Hey just in case anybody's interested, thought I would document my super budget build (almost $0) samurai project.

I've had these sitting in my driveway for like a year, and can't stand it anymore. Army truck axles deserve a better life under a samurai. The plan is three link front with airbags on the links, don't know about the rear yet, maybe just leaves for a while. As the title implies, this is gonna take awhile- building it in my spare time and when I can't windsurf and when it's not raining.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs906.snc4/71950_163250523699209_100000427869518_406167_82978 09_n.jpg

Probably have to run the stock tires for awhile too :( as I mentioned there is almost no money for this project- just a welder running on solar panels and batteries!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs944.snc4/73781_163730153651246_100000427869518_409241_78820 01_n.jpg


Oh, and it WILL be 4wd before it's on the road!

looks cool......i like the width of the axles.......keep it going

I made a little progress this weekend, roughed in the link mounts and link lengths. I used 2" tubing, 1/4" thick so hopefully it can handle the airbags mounted around halfway down. Lower links are poly bushings at the frame and trail gear creeper joints at the axle, upper link is 2 creeper joints.

Next will be panhard/steering, followed by the front driveshaft......someday :D


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs599.ash2/155159_173948849296043_100000427869518_470714_2479 526_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs817.snc4/69786_173948819296046_100000427869518_470713_42468 13_n.jpg


And hopefully this is where the bag will be mounted, once I figure out mounts.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs711.snc4/63099_173948882629373_100000427869518_470715_51052 32_n.jpg


Also, while i've read lots about link design, I honestly just put stuff where it fits, and i'll change it later if it sucks.

Plan on changing when your done :D

make some adjustable brackets and maybe you'll save yourself some extra work in the future.

That's probably a good idea, but my lowers are fixed points at both ends.... I think I can change pretty much with the upper though, it has 4 options at the frame and 2 at the axle.

Wow. Not quite a year and I finally got the samurai back into the shop :shaking:.
Just got my "big block" 1.6 liter adapter kit in with the sidekick block installed

Finally working on the steering/panhard bar. Probably going to mount a sidekick power steering box outside the frame rail to get a little extra length out of the draglink.

Anybody got a passenger side dana 60 hi steer arm on island?

i cant wait to see it in action... should be a good example of low $$$ and high adrenaline...