Newb with trooper

Sounds like a great rig for it. these trucks are pretty bullet proof with the manual trans.

elvis abides said:

New guy here. Just picked up a 97 manual 4wd trooper project. Not new to cars or to isuzu's but Never really been into off-roading and never owned a 4x4 isuzu. Hoping to make something fun out of this one to take the family camping and on some dirt roads or what have you. Looking forward to digging into this forum, gettinig advice, making contacts so I can get this on the road and have some fun. Check out my post in the drivetrain section if you'd like to hear more about the trooper.

Click to expand...

Here is a tip for you... make a list of any items , or maint items you need / will need , and start looking for them all now... supplies and part availabilities are a nightmare... my recent experience. Do not trust web sites that say they have item in stock,, after you order you likely will be informed they do not actually have items and no replacement date availible...

Also to add to what Bluetugtuna said - make sure when you order parts that they do fit, had an Oreilly's computer system tell me that the 1/2" smaller thermostat they gave me is the replacement thermostat. Not that the cashier was wrong, but their computer was, took another week to get the thermostat online. Forgot where I did that, was about two years ago.

cswa said:

Also to add to what Bluetugtuna said - make sure when you order parts that they do fit, had an Oreilly's computer system tell me that the 1/2" smaller thermostat they gave me is the replacement thermostat. Not that the cashier was wrong, but their computer was, took another week to get the thermostat online. Forgot where I did that, was about two years ago.

Click to expand...

Yes i use Oreilliy's also , nothing against them ( as i have found out all parts supplies use the same computer system, this just in time system = that none of them have much of a actual warehouse, instead they all drop ship from all the same importers, manufacures, re- manufacturers. ) be ready for wrong parts, save your receipts, be patient, do your legwork to research what other veihichels use the same part you are looking for.. i.e. GM, BMW, Cadillac. Parts counters no longer have any actual mechanic knowledge to cross reference for you. When they say " yeah it doesn't look exactly like yours but " computer says it works the same " NO. NO. NO. NO. This blog and others here with used parts stashes are far more effective.. finding oem parts.

cswa said:

Also to add to what Bluetugtuna said - make sure when you order parts that they do fit, had an Oreilly's computer system tell me that the 1/2" smaller thermostat they gave me is the replacement thermostat. Not that the cashier was wrong, but their computer was, took another week to get the thermostat online. Forgot where I did that, was about two years ago.

Click to expand...

Also be prepared for people to tell you , " no one has parts for a 20+ year old ISUZU. "

Lastly if you need one of something find and buy 2.

Thanks for the info guys. This trooper was overheated at some point and has symptoms of a blown head gasket, maybe warped head. I keep hearing people mention someone named jerry lemond? Is he who I need to get a hold of for oem parts? Anyone got a head gasket parts list for a 3.2?

Jerry Lemond aka JLEMOND here is a retired factory service/training rep and he's one good source for difficult-to-find ZuZu parts. Reach him here via messaging, or at [email protected]

Please use a larger font/all caps to communicate with him, his eyes ain't what they used to be!

Note that for more "ordinary" needs, Rockauto.com still handles a lot of ZuZu parts for the various years/models.


HTH & Congrats on finding a 5-speed, they are Most Desirable!.....ed

Awesome, thanks. I'll get ahold of him as soon as we dig in and see what this motor needs. And yea, on the manual it's funny. Wasn't looking for an isuzu, an suv, or an off roader at all was just typing in "manual 4x4" on craigslist looking for a beater/daily pickup truck, but here we are, lets see how deep this rabbit hole goes...

elvis abides said:

Awesome, thanks. I'll get ahold of him as soon as we dig in and see what this motor needs. And yea, on the manual it's funny. Wasn't looking for an isuzu, an suv, or an off roader at all was just typing in "manual 4x4" on craigslist looking for a beater/daily pickup truck, but here we are, lets see how deep this rabbit hole goes...

Click to expand...

Not to be a bumber, but find another vehicle. If you are not a crazy isuzu fan, or some how delusional, it simply not worth the road you must walk to get your initial manual 4x4 target. Oh by the way I have had 6 different troopers ,,, so far. And loved them all.

To that point, I am certainly an isuzu TRUCK fan, I've owned 3 chevy duramaxes over the years, and have 2 npr's that I use every day for work in my landscaping business. I don't know much about their light duty vehicles except for how much I despised the 40hp i-mark my parents had when I was growing up, lol, but I'm going to have to learn. I am a glutton for punishment when it comes to cars, I like the unique, uncommon, oddball stuff. I spent 5 years and many tens of thousands restoring a mid 90s mazda (rotary) rx7, which is still unreliable, currently not running, but I love it. Not hitting my manual 4x4 target? Not sure I follow, we're already there. The imaginary target I missed was a pickup truck, but I've got plenty of those already.

Don't let that guy dissuade you, I found my first Isuzu by searching manual 4x4 as well. Loved it so much I bought a 2nd one. From zero 4x4 experience to passing jeeps on black diamond trails thanks to this forum, YouTube, and harbor freight tools

I got my Rodeo as a hand me down from my Uncle after my 05 Nissan got totaled.
Been happy with her ever since, and don't have plans on selling or reading it, though I've accumulated a '94 Miata and a '22 Impreza.