New Member needs HELP( 88 Trooper 2 )

Hello my name is Ray,

I am an avid outdoorsman, I have a property in Central Florida where I go camping with my wife and kids. To move around the property I need a 4x4. For the past 3 years I have enjoy four wheeling with my Suzuki Samurai. With 33x12.5, reduced transfer, 5” lift, and lockers, I have truly admired my little toy.

I have recently decided to give up my Suzuki for a 1988 Isuzu Trooper 2 with a 2.6L and automatic transmission. This is due to the fact that I need more room for my family and more power to take us to the back woods.

I am new to the world of the Isuzu, but I think I have made a great purchase with my Trooper 2, and I love my new toy.

I am asking from all of you to help me take my Trooper to the next level.

I would like to answer the following questions so I can make the right decision and rig my Trooper right the fist time.

1- Tire size ( 33 or larger )
2- Lift kit 3” or plus ( what kind and from whom )
3- Reduced transfer or larger ring & pinion ( if needed )
4- Lockers or limited slip ( if needed )
5- Increased hp ( if needed )

The type of terrain that I take my 4x4 is muddy roads and crossing deep water muddy creeks.

Thank you all for your assistance. Any help is deeply appreciated.

Please forward any Isuzu links.

Ray.

Well, you bought it with an automatic transmission, which for me is an unforgivable mistake for the kind of use you have in mind. It's not going to make a convincing monster truck--you should have bought a bronco or blazer for that. Just put on some largish tires (I have 31X10.5 on my 88) and drive it. Don't overheat it even once.

Hi Ray,
I keep thinking about the response I gave you. Why shouldn't you muscle-out (or make a monster truck out of) that trooper you bought? It seems to me this is asking for a lot of problems, but here is a response I got from another post from Extremetrooper:
...
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.

Good luck, Keith

Ray,
Congrats on your purchase. You've got a great, capable vehicle that should give you years of pleasure.

That said, I'd be careful using it for heavy duty wheeling...especially mud. The Trooper is a "Light-Duty" SUV. It's not meant for mud-bogging and deep water fording. It's built for hauling lot's of stuff and trail riding. Your Trooper has a 10-bolt Isuzu corporate front axle and a 12-bolt rear end. That's as heavy duty as Isuzu offers, so you're in good shape there. The 2.6l 4 cylinder is a tough little mill. The valves need adjustment on a regular basis (every 15-20k) and that's pretty much it other than routine maintanance. I'd recommend upgrading your radiator from the single or dual core to a three core model, especially if you're going in the mud.

There are no other engine options for you without an entire drivetrain swap...and for that kind of money, you'd be better off buying a "real" mud bogger, like an old K-Blazer or Bronco. No other motor bolts up to the 2.6 tranny bellhousing (not even the 3.4 or 4.3 Chevy...they bolt to the 2.8l 6). The older 2.3l will, but that's a loss of 30 hp. I disagree that an entire drivetrain swap would be cheaper than a rebuild.

As far as lockers and limited slips, you can put an ARB air locker in the front (10-bolt) and maybee the 12 bolt, too...but that's about it.

Increased HP- Pacesetter makes a header. They work pretty well. You can also get a performance cam to help out on the bottom end.

Tires- 33's might be the max, but they should fit without cutting.

Lift- 3 options:
1)Suspension lift consisting of torsion bar crank in the front and heavy duty shackles in back. That's what I did and it was easy and gives you much better clearance than just a B/L
2)Body lift- 3" is available from link below
3)Both

I suggest you visit www.independent4x.com for ideas and parts for Troopers and www.4x4wire.com on the Isuzu forum. Great resources.

But if you want a serious mudder, you may want to sell the Troop and buy some good old American muscle...