The Trooper/Blazer I call Blooper.

[pappawheely]

Starting a new project built from parts I have lying around. I was going to do a powertrain swap and SAS on my 1985 Trooper. I started looking at all the fabrication work needed and what I wanted to upgrade. I came to the conclusion that the only thing I really liked about the Trooper was the body; the way it looks. That's when everything went so wrong. I just happen to have a chassis and drivetrain for a 1979 Chevy Blazer sitting around. Basically all the mechanicals would be sorted out and it has some nice parts to go along. Realistically (or unrealistically) all I would need to do is mate the body to the chassis, figure out the steering and wire it from scratch. No sense using an old wiring harness. The Blazer's wheel base is around 2 inches longer, but if I want to run big tires I would need to stretch it in front anyways. Just think... a 1985 Isuzu Trooper with V8 power, 3/4 ton drivetrain and 37 inch tires. I have a mildly built 350, turbo 400 and 205 transfer case. Front Dana 44 and rear 14 bolt. The 14 bolt was swapped into the Blazer. One big issue I have been dealing with on this project already is getting the rear 6 bolt, hubs to work. I wanted to run Toyota 4 runner wheels but they just aren't going to work. The center bore is too small. I had to pick up some Methods with a 108 center bore and those barely clear the hub and axle bolts. The person who designed the rear hubs did not think things through as it's been a struggle to make this work with 6 bolt wheels. Wish me luck the rest of the way. It's going to be my winter project.

 

[pappawheely]

First on the list is getting this pig cleaned up and readied to go in. Will be putting on an air gap dual plane intake, new electronic ignition and a vintage air front runner serpentine set up. It will also get a new scat flex plate and harmonic balancer up front. It's a fairly stock 355. Mild cam and port matched heads. Going to detail it up nice.





This converter has been sitting around for a while. Those who know, know.

 

[pappawheely]

Changing out all the gaskets so I'm painting everything. Going with sparkly dark gray. I like a clean engine. Did some mods on the valve cover to install the oil fill. Instead of the breathers, I'm going to run hoses over to an oil catch can. Still have to pull the oil pan and replace the rear main seal. I don't have an engine stand so I'll see if I can do it on the dolly. The timing chain looks new. It's a nice double roller. This was a crate engine I got after throwing a rod through the original engine. I'm curious how it will run once it's all together. The exhaust is a set of Thorley Tri-Y headers going two into one and a single chambered muffler.



I went with an Edel-wok dual plane air gap intake. Only issue I had was one hole is way too close to a boss. Had to run out and get a single SHCS to bolt the manifold on. I'll wait until I get it all sealed up before I grind on it to clear a hex head.



Waiting on gaskets so I think I'll get to rebuilding the motor mounts with urethane inserts. I should get some work done before the weather turns too cold. I need to get the 6 lug hubs installed on the 14 bolt so I can move the chassis into the garage.

 

[pappawheely]

I have 3 Troopers. The plan is to take all the good parts and put them together into one, good running truck. The only parts I'm putting on the Blazer chassis is the 85 body. The 85 chassis is a good 4cyl runner. All the good Isuzu parts are going on this:



The third Trooper I have is rough, but it has some useable drivetrain parts. I don't know how the years interchange, but I guess I'll find out.

 

[pappawheely]

This is too good.