My NPR project thread

Y

yellowxj

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Ocala, FL.
Getting started on my NPR project so I thought I'd share. Starting off with a 96 Isuzu NPR delievery truck. Its specs...right now...
  • 111" wheel base
    235/85R16 tires
    65" WMS to WMS on the big six lug rear...4.10 gear
    4cyl turbo diesel(doesnt run-coming out)
    (135hp@2800rpm 255ft/lb@1900)
    5 speed (coming out)

The plan right now is to lift it high enough to clear 35's. I plan on using the tires off my xj during the mocking up process...so what I hope to end up with is...
  • 36"x12.5R16 swampers on the front
    Q78R16 (35.5"x10"R16's) x4 keeping the duallys on the back :D
    I have a d44 8 lug chevy front for it now...
    (Plans for a d60 front if it winds up on bigger tires than 35's.)
    4.0HO w/ cool air/snorkel/factory air intake
    AW4 w/ 231 to divorced tcase (dont know what kind)
    Softer lifting springs on the front
    Stock Isuzu leaves on the back, shackle flipped...we'll see if it needs more
    Wheel lift on back for towing broken 4x
    small flat bed
    air tank w/ AC compressor conversion to fill
    tool box w/ spare parts
    Big hydraulic winch on back to run off the front out put of the 231 tcase(put the second tcase in N then 4 hi on the 231...will it get the rpms? I dunno.)

If I use all the stuff I have laying around to build this the only drivetrain part I'll need is the divorced Tcase. I wish I had better gears for this right now, no overdrive unless its down hill for now....if I can find an unloved NPR with a auto trans it should come with something like 5.27 gears...which would be great...

first steps will be to fit the d44 front on it...to make sure it will be wide enough (might need dually adapters to make it wide enough...that should be hell on the ball joints :) )
And remove the stock 4cyl turbo and 5 speed--hopefully to sell.

I really think it would be "exciting" to be sitting in that cab, right agains that big window...heading up or down some tough trails...with a big stinger out front....of course.
 
1021387si2.jpg


so this is where I wound up tonight...a 36" humvee tire mounted on the axle mocked up in the right location using the stock isuzu springs...its got all the weight on the axle...this thing is going to be so cool coming down the trail.

still not sure exactly about what to do motor wise....the stock 4.0?? dont feel like its going to push this thing down the road good.
 
yellowxj said:
still not sure exactly about what to do motor wise....the stock 4.0?? dont feel like its going to push this thing down the road good.
Click to expand...
If the stock Isuzu motor had only 135hp@2800rpm 255ft/lb@1900rpm
The 2000 4.0L has around 190hp@4600rpm 235ft/lb@3200rpm

You are gaining hp but losing some torque, you could stroke or turbo/supercharge the engine to get the torque back. Or you could just try the stock engine and see if you like its power.
 
true. I'll probably do that cause its what I have. Hope to have enough room drivetrain wise for an extra tcase.
 
yellowxj said:
true. I'll probably do that cause its what I have. Hope to have enough room drivetrain wise for an extra tcase.
Click to expand...

I work for a medical oxygen company, and our oldest truck is exactly what you have. Sure it's way underpowered, but that beast has 300k on it and will still haul thousands of pounds worth of oxygen tanks on it, so I think it would be alright for trail duty. Plus like you said, you already have it. On another note, this is a sweet project man, I've always wanted to mod one of our old box trucks but my plans included air ride... yes, its very impractical.. but I've never seen a box truck dragging frame down the street... and I'm sure it would be a sight to see lol. Anyway, I'm gonna keep looking for updates.. I'm really interested to see where this project goes. Good Luck!
 
thats awesome! i like the cab forward visibilty, like a unimog. it will definetly be one of a kind.
 
Got a little bit done today.

The shackle flip wasnt that hard...just loosen the shackle bolts, take out the front spring bolt, let the axle swing forward, shackles down, and rebolt everything.

shackle angle wasnt too bad...will be better after we get tool boxs, flat bed, etc. on it.


Robbed the 35" truxus off the wifes xj to test out on the front axle to see what 35's are going to be like. The front spring perches were easy to add. It looks like the front shock mounts will take a little imagination...
Any one want a 4 isuzu diesel? Was trying to get $400 for the engine and transmission out of the NPR...


Just need to make the ubolt plate for the front axle and put some ubolt on it to hold it in. Looks like the fuse box on the drivers side needs to be relocated (easy) and the airfilter and associated brackets on the passneger side needs to be removed...easy enough...
 
I need a transfer case to power this puppy. I thought I could use the stock 231 w/ a divorced one too but there wont be room...the front axle is a passengerside drop chevy unit...will a 300 bolt on?
 
very interesting and orginal project. I hope someday to see some mog or volvo portal axles swaped in. Cant wait to see some wheeling shots of this NPR and see how it flexes.
 
kinda stalled for the last couple days...had some tj's to lift at the shop...and the most chain sawed through tcase I'd ever seen to replace on a yj...4cyl yj can use a tcase from a renix xj...FYI ...been getting ready to pull the future NPR drivetrain out of the 94xj donor vehicle....still got to find a dana300 tcase to pop in there.
 
What's wrong with the diesel motor???? I have a NPR with a 4 cyl turbo diesel with a con-rod thru the block.....and a EX truck driver...been looking for a usable motor.

And that will be a way cool truck....reminds me of the Dakar Rally.
 
You HAVE be a really young puppy by the way it sounds! Man, do you know what you have thre? That little Isuzu is a REAL powerhouse if you just take the injection pump to a good injection shop and have them re-work it fo you. All yoy need to get some REAL ponies out of the little 4 banger is to have the pump jacked up, maybe get some bigger injectors and increas the turbo bost and BINGO - you're ready for the road AND traiels. Anyone who know his stuff will tell you that a diesel is far better than any gas engine you woul;d use and why mess with success when you already HAVE the right mounts and drivetrain to make it work?

A good frienf of mine turned me on to your project because i anm thinking about making a NPR plow truck next winter. Good luck on the truck.....BUT KEEP THE ISUZU DIESEL AND JUST BEEF IT UP.
 
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