I'm sure there are plenty of people running them, and I tried the search function and it didn't really help.

What I wanted to know was: What lift requirements would I need to run them on a Sami? They are currently on my YJ, SOA on stock YJ springs with a Chevy S-10 add-a-leaf and they stuff fine. The Sami will also get a SOA conversion and already has chopped fenders (I'm not afraid to chop more if need be!)

Seeing as how the 35" BFG MT's measure a true 33" tire, I figure that I'll probably go with a 4.16 gearset in the t-case and 5.38 gears in the pigs with Lock Rights front and rear. This will be a trail only vehicle (ok.... MAYBE I'll drive it to go get dinner or ice cream.... )

What seems to work well for 33's on a Sami? Would this drivetrain combo do OK for East Coast wheeling, or should I gear higher (numerically lower) in the pigs for wheelspeed on muddy/wet/mossy rocks like there is in Tellico. I figure with my YJ, if I needed rock crawling speed, I went to first gear, if I needed a little wheelspeed, that's what the other gears were for... :)


Matt (really thinking I'm going to like having a Sami... every mod I've looked at seems SO much cheaper than a comparable mod in a YJ!!!!!!)

If it´s trail only, why the fawk would you even think of using BFGs?!?!?!? There are SO many better trail tires out there, particularly if you run a lot of wet and mud. I had BFG 33s on my Zuk for a while and they sucked. Better stated, they didn´t suck, they just slipped...:D

For a trail rig, or even for a 50-50 mixed used rig, the only choice is Interco Tire. There´s no reason to go different...

As far as gear ratios are concerned, I´ll let you do the math for your application, but I´ll tell you what I have and my experience for reference...

I´m running 4.88 diffs thru a 4.87 t-case, spinning 35 x 15.5 TSL/SX. I´ve got torque to spare in first gear, but lack wheel speed in reverse to effectively clean the tread. I run in a lot of deep mud.

HTH

:beer: :beer:

Originally posted by billj
If it´s trail only, why the fawk would you even think of using BFGs?!?!?!?


Because I already have them and they have decent tread left. I don't see any sense in trying to sell them and lose money on them when I can run them until they die. I'd rather spend the money I would have spent on tires on something else, like gears. Once they complete their life cycle, I'll probably go with 34" Swamper LTB's, but you are right, Interco is the WAY TO GO.

Matt

Explained perfectly... Gotta run what you got...:D

In that case, depending on your hill climbing vs. mud bogging ratio, I´d go light on the gears in order to maintain tire speed.

:beer: :beer:

Sounds to me like you got it all figured out on your own.
I forsee a clutch upgrade in your future as well...

Originally posted by Hank
Sounds to me like you got it all figured out on your own.
I forsee a clutch upgrade in your future as well...

Well, I am a newbie when it comes to Sami's, but I'm a pretty seasoned vet when it comes to YJ's, so I know what works in that realm, but it doesn't necessarily mean jack in the Sami world.

When you say a clutch upgrade, how do you mean? Are the stock Sami clutches no good? I'd have figured that with the lower gears, the motor would not have to work as hard and thus, less strain on the clutch. Is my thinking off base? In doing some reasearch, the Centerforce clutch isn't THAT much more than a stocker, so I'd probably go that route, but I've heard they are pretty tough. Not something you can just "slip the clutch" go get over an obstacle. It's like a switch, either on or off.

Thanks to everyone for the help, and not pouncing on the newbie!!! (I tried to do as much research as I could before asking "dumb" questions)

Matt

I'd sell the BFG's now if you plan to run the toughest trails. If you run them & slice one, then you will have lost more money. Also, Swampers are much heavier than the BFG's so you could go ahead & gear for them, possibly saving money also byt not having to do it later.

Besides, you said yourself that you are saving money modifying your Samurai (over your YJ) so coming up with the dough for the Swampers shouldn't be a big deal, right? ;)

FFIW: I had a set of 35" BFG M/T's with a GRS II and 5.29 gears. It wasn't slow enough for me :p

Well, I do have a set of 35x15.50 SX's sitting out in the shed... I'd just have to buy them from my girlfriend. (how many guys can say THAT?!?!?!?) She bought them to go on her YJ project, but that is now sold, but the tires are still there. She wants to buy my YJ off of me and put the Swampers on it, but I have the set of 15x12" rims to mate up to them. Only downside to the rims is that they are 4" BS rims and that won't play nice with the Suzuki without some 1" spacers, adn that's a LOT of stress to put on those light weight axles (I think). To me, it's easier to just let her have the Swampers and I'll run the BFG's to save on weight and wear/tear on the axles.

Should I reconsider?

Matt

Originally posted by ManglerYJ


Should I reconsider?

Not unless you like changing axles more than wheeling :D

Originally posted by ManglerYJ
Should I reconsider?

Matt



Yup - go ahead & save yourself the headache - get some Toy or Dana axles Now :D

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER




Yup - go ahead & save yourself the headache - get some Toy or Dana axles Now :D

Well, for that matter, I have a Scout Dana44 and a Travellall Dana60 in the back yard right now that I could put in, but that's kind of defeating my "lightweight rockcrawler" concept....

They are both geared 3.73, and the rear is welded, so they would make a decent setup right out of the box, but I think I'll stick to lightweight for now.

Matt

You are going to need to prioritze your mods inline with your goals and budget of course, but here are some of my $.02 recs.

Think about 6:1 or 5.8:1 tcase gears and skipping the axle gears. Total cost (especially if you have to pay someone to setup the gears) will probably be lower, and if/when you upgrade axles you wont eat the R&P gear $$.

Just run what ya got on the tires for now. There are more pressing causes for your cash. Do a YJ SOA lift with missing links or S/R and pound/trim and they should work. Dont forget shocks and steering mods in you budget.

I agree on your thinking toward mud/crawling and gears...yeah 1st is too low in mud, but that is what 3rd is for. :D

If you plan on running a tire any bigger than a 33" on a Samurai you should upgrade the axles. The stock axles/birfields are tiny and just aren't up to the task of 35's. Plus, IF you were to run 35's on the Sammy with stock axles, you would have to get some custom baskspaced wheels (2" range) to keep the tires off the springs, which inturn adds more stress to everything. I ran 33x12.50 Goodyear MT's on 15x8's with 2" backspacing for about a year before I broke a birfield, but when I did finally break it, I swapped in Toyota axles and 35" MT/R's. Just my $0.02. ~Steve

Hey shrock and squirlman both speek the truth !


1) Upgrade the t-case ! Can be used after an axle upgrade

2) Don't go over 33" (off brand) on the tires and id even say no bigger than 31s for tellico tpye stuff, i had my zuke there on 31s and even mild wet rocks require wheel spin. big tires on stock axles + wheel spin dont mix well...

Who ever said to proritize is right on !!!

I'm 7 months into a 3 week long minor upgrade.

It will rock when its done but i now have lots of toy parts, gears, power steering, and lots or oher junk that probable put it into a YJ $ realm...

Its all in what you wanting out of it... I decided to go this route...

If you like the stout'ness of the zuke as is get some good 31s and pound on it....

Good luck
-yag

Yeah I was kinda assuming an axle upgrade was coming anyway. If you want to keep the stock axles long term, definitely 33's or less. The 32 TSL SX would be a sweet tire or I've heard that the 32 Radial TSL does well also.

To answer the tire question, I have 35x12.5 BFG ATs on my Sami. It is SOA w/ wrangler springs, SR, full width Toy axles. It stuffs them perfectly (very slight rubbing), and the fenders aren't cut at all. The springs are pretty flat too. I am thinking about cutting the fenders up and using my 36" TSLs, but the BFG ATs are actually a good tire for the dry sandstone type stuff we have here. You have to worry less about sidewalls on a light Sami too. My BFGs have only needed one plug. I have the 4.16 gears in the t-case, and I wish I was lower. With 5.29s in the axle and the 6:1 gears, it'd be nice.

Originally posted by Shrock
Yeah I was kinda assuming an axle upgrade was coming anyway. If you want to keep the stock axles long term, definitely 33's or less. The 32 TSL SX would be a sweet tire or I've heard that the 32 Radial TSL does well also.

Before I went to 35" TSL/SX tires on Danas, I ran 32" SXs for 02 years on the stock axles. Loved the setup...



:beer: :beer:

Maybe they measure a true 33" on your worn 35's, I measured a brand new 35 on an 8" wheel and it was about 34.7... Close enough for me. and yes I will be running 35" BFG's or MTR's depending on what I can get cheaper.