1987 Suzuki Samurai

It's hard to believe, but this outrageous '87 Suzuki Samurai was once resting in a salvage yard in Texas. It was rescued by Indiana well driller Brian Nelson, who had a plan to turn the forlorn, engineless shell into a crazy one-of-a-kind machine. It took four years of intensive fabbing and wrenching to create his masterpiece, and the result is an immaculate, unique ride.

The rear suspension utilizes link bars that are the same 36-inch length as the front link bars, and their forward ends mount to the same custom subframe as the front links. It also sports a custom Panhard bar and a pair of Sway-A-Way shocks. The rear axle is from a Toyota FJ60 and it has been completely rebuilt and fitted with a disc-brake conversion from TSM Manufacturing.

Specs

GENERAL
Owner: Brian Nelson/Rochester, Indiana
Vehicle/Model: '97 Suzuki Samurai
Estimated Value: $40,000

ENGINE
Type: 4.3L V-6
Aspiration: Holley 750-cfm carburetor, Hampton intake and 4-71 blower, 2.5-inch dual exhaust, Supertrapp mufflers
Output, hp/torque (estimated): 300/N/A

DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: TH200, Hayden cooler, Lokar shifter
Transfer case: Stock, dropped and rotated in a custom mount

SUSPENSION
Front: Custom Rock 4x Fabrication, Sway-A-Way Racerunner shocks
Rear: Custom Rock 4x Fabrication, Sway-A-Way Racerunner shocks

AXLES/DIFFERENTIALS
Front: Toyota/Open
Rear: Toyota, disc-brake conversion/Open
Ring-and-pinion: 4.10:1

WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels: 15x14 Weld Typhoon
Tires: 46x19.5-15 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws