1999 Trooper Build (updated)

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So, I have a 2001 Trooper which is an automatic. The transmission slipped one day and I parked it for a year not having the coin to even look at what’s wrong. After some research, I decided that I don’t want to invest in fixing the trans since the 4L30E trans has a notoriously bad reputation for needing multiple rebuilds. I was keeping my eye out for a donor manual on CL to complete a swap. A few came and went, and I didn’t have the money or time. Then this beautiful white one came up at the same time as I got my tax return deposited. I debated for a few weeks; then it was featured in the “Nice Price or Crack Pipe” daily column on the Jalopnik website. That site comes up in my feed once in a while, but I wonder if it was coincidence or not that this particular truck which I had viewed several times daily just happened to find its way onto my feed… It got an 86% nice price, and I decided it was the universe telling me to pull the trigger. Check out the article here

https://jalopnik.com/for-4-500-is-this-five-speed-1999-isuzu-trooper-super-1825009694



Troop 1.jpg

It turns out the seller was a dealer, and there was tax and title, but I was out the door for $4,500; not a penny more. Since then, I have been swapping out the aftermarket parts I had on the 2001 to the new one. I am soooooo much happier with this one than the 01.


So far, I have put the OME springs and raised the front via torsion bar cranking. It still needs an alignment. The biggest pain in the arse was that I lost the lug key for the old one and the new one didn’t come with it, so I sent a few hours banging on a 19mm socket then trying to get the freed lug off again. New lugs are on order.


Here are pics of the truck raised up a full 2 inches.
troop lift 2.jpg
troop lift 4.jpg


And here it is on a shakedown run in the Granite Dells in Prescott. I ran Broken Arrow in Sedona with the old trooper once before it broke and was impressed with how well it did bone stock. Can't wait to run that again in this thing.

troop run 2.jpg trrop run 0.jpg

In the works is an in-dash install of the CB, a DIY full-length slim profile roof rack out of an old rack I had laying around, and a sleeping platform/storage build for the back. All of those in time for me to drive it up and volunteer at Overland Expo West. I will post more pics of those builds as they happen.

Hope to see some of you there.

Chris.
 
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I forgot to include the pic of the old springs next to the new ones (which spent some time under the 2001) No surprise the new ones improve the ride a whole bunch! The old ones were downright squishy.

springs.jpg
 

VCeXpedition

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Looks like a decent ride, I always like the looks of that gen Trooper but don't know much about them.
It looks better with a little air under it for sure, needs bigger tires now! the mods never stop once you get started.

Looks like it's been flat-towed? Are these OK to flat tow? Probably, but if not they can wear transmissions out in a hurry, worth a look to be sure I suppose.

Might see you at OEX this year.

Dan.
 
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The research I did pointed to manuals as being fine to flat tow. The transfer case may have been spinning , but everything feels super tight and I'm hoping for the best. Worst case, I need to rebuild it with some low gears from Independent 4x4. Probably will do that anyway.
 
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finished this a few days ago. I am not a big fan of roof racks, but I plan on getting a plano gun case and some max trax to put up there permanently. Also it is a handy place to mount lights. I cut up an old cheapo rack I had laying around and welded it back together to make the rectangle of round tube. The rest can from the steel yard. All in it cost less than $150 but took probably a solid 40 hours of work. That time was mostly because I have virtually no welding experience and did a LOT of grinding down bugger welds...

The original idea for the cross bars came from this site. http://buckwheat-anderson.com/bcanderson/trooper/Roofrack/Roofrack.html

IMG_20180513_125349_hdr.jpg IMG_20180513_125404_hdr.jpg IMG_20180513_125419_hdr.jpg
 

Enthusiast III

A few months ago, I updated the build quite a bit, then did a trip to Humboldt County and the Lost Coast. I got the Roofnest for $2100 off of CL. It was brand new and still was in the factory packaging. The guy bought it but never mounted it. There are a few quirks about the tent I don't like but overall, I am very happy with it.
I am also very happy with the Bat Wing. 15 or so deployments including 24 hours of rain and it is holding up nicely.

Still, a lot to do to this rig, but this is a big start!!!

So here are some pics from that trip.

65672550_10157176089062976_267862202420035584_n (1).jpg20190626_205855.jpg66398627_10157212304727976_804817527707271168_o.jpg66594820_10157208216112976_5543447429191303168_o.jpg66751641_10157212381132976_2232919901956210688_o.jpg66789647_10157212381897976_8975091140093018112_o.jpg67224304_10157212305262976_7052674253828653056_o.jpg
 

NC-Trooper

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Nice Trooper! My last truck was a 99. Keep the EGR valve clean and she will treat you well. I hate I ever sold mine.
Also keep an eye on the oil consumption, mine would burn through it and get dangerously low if I was not careful
 

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Oh, I'm familiar with the EGR tube. I 've found a 12g wire will clean it nicely. I have always figured the propensity for it to clog was due to the burning of the oil. I know it's a design flaw of some ports within the engine.
 

bamakojon

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I see you've got a gas can attached to the little back door. How did you mount that? I'd be interested in doing the same thing to my '98 Trooper.
 

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I see you've got a gas can attached to the little back door. How did you mount that? I'd be interested in doing the same thing to my '98 Trooper.

I just drilled right through the sheet-metal and put huge washers to prevent it from pulling out. 4 on top and 2 on the bottom. Could have just done 2 on top.
 

EXPO_D1

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love seeing some thing different getting used! never knew these came with stand transmissions. looks like a great ride
 

Graeman

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Nice looking rig and build. Down in Phoenix there is a guy who has a 6.0 dropped in to his Trooper.