justinhw's 1988 Isuzu Trooper

[nfpgasmask]

Yeah, as you found out, stopping on the up hill sections, loosing momentum, makes it interesting to get going again.

Yeah, interesting is one way of putting it. I've had to back down quite a few long, steep, rutted out hills in my Trooper. It's not fun, can be very nerve racking, and got me stuck one time as I got way off camber, butt clinched up, backed off the trail a bit to straighten out, and found my rear end stuck in some nasty loose dirt. Took lots of digging, rock packing and airing down to pull outta that one. :smiley_drive:

Thus, I have an Aussie locker to install in my rear diff and I am going to do the 1st gen --> 2nd gen front brake upgrade. No more BS.

Bart

 

[justinhw]

Give way to off roaders coming up hills.

I could be wrong, but i think you give the right-of-way to whomever is going uphill. Or at least that's how i do it.

Thanks guys, I'll keep it in mind

Thus, I have an Aussie locker to install in my rear diff and I am going to do the 1st gen --> 2nd gen front brake upgrade. No more BS.

Bart, I'm very interested in the Aussie Locker option. Keep me updated on your progress with that!

 

[nfpgasmask]

Sure, I'll be getting to it here sooner or later...

Unlike most people, the summer heat keeps me out of the garage. I would much rather work in 40 degree weather than this 90+ crap. :sunny:

Bart

 

[justinhw]

Big Move!

I recently moved up to Vallejo, CA for a masters program.

all packed up!

Folded up the rear seats and stuffed bike, skis, bunch of books, living gear, mountaineering gear, spares etc in the back, and still got ~21-22mpg all the way up! hurray!

 

[nfpgasmask]

You're just over the hill now!!! Anytime you wanna come over to Reno for a little wheeling, let me know. I get over there often enough as well.

Locker installed yesterday, and tested it on a steep hill that I stalled out on with my 2.8 and open diffs. I made it almost all the way up in 2WD. Engaged the hubs and then just walked up. :victory:

The locker install is pretty straight forward. Takes about 3-4 tops, if that, depending on how fast you work. So far, very worth while. I would buy one while they are still available.

Bart

 

[justinhw]

Good to hear the Aussie install went well! How is driving on pavement? Did you have to adapt to it?

Actually, I have a large school break the week after thanksgiving, where around Reno do you recommend? I'm looking for a 4-5 day excursion, the more remote the better (although not too difficult). If you're going to be free around that time it would be great to put a trip together!

 

[nfpgasmask]

On the pavement, you will notice the locker when turning, especially at slow speeds (like pulling into a parking lot, etc). It goes clack, clack, clack, clack with an occasional BANG!. Going straight and driving on the hwy feels normal.

My vacation time is limited this year, because I am going to Japan and taking my full 2 weeks wings so the most I could do after Thanksgiving would be a weekend.

But that said, if you want remote and fun, NV is the place. I know lots of killer spots.

Bart

 

[justinhw]

Extra Cylinder Head

Found this in the JY today, AMC head - I assume from aluminumheads.com (I'm going to call them Monday and see if I can get some info on it)

Came from a 1990 Trooper, 223k miles. Head came off surprisingly easy, no stuck bolts, and the bottom end looked great. Maybe it was rebuilt sometime before it was scrapped? I'm thinking it would be a good candidate for a rebuild when the time comes.

Is there any special way I need to store it?

Also, question for isuzu ppl - my current head is a 4 casting, is this one especially more reliable?

 

[Jean-Seb]

Nice truck Justin, keep it up !

 

[justinhw]

Thanks, I was lucky enough to have a random allen key that fit the head bolt studs in my tool box!

 

[justinhw]

New Shocks

Found some KYB Gas Adjusts today. I have no idea of how to tell whether these are still in good condition or not, but they seems to rebound well when I compress them manually. Hey, for $20 total I'm not complaining.

Although, I did read a lot of really bad reviews on planetisuzoo (too stiff?), but I'm sure anything would be better than my current shocks which have never been changed.

 

[SAS]

Good to see progress with the truck and more importantly, that you are getting out on the trails with it.

Your #4 casting should be a good head, though none are impervious to the gasket failure. When my gasket failed a few years ago, I replaced my head with an AMC unit--you probably scored a super bargain at the JY.

The Aussie is a great addition and will improve offroad capability dramatically. Does take some getting used-to, and you will have to explain what a locker is to your passengers so they don't think your axle is falling apart!

 

[SVS]

Found some KYB Gas Adjusts today. I have no idea of how to tell whether these are still in good condition or not, but they seems to rebound well when I compress them manually. Hey, for $20 total I'm not complaining.

Although, I did read a lot of really bad reviews on planetisuzoo (too stiff?), but I'm sure anything would be better than my current shocks which have never been changed.

I run those on mine with no issues and they are not too stiff. I also run E-rated tires.

I like it.

Those (KYB's) have a lifetime warrenty If I am not mistaken.

 

[justinhw]

Your #4 casting should be a good head, though none are impervious to the gasket failure. When my gasket failed a few years ago, I replaced my head with an AMC unit--you probably scored a super bargain at the JY.

I was so happy when I found out they only wanted $70 for it!!

 

[justinhw]

Update: Valve Adjustment, Mud Flaps, Shocks

Shocks
Put the new shocks on, which were a relief because the old ones were really old and didn't rebound at all. The ride is a lot more stiff, and there's no "boat" feel when going over speed bumps. It seems to ride higher too; I didn't measure before though and it just "looks" higher now, which is surprising. I thought the weight of the car was supported by the springs primarily (changing the shocks shouldn't effect that) -- so maybe my springs/torsion bars are worn out as well =P. Ride isn't too stiff for me, so I like them.

And from what I've been hearing online, gas shock absorbers are more durable than normal hydraulic ones when there is a lot of constant movement (i.e. corrugations, dirt roads), so I like that these are gas.

Mud Flaps
I took some rear mudflaps from a 1989 Trooper RS in the Junkyard and found that although my truck didn't come with them stock, there are mounting holes for them. Bolts up perfectly!

Valve Adjustment

First thing to do is take off the intake pipe above the valve cover, and all associated hoses. The ignition coil is also on the valve cover and the wire has to be undone; as well as one bolt that holds the throttle cable.
After, it looks like this:

Mine had a LOT more burnt oil than the AMC heads I've found in the junkyard

Next I used a measuring tool, and bumped the starter to move the camshaft, freeing up some of the valves. After adjusting (which requires a screwdriver to hold the pin and a box end wrench to tighten it down), I bumped the starter again to free up the other valves.

I had to be careful to ensure that when adjusting, the rocker arm was on the low point of the camshaft.
My valve cover also looked nasty with caked-on oil; I cleaned it up a bit and put a new PCV valve (you don't need to pull the cover to do this).

All of my exhaust valves were tight (I loosened them), and intake valves on 2 and 3 needed to be tightened a bit.

No initial impressions yet because I just put it back together and started it for a minute to make sure it would start and run.