2012 A Spacecab Odyssey

[DSUZU]

I’m sorry my friend

This is the most important part. I have made so many friends here. . Dennis

[bsnafu1221]

This is insane!! As everyone has said sorry for the loss and glad you are ok. Well if you have any questions on the Chevy I work at a dealership in the parts department so can get info and parts at a decent price and access to dealership info of you ever need including recall info and histories that have been done with GM. Hope you find another fun one to play with!

[lorenzo816]

Brad posted on the FB Trader about your loss and I am just now catching up on the incident.
I am very sorry for your loss. You have been a great contribution to the Zu community.
Glad you are not hurt and whatever you get next, put a fire extinguisher in it.
Sad to see her go man.
Good luck on whatever adventure you go on next.

[DSUZU]

Thanks. Yeah, early on, I plan to add a fire extinguisher to my next ride. Interesting note: I just saw a Spacecab for sale this afternoon on my way home. Sadly, it is not a 4 wheel drive, so I am not interested. Maybe I'll scoot by and take a pic if I get a chance. Dennis

[lowzone]

that totally sucks!!! at least you got out ok.

[DSUZU]

Got out okay and didn't get (seriously) burned trying to put out the fire. Mentioned before, I did get hair on my arm and right leg singed a bit from the flames. also singed right eyebrow (just a little bit). NO BLISTERING. Had to say this same 4 times to 4 different people from my insurance company . In Florida, if you're in a vehicle, PIP (personal injury protection) insurance is in effect - regardless. Everybody's worried. They do say to never open the hood with an engine fire, I was still hoping to save the truck. Apparently something in the high pressure part of the EFI let go. This must have ignited something else (both inside and outside of the firewall), and that just kept burning. People were screaming "get away from it", and "It might blow". Well, it's said and done now. Again, if I'd had a fire extinguisher. Hear that everybody FIRE EXTINGUISHER. For now, we'll see what's around the next corner. Dennis

[Von]

Thanks. Yeah, early on, I plan to add a fire extinguisher to my next ride. Interesting note: I just saw a Spacecab for sale this afternoon on my way home. Sadly, it is not a 4 wheel drive, so I am not interested. Maybe I'll scoot by and take a pic if I get a chance. Dennis

Well... I've still got a 700r4/np208 combo in the shop... and an extra 350 that's a little leaky and tired. No 4 wheel drive is an easy fix!

[DSUZU]

No, this isn't the replacement. While it's very reasonably priced (asking 1900.00), and it's only a few miles from my house, it's only a 2 wheel drive, and it has the detestable blue interior (plus no LS options). Also MTBracer had sent me a link to the exact replacement (a 4x4 LS Spacecab - project truck) also a great deal (asking only 700.00) but it is the opposite corner of the country (northwest). Hopefully, I'll go see, and if acceptable, purchase my replacement vehicle Monday. Dennis

00303_baxSrRU0Mui_600x450 white Spacecab.jpg

[IdahoJack]

Dennis, here's a 4x4 Spacecab I just saw on the Reno craigslist: https://reno.craigslist.org/cto/d/1990- ... 01233.html

[DSUZU]

now if that had been in my area a week ago, it might have been a good replacement. Still wondering what will become of mine (AFAIK, it went to copart), and if someone wil score my overhauled engine. Dennis

[DSUZU]

Well, here is is, the "replacement" for my Spacecab. Drove over to the east coast Monday and picked it up. Funny thing, after making arrangements, Sunday afternoon an almost identical one (condition, miles, story, history) shows up - and about 50 miles closer. I felt better about this one, having talked to the owner. For example, talking about repairs he said: replaced a front bearing (normal maintenance on FWD/AWD stuff) "while I was in there, I didn't like the look of the ball joint, so I replaced that. While I did one, figured better to do both. While I was doing that, I figured now's a good time to replace the front axles...". The way I like to see maintenance done. He had replaced inner and outer tie rod ends and taken it for an alignment last weekend as well. Decided he didn't like the little bit of wear on the front tires so it got new front tires (all 4 were fairly new anyway). After looking it over and a test drive, my concerns were: A/C quit during the test drive (common Subaru thing - already pretty much knew what it was). Shifter was a little sloppy. Using these and the fact that there was another not far away I negotiated a reduced price (wife, who wasn't real excited about the distance, said "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"). Other than no A/C, drive back was uneventful. It drives great.
Got it home, and Tuesday afternoon fixed A/C issue (removed shims from clutch - again, very common on used Subarus - no cost). Wednesday afternoon, removed shifter U-joint and replaced bushings with stuff from my "spacer / bushing box" - again - no cost. While doing this, i decided to change out the shifter knob and use the "crystal" knob from my Spacecab (I had saved it and the other knob). This required slightly drilling out the threaded portion and threading it to 12MM - again, no cost.
Bottom line: while it really isn't a "truck", I did get 4wd, 4 doors, all the power goodies the LS Spacecab had, a (slightly smaller) pickup bed. I'm happy with it. Interestingly, last November in "Other Vehicles", someone had asked about "Older Subarus" I had mentioned that "if I wasn't so attached to my Spacecab, I might be interested in a Baja". Turns out it was "prophetic" . Oh did I mention ? I gassed it up Thursday afternoon and it got 26 MPG.

Baja 001.JPG

Baja 002.JPG

Baja 003.JPG

Baja 004.JPG

[itsmehb]

I like it. And you'll always think of your spacer everytime you shift gears. Good luck with it.

[gruff54]

Looks like a clean one. Since you've got the Isuzu shifter knob, you'll have to stick around here. Is there a Subaru forum? Are they as nice as we are here?

Mike

[N law]

Very nice find Dennis! I've always been intrigued by the Bajas; I'm not sure I've ever seen a normal person drive one!

In all honesty, I believe my next DD will be a subaru of some sort. My wife refused to entertain them because she says she isn't a lesbian (I am!), but they just seem to have so much quality and bang for your buck.

Congrats on the upgrade!

[DSUZU]

Thanks guys. Yes, I have heard before "Foresters are the official lesbian car" - whatever. Also heard "it's the state vehicle of New Hampshire". Guy at work said "there's lots of those in Connecticut". I said "that's funny, this one IS from Connecticut - I have the original window sticker". Yes enjoying it. Yes, I will still stick around, Yes, there are Subaru forums, one is called "Scooby Truck" and is dedicated to Bajas and it's forerunner the Brat. Waiting for my user approval there, but they seem like good folks like here. Dennis

[shaggydoink]

I absolutely love it! I'm so very happy for you Dennis!!

Jonathan

[DSUZU]

Thanks Jon. I am finding that some stuff for these is a bit difficult to get. The Baja was only made for 4 years (03-06). Some changes were made for either the 04 or 05 year model, which gave an extra inch of ground clearance (struts / springs). I definitely want to pick this one up just a bit, but that is down the priority list. Before too long, I'll start a thread under "Other Vehicles". Dennis

[DSUZU]

This could have been "a new beginning", but I keep reminding myself of the saying "Happy wife, happy life". Have to pass on it. https://orlando.craigslist.org/pts/d/si ... 43263.html

[JoeIsuzu]

This could have been "a new beginning", but I keep reminding myself of the saying "Happy wife, happy life". Have to pass on it. https://orlando.craigslist.org/pts/d/si ... 43263.html

Wow! Perfect platform and price for a 4JG2-T or 4JB1-T diesel transplant. It's a good thing for me that I don't live closer to it.

Jack

[DSUZU]

Well, it's gone. Hope the buyer ends up here. As far as "swaps" go, I would have considered either an automatic swap (manual as the only way the 4x4 Spacecabs came, to an Asian automatic from a first gen Trooper), or a swap to a GM 3.1 from a Rodeo and a big brake conversion ( so it would have had more pulling and stopping power for pulling a camper). Doesn't matter now. Dennis