[Guest]

Hi all. I am new to this board and I need a little advise. I just put my bone stock 1987 Samurai back on the road after not using it for the last four years. In the four years it was sitting I forgot how woefully underpowered it is especially on the interstate going up hill. I need to do something to increase it's power but still keep it emissions legal.

The exhaust system will need to be repaced soon so I would assume a header would be the first order of business. Are there any other tips you could give?

I bought the Samurai new in 1987 so I know it's history. It has one hundred fourty thousand miles on it. I replaced the transmission bearings with sealed ones years ago and replaced the carb with a reman unit once. Thats all I had to do to it in all these years. It has been a good truck.

I will say that the stock springs suck. They have lost the arch and are basically flat. Needless to say better springs with a lift are in order.

Thanks for your time.
Jon

 

[1339]

Get a few hundred miles on it with a couple of quick oil changes to give it a chance to loosen any sticky
rings. Then do a compression check. Unless the bottom end is in decent shape I wouldn't recomend
too many bolt on HP fixes. you would probably not gain much from it and/or would blow the ring out if you
do.

What you can do depends on what your state will allow. As far as I know, only the Thorely header is CARB
certified. check to see what your state requires before buying. A flow thru CAT won't hurt performance like
the screen type, and they are available in the small size a zook uses, as a universal CAT.

If you just have to meet tailpipe emmissions talk to sarge about getting one of his tweeked webers and intakes.
He is good at getting the setup right.

The stock springs do suck, but at static ride height they are suposed to be flat (from the factory). Lots
of options here. but first define what you want out of the rig. that will help you select a more suitable
solution for your particular application. SPOA or SPUA, rears up front, CJ/YJ, Aftermarket springs, the list is
long! Let your requirements drive the choice. And of course shock and steering mods go hand in hand with
ride height changes.

 

[zooky]

put in a 16v engine

 

[CTBrent]

I would't bother trying to get power out of it. With that said, I'd learn to love that it has no power and drive it until it dies. It's stock, you don't want anything from it do you, IE keeping it stock? I'd accept that it is not a quick or peppy machine and putt around with it.

 

[1558]

In reply to:

put in a 16v engine

[/ QUOTE ]

Better yet, put a no valve engine in it.

 

[Guest]

Guys, thanks for your input. I will drive it for a while to shake all the cobbwebs loose then tinker with it.

I will investigate an engine swap for the future and just leave the one in it alone. Sure would like fuel injection over that frankenstein carb.

As for the stock springs I should say that they are so flat they actually bend the other way! New ones are definetley in order.

Thanks Again
Jon