My 87 Trooper (gas engine) has 170,000 miles, and the clutch is starting to slip, so I'm considering pulling the engine and doing a rebuild. If any of you have experience doing one of these, I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions you have. For instance, when I've rebuilt engines before (Triumph Spitfire, VW Bug, Volvo 140), I always started out with a kit that included most of what I needed: gaskets, bearings, rings. Just now, however, looking on the web, I'm not finding anything quite like that. Anyway, if you have any ideas that might help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. Keith

Bah...
That is my situation that you just described. My clutch was going out, I had a huge oil leak, needed to rebuild my tranny, bad head gasket, and 207,000 miles!!! This is on my 1988! Decision: rebuild my motor and spend thousands on repairs, or drop a 350 w/ T350 trans. and TOY cases. Believe it or not, it was cheaper for me to go with that swap rather than the rebuild. You need to keep your options open and not just think ISUZU or JAPENESE. Also think FORD, or CHEVY.
So, ditch the 2.6L and drop a chevy 5.7L 350 in it! It's the best mechanical decision I've made yet with my Trooper. Don't waste your time with those Trooper engines, gutless motors. Or even go with the 4.3L VORTEC enginge from Chevy.

-Colin

Wow! Thanks, Colin, I hadn't even considered such a thing. The TOY cases you mention are Toyota transfer cases? You still end up with 4wd? How about instruments like tachometer and speedometer? You have a hydraulic clutch on your 88, right. I have a mechanical clutch on the 87. Is that a further complication, getting the clutch linkage to work?

yes, dual toyota transfer cases, 4wd is of course still operable, need new drive shafts though. get some from junkyard and just have to cut of ends and weld on outers. an adaptor is needed though for the transfer cases to bolt up to the 350. and it's an automatic transmission, hence T350 trans for Turbo. an SM420 or 465 is also a comprable option to for granny low 1st gear ratios with a manual trans. as for instruments, that's an option as well, also one to monitor the heat of the 350. and i dont mess with old drivetrain, everything, clutch, trans., motor, steering box, and T-case come out. good luck on repairs

In case anyone is inerested, I took the easy way out. I'm just having the clutch replaced.