Isuzu Trooper

[RichP]

I think it was calmini or something like that had alot of trooper stuff, lift kits, etc.
http://www.calmini.com/

I found it when I started having fuel system issues on mine just before I bought the XJ, turned out to be burnt valves from running NGK Plats in it.

 

[DIKASUN]

more digging done via car-parts.com and other sites--

yep, it's a 3.2L V6, and uses a 4L30E auto tranny. Can't find any information on the bolt pattern of that trans, but as it's used in the Cadillacs, etc, it MIGHT be a 90deg pattern (aka- SAE #3 bellhousing).

This is merely an assumption though, and I really doubt it's the same. A trip over to the Isuzu forum on 4X4Wire would prove enlightening for you. Or to this thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-197985.html

yeah, i heard a cadillac v8 bolts right up. but, i'm not sure how all this engine swapping thing got started. i dont really want to go into all that. all i know is the trooper is geared really low and get sorta bad gas mileage. and from experience it drives like a dump truck. but, it seems most people are accustomed to the older troopers. this is a 95 model so it is a different model/drivetrain/bodystyle. anybody had any experience/problems? i NEED a good daily driver since the xj leaks and burns 2 quarts of oil a week and leaks antifreeze and needs the spark plugs changed every 6 weeks and.... yeah. is this trooper a better dd?

 

[burntkat]

mom had one, and dad had a Grand Chero at the same time.

The Trooper (93, IIRC) was a FAR better truck. Sorry folks, all it required was gas, oil, and filters, while the GC went in the shop a few times (GC was a 95, I think)

 

[motorcityxj]

yeah, i heard a cadillac v8 bolts right up. but, i'm not sure how all this engine swapping thing got started. i dont really want to go into all that. all i know is the trooper is geared really low and get sorta bad gas mileage. and from experience it drives like a dump truck. but, it seems most people are accustomed to the older troopers. this is a 95 model so it is a different model/drivetrain/bodystyle. anybody had any experience/problems? i NEED a good daily driver since the xj leaks and burns 2 quarts of oil a week and leaks antifreeze and needs the spark plugs changed every 6 weeks and.... yeah. is this trooper a better dd?

well this is a freebie from mom right? You should know the history for atleast as long as she had it, i cant say i ever heard they were terrible in any one way ... with the exception of consumer reports unjustly accusing troopers of being top heavy and likely to roll over (granted they are top heavy but not any more so than average SUV, and no more or less likely to roll, didnt suffer from engineering mistakes in the suspension that make it handle especially poor etc), so besides that CR crap which i dismiss, i think they are cool for their era. And you cant beat free ride that you have a clue of its history.

I would DD drive it no worry my self.

 

[bajacalal]

The engine I think is an Isuzu design v6 they introduced after dropping the GM unit. It comes with belt driven SOHC or DOHC heads. The latter I heard are a real nightmare if you have to have head work done due to the complexity and number of parts. Not something I would attempt anything too difficult with but a good ride regardless. Also, I think that thing comes with 6 lug axles and rear disc brakes.

Anyway I would say that the biggest disadvantage would be parts and maintenance the parts for this thing I think are going to be a little harder to find more expensive than ones for a Jeep or Ford. There have been rumors that Isuzu is going to drop out of the U.S. market entirely for lack of sales. And the engine is not as simple as an AMC I6 should you need to replace something like a timing belt tensioner.

 

[RichP]

They are kind of top heavy, I scared myself a couple of times during panic type lane changes, enough so that there were a couple of extra permanent pleats from my butt sucking up the seat covers. The trooper turned me into a pretty sedate driver after driving an S10 sport for 10 years and over 600,000mi...
Over all though the troopers are a good set of wheels, tons of room inside and comfortable. If they had not gone out of site/upscale pricewise and all the power BS options I might have even considered buying a new one but instead held off for the 98XJ. I like a nice simple basic mechanical window, mechanical seats type ride. The only power option I do like that I don't have is power door locks. The only upscale electronics my jeeps have are bluetooth head units.

 

[kcsterling]

I ran a 95 Trooper with the 3.2 DOHC for several years. Things I spent money on are after hearing a ticking noise and diagnosis from local dealership:
1. oil pump and timing belts--$1000.00
2. Dealership dumped 50wt in crankcase to quite ticking noise--no charge
3. Factory short block installed by a factory trained tech $4000.00
4. Timimg belt tensioners after hearing ticking noise while driving new engine (same exact sound as before) no more noise--$200.00
5. Transmission rebuild because of slippage--$1500.00 took a month to get the new tc
6. trannie cooler--$40.00
7. A couple of ignition coils, can't remember the cost ( I carried a spare at all times)
I am sure I am forgetting a bunch of things. Bad news is after driving this thing for over 5 years I had way more in it than I could ever drive out of it.
Good news is I passed it on the road this past week, still going---go figure.
One thing to know on this vehicle, these transmissions do not hold up to abuse and will overheat easily.

 

[DIKASUN]

I ran a 95 Trooper with the 3.2 DOHC for several years. Things I spent money on are after hearing a ticking noise and diagnosis from local dealership:
1. oil pump and timing belts--$1000.00
2. Dealership dumped 50wt in crankcase to quite ticking noise--no charge
3. Factory short block installed by a factory trained tech $4000.00
4. Timimg belt tensioners after hearing ticking noise while driving new engine (same exact sound as before) no more noise--$200.00
5. Transmission rebuild because of slippage--$1500.00 took a month to get the new tc
6. trannie cooler--$40.00
7. A couple of ignition coils, can't remember the cost ( I carried a spare at all times)
I am sure I am forgetting a bunch of things. Bad news is after driving this thing for over 5 years I had way more in it than I could ever drive out of it.
Good news is I passed it on the road this past week, still going---go figure.
One thing to know on this vehicle, these transmissions do not hold up to abuse and will overheat easily.

that ticking noinse must be a common problem because this one does it and i have seen/heard several other ones do it.

 

[kcsterling]

Yes it is and it is usually replaced with the timing belts, the tensioner works off of a spring and plunger system, the springs weakens and allows the plunger to tap making a low frt engine click. Mine came on at a particular rpm and speed and came and went depending on the rpm level. Usually when the engine was warm, ironically the dealership that gave me all of the problems, replaced the timing belts when they replaced the oil pump. But not the tensioner. The second dealership I quized informed me they always replaced the tensioner with the belts. Lesson: just because you are dealing with so called experts, they are only as smart as their training and understanding what they learn.