Samurai rotary conversion question???
 

Hey Guys,

Hope this is the right section for this Question:

On a Suzuki Samurai, has anyone been able to keep the 4wd transfer box and gearstick in the stock location and then run the Mazda gearbox in the factory Samurai gearbox location, or near it?

Or if you do the rotary conversion, do you always have to drop the option of being able to use the 2H/4H/4L gearstick and the option to switch from 2WD to 4WD and back and forth?

Or can you only do the conversion if you convert the car to permanent RWD?

Know what I mean? I want to still be able to use the 2WD and 4WD, but be powered by a rotary engine!

Is it possible?

Cheers
Cam...

no sure but i hope to god it is. a 4wd rotary samuri would be one of the badest ORV's IMO

I'm sure you can if you use some sort of adapter between the Rotary engine and the Samurai gearbox and use the flywheel from the Samurai.

This guy, Bill Hincher (on another forum I frequent) makes bell housings to adapt the 4G63 to different trannys(R154, W58, T56, TH350) in a F/R configuration, so with time & money it's a good guess.

there is a lot of you tube video that show 4 wheel drive rotor sammi's...its definitely doable. Tsi -Xtreme on this forum just did one but I dont think it was 4 wheel drive.

G'day

I have seen one with a 13B turbo running through the Suzuki gearbox etc, I do not know how it was done but it worked.
The car was at Dalton Automotive in Geelong so he might be able to give you the owners contact, I think he was from Warrnambool.

Cheers
Graham

Yes it is very do able.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/s5-samurai-950759/

Hey Tsi Xtreme

Cool thanks for that man!

I have been watching your build but then I panicked last night when I saw that you had covered over the factory Samurai gearbox shifter hole.

I didn't realize you had cut a new one for the Rx-7 box between the 2 Samurai boxes...

Phew...I'm a lot happier now!

I'm just waiting for the licensing department to get back to me with modification approval (so it's all legal and can be driven on the street) and then I will be starting my build over here in Australia.

Of course mine is known as a Suzuki Sierra over here...here's the pic's:

https://img96.imageshack.us/img96/194/23052011035.jpg

https://img847.imageshack.us/img847/...4052011038.jpg

https://img713.imageshack.us/img713/...4052011037.jpg

...with the Bikini top fitted...ready for summer cruising!

https://img9.imageshack.us/img9/7351/suzukiaa.jpg

try transadapt for a plate

don't need one. What series are you going with? First gens are alot easier to mount because of the front plate however the S4-5's oil pans work alot better because they clear the front diff just right. I would however use a 79-80 style tranny. I used the S5 and made it work but the other's shifter housing is shorter and would make it alot easier to change gears on the transfer case. I can only change from 4hi or 4lo, which works ok just have to unlock my lock outs to put it in 2wd. Other thing is the oil cooler. If you're using a 12a then you have no worries however if the 13b you'll have to figure out a place to put it. It will actually fit behind the front bumper. I cut out the hole for it but could get the bumper off so she went in front for now.

I'm using a S4 13BT engine converted back to N/A with the 12A front cover. This engine is extend ported and I have another 13BT N/A converted engine that will be bridge ported and swapped in once it's all road legal.

I have a S4 box also, but I do have a S1 box out in the shed...don't know the condition of it though....will see how I go I guess...probably prefer to use the stronger S4 box.

And yeah I have a oil cooler that I will need to find a spot for...might cut a rectangle in the bumper, mount it behind the bumper, and fill the rectangle cutout with metal mesh...dunno yet.

Also have an FC alloy radiator, but I don't think that will fit in there, will probably get a custom one made to fit.

Cam...

that white sammi is clean, all the ones I see are about 12" higher with 38's and flat black :)

won't fit, however with minor modification a 79-80 radiator will. Plus its all metal 3 row core. Cools great.
Also with it being RHD I'm wondering how much the steering box is going to be in the way of the intake and exhaust. I had no probs on mine however its on the other side.

Tell me about it!

I ended up having to get this one shipped to me from 2800 miles away!!!!

Just saw this, We have one with the 12a ported and the mazda 5 speed gear box. I moved the tranny shifter forward by the instructions I found on here and didnt have to move the transfercase at all. You will need a STRONG mounting system for the T/C or it will rip the frame in half. we are using the RX stock radiator frenched into the frame. All and all it was a pretty easy swap, lots easier than the 5.0 I put in my other one. We race ours so it isnt the prettiest thing, but so far it has worked great for the year we have raced.