Go Farther...
"Go Farther..." That's the tag line Isuzu is using to market trucks
in the U.S.A.
Don Wintz's 1988 Isuzu Trooper redefines the meaning
of this tag line, combining the best of Isuzu with elements of
Toyota and Chevrolet... the resulting truck can articulate and
crawl down the trail and also maintain highway speeds at altitude.
Click HERE to see a video clip of this truck in action, creeping
down and around the hairpin at the top of Rubicon's Big Sluice.
(as soon as I can get it scanned in!)
Here's a list of some
of this Trooper's modifications:
Engine
1991 Chevrolet 4.3 liter V6
Professionally converted, SMOG LEGAL
TBI - Throttle Body Injection
Edelbrock Intake Manifold
Edelbrock Headers
Modifications B.A.R.-Approved
|
Transmission
700R4 transmission
B&M shifter
Marlin Crawler
Toyota transfer case
72:1 final drive ratio
|
Front Axle
1985 Toyota live axle conversion
Professionally Converted by Fabtech
Land Cruiser vented rotors
ARB Air Locker
4.56:1 Gears
Custom National Springs
|
Electronics
Uniden PC122XL CB Radio
Wilson Antenna
Sony XR-C210 Sound System
Hands-off Cell Phone
Viper Alarm System
|
Rear Axle
12-bolt Isuzu Corporate Axle
Stock Isuzu disk brakes ARB Air
Locker
4.55:1 Gears
Custom National Springs
|
Miscellaneous
Warn XD9000i winch
35x12.50-15R tires on American Mags
Bushwhacker fender flares
Rancho 9000 shocks
Smittybuilt bumpers front and rear
|
Exterior View
Standing on 35x12.50-15R tires on American Mags (though the
pictures show only the last set of 33x12.50-15r), this Trooper
looks huge from across the parking lot and just gets bigger as you
walk towards it. The Trooper wears stock red with custom black
highlights, including the Smittybuilt bumpers, the custom
limo-tinted windows, the Bushwhacker fender flares, and the hood
scoop. The hood scoop is pretty trick, adapted from an early 90's
Mustang 5.0, turned around, and opened up -- it adds cooling and it
LOOKS cool.
Front Live Axle Conversion
Fabtech Motorsports
Greg Soaper
4010 North Palm Street Unit 103
Fullerton, CA 92835
714-870-9422
|
Fabtech Motorsports, in Fullerton, CA, took the Trooper in with the
drivetrain already installed, and proceeded to remove all signs of
the factory independent front suspension (IFS). Fabtech assembled a
bulletproof system that stops and steers as well as the stock
system -- but the 1985 Toyota live axle that replaced the IFS
actually allows wheel travel, as well. Toyota never shipped a
pickup with this steering system, though -- the Trooper now sports
crossover steering, with a draglink that parallels the heim-jointed
track bar to prevent the bump steer and hard braking turns for
which Toyota minitrucks are known. Fabtech reinforced the frame at
the steering box, and added bracketry for the custom anti-sway bar,
track bar, spring hangars, and shackles.
The polishing touches are
remarkable, as well: functional bumpstops, inverted u-bolts,
braided stainless brake lines, vented LandCruiser rotors, Rancho
9000s, tubular shock mounts, well-routed ARB lines, the list goes
on and on. Custom National springs, made to the exact weight of
this unique truck, swing and flex above the Toyota axle with the
travel-enhancing dog-leg shackles.
Adding the live-axle bracketry
and hangars unfortunately meant torching off the old bumper mounts.
Fabtech came to the rescue again, modifying the existing
Smittybuilt bumper and adding massive braces and gussets to handle
the pulling power of the Warn X9000i.
Rear Axle and Suspension
By comparison, the rear axle is almost boring. That's a shame,
though, because the stock Isuzu 12-bolt differential comes out of
the factory with massive bearings, an 8.75-inch ring gear, 1.3"
axles, and disk brakes with built-in e-brake actuators. With such a
strong foundation, Don only needed to add an ARB air locker,
braided stainless brake lines, another set of custom-built
many-leaved National Springs, more trick dog-leg shackles, and
Rancho 9000s. This end of the truck also wears its springs over the
axle.
Transmission, Transfercase, CV Driveshafts
Transplanting a powerful motor meant upgrading the transmission.
Don dropped in a built 700R4 tranny and followed it up with a
Marlin Crawler-geared Toyota transfer case. Commercial adapters
eased the drivetrain swaps, but hanging all this new hardware under
the truck required significant custom engineering. The new tubular
double crossmember bolts on with simple flat flanges. It wraps
tightly around the transfer case, maximizing ground clearance, and
providing a solid skidplate foundation, as well as protection for
both front and rear driveshaft double-cardan joints. The stock
Isuzu rear crossmember sprouted significant reinforcement and
skidplates, as well.
Engine Bay
This 4.3l V6 engine looks like it was installed at the factory.
Professional installation guaranteed a motor that runs strong, and
smog legal, too. Dropping a 1991 motor into the 1988 body pleases
the smog police, and adding a few go-fast goodies pleases the
owner. Sane modifications like Edelbrock intake and headers, a
custom exhaust, and a K&N filter make for a powerful trail idle
and supra-legal highway speeds.
The Mustang hoodscoop helps keep
underhood temperatures in control, sucking hot air through the
visible holes in the underside of the hood. The four-core
cross-flow custom radiator does the rest.
Even with 50% more cubic
inches than the factory intended, underhood has sufficient room for
the ARB pump on the driver's side fender and Rancho 9000 compressor
and fittings on the firewall. The compact metal-clad Predator
gel-cell battery helps ease underhood space concerns.
Interior View
The Vision Research fully suspended leather driver's throne
commands attention and provides serious comfort for long hauls. The
Rancho dual remote control is within easy reach under the dash, as
is the Mico-Lock hydraulic brake lockout, located on the
transmission tunnel. Two fire extinguishers hang within easy reach
for emergency use.
A full complement of stereo, CB, and cell phone
guarantee contact with the outside world, while the carpeted
interior, climate-controlled environment, and cushy seats keep the
elements at bay. There's nothing like waving to a dusty,
open-topped jeeper from air-conditioned comfort.
Don certainly has "Gone Further" than anyone imagined with this
truck. The truck clears nearly thirty inches at the rocker
panels - a combination of body lift, tires, and suspension that net
more than a foot and a half of lift over stock! This fits well,
though, because the crawl ratio is almost two times lower than
stock, and the power output is more than two times greater than the
stock engine. All of these components work together to make an
awesome off-road rig, proving once again that "It is what you
build, not what you buy."
|