My 88' Suzuki Samurai
Purchased May 2021, needs a new windshield, top, random parts, and a lot of love.
Driver's Side Pre-Clean
Passenger Side Pre-Clean
Rear Seat Pre-Clean
Trunk Pre-Clean
First clean and shine
Side after first clean
Driver's Side Post-Clean
Passenger's Side Post-Clean
Rear Post-Clean
Trunk Post-Clean
Tires before I Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
First "outing"
For size comparison
First snow in the Sammy, but a severe engine knock started after this day so it's time to engine swap to a 1.6 16v (cold popped my oil filter gasket).
Engine Swap Process
Picked up a rolled tracker for a donor car
Side by side old engine (right) and new engine (left)
New engine disassembled for cleaning
New engine cleaned, decked, and re-honed
Time to put it back together
Crankshaft in
Had to get one valve re-lashed. Had a misfire from one bad exhaust port
Camshaft, lifters, and fuel rail ready to reinstall
Engine is rebuilt
Time to integrate the new engine into the old wiring harness.
Now that the harness test fitment works, we can wrap it all up
After a long battle, everything works. OBD2 scanner even works, no codes
favorite Trips
Alaska
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast
It took an entire summer, I drove from Alaska to Tennessee with my grandparents, mom, and brother (dad had to work).
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast
Easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. The people are friendly, the limoncello is homemade, and the coastal cliffs are mesmerizing.
Amsterdam
Amalfi Coast
This was one of the most interesting cities I visited. The City of Bikes has a lot to offer. Fun fact: it has more bikes than cars.
Bahamas
I tagged along on my friend's family trip the Bahama's. What a crazy nice trip, with just as crazy blue water. I was very thankful I snuck onto this trip.
Barcelona
One of the stops I made on Fall Break abroad. I got to see Messi score and play! That's one off the bucket list and a couple tears down my cheek.
Dorfgastein
This was a super small town in the Alps of Austria. It was at the beginning of study abroad and I'll never forget the scenery or the memories made there.
Helen, GA
My friends and I love going down to Helen for Oktoberfest. It's one of the most authentic feeling here in the states. But, it's also an excuse to rent a cabin and enjoy nature.
Munich
I attended the real Oktoberfest (really happens in September). I also got to see Bayern Munich play and Lewandowski score!
Paris
Poland
One weird fact: the entire time I was in Europe, I couldn't get ice in my drinks. However, I saw it for the first time in Paris...but it was used in the urinals for drainage!
Poland
Robbinsville, NC
Poland
I visited Schindler's Museum and Aushwitz mainly. Needless to say this was one of my most somber trips, but also one of the most impactful.
Rhode Island
Robbinsville, NC
Robbinsville, NC
I was able to go on a sailing trip with some friends where we sailed around on a Hinckley. A very nice charter captain in the harbor showed us his 111-foot boat.
Robbinsville, NC
Robbinsville, NC
Robbinsville, NC
My girfriend, Danielle, and I were able to enjoy this cabin in the woods of North Carolina. It was the home Tail of the Dragon, if you're a bike or car person.
big camper, here are some of my favorite pictures