Topic: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

After searching for the perfect rally racer for several months, I stumbled onto the perfect candidate just a few doors down from my house.  Last year, we took 4th place and got the award (and a free entry this year) for completing the rally in the vehicle that anyone would least likely want to drive in the rally - a 1967 Jeep CJ5.

As our team started together racing in the deserts of California, Arizona and Nevada, we wanted to keep with the 4wd theme if we could.

Sitting in my neighbor's yard for the past 15+ years was this little jewel -

1986 Isuzu Trooper II.  4 Cyl.  5 speed.  4 wheel drive.  4x4 of the year back then and still has the dash badge intact.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_164123042_zpspahxtr9j.jpg

Story was that it had a blown head gasket so they parked it.  A deal was negotiated (they would give it to me if I just hauled it away) and a rally racer was born.

I could not get my truck to the rear of their property, so my old John Deere and a U-Haul tow dolly got us home.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170507_115434765_HDR_zpsxjqili9w.jpg

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Nice! I've done lots with Isuzu Troopers. But beware, that head might be warped and/or cracked. They had head problems. Do some research and make sure you get a replacement head from the better castings.

Almost all mine had the GM V6.

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

First step was cleaning it out.  Well not really cleaning, more just shoveling their junk out of the back and into a trashcan.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163806189_zps0srdyg0m.jpg

Interior is fairly intact.  Note the "4x4 of the Year" badge.  Nothing but the best!

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163845448_HDR_zpsatmjrzao.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163832784_zpsaayloew4.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163827909_zpsyxl8le6i.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163825065_zps9yrwuqbz.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163816142_zpsuztb5f6t.jpg

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Red0ktober wrote:

Nice! I've done lots with Isuzu Troopers. But beware, that head might be warped and/or cracked. They had head problems. Do some research and make sure you get a replacement head from the better castings.

Almost all mine had the GM V6.

Yep, I've been reading a lot.  Might be too late though.  Read on...

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Does that have the injected 2.6?

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Red0ktober wrote:

Does that have the injected 2.6?

No, that would be much too luxurious.  It has the carb'd 2.3.

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Finally got the hood open over the weekend.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170610_151619077_zpszbb7fvtp.jpg


Nice that they included a spare head gasket, 2 extra spark plugs and a radiator cap.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170610_151631666_zpsfwu9zxbm.jpg

Wait, could that be the OLD head gasket? 

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170610_152155274_zpsa7hobirr.jpg


I gotta stick my hand down where to check the oil? 

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170610_151829145_zpsbcgxr2u7.jpg

A little dust never hurt an engine...

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170610_152333947_zpsrbp64bu2.jpg


Found belts off and hoses disconnected.  I'm taking a gamble that the head gasket was in-fact replaced, so I hooked up all the belts and hoses.  Crankcase was dry, so I tossed on a new oil filter and 5 quarts of whatever the parts store had on for the cheapest price.  Tried to fill the radiator and water came out of it as fast as I poured in so I need to pull it and do some patching.  I also need to get a locksmith out to make me a key.

That is where it currently sits.  More as we go along.

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

I know less about those earlier ones. I learned to drive on an '89 with 2.6. My first car was a '90 with the GM 2.8 that I eventually upgraded to 3.4 camaro engine with multiport injection.

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Just a couple more randoms...

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170507_114655878_zpsaxrjbv39.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163728299_zpsma2izbko.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170506_163717421_HDR_zpsbjoq5om9.jpg

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170507_113202267_zpsuystto8s.jpg

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Any news on the Trooper?

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Pictures no work - they just show the below. I need pictures because I don't read good.

http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/js1717/Trooper/IMG_20170507_114655878_zpsaxrjbv39.jpg

25X Loser - Delinquent Racing - '86 Rust-Tite Merkur - 9 years (when do I get to stop?).

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Photobucket is terrible. I used to use it all the time, but it's just packed full of ads and super slow now.

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Photobucket changed their terms and conditions and no longer allow 3rd party linking (using "img' tags in forums) unless you want to pay a $399/year fee for their top level account.

I'm in the process of moving everything to a new image host provider and I will update the pics as soon as I have them uploaded.

As for progress...I got the title!  I have a locksmith coming to make me a key (I have no keys for it) and I'll probably go buy a battery for it this weekend.

Pulled the fuel filter and the stuff that came out didn't smell like gas.  I'm going to try running it from a 5 gal gas can to start with.  I'm hoping I can pull enough fuel from the tank through the fuel line to get the bad stuff out and replace with new gas so I don't have to drop the tank.  Good thing is the fuel filter is clear so I'll be able to see how much crap I'm pulling from the tank.

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

Trooper tanks have a drain plug. At least the EFI tanks did.

Next Rally Car: An abandoned 1972 Opel GT (Plan-B: My late grandparent's 1996 Chevrolet Caprice Classic)
Previous Rally Cars: 1971 Opel Kadett, 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24, 1998 Volvo V90 (5.0L), 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 (turbocharged 351W)

15 (edited by SpaceFrank 2017-06-30 05:24 PM)

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

I started using Imgur for all my forum-hosting needs. It was designed to be a 3rd-party hosting site for Reddit and then kinda took off on its own. It's easy to use and free, and that's not likely to change any time soon since the site is supported by the ads viewed by people browsing the gallery. You don't have to publish photos to the gallery when you upload them; I think you can even make them completely private, but I'm not sure.

Re: Our 2017 Rally racer build thread

i think google photos has a "share" thing that gives you a loooooong URL you can paste that's world readable. i've only done it once. i put all my shit on a website.