Topic: Best year Sammy?

[Gewehr43]

Been thinking about getting a Sammy for my wife.  What years are the best?  She wants to learn to wheel and she is unsure of using my '82 yota.
Thanks

[Duffil]

  but I have heard the early EFIs had issues with capacitors bleedng and eating the computer PCB.

[Gewehr43 [OP]]

When was the EFI introduced?  I don't mind working on a carb

[Duffil]

late 80s, IIRC.

[Gewehr43 [OP]]

Hey thanks

[Bass Man]

What??  I thought the EFI only came on 95+!

88.5 is the best.

[Duffil]

What??  I thought the EFI only came on 95+!

88.5 is the best.

nope. like 87/88+IIRC. Get ahold of Petroworks, they know more than I.

[Bass Man]

Why didn't my 88 samurai come with EFI??  I know Sidekicks had EFI in 87/88 (whenever they started) but I never saw a Samurai come stock with EFI until 95.

Correction...  it was the 1990 model.
- removed two of four spider gears from front differential   
- wheelbase increased an inch or two (inorder to improve the ride)   
- added FI (fuel injection) to 1.3L engine, increased horsepower to 66   
- tranny and tranfer case bearings changed to the sealed design

Edit:  I thought you ment when the EFI was introduced, not the best year...
I have an 88, my dad has an 87...  I don't see a difference...  But after 88.5, they had 1 brake line in the back
- redesigned dash (square look)   
- weatherstrip on the top bow   
- softened the suspension   
- slightly redesigned grille   
- lowered fifth gear   
- different shifter knob   
- bigger radiator

[longzuk]

my 85 lwb only has one brake line in the rear. 85's are basically the same as 86 except the diffs are narrower by 3 inches. same dash motor and all.

Sean.

[Bass Man]

Well then...  I would love to have an 85 tin top!

[hman1991]

efi started in 1990. that was the only real change in them besides larger flange on driveshafts. startin in 88.5 the tranny got a little beter gearing, and a nicer dash with built in radio. i have a 88.5 tintop i love but went with  efi 1.6 out of a tracker.

[Joe S.]

the early trannys had lower 5th gear which helps a tad with larger tires. most will argue it isnt noticeable. the carriers went from 4 pin to 2 i think in 90, which is also the year they started installing EFI.

personally, i would not drive a sami unless it was EFI. it is dirt cheap to replace/ rebuild the ECMs IF they go out. they are not BAD about it...

i have had 4 EFI samis and they were all less trouble than any of the carb'd models i have owned. the carbs are finicky, and up until recently the the most popular upgrade for the carb was the weber, which has its quirks itself. samuraiguy.com is offering a 4 carb setup that is said to be able to run at any angle and give major power gains...

that wouldnt be too bad, but IMO, you can not beat EFI...