet, the car has only done 60k miles and had recently had a cam belt change. Only addition was a Vitara power steering set-up and a good service.
Took a while to get the Aisin carb set-up properly but now it is, its running well. I have an SU Carb to fit but right now it ain't broke so I'm holding off fixing it.
Inside needed a complete refurb, making a replacement vinyl tunnel cover etc was fun.
The leather seats, these days I have to have leather
, came out of a Hyundai Coupe and once welded to the Suzuki Subframe fit well, look good (though I say it myself) and are very comfortable.
The rear seats came out as being fairly pointless (although I have kept them just in case) and to give a reasonable load space, and the front a rear floors got nice new ribbed rubber matting.
Fitted new rear brakes and pipes, new rear shocks and a rear wheel bearing. Changed all the oils and off it went for a first time MOT pass with no advisories.
So there we have it, not very exciting but its another 20+ year old Suzuki saved from the scrappers, which has load of life left in it yet.
It started out as an ebay indiscretion, bid low, didn't expect to win, bought unseen. It had been used to pull a boat in and out of the sea so body rot was a serious issue although the chassis was good.
5kg of mig wire
and a few quid later I've got a rust free fun car As it was a restoration on a tight budget I've kept it fairly standard
The bolts where totally seized into the spring bushes so I went for poly bushes which were an easy fit, whether they have improved the car I don't know. Something I've not seen before but the castellated nuts on the front suspension and steering had virtually rusted away and needed urgent replacement.
Although it came with 2 soft tops I fitted a ebay bargain hardtop if only for additional security.
Nothing much done under the bonnet, the car has only done 60k miles and had recently had a cam belt change. Only addition was a Vitara power steering set-up and a good service.
Took a while to get the Aisin carb set-up properly but now it is, its running well. I have an SU Carb to fit but right now it ain't broke so I'm holding off fixing it.
Inside needed a complete refurb, making a replacement vinyl tunnel cover etc was fun.
The leather seats, these days I have to have leather
, came out of a Hyundai Coupe and once welded to the Suzuki Subframe fit well, look good (though I say it myself) and are very comfortable. 
The rear seats came out as being fairly pointless (although I have kept them just in case) and to give a reasonable load space, and the front a rear floors got nice new ribbed rubber matting.
Fitted new rear brakes and pipes, new rear shocks and a rear wheel bearing. Changed all the oils and off it went for a first time MOT pass with no advisories.
So there we have it, not very exciting but its another 20+ year old Suzuki saved from the scrappers, which has load of life left in it yet.
