I have a 86 Samurai that is in great shape but stock, its my second sammy so I know its potential. After reading blogs about which way to go on its build im starting to question if the tracker is the better option for me so I need some input please. First of all I'm not after a rock buggy been there done that with Sammys, jeeps and Toyota's. My last build was a 97 Land Rover Discovery that was built to the max and loved it, mostly the a/c and smooth comfortable ride in all conditions but I had to move and forced the sale. I'm again after an expedition level vehicle like the rover with some comfort but smaller. The sammy down fall is that doesn't have a/c and with the worn 1.3 its under powered but is less technical and easier for trail repairs. I want to run 31" or 33" tires so gears for either are a given. I want to haul it in an enclosed 14"utility trailer which the sammy fits and assume the tracker will too. It appears that the tracker could be much more comfortable and powerful for the build do you guys agree? The trackers reliabilty seems to be good from posts I've read.
Samurai or Tracker
mtnranger
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I have a 86 Samurai that is in great shape but stock, its my second sammy so I know its potential. After reading blogs about which way to go on its build im starting to question if the tracker is the better option for me so I need some input please. First of all I'm not after a rock buggy been there done that with Sammys, jeeps and Toyota's. My last build was a 97 Land Rover Discovery that was built to the max and loved it, mostly the a/c and smooth comfortable ride in all conditions but I had to move and forced the sale. I'm again after an expedition level vehicle like the rover with some comfort but smaller. The sammy down fall is that doesn't have a/c and with the worn 1.3 its under powered but is less technical and easier for trail repairs. I want to run 31" or 33" tires so gears for either are a given. I want to haul it in an enclosed 14"utility trailer which the sammy fits and assume the tracker will too. It appears that the tracker could be much more comfortable and powerful for the build do you guys agree? The trackers reliabilty seems to be good from posts I've read.
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With the tracker you wouldn't have to do an engine swap!
They are a little larger though,maybe someone on here can measure theirs.
They are a little larger though,maybe someone on here can measure theirs.
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The problems with wanting to run 33's on a tracker is the IFS front is going to be your weak link. Yes, there's a lot you can do to make it stronger, but you would be better off going with a SAS on it, where the sami already has that. Plus, I think it's a little easier to fit 33's under a sami than a tracker, but that's just me.
Whats more important, a tried and true platform thats fairly cheep to build, or modern day creature comforts?
Whats more important, a tried and true platform thats fairly cheep to build, or modern day creature comforts?
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An SAS is easier than an EFI engine swap...
just throwing ideas out...
just throwing ideas out...
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So hear is another thought for you (gave another answer on the other forum too).
What is your wheeling style, and ride preference?
Do you like technical trails with rocks, logs etc, or are you more of a bomber, like faster fire service roads, whoops, dunes and dirt?
The tracker will excel at the higher speed stuff, where the samurai will beat the shit out of you. The Tracker will take the windy back roads, dirt trails, and fire service roads allot faster/smoother too. The ride IFS gives you in a track/kick is going to be far superior to the samurai's.
Now, if you like slow technical trails, steep stuff, lots of ruts, and holes to climb in and out of, a few rocks etc, the samurai is going to be the better choice. Where the samurai will crawl over a big log that is sideways in the road one tire after the other a lot like a gecko, all the wheels will stick to the ground and give you excellent traction.
When a tracker encounters stuff like this, the lower wheel won't have enough droop to keep in contact with the ground, and you will three wheel over certain obstacles (not a problem if you have a locker).
So it really depends on the terrain you want to do. An ifs rig with a little more travel than stock can be a very very sweet, fun kick ass ride, but they are definitely application specific like the samurai.
Now with some fab work, or a some coin spent on kits, you can get the best of both worlds, although it takes some time and money. If I wanted the best ride and creature comforts I could get in a compact 4x4 I would go track/kick and build the ifs to be capable while keeping the ride and go-fast ability.
Of course all of this is a moot point if it won't fit in your trailer :flipoff2:
A good link http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=958803&page=1
I'm sure you've seen it, bu check out post 56, Atari4X4's rig. He's made the IFS capable. Drop him a PM and see what he has to say. He may be able to enlighten you even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side of his rig.
Check this thread
What is your wheeling style, and ride preference?
Do you like technical trails with rocks, logs etc, or are you more of a bomber, like faster fire service roads, whoops, dunes and dirt?
The tracker will excel at the higher speed stuff, where the samurai will beat the shit out of you. The Tracker will take the windy back roads, dirt trails, and fire service roads allot faster/smoother too. The ride IFS gives you in a track/kick is going to be far superior to the samurai's.
Now, if you like slow technical trails, steep stuff, lots of ruts, and holes to climb in and out of, a few rocks etc, the samurai is going to be the better choice. Where the samurai will crawl over a big log that is sideways in the road one tire after the other a lot like a gecko, all the wheels will stick to the ground and give you excellent traction.
When a tracker encounters stuff like this, the lower wheel won't have enough droop to keep in contact with the ground, and you will three wheel over certain obstacles (not a problem if you have a locker).
So it really depends on the terrain you want to do. An ifs rig with a little more travel than stock can be a very very sweet, fun kick ass ride, but they are definitely application specific like the samurai.
Now with some fab work, or a some coin spent on kits, you can get the best of both worlds, although it takes some time and money. If I wanted the best ride and creature comforts I could get in a compact 4x4 I would go track/kick and build the ifs to be capable while keeping the ride and go-fast ability.
Of course all of this is a moot point if it won't fit in your trailer :flipoff2:
A good link http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=958803&page=1
I'm sure you've seen it, bu check out post 56, Atari4X4's rig. He's made the IFS capable. Drop him a PM and see what he has to say. He may be able to enlighten you even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side of his rig.
Check this thread
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If you want more space get the 4dr track/kick. I'm sure I will get heat for this but a 2 dr track kick would be a dumb move over a Sammi. It will take more money to make it wheel like a samurai. Let's face it the IFS just plain sucks on the track/kicks. Now if they did a double a-arm style suspension they would have been a huge hit with the off road crowd but Suzuki seriously dropped the ball and put a strut in the front. For the money nothing beats a samurai. Some may think that the IFS on the track kick would be great for bombing fire roads but with like 5" of travel I would take almost anything with more power than the 90 hp the track kick has.
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Either way the 16 valves can flat move ;D
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I Have built sammys and trackers. And let me tell you that putting a solid axle( your choice of axle)under the tracker , is a lot easier than putting the efi in a sammy. The tracker is bigger, nicer interior and a lot more comfortable. plus has factory a/c for those hot days. I have wheeled the 8 valve 1.6 but prefer the 16 valve. but more support for the 8 valve when it comes to making more power. it easier to add a turbo/ headers/ stuff like that to the 8 valve. and the biggest reason is price you can get a super nice tracker for cheap if you look around. and there are plenty of them out there
I will always build a tracker/sidekick before a sam. , but it is all up to what you want.
I fit 33/10.50's pretty good with a SAS spring under w/ YJ springs. 12.50s fit but rub the springs at full turn, but not bad at all. they have lived for 6 months, so far so good. I left the front open and run birfield rings. but we don't have a lot of rocks where we wheel. we do have some but not extreme rocks. and another factor is your driving style. if you are heavy on the right foot. just use yota axles with some upgrades and you won't have a problem
I will always build a tracker/sidekick before a sam. , but it is all up to what you want.
I fit 33/10.50's pretty good with a SAS spring under w/ YJ springs. 12.50s fit but rub the springs at full turn, but not bad at all. they have lived for 6 months, so far so good. I left the front open and run birfield rings. but we don't have a lot of rocks where we wheel. we do have some but not extreme rocks. and another factor is your driving style. if you are heavy on the right foot. just use yota axles with some upgrades and you won't have a problem
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The width to the outside of the fenders on a samurai is about 55 inches. The widest point on a sidekick is 60 inches. The fender flare mounts on the samy can be removed to make it narrower, nothing much you can do to make the sidekick narrower.
If I could do it over I would build a two door sidekick and sas it, they are way more comfortable for a big dude like me to wheel around in. Instead I have a clanky old sammy with the 1.6 swapped in. Still love it but.....
If I could do it over I would build a two door sidekick and sas it, they are way more comfortable for a big dude like me to wheel around in. Instead I have a clanky old sammy with the 1.6 swapped in. Still love it but.....
Height in the trailer could be an issue but it has 6' clearance and I can always air down for travel. As far as width goes I can put the Sammy in to one side now and open the drivers door easily and get out so I think the Tracker will fit. I like the 4 door option but that Atari rig down under is sweet. Like I said no more rock buggies but for me, If it can do fire roads in colorado (black bear, Poughkeepsie Gultch/Alpine loop and most of Moab that Track/Kick with with 31's or an optional SAS or 33's might be the ticket. A/C in Moab and Missouri would be great for a daily driver too.
toyota
So I know I am rocking the boat,but is a 80's 4runner an option? I have a sami built as a crawler and a 86' runner as a daily. I don't think the runner is any wider than a kick and I know it's not 14' long. It has 3'rds from a v-6 auto (4.88) which are cheap. And runs 31's with pleasure. 33's would fit no problem,ball joint spacers and springs and it would even articulate better than any kick ifs upgrades.Top comes off,and parts are cheap and plentiful. Just a thought.One more thing FACTORY ac works killer even after 24 yrs of service.
So I know I am rocking the boat,but is a 80's 4runner an option? I have a sami built as a crawler and a 86' runner as a daily. I don't think the runner is any wider than a kick and I know it's not 14' long. It has 3'rds from a v-6 auto (4.88) which are cheap. And runs 31's with pleasure. 33's would fit no problem,ball joint spacers and springs and it would even articulate better than any kick ifs upgrades.Top comes off,and parts are cheap and plentiful. Just a thought.One more thing FACTORY ac works killer even after 24 yrs of service.
I'm going to say the sami... and I've just made this choice myself
my desission didn't involve any of the debate about motor swop or SAS all I wanted was a body, I'm building the rest
Character..... the sami has it, it is a 4wd, it feels like a 4wd when you sit in it... the scud (you call em trackers) is a car that someone tried to give steriods too, it has plastic trim and round pannels that look crap when they are beat on or snapped, it gets stuck halfway accross a river or a bog... how keen are you to open that door and hook up a strop think of your carpets and fancy electric do dads.... now are you really gona take that line, you know the one thats a bit sketchy, you might get stuck could flop over, but you can see that line... if you hit it just right..... Oh hang on your in a car, oh well theres always the safe line :flipoff2:
:laughing: I have built a tracker up.. the front diff is easily fixed change the front housing to a steel case grand vitara one and steel diff nugget (they are real common in the UK) then all you have to worry about is CV's but with a simple mod you can setup the long side to be bolt on same as the short side then its a trail side fix... but its still a car
Cheers Reece
my desission didn't involve any of the debate about motor swop or SAS all I wanted was a body, I'm building the rest
Character..... the sami has it, it is a 4wd, it feels like a 4wd when you sit in it... the scud (you call em trackers) is a car that someone tried to give steriods too, it has plastic trim and round pannels that look crap when they are beat on or snapped, it gets stuck halfway accross a river or a bog... how keen are you to open that door and hook up a strop think of your carpets and fancy electric do dads.... now are you really gona take that line, you know the one thats a bit sketchy, you might get stuck could flop over, but you can see that line... if you hit it just right..... Oh hang on your in a car, oh well theres always the safe line :flipoff2:
:laughing: I have built a tracker up.. the front diff is easily fixed change the front housing to a steel case grand vitara one and steel diff nugget (they are real common in the UK) then all you have to worry about is CV's but with a simple mod you can setup the long side to be bolt on same as the short side then its a trail side fix... but its still a car
Cheers Reece
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Aren't they called the hair dressers car over there :flipoff2:
I kinda like 'em for bombing around and high speed stuff...like a rally with some trails mixed in, you can't beat the ride with a samurai. However, I will always have a built sammy, I dunno I just love the little thing.
I kinda like 'em for bombing around and high speed stuff...like a rally with some trails mixed in, you can't beat the ride with a samurai. However, I will always have a built sammy, I dunno I just love the little thing.
:laughing: na our hair dressers seem to like old (cheap and braking down) euros like merc's and Bwm'ers
Most of the escudo's are cheap wife wagons to pick up the kids or get groccery's and the odd one out playing
don't think I'd call this a car anylonger
Cheers Reece
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