1988 Suzuki Samurai Buildup - Backyard Budget Buildup

The Calmini Shackle Reverse kit provides ample lift without requiring new driveshafts or shocks and actually improves ride quality on the street. The core component of the kit is the laser-cut front brackets that replace the factory front shackles.

The rear portion of the lift is even easier than the front, only requiring the installation of Calmini's extended boomerang-style shackles.

With the Shackle Reverse kit completely installed, we bolted on our Calmini towbar setup.

The puny stock wheels and tires were looking a little out of place under our lifted Sami, so we began looking for a good deal on something a little bigger. After checking the local newspaper classifieds and a couple of weekends of searching yard sales, we turned up a set of 15x8s with the right pattern and hub size. They didn't come with tires, but that would allow us to pick just the right size later.

Finding the right used tire with any tread left on it can be exhausting, so with a little research we found the perfect meats for our rig. Coming in much cheaper than most other tires we looked at, our 30x9.50 Dayton Timberline M/Ts looked just as aggressive as BFG Krawlers and even have a fairly soft compound.

Now that our little rig was lifted and sitting on a capable set of tires, it was time to improve the traction. There are many choices in traction-aiding differential devices, but our budget rig needed something a bit less expensive.

Often referred to as a "Lincoln Locker" because of the welding involved (Lincoln Welders), our differential was welded to prevent wheel slippage. While this isn't recommended for anything driven on the street or serious off-road use, it would suffice for our lightweight trail rig. With a steady hand and lots of heat, the spider gears of our Sami's differential were welded together and then welded to the ring gear for extra strength. The differential was reinstalled and our budget rig was ready for some action.

Hungry Valley SVRA has a lot of varying terrain perfect for off-road testing. There are several obstacle courses constructed in the area, including a couple of hillclimbs. Our Sami handled the milder of the two climbs with ease. We headed to the miniature Sluice Box obstacle course and proceeded to test the rockcrawling abilities of our little budget buddy.

The 30-inch Dayton Timberlines took well to the rocks but immediately proved to be just a hair too big for our Calmini Shackle Reverse lift, rubbing the inner fenderwell slightly.

After some good testing near our trusty tow rig, we felt confident in the Sami's abilities and decided to head down the Miller Jeep Trail for some real action. Our budget rig performed flawlessly, tackling all obstacles the trail offered.