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Isuzu Trooper Owners Club UK™ Isuzu Trooper, Rodeo, Bighorn, Mu & VehiCROSS Owners Club
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Twister Moderator
Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 2340 Location: Stockport
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 16:07 Post subject: How the Twistymobile came to be...... |
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Many moons ago we had a garage section on this forum, but since that was removed I've never put the old girl in here, so I figure it's about time.....
It all started way back in December 1982, in the little country of Brunei in Borneo ( yes, I know, off-roading paradise ), when my parents bought a brand new Subaru 1800 GLF estate. This eventually got shipped back to the UK, and when it was about 14 years old was sold to me for a measly £200
I got the bug there and then, and soon lifted her 1.5", with larger tyres.....
However, whilst she was a belting motor, and even had a Lo box, she had her limitations, so around about 1998 I traded her in for my first Trooper, a 2.8TD SWB.....
That pic was taken about a week after buying her.
She eventually ended up with roughly 1.5" suspension lift, and 31-10.50r 15 BFG MT's, along with arch extensions, tints, spots and a custom made rear bumper....
Around about this time I joined the AWDC, and started doing RTV trialling in her....
She also sat on the AWDC club stand at Trentham Gardens one year....
As I got more and more into the trialling I decided it was time to join the big boys in the modified class, and the Trooper was just too smart to do that with, so along came "Muck", a Suzuki SJ410 hardtop that got a jigsaw cabrio conversion, and a full cage....
That was just pure fun. I had her on her roof several times, and it was just a case of roll her back over, fire her up and carry on....
Anyway, time trundles along, and in 2002 my daughter was born, and the old 2.8 suddenly became totally impractical, so I ended up selling the trailer and Muck, and trading the 2.8 in.
At the time I had a budget of £10,000, and it was a toss up between a 3 and a half year old Trooper, or a 6 year old Landcruiser. I figured my 2.8 had been a trusty steed, so, completely unaware of all the woes surrounding the 3.0 engine I went for the Trooper.
That's the original sales photo .
I ran her as standard for a while, gradually gleaming bits of information about the engine from various sources on the internet, and wondering whether I'd spent a huge amount of money on a Lemon.
Eventually I took her off road, and was impressed with what she could do as standard, but I promised myself I wasn't going to go OTT with her, so I just did a 1.5" suspension lift and put her on 265/75 r16 BFG MT's....
Then I took her to a BFG playday at Tong, and that's pretty much where it all started...
After that I wanted to make something special out of her, even though at the time every supplier I spoke to kept telling me that you can't lift an IFS truck. " Should've bought a Land Rover" was all I kept hearing
Anyway, I found ITOC some time in 2005, although it was a completely different place back then, nowhere near as much information as there is these days, and gradually I came to learn a bit more about the engine becoming slightly less worried that it was going to suddenly go bang on me.
I also discovered independent 4x, and the Expeditions west websites, and started to realise that Troopers could be lifted more than the obligatory 1.5".
Using lots of bits from indy4x She ended up with a 3.5" suspension lift, as well as the safari snorkel, and a TJM winch bumper, which I had to import directly from the TJM distributors in the USA as there were no suppliers in Europe at the time. She also got treated to a set of Mickey Thompson classic wheels.
By this time it had become a case of "I've started, so I'm going to have to finish her"
Then came the roofrack, eventually sourced from a breakers yard, and adorned with some spotlights. It was around this time that the Superwinch ep9.0 got mounted into the TJM bumper as well.
Me messing about with the FLT at work, just to see what she could do with both anti-roll bars disconnected....
A bit of wading in the bombhole at Briercliffe...
In March 2007 She had her 15 minutes of fame, although when the photo shoot was done, nothing was said about her being on the front cover. I was well chuffed
A bit mucky at one of the ITOC Buildwas meets...
After that due to a series of unfortunate events, including being made redundant, The old gal had to take a back seat for some time, but gradually along the way she ended up getting a 1.5"body lift, and some 33-12.50 r16 Greenway Machos.
The rear bumper was also left off with a view to eventually putting a steel one on, and the rear lights were converted to Bighorn ones...
Oh, and the obligatory black pinstripe was added...
On display with Gary and Keith's motors at the TOR National 4x4 show, Donnington Park, Feb 2009
The last couple of years have been a bit slow for her, but she's gained a custom steel rear bumper...
...and a pair of rock / tree sliders...
as well as a 17" kenlowe electric fan, and a 3mm steel bash plate made for me by Gary820 (Cheers Gary )
There's still loads more to do, as I want on-board air for one, and the 285's are starting to look a bit small
When I started I wanted a Trooper that could keep up with all the other modded motors out there. I like to think I've succeeded. She's certainly a whole lot more fun than she used to be .
Spec list.....
Front susp... Torsion bars cranked 3.5", top ball joints flipped, slimline droop snubbers, OME +1" shocks with 1/2" spacers, extended stainless brake hoses, Anti-roll bar disconnects.
Rear susp... Belton +1.5" HD coils, 2" coil spacers, +3" Pro-comp shocks, extended stainless brake lines, anti-roll bar disconnects, modified brake PCV mount.
The rest... AVM manual locking hubs; Heavy duty indy4x track rods; stainless cat-back exhaust with de-cat; 1.5" Body lift; 16x8 Mickey Thomson Classic wheels; Kumho KL71 285/75 r16 tyres; Safari snorkel; full length roofrack; 6x100w spots to front; 2x 55w work lights to rear; uprated 90A alternator; TJM T15 winch bumper with superwinch ep 9.0; custom rear bumper with 2 recovery points and NATO hitch; custom rock / tree sliders; custom steel bash plate; 17" Kenlowe electric fan; rear lights converted to Bighorn spec with light guards; stainless rear door ladder; in dash mounted CB; tints; wind deflectors; led sidelights and marker lights; and probably other things that I've forgotten about . _________________
"Tongue-tied and Twisted; just an Earth-bound misfit, I..." - PF
LTM # 000002
Last edited by Twister on Wed Oct 17, 2012 21:43; edited 7 times in total |
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 16:07 Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join! |
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DYLAN Moderator
Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 5115 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 16:16 Post subject: |
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That's a great read _________________
2002 S-TYPE JAGUAR 3.0 SPORT |
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Redneckriceburner **
Joined: 29 Aug 2011 Posts: 120 Location: Lode Lane Solihull.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 16:54 Post subject: |
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I agree a great read and inspiration to others to show what can be done with a bit of effort, well a lot of effort but well worth it in the end, it does very well off road from what I have seen and also looks nice too which can be hard to achive as most off road trucks look like they have been fighting a war in Iraq. _________________ I rather be a bender than drive a Defender! |
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Pete_88 *******
Joined: 06 Dec 2011 Posts: 1302 Location: East Yorkshire
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 17:05 Post subject: |
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Good to finally see how the twisty mobile evolved. Top read mate. _________________ 2000 3.0 Trooper Duty swb |
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gary820 Lifetime member
Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 2427 Location: Yorkshire
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 18:40 Post subject: |
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It's about time you did this
35's next then? _________________ landcruiser 80 series 4.5, 35's/33's for road, 2inch lift, discreet winch, sliders/armour, factory lockers, stainless side exit +++++ |
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Red Robbo Lifetime member
Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 4129 Location: Where ever I happen to be in my imagination but mainly Far East Sussex
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 18:46 Post subject: |
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As peeps are saying...bloody good read mate ........and I have to add an inspiration to many including myself Oh.....and thanks for your help over the past few years _________________ Khotso........... |
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marmite *
Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Plymouth
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 18:57 Post subject: |
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thanks for postin this up matey
sat here with a massive smile |
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adz1973 Lifetime member
Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 1908 Location: Co Durham
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 19:02 Post subject: |
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Enjoyed reading that mate _________________
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d12 Lifetime member
Joined: 15 Apr 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: dublin ireland
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 19:26 Post subject: |
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nice trooper alright : _________________ 96 3.1 bighorn lwb ,widetrack |
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DAVID's J99P Lifetime member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009 Posts: 1614 Location: UK's Horse Doping Capital
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 19:36 Post subject: |
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Good read Steve, Just adds to the "Keep the trooper side of the paper" _________________ aka x66dag
David ltm47 |
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JACUB **
Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Notts / Derby border UK
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 20:41 Post subject: |
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Thanks for sharing Steve, inspirational _________________ 1993 SWB 3.1 Trooper Duty |
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Twister Moderator
Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 2340 Location: Stockport
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 20:47 Post subject: |
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Thanks Guys , wasn't expecting that kind of response tbqh.
Took a lot of coffee to put that lot together , and my internet connection went down half way through it , nearly had a coronary .
X66DAG wrote: |
Good read Steve, Just adds to the "Keep the trooper side of the paper" |
... it says that on both sides
Red Robbo wrote: |
Oh.....and thanks for your help over the past few years |
...Likewise Ted
gary820 wrote: |
It's about time you did this |
...I know, I know , been meaning to do it for ages .
gary820 wrote: |
35's next then? |
... not sure about 35's, coz it appears you lose some turning circle. I might do a bit of looking into something around the 34" mark.
Still, these 33's have still got loads left in them, so it's going to be a while yet. _________________
"Tongue-tied and Twisted; just an Earth-bound misfit, I..." - PF
LTM # 000002 |
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markymoan *******
Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 16267 Location: Naughty Step
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 21:22 Post subject: |
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I have seen it evolve and like watching a kid grow up you dont notice much, the pics say it all _________________ |
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hillbilly col Lifetime member
Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 2377 Location: Co. Durham
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 17:42 Post subject: |
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excellent write up twister ...it's what has alway's gave me the inspiration for mine
BUT .......... after knowing how long you spent on your wheels last yr befor the 'big bash' ...i'm getting the feeling you have a slight fettish for shiny wheels
sorry but best pic i had from last yr's 'big bash' ....but ..... again ....SHINY wheels lol
_________________ LTM NO.41 |
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Twister Moderator
Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 2340 Location: Stockport
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 20:26 Post subject: |
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The ones on the Mk1 were chrome, didn't take much cleaning. The Twistymobiles are bare aluminium and are a nightmare to get shiny. They only get done about once a year .
She is my pride and joy after all, so you've got to let me have some shininess . _________________
"Tongue-tied and Twisted; just an Earth-bound misfit, I..." - PF
LTM # 000002 |
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