Builds "Salt shaker" the Suzuki samurai build

[Roastchestnuts]

More progress today. I should have the rear tub close to being done by the end of the week. the tub side was less rusty than the drivers side so I tried a different approach to making the panel. Ill weld it in after work tomorrow. I am excited to be moving towards painting. its going to look so good!

The wheel well came out alot easier than the driver side too.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I did finish the rear tub sides. Now I just have to weld up the holes in the floor then massaging the wheel wells in place. they were mostly seem sealed in place from factory from what I could see. a few spot welds too. Ill probibily weld a little and seam seal the wells in too. I found and then I am good to start having fun with some paint. Goal is to sand and prime the hood and have the tub side skimmed and primed

Next is the hood and upper radiator support, then the tail gate. weirdly the talegate is in good shape and will need the least amount of work

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Its coming along! dont worry, I actually removed the hood and sprayed it on a stand. I just moved it after it dried. I gotta block sand another time spot fill a few imperfections and then Urithane Highbuild prime! I also bought the color. Ended up not going 70s yellow because It was a very expensive color. I went with tropical turquoise because it was cheeper and It was close to the inspiration photo that I posted earlier in the build! The dash had been resprayed with some sort of repaint so while I have been covering it, its not a big deal if I get a little over spray on it as I am going to find some interior paint for it.

This is the color I went for. Kinda like that rare color they did some of the toyota tacomas and jeep cherokees. I think it will look really good when I am done.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I bit the bullet and went for it today! I did have the sides up while painting but ended up taking them down after it had dried some. Even with the sides up I had a few areas where darn flys got stuck in the paint. Overall it turned out really well. I had one spot that had a run because when I started my paint gun had too much air pressure. I love the color and I cant wait to start putting it all back together. I still need to do the inside and the floors but I need to weld up a couple more holes first.

I love how flat this paint layed out too! Ill do a wetsand and buff + wax after I paint the interior floors.
the paper and tape slipped off and I painted some wires... oh well. Maybe I can clean them up.

Below is the epoxy primer after blocking

After the Epoxy primer I did a Highbuild urithane primer. The shots of that Is below. That stuff sands really well! I blocked that from 180 to 800 grit before I painted with the singlestage urithane color.

 

[SC-Cruiser]

I bit the bullet and went for it today! I did have the sides up while painting but ended up taking them down after it had dried some. Even with the sides up I had a few areas where darn flys got stuck in the paint. Overall it turned out really well. I had one spot that had a run because when I started my paint gun had too much air pressure. I love the color and I cant wait to start putting it all back together. I still need to do the inside and the floors but I need to weld up a couple more holes first.

I love how flat this paint layed out too! Ill do a wetsand and buff + wax after I paint the interior floors.
the paper and tape slipped off and I painted some wires... oh well. Maybe I can clean them up.
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Below is the epoxy primer after blocking
View attachment 3942203

After the Epoxy primer I did a Highbuild urithane primer. The only shot of that Is below. That stuff sands really well! I blocked that from 180 to 800 grit before I painted with the singlestage urithane color.
View attachment 3942211

Looks fantastic.
Always amazed at all you get done

 

[SC-Cruiser]

Looks fantastic.
Always amazed at all you get done

Seen quite a few Samurai running around here is Switzerland at my parents. I usually see them when I’m driving so no pictures for you

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Seen quite a few Samurai running around here is Switzerland at my parents. I usually see them when I’m driving so no pictures for you

Thanks for the complement! I bet you have seen quite a few interesting vehicles there! Its a shame they stopped selling them in the states in 1995. Every where else got 2 more generations. If they had the current version in the states its probably one of the only new vehicles I would want to buy new.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Man.... I wish I had the cash for this! I found a super charger for one of these little 1.3L samurai engines!! https://camdensuperchargers.com/store/suzuki-4-supercharger-kit-cm-8500161-#product-details-tab-specification The little samurai engine would probably explode if I got one of these though haha.

A couple of updates: I am going to try and paint the tailgate this afternoon. Plan is to finish the floor and paint that soon too. we have a bunch of bad weather next week and I doubt ill be able to weld a few patches in the floor. I will probably install the windshield glass and mounting that soon with the fold down kit. I have a few fun parts coming like the cowl mounted mirrors (coming from india) so I can run without doors, A samurai decal and badge kit is on its way from columbia as well. I also ordered a bunch of m6 and m8 bolts. I am not putting screws back if I can help it. bolts are way better. that will look nice when I am done. I gotta figure out if I can save my passenger headlight assymboly. its in kinda rough shape.

I gotta figure out the rim/tire situation soon. people love to throw on some crazy ugly wide tires. It makes it hard to find examples of samurais with narrower tires and stock rims. Id like to go tall and skinny. I know I want factory white rims. Ill order those soon. My wife says it looks like a hotwheels car right now haha.

Ill also order some front seats for this samurai soon too. the ones that are there I know are worn out. I also think its cheeper to just buy new seats over reupholstering.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I had to post some more pictures of this paint job! this color is epic! I installed the windshield frame temporarily. I am going to try and install the glass tomorrow. I also painted the tailgate too. Going to install that back tomorrow as well I hope. this paint job is the motivation I needed. I cant wait to drive it when I am done.

In the light its beautiful!

test fitted the grill.

Installed my new used 33$ steering wheel! it made a huge difference in appearance.

 

[svsisu]

I had to post some more pictures of this paint job! this color is epic! I installed the windshield frame temporarily. I am going to try and install the glass tomorrow. I also painted the tailgate too. Going to install that back tomorrow as well I hope. this paint job is the motivation I needed. I cant wait to drive it when I am done.

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In the light its beautiful!
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test fitted the grill.
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Installed my new used 33$ steering wheel! it made a huge difference in appearance.
View attachment 3942951

Looks fantastic!

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Welp... broke the windshield trying to install it. That was a 200$ mistake. I bought another one and I will take the frame somewhere to get it installed. I had no pressure on the dang thing! But I will not make that mistake again. Womp womp.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

after I broke the windshield I had to pivot. So I installed the accessories on the windshield fame like the sprayer, the windshield wiper linkages, the antenna, mirror, and sun visors. All OEM Suzuki!

 

[clrussell]

Man that color looks so good. I can’t wait to see it in the sun

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Man that color looks so good. I can’t wait to see it in the sun

I know me too! I need to get cracking on the rest of it so I can actually start having fun with it before the summer ends. I think have about 3 solid days of work to be where I can start driving as I fix kind of thing.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I did order these two things. Once they come in it will improve the look for sure. one is comng from Columbia and the other India. Only 18$ for the mirrors and the badge kit was like 50$

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Lots of progress with the samurai and a few setbacks. I got it running a few days ago on the weber car. I had it runing and I went to grab a screw driver then I noticed lots a smoke comming from the front of the engine. Turns out the alternator was seized from sitting I think. It smoked the belt. I cant really drive around until I get a alternator and belt on there because the water pump runs on the same belt. I ordered an alternator and belt last week. It should be here tomorrow.

Side not that I will need to figure out - I think I have it timed 180 degrees out. I cant find the timing marks in the range on the fly wheel with the timing light. Ill have to figure that out. either that or I am off a tooth on the distributer. I had to take the distributer out to easily get to a few things. another side note: I need to figure out seats and wheels and tires soon.

Another set back - I tried to install the windsheild and it ended with me tossing the windsheild in the back of the truck because it cracked installing it... I ordered another. but it was a 200$ woopsie.

Now for the progress 1. It runs really good with the weber. worth every penny. Little more tuning it will be perfect! 2. the paint has cured and its amazing. looks soo good! 3. I got the horn working on the steering wheel. 4. I got the passenger mirror and driver mirror on. 5. I finished welding the patches in the floor boards and welded in the wheel wells. 6. Gas tank is back in. 7 I have the new suzuki and samurai badges and decals on it. 8. I rapter lined the rockers to prevent damage from rocks. I will paint over that with the turquoise. 9. By friday I should be able to take it on a test drive! 10. Its just the little stuff from here on out!

 

[onemanarmy]

what a transformation!

were you doing the string trick to install the windshield/gasket?

did you see the RHD Jimny on the island last Mon and Tues?

 

[Roastchestnuts]

what a transformation!

were you doing the string trick to install the windshield/gasket?

did you see the RHD Jimny on the island last Mon and Tues?

Thanks man!!

Yeah I was doing that trick. But I think the glass must have had a knick in it. it cracked with 0 pressure on it. I think bad luck. but hey it could be worse. The pink one? yeah he lives here actually. they kinda match esthetics haha.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

I drove it to coffee this morning and to work! you dont realize how small it is until you park next to a subaru outback and a reg cab silverado 1500. I have plenty left to do on it but its so fun to drive!! Quicker than the fj40 and more maneuverable. I did figure out that I either need a speedocable or a speedometer. my Speedometer is not working at all. I need to crawl under it and make sure its connected at the transfer case end. I did disconnect it from the gage cluster to weld up part of the floor. but it seemed like it all went back together fine. I might try and lube it up a bunch too.

I also rigged up the front turn signals behind the plastic grill. seems to work fine for now. since I am still working out how to install the front bumper this should work for now. also got the passenger headlight installed. I may still buy a new assembly for the headlight on that side though just because one of the ujustment screw mounting points is rusted and gone. Got new taillight lenses and the tailgate handle installed too.

I am on the look out for doors. I decided the doors are not worth saving and painting as they are just too rusted. They might be good for making half doors or somthing though. all the hardware and glass is still good at least on the doors.

My next mission is to get the wiper motor installed. I am going to need to do some fabrication since its an aftermarket windshield frame and it does not quite line all up. Ill get the windshield glass installed at some point soon too.
This thing gets more attention than my fj40 its kinda wild. I think its of the right vintage for people to really remember them driving around I guess. I have wanted one of these since my collage buddy had one and let me drive it around.

 

[SC-Cruiser]

Nothing quite like early morning at Ocracoke Coffee.

The salt shaker is looking awesome.