Isuzu SUV Forum banner

project towboat(6-5-10 flares)

64K views 137 replies 32 participants last post by  Red0ktober 
#1 ·
I thought I'd start a project file in case anyone wanted to follow my buildup. This is the 86K mile trooper that tad posted under hot deals. http://forum.planetisuzoo.com/viewtopic.php?t=10098 I bought this to replace a new pickup that was a lemon and was repurchased by manufacturer. I needed something that I could work on that would tow my newly restored bassboat. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... ation%202/ http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... storation/ anyway here is the link to pics of "88 trooper http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... 20towboat/ http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... wboat%202/ I will try to update as project continues. I'm upgrading suspension, brakes, exhaust, engine power, and fixing what probs there are. Just doing what I did on my 1st one yrs ago with a few changes. Any questions feel free to ask.
 
  • Like
Reactions: btmseb
#3 ·
Looks nice!
I guess that Nu-Finish car polish really works
 
#4 ·
It's amazing what you can do with real paint and some rubbing compound. These old trucks don't have basecoat-clearcoat paint. Haven't done the whole thing yet. Working on mechanicals first.
 
#5 ·
Like most projects life has gotten in the way since I started this thread. I have taken pics of all work done but haven't posted much yet. Recently I found a hole in the frame after having done much work. This was a show stopper for a while. I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep going on this project, but decided WTH. I've already got too much in it. I found a sweet and clean rust free frame(rolling chassis really)frame locally that spent most of it's life in N. Carolina. It was close to home and delivered to my drive for under $500. This project has gone from a fixer upper to a frame off almost resto. here is the frame pics. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... t%20frame/ I intend to clean, paint and move my OME suspension, and gas tank from other frame then swap body. Then reinstall engine and trans replacing rubber hoses,seals and clutch as I go. Honestly if I had known I would be getting in this deep I probably wouldn't have started this project. It has gotten way out of hand!
 
#6 ·
Nice looking frame. That bad boy must have spent most of its life down south.
 
#7 ·
squatch said:
It's amazing what you can do with real paint and some rubbing compound. These old trucks don't have basecoat-clearcoat paint. Haven't done the whole thing yet. Working on mechanicals first.
Some did, some didn't.

My 89 has the clear coat.

It's good, much redder.

The down side is that every summer a new patch of clear coat decides to start peeling off, so I have to get out there and wet sand, feather, rub it out and try to shoot some clear on the area, wet sand some more and get it to match.

I figure that at the rate I'm going, I'll have it all replaced in about five years. :roll:

My 91 didn't have the clear coat.

Much easier to deal with.

Washed it, rubbed it out, waxed it and forgot it till the next time.

Not quite as bright, but good enough.

Jim
 
#8 ·
I finally got some pics together of work done before frame issue. Some stuff such as suspension will be moved to new frame. It has now been stripped to bare frame and lower a arms and degeased(gunk and pressure washer). I hope to start painting frame tomorrow. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... t%20frame/ I have painted most of the black parts with duplicolr bedliner applyed with special roller. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... d%20parts/ The rear of frame and body underside has been cleaned and painted and rear supension and new brakes installed http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... uspension/ I also repaired rusted out part of core support with new part from california. It was not as rust free as thought so we added metal, drilled out old welds and used bolts to reinstal. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... %20repair/ and pass part of interior has been CLEANED and new vinyl flooring put in to replace NASTY carpet. Just had to take back out to remove shifter and body bolts for frame swap http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... 0interior/ Iwill try to update as work progresses. Slideshow button is good way to view. Enjoy!
 
#9 ·
Looks like you are making good progress. Don't forget to give me a call when you are ready for the move.
 
#10 ·
Got the frame primered today. Man it was hot out there. I'm hopeing to pull old frame out next weekend. If I can get motor out during the week. Then I figure 2 weeks to set up parts on new frame then put it under.
 
#11 ·
Priming in that heat! You must be really motivated. Between the fumes and the perspiration dripping into your eyes, I don't know how you did it.
 
#12 ·
Since last update. I have removed everything from new frame. cleaned it twice. Primered and painted 1st coat of black. One more to go. It is brush painted with rustolium industrial paint. There are some drips but under the hot conditions it turned out well anyway. I have pulled the tranny and engine out of the trooper and intend to pull out bad frame this weekend. some pics http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... 0progress/ If you go to my photobucket page::click on my user name "squatchout" and you can see all the albums. clicking the slideshow botton on each is a good way to veiw. Enjoy!
 
#13 ·
Mark,

Are you changing the timing belt, hoses, etc. while you have the motor out?
 
#15 ·
Hack said:
Mark,

Are you changing the timing belt, hoses, etc. while you have the motor out?
And the whole cooling system and the body,motor,trans mounts, and all the hard lines, gaskets and seals. swapping the front suspension from the old frame(except lower a arms) including steering parts And anything else that looks questionable or might be a pain to get to later.
 
#16 ·
The old frame is out. The rear suspension has been swapped from rusty frame to new. The process: lifted trooper with big floor jack at rear diff and front cross member. The truck was set on 2 courses of concrete blocks under each wheel. Then rear was raised and temp concrete+wood blocks placed inside of frame to support rear of body. Lowered back down enough to slide timbers between frame and body. raised back up(at rear diff) enough to remove temp supports and put permanent supports under timbers. Then removed 1 course of blocks under R wheels and lowered frame. Same process in front. Then raised rear again to remove last course of block then same in front. Little by little as I did this job alone. Once wheels were on ground I realized I had mismeasured and had to roll front of frame on jack to remove as front tires wouldn't fit under front timber support for body! Later in day a friend dropped by and we swapped recently rebuilt rear suspension onto new frame. Once front suspension is removed and cleaned and painted, that and steering parts will be moved to new frame. here are some pics. All told it went very well. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... ame%20out/
 
#17 ·
Looks like this was a lot of fun.

 
#18 ·
My hat's off to ya.

Pretty big piece of work to pull off working alone.

Looks like you got er done though.

Jim
 
#19 ·
Well it's not like I was picking the truck up or anything. I usually work alone so I just take a few extra steps to make sure things are safe. And work slowly. The jack did all the work. I'm getting to old and too many miles on me for heavy lifting. The worst part is getting up and down out of the floor dozens of times.The biggest fun was several trips to get more blocks and timbers in the wifes Honda crv. Thats the next best thing to a Trooper. I have been suprised at what it will carry if I don't get stupid about it! Every notice how you always need a truck when your working on your truck?
 
#20 ·
squatch said:
Every notice how you always need a truck when your working on your truck?
:lol: :lol: Sort of like you always find what you are looking for in the very last place that you look.

Man, you used a lot of blocks. That poor CRV must have been dragging its body on the ground.
 
#21 ·
Nah the small ones 8" I had. The big ones 12" I had to buy. I wanted it stable enough to work under. I took 2 trips only 12 blocks each trip. Only about 520 lbs not to bad. I was more worried about the soaking wet(heavy PT) timbers sticking out the back window resting on the tailgate. Lot's of short trips. I use it but don't abuse it too much. I have to answer to the wife if I mess it up.
 
#22 ·
squatch said:
I use it but don't abuse it too much. I have to answer to the wife if I mess it up.
Same with my wife's Sienna!
 
#23 ·
Frame is almost ready to go back under the truck. It's been painted, rear OME springs + shackles installed, front sway-away torsion bars, F+R OME shocks installed, pro-comp steering stabilizer, Indy4x tie rods, powerstop rotors, EBC 6000 brake pads, Indy4x stainless brake lines, low profile droop snubbers. cv axles rebuilt and new boots, A 4:77 front diff from a planet member installed. Hubs repacked and new seals, New Superwinch manual hubs(clearcoated). Diff breather lines extended. The part no one ever tells you about with restorations is the hours spent cleaning and painting parts. I probably have 60 hrs since last update just sitting at a bench grinder with a wire wheel cleaning bolts and small parts. Still waiting on a couple of critical parts before the frame can be put back. Enjoy the pics. http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w3/s ... %20update/
 
#24 ·
Wow That looks great!!!!!!!!!!
 
#25 ·
Mark,

It was fun working on your project last weekend. The photos do not do it justice. When you are done you will have a better than new first generation Trooper. Stainless steel lines. Modified suspension. I can't wait to hear that exhaust. Sweet.

Thanks again for the driveshaft. I installed it tonight, after cleaning it up and lubing it. Had the Old Trooper up to 75 and felt absolutely no vibration from the drive train.
 
#26 ·
Mario, your welcome. Much better that you have that shaft than the scrapper. Pretty quick fix heh? One more fuel return line to bend and check all the bolts one more time, a couple of paint touch ups and it will be ready to roll under the body. If you thought the brake lines were fun you should have seen me with the 5/16 fuel line. That stuff was stiff!!!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top