Last weekend I was given a free '86 Isuzu Trooper. After a trip home worthy of the "worst towing stories" thread, I have it safely parked.

Okay, now what do I do with it?

It's an '86, part-time, manual tranny, two-door. Was in pretty good shape before I ricocheted the passenger side off a snowberm, but hey, it's just cosmetic damage. It was a daily driver before the mill croaked.

Good tires, real front hubs, blown motor. It turns over, but there's a fist-sized hole in the oil pan.

Again, what do I do with it? Should I try to find a used motor and get it running? I was told that these Isuzu whatever-size-it-is fourbanger aren't exactly paragons of durability and longevity, so supposedly, if I find a parts car, it's "parts" 'cause the motor died. Any truth to that?

What can I find these engines in? Anything besides Troopers? Mine's carbureted, what happens if I find a good injected one? Can I slap on the carb and manifold in place of the injection apparatus?

I have nothing but gas-money and a little aggravation into it right now... is it worth the time? Is it worth maybe $500 in parts and time to make it run? or should I just part the damned thing out?

depends?

if you don;t really like it! sell the piecer!

if you do, make it into a trail ride!

Drop in a Chevy V6 (http://www.cableone.net/bcanderson/swap.htm)

If you want it, put in a new motor. If you don't, part it out. :rolleyes:

d 44s f and rear lockers n stuff

This is a my buddy matts trooper. He specializes in isuzu parts but has recently decided that he was overwhelming his independent front suspension and did the SAS conversion. His webpage is http://www.independent4x.com/ if you want to contact him for any other info.

-j-rOd

if its carbed its a 4zd1 2.3L, which is the exact same block as the 4ze1 2.6l which would be a perfect replacement motor. they are easy to find in most early troopers and almost all pre 95 amigos. the motors are by no means lemons, tho some of the early ones had problems with the heads cracking. just dont get one with a #1 head casting. i've seen many 2.6s go for upwards of 250k miles. if you like the rig, drop a motor in it and have fun, if not go over to 4x4wire and part it out.

Dallas

Originally posted by jhama78
This is a my buddy matts trooper. He specializes in isuzu parts but has recently decided that he was overwhelming his independent front suspension and did the SAS conversion. His webpage is http://www.independent4x.com/ if you want to contact him for any other info.

-j-rOd

To bad no SOA. Silly trooper owners....:flipoff2:

Originally posted by StinkBug
if its carbed its a 4zd1 2.3L, which is the exact same block as the 4ze1 2.6l which would be a perfect replacement motor. they are easy to find in most early troopers and almost all pre 95 amigos. the motors are by no means lemons, tho some of the early ones had problems with the heads cracking. just dont get one with a #1 head casting. i've seen many 2.6s go for upwards of 250k miles. if you like the rig, drop a motor in it and have fun, if not go over to 4x4wire and part it out.

Dallas

Thanks Stinkbug. That's exactly the information I was after.

So I presume things like the transfer cases and axles aren't oddball junk? Yeah, I know they're not 60s and 14-bolts, but if I lifted the thing a little and stuck 31s or 33s on it they aren't gonna grenade on me? At least not right away...? :D

The thing, as I said, was given to me. I didn't really have any plans for it, and I surely have plenty of other projects to pour my rather limited cash into... I suppose the question is whether or not I can get a decent replacement engine to swap in (which is why I was asking what else I might find one in.)

Anybody know if that six-lug boltpattern is the same as Chevy six-lug?

Doc.

alaskan's are gay!

You will find a wealth of Isuzu knowledge and people here:

http://66.216.68.23/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?category=20

the Tcase and tranny if its a 5speed are a proprietary isuzu unit (MUA5) but are fairly beefy and tera makes 3.07:1 gears for em. on one that old, i'm not sure on the rear end but its either an ISUZU 10 bolt or ISUZU 12 bolt. if its got rear drums its a 10, if its got discs, its a 12. and NO ITS NOT A CHEVY axle. both are 3rd member designs and are built by isuzu. its sure to have an isuzu 10 bolt up front. both axles are decently strong, and will hold up well to 33s, and the 12 bolt is know to handle 35-38" tires without breakage. i'm gonna be running 38s on my 12. ARBs are now available for both axles, and a lockrite is available for the 10 bolt. HTH.

Dallas

EDIT: oops, i'm at Michael's place and he's still signed on......

Originally posted by Doc Nickel


Thanks Stinkbug. That's exactly the information I was after.

So I presume things like the transfer cases and axles aren't oddball junk? Yeah, I know they're not 60s and 14-bolts, but if I lifted the thing a little and stuck 31s or 33s on it they aren't gonna grenade on me? At least not right away...? :D

The thing, as I said, was given to me. I didn't really have any plans for it, and I surely have plenty of other projects to pour my rather limited cash into... I suppose the question is whether or not I can get a decent replacement engine to swap in (which is why I was asking what else I might find one in.)

Anybody know if that six-lug boltpattern is the same as Chevy six-lug?

Doc.

It should have a really beefy axle setup front and rear for IFS. Sure you have cvs, but the 3rd member out back, and the front diff make stock jeep shiet look punny. The japs overbuilt alot of the crap on this truck. I would go far enough as to say the rear axle is bigger than a 44 maybe ring gear thats 9'... thats how big my mitsu rear is.

If you want to hack the tub and maybe body lift it, it should handle 33's just fine. I have wheeled with zoo's like that.

BUT.... fawking SAS the thing. Its a trail rig, cut off the IFS. Thats what I am doing with my junker montero I found.

Originally posted by Belly Dragger

Dallas
EDIT: oops, i'm at Michael's place and he's still signed on......
Dallas you just wanted to feel like you were the owner of his bad ass rig for a few second. :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Doc Nickel


Anybody know if that six-lug boltpattern is the same as Chevy six-lug?

Doc. yes it is the same