Couldn't find anything in a search (probably didn't try hard enough). Went on a research expedition to my local Pick-n-Pull this morning and found an '87 Suzuki Samauri with manual steering. The box looks small, the pitman arm is underneath (for my X-steer) and it mounts on the inside of the frame rail. I think it's perfect! What'da you guys think? Also found a '79 Jag XJ6 with complete rearend (very tempting, but no). It has dual coilovers on each side. They're only 12" long, top to bottom. I think a pair of those would be the ticket to mount my Maverick rear to a fabricated/kicked frame. Again, opinions are appreciated. I'm gonna head up in the morning to get 'em (unless I hear otherwise from the masses)!
Reason the steering box is so small is probably cos the Suzuki has stuff-all weight on the front wheels. One person could probably lift the front end of that Suzuki with little effort. Can you do that with your project? May want to consider this. Re the Jag coil-overs my wife has a pair of them on a 9" in her 33 fully fendered coupe and they seem to be OK. Car has been on the road for 20+ years so I reckon they do the job. swifty
There has been a rod or two built in West Australia using a similar box which seems to work OK by all accounts but thats just 3rd hand. Lots of Aussie rods with Jag rear ends, look good in buckets, not so sure about anything else though, especially highboys. Had a set of the jag shocks on my last A highboy coupe and they worked fine.
I think it could work. The Zuk is a small off-road based vehicle so the stuff is built strong for the size...its modern so the design is good. I'd give it a look... Besides...in a T like your avatar the most common box is a Corvair. Thats as light a car and small a box as the Zuk and it seems to last fine.
Swifty is right, it may be a 4x4 but it is a pseudo one; i,e, not really built to go off-road and not all that strong. Just remember what you are trusting to that steering box. Doc.
my brother runs a sammy with lockers and 35s off road all the time with no problems. i think its a good box! go for it.
I would say they are built for off roading.....had one for 2 years and drove it in the mud and stuff all the time...no real issues in fact in some ways basically it's a down scaled landy....it just depends on how you describe off roading.....wouldn't wana be driving across the outback in one but mud plugging and off road trials great!!Steering box should be well strong enough for a T.....wouldn't wana be putting one in anything much bigger though...Jag coils may actually be a bit stiff but if they are cheap enough then give them ago, if nowt else it will give you a baseline
Have a friend who swears by the Samauri box- they're great for a light build like an RPU or speedster and a nice, small size for a T build.
Zuks are built pretty decent for what they were marketed as. Very capable 4x4's with just a little work. 32"s, lockers, and different transfer case gears make them damn near unstoppable. That being said, I don't think I'd use one in a big block car. Almost unstoppable
I have a Suzuki Carry Van steering box in my T Bucket and it is brilliant, steers nicely and is not heavy or too light with a 350 Chevy sitting beside it. Been really small it is mounted between the starter motor and engine mount, ( yeah right hand drive) ,I also used the stock pitman arm off the box and that worked well also. Here in NZ alot of stockcar builders are using the same steering box on the race cars because of it's small size and don't have any trouble with them.
I've got a Samuria with 156,000mi on it that I bought new. 2wd with a tube front axle. Never had any trouble with it. The steering box would work ok in rod if that is what you want to use. It may not be traditional but I've seen alot of non-traditional stuff used on here.
I've built a number of customers Samurais for off-road use, mainly for rockcrawling. The only downfall the stock sami box has is that it isn't a power box, which isn't such an issue for you. It tends to be a problem when you have your 100lb 35" tall tires wedged between a couple boulders. I've never seen one break, and contrary to what was posted earlier the parts are extremely easy to come by. Petroworks in Fallbrook, CA specializes in new and used parts for suzukis and always has a ton of stock around.
Thanks everyone for the valuable input! I went up yesterday and grabbed everything. Got the box, sector shaft, U-joint and even the column. Looks like the column is gonna fit really well. May not even have to shorten it! Got the Jag coilovers too. At $18 each I grabbed all 4. I may try to use them on the front also. If not, somebody can use them. They measure just under 13" eyelet to eyelet. I don't know what the spring rating is but this car is gonna be light with the turbo 4 so they should be good. Appreciate the responses. Thanks again!
I have been building t buckets rods and rock crawlers for years I have used a Sami steering box several times on things other than Zuks and used them there also They are extremely tuff stronger than a Corvair box and way easier to find. The Jag springs are around 450 lbs per in each. And that is why there are four them in the back of a Jag. By the way they work perfect on most T buckets but the ideal number is 400 lbs per in. Or so I am told (yes I have tried it. It does ride nicer)
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