Off Road Hybrid Buggy

[CFECO]

Yes, I know.... I'm thinking for a parking brake, to just have a small plate with two pins, which would fit over the drive sprocket and lock it from turning. Would not be very good for a E-Brake though! Perhaps a 2x4 stuck through the rear wheel spokes....Or, consolidate all the hydraulic systems into one, with one dual master cylinder and a hydraulic parking brake lock. Best idea probably!

[CFECO]

I have a question for you...Since you are from Brazil, do you ever see these around down there? It's a Suzuki LJ-81 Pick Up. Very rare here...Thanks!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

My dad has told me about some earlier versions of the Suzuki Jimny that were available in West Amazon due to the free port zone in Manaus back in the day, while import restrictions were strictly enforced everywhere else in the country, but he never told me about any pick-up. Sometimes he still regrets not having bought one when they used to worth nothing and were just dumped in the jungle when something broke.

SJ-series on the other hand used to be common in the '90s, and some are still roaming around.


The current generation has been locally-assembled by the local importer.

[CFECO]

They are rare! Evidently there were about 800 of the LJs ( Light Jeeps) imported into the US, only a small number of which were the LJ-81 Pickups. I told the boss, we need to find one, but she is probably safe as there are so few to find! But Thanks anyway....!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

But would you want an LJ to modify or to keep it as a collector's item?

[CFECO]

It would depend on the condition of it. If it was complete original, I'd try to keep it that way, especially the PU. They already had "Normal engines", 4 cyl. 4 stroke, where the older ones, LJ 10, 20's etc had 2 cylinder 2 strokes...Cough-gag-etc! A nice LJ-81 I'd like to put AC, PS in it and have a nice all season cruiser truck. I'm in Southern AZ, and we get into the 115's + in the summer, I'm old and spoiled now, so AC is required, especially if mama is going to go along. If the truck was engineless, there are always plenty ofSamurai parts around.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

IIRC the last 2-stroke Samurai was still available in '87, already in the SJ generation. But anyway, if I were going to pick a Samurai with a heavily-damaged engine, I would not disconsider use it as a test mule to perform experiences with some motorcycle engine just for the sake of it.

[freebeard]

In the latter case, EV conversion.

[CFECO]

Yes, a MC engine was my first idea too. But, if there is not a LJ-81 available, it's probably a good thing, I have plenty of projects and need to focus on my electric buggy!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Makes me wonder how hard it would be to import a Maruti Gipsy and upgrade it to become compliant with DOT standards and turn it into a replica of the LJ-81. It might not be so impossible at all, considering that some folks have already built a replica of the J40-series Toyota Land Cruiser using a Tacoma frame with body panels and front solid axle of the Brazilian Toyota Bandeirante...