Speed_Racer's New Used Rig

[Speed_Racer]

Cleaned the interior a bit today and got the dust and crud from the dash seams. I just need to vacuum it out.

I also played around with the trick rear seats. It can: Seat 3 across. Seat 2 across w/ armrests. Seatbacks recline. Fold and tumble forward. Fold completely flat and makes a bed for a midget.



The year is 1986...

[Eye of the Tiger]

86 was a good year

[Secret Chimp]

You should see how that thing looks without the big silly bumpers. I bet way cooler.

[Speed_Racer]

And as a note, Speed Racer might be driving the slowest car on the 'Spin.

It's so slow, i usually end up taking a nap when accelerating to 60.

(for real though, I think it's over 20 seconds without a headwind)

[280Z Turbo]

You should see how that thing looks without the big silly bumpers. I bet way cooler.

What's the point of a truck if you can't run into things?

Also, it sounds like this thing needs a turbo. Find a couple of Saab turbos in the junkyard, weld on the flanges, PVC turbo piping, and crank up the fuel pressure. Good to go.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Get some reasonably priced man-tires on that thing!
https://www.treadwright.com/c-5-235-75r15.aspx
I have boughten a set of tires from here, and they were good, especially for half the price of equivalent new tires.

[280Z Turbo]

Wait, does this thing have a carb? Draw through setup!

[Speed_Racer]

Two week update:

Nothing has broke!

Pros:
- It's running great. It's a very smooth ride (maybe too smooth). The front suspension is very soft, which means it has a Buick-like ride. That's a plus on the potholed and wavy roads out here. But there's a lot of dive and lean.
- Loving the cargo space - stored a lg mtn bike no problem w/ the rear seat tumbled forward


Cons:
- Sloooow. I was on the freeway yesterday and a long uphill stretch had me maxed out at 45mph

Possible upgrades:
- The beige two tone looks like it was applied w/ spray paint by a previous owner. It's rough and somewhat uneven. They sprayed the grille too - I'd rather it be original black. Also the lower poly kick panels are coming detached slightly. If I decide to keep it for some time, I'll get the lower 1/2 repainted and maybe rhino-line/line-x the kick panels.
- Thicker torsion bar up front to match the stiffer back end. It bottoms out way too often (common Trooper problem)
- 6 turbos. Because race car.

[Secret Chimp]

Two week update:

Nothing has broke!

Pros:
- It's running great. It's a very smooth ride (maybe too smooth). The front suspension is very soft, which means it has a Buick-like ride. That's a plus on the potholed and wavy roads out here. But there's a lot of dive and lean.
- Loving the cargo space - stored a lg mtn bike no problem w/ the rear seat tumbled forward


Cons:
- Sloooow. I was on the freeway yesterday and a long uphill stretch had me maxed out at 45mph

Possible upgrades:
- The beige two tone looks like it was applied w/ spray paint by a previous owner. It's rough and somewhat uneven. They sprayed the grille too - I'd rather it be original black. Also the lower poly kick panels are coming detached slightly. If I decide to keep it for some time, I'll get the lower 1/2 repainted and maybe rhino-line/line-x the kick panels.
- Thicker torsion bar up front to match the stiffer back end. It bottoms out way too often (common Trooper problem)
- 6 turbos. Because race car.

Spend 30 dollars on some Monroematic shocks from Amazon if it looks like it has the originals. They're not great but they work well enough for the price.

[Speed_Racer]

Spend 30 dollars on some Monroematic shocks from Amazon if it looks like it has the originals. They're not great but they work well enough for the price.

Previous owner installed new Gabriel shocks all around recently.

[hotrodalex]

http://bringatrailer.com/2012/06/22/never-this-nice-1985-isuzu-trooper-ii-2-door/

[Speed_Racer]

Took it off road on saturday, and its a stinking mountain goat. But on the way home the speedo died. Easy repair, but the hard part will be finding the part.

[r0tor]

My roomate in college had one... I remember the shifter throws going from the seats to the dash board.  So halarious

[Rupert]

I really liked the shifter and clutch in the '90 I had. Much smoother than the crunchy box in the Explorer.

[Speed_Racer]

Time for some crowd sourcing and brainstorming:

As I mentioned the beige lower half has faded really badly. It actually looks like a previous owner did a spray can paint job.

Upper half will stay white bcuz its so hot in Vegas. For the lower panels I'm thinking of removing the black plastic cladding and get it rhino lined or equivalent. But ideas for repainting the beige? Plaid?

[Laconian]

Crowdstorming! Brainsourcing!

[Cookie Monster]

Crowdstorming! Brainsourcing!

That sounds much more violent.

[hotrodalex]

Vinyl wrap the beige.

[TurboDan]

Took it off road on saturday, and its a stinking mountain goat. But on the way home the speedo died. Easy repair, but the hard part will be finding the part.

What kind of offroading did you do? Speedo shouldn't be too bad of a repair, parts nonetheless.

[Speed_Racer]

What kind of offroading did you do? Speedo shouldn't be too bad of a repair, parts nonetheless.

Slow crawling. Nothing crazy like crashing thru the desert in a Raptor. I replaced the speeedo cable on the MR2. Compared to that, this will be a breeze.

[Rupert]

Time for some crowd sourcing and brainstorming:

As I mentioned the beige lower half has faded really badly. It actually looks like a previous owner did a spray can paint job.

Upper half will stay white bcuz its so hot in Vegas. For the lower panels I'm thinking of removing the black plastic cladding and get it rhino lined or equivalent. But ideas for repainting the beige? Plaid?

I don't think you need any help. Plaid would be rad.