The Tuki Suzuki - Toyota drivetrain, Samurai body

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

  ya thats a nice set-up for the rear seating... not a whole lot of space but oh well

[MiniSimp]

which unfortionately puts it right into the side of the fuel cell on the driver side. hence that means I either need to run smaller dia coilovers (aka - airshocks) or run a wide wheel spacer.

What about notching the fuel cell out a little bit? I like the first seating config better. Besides if you do it the other way you'll have to change it again later.

[DeadlyPeace]

X2 on that.

But if you go with the 2nd one with the seat in the middle then what about extending the rear some...... when your daughter complains about the leg room.

[4RnrRick]

I bought a pre-made fuel cell so I wouldn't have to mess with it. So modifiy this fuel cell is more work than I want to get into. Plus if I do EVERYTHING perfect the first time, then I won't have anything to tweak with later when I start twiddling my thumbs after this build is over...... haha.

As for space, what do you expect - its a Sami!

Less space = less junk = less weight = more performance!

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

I bought a pre-made fuel cell so I wouldn't have to mess with it. So modifiy this fuel cell is more work than I want to get into. Plus if I do EVERYTHING perfect the first time, then I won't have anything to tweak with later when I start twiddling my thumbs after this build is over...... haha.

As for space, what do you expect - its a Sami! 


Less space = less junk = less weight = more performance!

all sooo true man 

[Jordan7118]

I figure if I still have this rig in a couple years...

You won't. I will. I'll be making bank, will have won the lottery, and will pay you handsomely 

But seriously, I really do plan to buy this when the time comes 

[skipnrocks]

how about building one that fits the bed going up the tailgate and L shaped under the seat. then you get your volume, and get the seat up off the floor.

[4RnrRick]

how about building one that fits the bed going up the tailgate and L shaped under the seat. then you get your volume, and get the seat up off the floor.

How about you build it and ship it to me for a review.... 

Serously guys - I'm not going to mess with it right now - I'm just going to run it!

[Shoyrtt]

I figure if I still have this rig in a couple years and my daughter starts complaining about space - I can always design a custom fuel cell to move the seat back some.

One of my twin boys was always relegated to the back seat and sat in the middle of my old Sami. Your daughter will want to be in the front seat by the time she starts complaining about space.

[Rainen]

If she complains just build her her own.

[THK Matt]

or walk?

[COToy91]

How about you build it and ship it to me for a review.... 

Okay, tig welded aluminum alright? Dry sump or draw from the top? Chevy sender alright?

[I.D.G.A.F]

Wow Jesse James who Rick already knew! Your fab skills are awesome, I just read all 29 page's love it.  Keep us in guessing what's next.

[skipnrocks]

How about you build it and ship it to me for a review.... 

Serously guys - I'm not going to mess with it right now - I'm just going to run it!

I dont blame you for just runnin it for now since you have been putting so much time and effort into it!   I wouldnt mind buildin a tank if I had some sheet metal equipment!!  Some day!  LOL

[4RnrRick]

Started on the rear cage tonight....

[4RnrRick]

did some more today....

[KDXSR5]

Looks nice as usual!

[MT4Runner]

That's clean tube work!

[fatt_matt]

nothing new...






just completely awesome

[4RnrRick]

Here you can see how I aligned the downward diagonal tube to shape of the windows and the soft top bow bar.



And I also got the other top tube installed.





Then I removed the windshield and targa to make working on things a bit easier. Sure looks funny this way.



And I installed some tube over the wheel wells for my rear coilover mounts which I was able to space away from the top rail 5" which is just enough for a medium sized ammo can.

[booger weldz]

WOW, your work is really coming together nicely!  only thing i have to add is somehow guarding the rear coilovers/airshock mounts so that somehow your daughter doesnt get her hand/fingers around the mount and getting a serious pinch/injury when they are shifting around at the mounting point when the sami is flexing about on the trail... irealize theyre only moving a couple of degrees, but if a finger was resting on the tube...

[4RnrRick]

Don't worry, the coilovers will have sheetmetal around them! But not only for the safety issue of pinch points, but also because I need to keep the weather out which includes Oregon mud, sand & snow since tire will be flinging crap up right there..

Heres a picture of how BlueBalls did his. Mine will be very similiar.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e8/blueballs2u/Balls%20ride/IMG_1741Medium.jpg

[THK Matt]

awesome rick!

[BLACKDOG]

SHOW OFF!!!




Looks awesome rick, keep up the great work!!   hope to see this at the roundup this year, if you plan on going

[Yota4life]

wow rick looks freakin' sick

[TIMS89CRAWLER]

the tube work looks badass as all of Rick's work does  I cant wait to see it with the coilovers under it   

[MiniSimp]

Is it going to tie in to the frame under the wheelwells?

[4RnrRick]

Thanks guys....

Is it going to tie in to the frame under the wheelwells?

maybe.... I'd like to, but not sure yet if I can.

[Yota87Truck]

It just gets better and better, awsome tube work!!

[4RnrRick]

Got the rear seat and harness mounts figured out.





Plus made the bar over the fuel cell removable so I wouldn't have to remove the roll cage to get the fuel cell out.



Eventually that bar will be the starting point for a little cargo behind the seat and rack over the cell.

And this is kinda what I'm thinking for ammo can storage. It really depends on how much room I am left with after I get the coilover mounts figured out. I might just end up taking a couple of the extra large ammo cans and chopping them up and permanently bolting them down for storage bins on each side of the seat with some bungie netting over them. I just don't know.