A
1987 Suzuki Samurai hard top was chosen as a base vehicle. The
Samurai
has been trail tested as a tough off-road alternative to larger 4x4
vehicles,
because it has all of the features that are generally found on larger
rigs.
The solid front axle, and boxed frame construction make these rigs very
capable platforms for modification. Another excellent
characteristic
for off-road is the short wheelbase. This particular vehicle was chosen
because it is rust free, and has original paint.
The
motor chosen for this project is a VW 1.9 liter 4cyl
turbodiesel.
This motor is a "single wire" mechanical pump style system, making for
easy installation. The TDI models are much harder to fit, because of
the
computer/wiring harness requirements. With proper maintenance, this
motor
is good for 300~500K miles or more. A few extra modifications were made
while installing the motor. Electric fan, remote mount oil filter, oil
cooler, 26" VW quantum double pass aluminum radiator. The rest of the
drivetrain
is stock, in keeping with the light-weight idea that gives the small
Samurai
an advantage in many ways.
Jeff Kerr is the founder of Acme Adapters.
He does nice work as can be seen by the pics above. See his products at
ACME Adapters (http://www.acmeadapters.com)
Dino-vs-biodiesel
DEQ test
results
