Mike's '89 Trooper (small Update 2-27-16)

[mustanger999]

So I wasn't going to start my build thread until I had actually done something to it. But I'm super excited about it. So I figured I would make a foundational intro to show where it's starting from. Pic heavy

Pics from seller's classifieds post. Scored the whole truck for $500!
Some things are already done that i wanted to do.

Trooper_1.jpg

Sorry, but I'm keeping the round eyes.

Trooper_2.jpg

All this crap will be replaced with a carb setup

Trooper_5.jpg

My goal for the truck is to make it super simple, bare bones wheeler/bov. I have to undo a lot of jimmy rigged stuff. Such as the fuel line which runs up through the shifter hole, to a 1/4 turn shutoff valve, through the firewall to the fuel rail. It also has injectors that dont belong on it. I had to space the fuel rail off the manifold with a stack of washers just to get the fuel rail and injectors lined up properly. Surprisingly they actually worked but its still not starting. pretty sure its due to the hacked up wiring. I also have to replace the aftermarket gauges that were put into the center gauge cluster. Luckily mckenziedg has a set he has already sold me and put in the mail. I also have the carb setup coming in the mail from J5.

[shaggydoink]

That's a great looking Trooper for $500, best of luck with your project!

Shaggy

[mckenziedg]

Happy I could contribute to the build! Great looking truck to start with. I'll be keeping my eye on this thread.

[mustanger999]

I started dismantling the engine today in preparation for the carb setup. I got the manifold off, and the valve cover. Ratcheting wrenches are your friends. Worth every penny. I discovered one issue with the inability to run. Injectors need juice. This one wasnt getting any fer sure.

20140606_130911.jpg

I also found out by the looks of it the head is either brand new or rebuilt in a very clean manner. Every piece looks new and the rocker shaft pieces that bolt to the head are punched with numbers. Anyone know what the round thing is that says "A.C.M.E. void if removed"?

20140606_134600.jpg

20140606_135057.jpg

20140606_142603.jpg

Also don't try to use a walmart ratchet to remove your head bolts. It doesn't go well for the ratchet. On the plus side I know exactly how one works now.

20140606_143411.jpg

[TxTrooperFan]

The ACME Do not remove is a heat tab. The center of the tab has lead in it and is there to melt so the builder knows of the part has been hot. Looks like the center of that heat tab is melted ot. I would have the head checked to be certain.

[mustanger999]

I stopped at Harbor Freight today and picked up a new ratchet and got to work. I've discovered interesting things.
The head has been replaced with one that has no casting numbers on it. Just a weird symbol I don't recognize.

20140607_095516.jpg

Also has 2.3 head and the fuel pump pushrod hole is already there. So I dont have to drill my head. Which is somewhat of a relief, I was a little nervous about drilling it.

20140607_094804.jpg

The bottom end has either been replaced or rebuilt since it has the new style cutout pistons.

20140607_095249.jpg

Is this dent a problem? (Those raw scratches weren't there I did that scraping some carbon off.)

20140607_095857do.jpg

[archmckinnon]

I tried to buy that truck from a guy in Oklahoma!
Glad you got it!!


Congrat's!!!!

[mustanger999]

Does anyone know who manufactures the head? The weird symbol is driving me nuts. I can't find a single thing about it when googling it.

[fischerry]

If its already drilled must been replaced with aftermarket head. Interesting stamp im curious myself. No other script on the head?

[mustanger999]

On the front its stamped SIMS inc. Thats the only other markings. J5 determined that its a 2.3 head since the truck would have never started or ran with newer style cutout pistons paired with the 2.6 hemi style head, due to the compression being lowered. However I got it to run, and since it has a factory pushrod hole we determined it to be a 2.3 head. Which would give it a compression boost. I could not find anything relevant to heads or engine building when looking up SIMS inc. So I'm still stumped.

[archmckinnon]

Did John know what that mark was? If anyone would know it would be him.

[mustanger999]

He recognized the symbol but doesnt know the manufacturer.

[mustanger999]

Carb conversion is done!!! I haven't got a chance to fire it up however since someone decided to help themselves to my gas while it sat.

[archmckinnon]

I've been there before! Damn kids!

[mustanger999]

It's alive!!! And quite loud. When I was putting the exhaust manifold back on the flex pipe broke. I never knew a 4 banger could be SO loud. I cant drive it yet. Its got an oklahoma non use tag, Its insured but i have no proof yet, the exhaust is deafening, and the windshield is busted everywhere. That would equal a handful of tickets I'm sure.

[shaggydoink]

It's alive!!!

Congrats!!

Shaggy

[DSUZU]

What'd you come up with on the piston "dent"? How did the cylinder look where the dent was? My guess would be that was a '95.5 to '97 replacement engine and someone put a 2.3 head on it (has the 1 BBL throttle body and the dished pistons). Obviously who ever did the other work didn't know or didn't care what they were doing. Dennis

[mustanger999]

The cylinder wall didnt have any scarring. It ran smooth once it got enough steady gas flow. I haven't got to drive it yet but it sounds like it runs well.

[comerz]

Anything else on this build?

[mustanger999]

Its tagged and insured. I think there is some varnish built up in the jets. It runs off of the initial fuel from priming it, then it leans out and dies. Its too cold for me to get much done with it right now. So ive just been skating around in my miata.

[comerz]

Fun fun. Well good luck buddy.

[bradzuzu]

Nice project rig , hopefully you get it out driving pretty soon !!

[mustanger999]

Well I kinda dropped the ball on this thread. I cant believe it's been over a year since I posted to it.
I have since removed the plugged up stock carb and installed a weber 32/36 with a manual choke.
I also converted it to round eye.
I would have had the snorkel done but I was sent a deformed redline snorkel kit.
I also installed a bicycle brake hand throttle on the shifter which works perfectly.
I'm really having trouble getting my gas and temp gauge working. I tried lightly sanding the contact point like I saw in another thread, that didn't work.
I did notice that the other cluster I have has the gas and temp in different positions. Looking at the circuit board the wiring doesn't change paths or colors so I'm gonna try switching the gas and temp gauges to see if that's the issue. If that doesn't take care of it I'm going to order some aftermarket gauges.
While I wait for money to possibly buy gauges, to fix the exhaust, and get a new windshield I'm going to try to clean up the interior so I can start rattle lining the floor.
I'll try to get pics of my work up soon.

[mustanger999]

Gauge swapping didn't work so I bit the bullet and bought some autometer gauges and a universal fuel level sending unit. I also bought a workshop manual for $29 shipped. That's much cheaper than my $80 dollar pickup manual. While I had the some of the dash apart I decided to relocate my ecm. It's basically pointless to me, as it only controls my tach that I'm aware of. But it's there, and out of my floor, if I ever decide to try the itec setup again. Later on I'll probably relocate the rear body harness as seen in Taco_man's Casey Jones Trooper build.Here's a few pics I snapped before I got frustrated with the gauges. I'll take more when I get back to it.

Hand Throttle Stick.jpg

Hand Throttle Piggyback Cables.jpg

Relocated ecm.jpg

[shaggydoink]

Wow, you've done a lot over the past little while! Got a picture of the snazzy round eye?

Shaggy