[Van]

Here's the link for the options code I mentioned.... https://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewtopic.php?p=187427

 

[Tentin]

Thanks for the link! Sounds like the truck originally came with steel wheels with plastic hub caps

Came across some 32x11.50x15 Falken Wildpeaks for $225 and couldn't say no. They have less than 1000 miles on them, I guess the guy said they were too small for his taste but still doesn't explain why he would sell them for so cheap considering they were ~$750 new. His loss. No more dry rotted old all seasons!

 

[hessmess]

Nice buy, I run 31's on mine.

 

[Tentin]

Finished the rear lift shackles (v1), I measured once and cut twice and accidentally lifted the rear 3.5", breaking my welder in the process. Messed around with 3d modeling for the first time and sent my girlfriend's dad a template to make a version 2, which will get put on when finished. Rather than dealing with sourcing a sleeve to make the bolts match the stock bushings (which need replacing anyway), I'm converting to polyurethane jeep bushings which should fit with a few minor adjustments.

Got rejected at the alignment shop for having too much play in the front end. Installing rockauto tie rods and balljoints when I get the chance.

In other news I bought another project. A 6 spd Subaru BRZ with ohlins suspension, stoptech big brake kit, and a bunch of cooling mods. Hooray for another underpowered 4 cylinder! Haha

 

[szac]

You don't see these too often anymore.
You've got the 2.6 engine since I don't see the V6 emblems... might have been removed tho :? 4:30 gears IF 2.6... look under the hood on the firewall for the Service Parts ID Plate, will have "S7C"

I read somewhere that 4.56 were included with 4WD Pickups that came with 31's (I think it was called the 'Big Joe' package) which is tire code 9JG on the build plate on my 89 Pickup. I confirmed I have 4.56 gears with the technique shown here. Any Trooper from 88 to '97 will have the same 12 bolt 4.56. I just pulled a G80 third member out of a '94 Trooper but haven't installed it yet.

Your pickup is looking great, man. I'm super anxious to get mine out trails soon! Waiting on parts...

One more thing - you mentioned about my rear slider window. I recently found out it's an aftermarket window by C.R. Laurence. There was a sticker on the window which I originally thought was for the sound system install.

 

[Tentin]

Just got back from the trails yesterday, lucky I went since once I got home they announced they are closing for the time being because of ICU capacity. Stupid because I couldn't think of a better place to social distance besides the mountains... yet every non essential store is still open.

Truck did great, I was able to clear some obstacles I've had my eyes on and did a few new trails. Loving these new tires, night and day difference between the street tires that the truck came with. Could definitely use an LSD. Had a bit of a scare getting stuck on an awkward corner in a steep section, mostly my fault though.

 

[Lightning]

Your pickup is looking really cool. I have always wanted a pup. I'll have one someday but I'll have to wait until I finish school and get that cash flow . I just recently bought my "third" first gen rodeo and I also had a first gen Amigo that I threw in a 6vd1 and upgraded to 4x4. I love the first gen platform and the pup is the last one of the trio I have yet to own. Keep it up!

-Andrew

 

[Tentin]

Yeah they can be addicting, just last week I was messaging a lady about a supposed $700 '88 trooper that ran, but it seemed a little sketchy and she stopped responding to my questions.

On the pickup I've noticed the temp gauge drops hard when I'm going downhill, leading me to believe the thermostat was stuck open. I bought a rock auto one, installed it, and the gasket leaked pretty bad. Took it back off and used RTV and no more leaks.

Took a trip up to the mountains for the weekend to chase some snow and had a blast. First real roadtrip with the truck. The tires did great and I had way more predictable grip than I thought

 

[szac]

Awesome! This makes me very anxious to get my project on the road! I just switched out the thermostat yesterday. Did yours seat all the way around in the housing recess?

 

[Tentin]

Yeah it fit right in with no issues, I just took note of how the old one was positioned with the jiggle pin and matched it when installing. The part number was Stant 13858 and the gasket that failed to seal without RTV was an APEX AWO2032. I applied it to both sides of the gasket, attached the housing finger tight, then fully tightened the next day.

 

[szac]

Yeah it fit right in with no issues, I just took note of how the old one was positioned with the jiggle pin and matched it when installing. The part number was Stant 13858 and the gasket that failed to seal without RTV was an APEX AWO2032. I applied it to both sides of the gasket, attached the housing finger tight, then fully tightened the next day.

I didn't know to do any of those things lol. We'll see what happens. Thanks for the info for when I have to go back and do it right.

 

[Tentin]

Went out and bought a truck tent and air mattress. $100 for the pair on craigslist, just had to patch one small hole in the mattress. 100 layers later of rubber cement and e6000 and now it works like new. Went out to the mountains with some buddies and had a blast. Tent and mattress worked great, probably the most comfortable camping setup I've had to date.

The truck ran decent, but it seems my hesitation issue and lean CEL is back. Spraying brake clean I could've sworn I narrowed down the vacuum leak to the EGR valve and thought I saw a crack in the rubber diaphragm, but when I took it off I didnt see one. Put it back on and now cant identify the vacuum leak any more. Totally confused

 

[szac]

Great score! I'm loving your new rear bumper. What is it?

 

[Tentin]

Not sure, I grabbed it off a pickup in the junkyard so it was able to bolt right on with no modification. It uses 3 bolts per side to attach compared to the stock bumper which had two. Pick n Pull classified it as a "Trailer Hitch with Ball" (???) and it was only $30. Definitely got lucky with that one.

 

[dankly1]

Nice truck tentin! I can confirm that 4.56 gears did come in some pickups. My 93 has a 2.6, 4X4, 5 spd and 31X10.5 on snowflake wheels. I checked it the other day and it's got 4.56. I snagged a G80 out of a 94 Trooper last week and will be putting it in Suzie's rear end soon.

Good luck with your build!

Alex

 

[Tentin]

Mine's definitely a 4.30 unfortunately. The plan right now is to eventually swap in a 4.56 G80 rear and a 4.56 front with a lokka. Not looking forward to pulling apart the front end but hopefully it isn't too much more work than when I replaced the axles

 

[DSUZU]

The 4.56 usually came with the "Big wheel package" on Rodeos, (4x4) pickups, and Amigos. Included mud flaps at all 4 wheels and snowflakes with the 10.5 x 31 tires. Trooper Big wheel package had the 4.77s. Dennis

 

[Tentin]

Guess I'll give a little update. My lean code and very slight misfire at idle are still around. I did a hot compression test and my numbers were 180-185-180-190, wow! Installed my carter fuel pump just for the sake that I had it laying around after buying it when I had that wiring issue and that was kind of a pain in the ***. I was expecting kind of like a classic two belts held up by four bolts, but was greeted by vertical and horizontal brackets that just seemed to not want to let the tank drop no matter how much I wiggled it and played with the angles. Eventually I was fed up and just bent back the rear vertical bracket an inch with a ratcheting tie down attached to the bumper which gave me just enough wiggle room to drop the tank and install the new pump. Had to mallet the bracket back into place on reinstall but everything worked out. Glad I had to never do that on the side of the road or on a trail.

Narrowed down my lean code to a vacuum leak at the EGR diaphragm AGAIN. RPM's go up when sprayed with carb cleaner without a doubt. Seems to be temperature related whether or not it will leak, which explains my difficulty diagnosing it. Need to take a trip to the junk yard and get a new one.

Went back to apparently my favorite place to break Isuzus, Hollister hills. Little Susie Q did great all day and even rescued a 4runner that decided it wanted to tackle the biggest mud pit there without checking the depth (~2.5 feet). Wish I had gotten a picture but for reference this is the mud pit being referenced. My buddies 95 Montero was overheating pretty badly on the steep stuff and we ended up taking the hood off and throwing it in the truck bed which didn't really help much. Still survived the day though with a lot of cool down breaks.

 

[DSUZU]

that was kind of a pain in the ---. I was expecting kind of like a classic two belts held up by four bolts, but was greeted by vertical and horizontal brackets that just seemed to not want to let the tank drop no matter how much I wiggled it and played with the angles.

FWIW, many of us learned that removing the bed is much easier. Mine, being converted to a dump bed was super easy. Dennis

 

[Tentin]

Haven't updated in a while. I tossed the $12 rock auto shocks, they had great road manners but were not good at all off road. Not only that, the rears were way too short after doing the shackle lift and I was missing 3" of travel. I bought some KYB Gas-a-justs after being impressed with them on the Amigo. Stock sized front ones, and then rears from a 1987 ford f250 after reading that they would work. The top mounts worked and they were the perfect length (3" longer than stock), but the bottom mounts were not correct at all and I had to remove the metal eyelets on the shock bushings which was not fun at all. All said and done though, huge improvement from what I had

I got some wheel spacers after noticing some rub on the inner front fenders. Totally bought ones way too big (2") thinking the studs were longer and that I had to clear them, but really I could've gotten away with like a 1.25" or so. Had to do some clearance modifications with an angle grinder and a mallet, it's all on the inside though so it's not visible. Also I removed the plastic part of the front bumper, not for clearance reasons just thought it would look cool. Definitely want to fab up a winch bumper at some point.

Here's a glamour shot

Anyone know what these two connectors are? I assume they're for some sort of diagnostics but just wanted to make sure

And then what is this black thing? The wiring all leads to the device on the right which is on the lower part of my dash near the stereo