The Tuki Suzuki - Toyota drivetrain, Samurai body

[BigBs84]

Lookin good rick

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

is this beast gonna be at mcr??

[4RnrRick]

is this beast gonna be at mcr??

Probably not this year.





Did some more tonight. I'm not real happy with the look of the slopped nose and OEM headlights. I know it will look better once I make a stinger for it. But unfortionately where the motor is placed forces the location of the radator and how tight the winch is to the radiator in combination with the lifted frame rails, this was the only thing I really could do. For now I think I will just run with it. Its not like I can't cut it off and redo down the road.





oh and plus I can't lower the headlights any more because of how far foward the sterring box is - the driver side light is already tight against it. Maybe down teh road I can find some smaller headlights that I can install my HID projector lights in.

Anyways, this is my simple way to mount the OEM sami headlight buckets - just some small diameter solid round bar bent to fit the contour of the headlight bucket. Then I will weld or bolt them on.

[hollywood_toy90]

i like it rick.  the slant actually is pretty cool with the head light, i think anyways.  keep it up man i can wait to see the next update!

[crawlerdan]

i realize that this thig is super wide for a sammi, but are you trying to make it street legal?? i noticed blinkers

[4RnrRick]

It would be nice to make it street legal - EVENTUALLY.

[WHITE_TRASH]

If you want smaller headlights hit a wrecking yard and rob the buckets out of a datsun.  They are the smaller 5 1/4" round and the bucket is attached to a separate bracket that attaches to the body so you can mount it however you want and still have adjustment. 


I actually still have half of the set as they are a 4 headlight system.  If you want the other half your welcome to them...  I'll be seeing DYJ next weekend and I'd be more than happy to give them to him for ya.  Oh and I put H4 conversion bulbs in mine so it'd be simple to put your HID's in them.

[ROCKO]

this thing is sick...
you do some bad a$$ work man

[4RnrRick]

Some more progress from this morning

[THK Matt]

you should find a way to make it say "TUKI" in the grille instead. i like how it looks rick, you have some genious ways of doing things.



and is it just me or are you missing two beadlock bolts on all the wheels?

[KDXSR5]

I kind of like the way the headlights look setup like that


I also think this was a pretty cool design:

[KDXSR5]

and is it just me or are you missing two beadlock bolts on all the wheels?

I believe those are Mickey Thompson fake beadlock wheels (street lock)

[THK Matt]

no, they are true beadlocks i believe... he had the rings painted to match Tuki.

but relooking at them i think your right.

[KDXSR5]

no, they are true beadlocks i believe... he had the rings painted to match Tuki.

Why do you doubt me so often? Check it out in the quote below, they are the fake beadlocks.

Oh and I also ordered up some 39.5 Iroks and Mickey Thompson 15x10 classic locks. Yes, they are "worthless steetlocks". But I've had great success with keeping my old 36" iroks on 15x10 steel rims with no beadlocks and I decided to try it again - but this time I'm going to a lighter aluminum wheel. But in doing that I also wanted a wheel that had some rim protection for the outer bead and something to protect the valve core. and with these MT classic locks - I can ubolt the outer ring and make a new one if need be. If I issues lossing beads, my plan is just to install some Staun internal locks.

[THK Matt]

see thats why i relooked at the photo.... im like wait those are aluminum haha.

[4RnrRick]

I also think this was a pretty cool design:

I'd still like to do something like that - but these 7" round OEM headlights are just too big.

[THK Matt]

go with a 6" aftermarket HID light?

[4RnrRick]

Only trashed one piece of tube, something about thinking I need 62 degrees and only needing 58 degrees. 

[46&2]

Oops. 

happens 

Looks good

[CTENG in KS]

I don't know, 58 degrees is getting kinda cool...might want to think about a space heater.

[THK Matt]

I don't know, 58 degrees is getting kinda cool...might want to think about a space heater.

nice...

[toyotanner]

I don't know, 58 degrees is getting kinda cool...might want to think about a space heater.

[4RnrRick]

might want to think about a space heater.

I'm good.....

[4RnrRick]

Went to the wrecking yard today and found some smaller 5.75" dia round headlights off a 1983 BMW 733i. Got them for $20 for both sides. Theres one more automobile manufacture to add to the vehicle donor list......

Took them home and started cutting them up to see how it would look.

Much better!

[4RnrRick]

THANKS "WhiteTrash" for the idea!

[TheCookieMonster]

ya that looks a lot cleaner....you makin some panels to go in there?? that will look really good 

[46&2]

I like how the front clip is turning out. I was really hoping you were going to use that spider web grill but this is turning out just as nice.

[4RnrRick]

Some more tube went on tonight.

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

you are an inspiration to us all rick...... great work man

[gotrocks]

Looking good man. You sure have made that thing sit nice and low.  The grill and tube work are sure coming out very nice.