just another wheeler

Hey guys, my names Austin Stewart. Currently living in Pasadena, Md. Got a job about 6 months ago working for the Coast Guard at Curtis Bay. Originally from Southern MD. Currently an active member of the HardRock Crawlers out of St. Mary's. Looking to possibly meet up with some locals up here. My current rig is an 87 Samurai.... well...kind of.. currently in the middle of a build. When I took it apart it was just a basic SPOA sami with gears, 32's and a couple other things done to it.. It is now going through an identity crisis. Stretching the frame and body, and extending the wheelbase to about 98in (80 in stock), putting a 22r yota motor and trans in, rebuilt yota axles, spool rear, locker front, brand new 37's, fully rebuilding the sheet metal out back, power steering, YJ springs, homemade missing links, full roll cage, dash, seats, and a bunch more stuff that costs way too much money then I should be spending lol. Currently doing the work out of a friends shop out in Middletown, MD near Frederick. In the middle of putting it back together right now. down to the stretched frame and putting the suspension on.

Good to meet you all
-Austin

Welcome to the forum... Send some pics of your build... I had a 04 Badlands buggy with a 1.6 vitara motor and trans.. It was a class three comp rig on 60's, spooled and red krawlers..Nothin like a sami

Look forward to seeing your build and meeting on the trail...

welcome to the forum sounds like a nice rig you are building.

I guess I was not the only one extending you a welcome. I must of done something wrong cause it didn't post. Any way welcome to the forum. Maybe we can trade tours of bases. I work at Martins state airport on the A-10 warthog. The rig sounds really sweet.

Welcome to the forums

Sounds like a pretty nice rig in the making! Welcome to the forum!

What it looked like before breakdown


Yota donor rig



Stretched frame in center. Front frame/ bumper was stretched when the spoa was done. still need to do the rear.


Where I am as of right now, working on the suspension. Goes by really slow when your doing it by yourself, not to mention not owning a plasma cutter!! Man that is the NEXT tool im getting. Ive already gone through just packs and packs of cut off wheels and im about half way done cutting on this thing.





Rear tub plan


I have just about everything to finish the thing, just taking awhile.

Welcome to the group. We have a few members down your way. Was that a Chevelle in background?

always like to se pictures of people working on their rigs, hope to see you out there soon

Thanks for the welcomes guys, and yea I hope to be out there soon too. my original finish goal was end of April....thats not happening. Shooting for end of May.

And yes that is a chevelle in the background. Im actually doing my work at a buddies shop in Middletown so thats his. Pretty big shop, right now we have my rig with all my parts to my side, the chevelle, a CJ5, a TJ a tractor and a bunch of benchs and stuff. He also has a restored 69 chevelle SS convertable. his plans for the one you saw are a twin turbo charged small block chevy. the CJ is getting back half right now and remaking the rear frame, eaton rear with a HD HP 44 front Wb stretch on 39.5's. TJ is his slow slow build, he is still gathering parts his plans for that is 60's, stroked 4.0 to a 4.6, links and coilovers. Im sticking with just the sami for now, came across an old courgar I almost grabbed but one project is more then enough for me right now.

Sounds like alot of cool toys, I have a few projects going at once. My wifes YJ, my 57 Chevy and my 64 Chevy II gasser project. Each of my sons also have project my oldest has a 70 Chevelle with a 454 BBC and my yongest has a 54 Ford F-100 rat rod project. Hope to meet you on the trails.