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Suzuki Samurai My First 4x4


Gummybr

21,752 views

Work from home with the curfew being imposed gives me a bit of time to write on my new vehicle. 

I have so far owned only cars and I have always been am ardent fan of 4WD's so I was on the look out for a vehicle when I was getting rid of the Fit Gp1. I wanted something that is reliable and something that could be used as a daily drive. This time I didnt mind going for a 3 door vehicle as my brother was going to be out of the country for a years period and I could use his vehicle to transport my parents. So I had a look at the quick ad website and found a Toyota Land Cruiser BJ70 (Short wheel base coil spring model) ex army auction vehicle. It was advertised at a home so I picked up the phone and called him up only to find that he had given it to  car sale in Malabe to sell. Asking price was also ok so I went and had a look, vehicle was very well restored but when I took it for a test drive I was shocked to see how bad it was mechanically. It would pull hard to the left when I pressed the brake at low speeds and it was scary. So what I did was I spoke to my relative running a garage and asked how much I will have to spend to sort out the brakes, luckily for me one of his wife's relatives is a big LC fan and he had restored one of these and I was told to get in touch with him. No sooner I told him the details he gave the full back ground story, and he asked me to look a round a bit more.

Look around was what I did and low and behold this Suzuki Samurai pops out from no where. I have been an big fan of the Suzuki's and I had so much of literature on the Suzuki's but this was something new as the ad said coil spring. So I did a bit of research and was happy to see that they came with electronic fuel distribution and 82hp engine. I dug into my stash and then I found the original brand new catalogue which bought me down to earth as it said 64hp and carburetor. I didnt want to let go of the chance so I immediately took a call to the previous owner and ensured that it was a personal vehicle and asked if he was in around Colombo to which he said yes and when I tried to go see the car he said that he didnt bring it and the vehicle is in Ambalangoda. So I asked my brother to accompany me all the way to Ambalangoda, at first it was going to be only the two of us but since they were going away for a year they wanted to go on an outing so the whole family went with me.

When I got to the previous owners place I got to know that he has a few more Samurai's / Jimny's with him and restoring these were his past time. So I asked if we could take the car for a spin to which he agreed. The first impressions were quite good it did have good pulling power and when asked he said that he has taken it on the highway and reached 120kmph. I of course didnt want to take a risk on a completely new 20+ year old vehicle with a very high center of gravity. So we did the negotiations and finally paid about 75,000 more than I anticipated but for that money I had a few off road goodies included which altogether was worth about Rs. 300,000/- which was a pretty good deal.

Kit Included,

1. 2" lift kit

2. Original Warn winch bumper

3. Whinch

4. Work lights

5. Original Suzuki for lamps

6. Roof rack

7. A brand new set of Maxxis Radial (In Australia they go as AT tires)

8. Working snorkel

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I was not a big fan of the external colour scheme and it was more of a "Thorombal Karaththe" look to it. I asked the previous owner why he went with that look and he said it was done during a phase of his life that he liked this colour scheme. Everyone has their own liking's. 

I took the car home through some scenic roads which included stops at some of my brother's friends and a waterfall and got back home in the evening. Very next day I took it to my relative and asked him if he could change the colour of the grille, door handles, wiper blades and mirrors as it was painted red and white instead of the original black. he agreed and so I proceeded to take off the stickers on the body.

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A change of plan came during the next week as the original book said Mettallic Blue, which according to the catalogue was a colour called Reddish Blue. So I went back and asked the garage to change the colour to the original colour as per the tag bit with a change only with the final coat which should be matt. There were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up and it was left at the garage for them to attend to all.

 

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The rains in October and November didnt help me one bit as it took them a long time to get it finished, and I was getting aggravated as I had planned to do the devil's staircase in November and was pushing them like crazy. It went to the extreme of me going and sitting in the garage on Saturdays observing the work. However two days before my trip I got the vehicle but disaster struck as the garage driver was stopped by police just taking the vehicle out of the garage without license and insurance. The next day I went and took the stuff and took the vehicle home and to fix a set of new wheels which I had planned. I took it all the way to bambarakanda but was not able to go up the devils stair case due to land slides etc. 

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I had ordered a set of new LED headlamps but they got delayed to come so I couldnt fix it on the first go.

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So coming down from Bambarakanda I lost one of the headlamp lenses which put back driving for a coupe of weeks until the LED's came. The end product is as follows,

IMG_20191111_083336.thumb.jpg.6b81b54a0c29dc031b3d462beac053a3.jpgFrom this, to this - 

IMG_20200324_085715.thumb.jpg.e1ce945e297aa2c3001af8e89290a777.jpg

IMG_20191229_185730.thumb.jpg.b41658b1e5dbae05a49e252cfd3358f8.jpg

IMG_20191229_185525.thumb.jpg.cb89fae32871b4140ebf1887de2dceb5.jpg

IMG_20191229_185704.thumb.jpg.f953db00798e4be9aa74932afb58f8a3.jpgIMG_20191229_185619.thumb.jpg.5be7cf1d26c4eb48096b7370aad2148b.jpg

 

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After doing all this the vehicle failed the Eco test, which I believed was due to the rich mixture going into the carb, so i got a friend from office to tune it and now it runs like a dream.

I was thinking of taking off all the red from the interior and decided against it as it would consume more time to get it back to the original. The previous owner has spent too much doing it up and he had done up the interior well enough and I didnt want to spoil it. maybe down the line if I come across a good interior I might be tempted but for now I'm keeping my disco interior.

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Thank you for this! In a world with hideous so called hatchbacks posing as 4x4s And mpg crap, value for money, euros 

This Is like therapy, made my day!

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Nice writeup.

So you stayed at Galapitayaya :) Have a very fond memory of one of the most stupid things I have done with devils Staircase.

BTW the car looks much better with the original color scheme. This one is 1.6cc right? 

 

 

Edited by GK_007
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40 minutes ago, tiv said:

Thank you for this! In a world with hideous so called hatchbacks posing as 4x4s And mpg crap, value for money, euros 

This Is like therapy, made my day!

Thanks tiv.  

It may not have the comfort and fuel economy of the econo boxes of today it still is very simple vehicle to work on and fun to drive as well.

27 minutes ago, GK_007 said:

Nice writeup.

So you stayed at Galapitayaya :) Have a very fond memory of one of the most stupid things I have done with devils Staircase.

BTW the car looks much better with the original color scheme. This one is 1.6cc right? 

 

 

Galapitiyaya was beautiful it's a place that's very well secluded and you can enjoy the nature.

It's a 1.3l there were no 1.6l Samurai's unless someone had swapped for the G16 from the Vitara.

I literally had to beg the guy at garage to make it matt, he was saying to keep the original gloss. But afterwards he was also convinced.

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Nice writeup, lucky to own such a little fun mobile! The matte blue goes well with it. btw The G13BA is SOHC right? 

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Nice to see this in good hands.

This was listed on another website about year and half back.

We missed this! I am sure you picked this from Ragama area, my father made an appointment with the owner and before the appointment owner gave the car to someone else. 

So that someone is you!!

We were trying to buy this for our agricultural land but anyway we missed it, good on you mate.

regards,

JC 

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12 hours ago, Gummybr said:

After doing all this the vehicle failed the Eco test, which I believed was due to the rich mixture going into the carb, so i got a friend from office to tune it and now it runs like a dream.

I was thinking of taking off all the red from the interior and decided against it as it would consume more time to get it back to the original. The previous owner has spent too much doing it up and he had done up the interior well enough and I didnt want to spoil it. maybe down the line if I come across a good interior I might be tempted but for now I'm keeping my disco interior.

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Nice car...and congratulations...

but lets be honest...you are keeping the interior becuase you want to feel the pimpness of it :) 

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8 hours ago, AVANTE said:

Nice writeup, lucky to own such a little fun mobile! The matte blue goes well with it. btw The G13BA is SOHC right? 

Yes it's a SOHC. The DOHC came only for the swift GTI.

 

7 hours ago, john cooper said:

Nice to see this in good hands.

This was listed on another website about year and half back.

We missed this! I am sure you picked this from Ragama area, my father made an appointment with the owner and before the appointment owner gave the car to someone else. 

So that someone is you!!

We were trying to buy this for our agricultural land but anyway we missed it, good on you mate.

regards,

JC 

Nope it was in Ambalangoda. The previous owner and the one before that a doctor were both from Ambalangoda.

I bought it last September. Prior to that it had been in Kohuwela and before that 4X4 motors. I think it was at 4x4 motors that it got the winch and the 2" lift etc.

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1 hour ago, iRage said:

Nice car...and congratulations...

but lets be honest...you are keeping the interior becuase you want to feel the pimpness of it :) 

I keep the light off. Nah if you look at it and compare with others you will see leather all round. Even on the dashboard. Unless I can source the whole interior I can not undo it. Heck even the carpets are in red velour. I will have to do a full strip down to get rid of it.

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1 hour ago, iRage said:

Embrace your pimpness !

Claim the pimposity that is your''s !

Jokes aside, do you get these in Japan anymore? I know they were a limited run for 2 years. Haven't seen any popping up on auction sites. 

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Ado, good to see the story, wanted to ask you about it after seeing your IG posts. It's a nice ride, you're a braver man that I would be for sticking to that interior though, I just wouldn't be able to live with it. 

You mentioned that the guy you got it from is a Jimny/Samurai enthusiast, I assume he has parts contacts etc? I've also got a JB33 (the 2000s model) Jimny in the stable now, and want to establish maintenance/parts contacts to keep it on the road. 

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Samurai/Gypsy has always been one of my early 20's dreams. If I didn't get the Mini back in 2004 or so, I would have gone for a Samurai/Gypsy.

I thought Jimnys started coming to the market by 1994 or thereabouts. So I'm a bit curious about the 300-number. Late reg?

 

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40 minutes ago, Crosswind said:

Samurai/Gypsy has always been one of my early 20's dreams. If I didn't get the Mini back in 2004 or so, I would have gone for a Samurai/Gypsy.

I thought Jimnys started coming to the market by 1994 or thereabouts. So I'm a bit curious about the 300-number. Late reg?

 

Brand new import in 1998. This particular model was the last of the Samurai/Jimny 2nd generation. It lasted only for 2 years from 1996-1998. The 3rd gen Jimny came after that in late 1998 and continued till 2018.

 

Jimny name was given for the 650 and 1000cc models. The 1300 was called the Samurai in Japan, US etc and the Sierra in Australia. 

Jimny story starts not with Suzuki but with Hope Motor Company. It was the Hopestar ON360 that became the first Jimny after Suzuki bought over the company. The later models were refined with tech from Land Rover when Suzuki had a stake in Santana who used to make Defenders in Spain till 1994.

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What a sweet find!!  Especially a coil sprung 2nd Gen!

Always had a sweet spot for these,  1600 Gti engine conversion could be so much fun off-the-road!  Owned a 3rd gen Jimny years ago, had awesome fun in gravel/sandy tracks.!

 

Edited by MrCat
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8 hours ago, Gummybr said:

Jokes aside, do you get these in Japan anymore? I know they were a limited run for 2 years. Haven't seen any popping up on auction sites. 

Well...no..you do not see old Jimnae around....occasionally you might see one or two...that is it. But then that is the case with all old cars in Japan....even the E100 Corolla is hardly seen.

As for the Samurai...well..yeah...the Japanese market did get the Samurai badge..but it was more like a trim level that was reserved for it 1300cc line up. So even when you search the web and online car sales you will still see them for sale as Jimny. So it jsut gets put togetehr with the 1300cc Jimny all the way from 1993 - 1998 when the 1300cc was properly marketed as a separate line up (Jimny Sierra or Sierra).  

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On 3/26/2020 at 12:33 AM, Gummybr said:

So coming down from Bambarakanda I lost one of the headlamp lenses which put back driving for a coupe of weeks until the LED's came. The end product is as follows,

IMG_20191111_083336.thumb.jpg.6b81b54a0c29dc031b3d462beac053a3.jpgFrom this, to this - 

IMG_20200324_085715.thumb.jpg.e1ce945e297aa2c3001af8e89290a777.jpg

IMG_20191229_185730.thumb.jpg.b41658b1e5dbae05a49e252cfd3358f8.jpg

IMG_20191229_185525.thumb.jpg.cb89fae32871b4140ebf1887de2dceb5.jpg

IMG_20191229_185704.thumb.jpg.f953db00798e4be9aa74932afb58f8a3.jpgIMG_20191229_185619.thumb.jpg.5be7cf1d26c4eb48096b7370aad2148b.jpg

 

Congratz on the new toy,..

you might wanna check the charging rate with the lights on.

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4 hours ago, Twin Turbo said:

Congratz on the new toy,..

you might wanna check the charging rate with the lights on.

Thanks.

I use only the main lights the others are kept covered. So no issues yet.

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1 hour ago, Gummybr said:

Thanks.

I use only the main lights the others are kept covered. So no issues yet.

What's the battery you have in her? Maybe a slightly larger battery will suffice without meddling with the alternator, besides better spark as well. And that's an electric winch right? 

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@Gummybr nice to see some of the old crowd still skulking about ?

 

Interesting project ?

 

Speaking as someone who endured a "mas kade" red interior for 3 more years than he should have I can assure you that it is in your best interest to have an upholstery bloke look at it and suggest some options - you and anyone who has to ride with you will thank you for it. Also in our weather PU/pleather/vinyl is no one's friend ?

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@Gummybr don't think we missed that slightly questionable looking shifter - there's a Thora joke to be made but i'll steer clear and instead just offer a solution and propose a nice HURST shifter or gear knob? ?

https://www.holley.com/brands/hurst/

Perhaps even a pistol grip if you want to keep things as interesting as that existing one suggests ? 

https://www.shifterdoc.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&ProdSort=3&page=6&idCategory=52&viewAll=yes

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15 minutes ago, Devinda_Z said:

@Gummybr don't think we missed that slightly questionable looking shifter - there's a Thora joke to be made but i'll steer clear and instead just offer a solution and propose a nice HURST shifter or gear knob? ?

https://www.holley.com/brands/hurst/

Perhaps even a pistol grip if you want to keep things as interesting as that existing one suggests ? 

https://www.shifterdoc.com/productcart/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&ProdSort=3&page=6&idCategory=52&viewAll=yes

First thing I did was asked for the original, which he duly obliged.

Supra mentioned leather paint which I might look at once this Corona thing is over.

3 hours ago, tiv said:

I ll just leave this here,

20200328_084333.jpg

Fender flares will kill that original look unless I paint them. 

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6 hours ago, Gummybr said:

First thing I did was asked for the original, which he duly obliged.

Supra mentioned leather paint which I might look at once this Corona thing is over.

Fender flares will kill that original look unless I paint them. 

Acrylic paint since it's likely PU right?

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