To match the capability of a Jeep Rubicon Wrangler, you will need a low range t-case and lockers front & rear. Otherwise you can't compete. While tires & lift may not be big expenses, regearing & locking is. Gears, rebuild kits and labor will likely run you $400 an axle, plus $600 per axle if you decide to add lockers. And that's likely a non-selectable locker. Plan on $900 per axle if you go with an ARB or Ox. Plus you need to get a better t-case in there to even consider playing on the rocks. The Samurai comes with a 2.2:1 t-case, the Rubicon has a 4:1.

Just the other day I saw a used 2003 Rubicon for $8k. To get a Samurai to that level, you'll need to spend $2400 on gears and lockers for both axles, and $600 on a t-case gear reduction kit. That doesn't even include labor, and rebuilding a t-case isn't that cheap. Once you factor in the "upgrades", I wouldn't consider that Jeep a poor value at all.

I would worry about the front suspension and the gearing on that Nissan before even considering the engine. With a crawl ratio of 70:1 or better, the engine doesn't really matter that much.

Are you retarded? How many vehicles come with solid axles front & rear, coil suspension, and have options for locking diffs and a 4:1 transfer case? Today's stock Jeep will floor anything Jeep has ever made in the past, as well as pretty much any other stock vehicle available. And as for that 2nd gen Samurai... by the time you're done it's not a Samurai anymore.

Ummm.... where have you been for the last year?

http://code.google.com/apis/earth/

Damn straight! I too moved from Maine to California and readily praise the buglessness.

Alas, poor children :(

I've been over there a few times, but am sick of reading about how his football team is doing. I love the series but am getting tired of waiting.