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Post by holden on Jul 30, 2008 14:59:29 GMT 11
Hi all, I have a 91 4JB1-T Isuzu MU with the Current Mods: TJM Winch Bumper, 1.5" Body Lift, Boost Gauge, Manual Boost Controller 15PSI, Oil Catch Can, K&N Pod, Removed EGRs, K&N engine breather, 31x10.5xR15 A/T's.  And my dad wants me to buy a jeep TJ wrangler like him or a 90's toyota hilux and then do some mod. couse he thinks I would be better off without my MU and in some thing that can offroad. I like my MU but would like a jeep or toyota but cost something like $10 to $17 grand then mods $$$$. Would I be better off sell my MU and buying some thing like a jeep or toyota?? OR Would I be better off doing up my MU?? What do you think of the 3 trucks?? My dads 1997 jeep TJ wrangler.  Some guy's 90's toyota hilux S C  thx kane |
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Post by wayne85 on Jul 30, 2008 15:40:54 GMT 11
if ur planning to spend 10 to 17k then take a look at muvits setup. u could get a sas setup on ur mu and leave u oldman behind
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Post by geeves on Jul 30, 2008 16:06:08 GMT 11
Wrangler is nice off road and on but can you afford to feed a 4 liter petrol engine.
Hilux with live axles can be modded to go quite well but no better than a std Mu out of the box. If its petrol expect to use as much gas as the wrangler if diesel expect to spend 4000 on a new head every couple of years. Drop your 4jb1 in though and you have a good wagon. Only NZ new hiluxes have live axles the Jap imports are ifs and not realy any different to the Mu. I can put you onto a ifs surf that is extensivly modufied (8 inch suspension lift diff drop and 37 inch tyres) in your price range. This vehical breaks a diff on every outing which is why 4.8 hilux diffs are not as common as they used to be.
You already have a few decent mods to your wagon. The suspension lift,mud tyres and a sway bar disconect will take you 85% of the places your dad goes. Add a locker or 2 and you will keep up. Total cost of these mods 3000 to 4000 includeing auto lockers front and rear and certification.
Your dad seems biased against Isuzus. Were biased the other way
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Post by holden on Jul 30, 2008 16:49:59 GMT 11
The wrangler has a fuel consumption of 12.6L 97-02, 10.8L 03-06 per 100km, and I would get one from 97 to 02 so not good fuel consumption for 190HP and the hilux uses as much fuel as the wrangler with less power. Wranglers are getting cheaper as fuel goes up. Ill see what other people have to say but I think I will keep my MU for now.
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Post by guythorn on Jul 30, 2008 18:48:14 GMT 11
What short off ks are on your Mu somtimes it is better to keep what you have it looks like you have a good truck I have a Mu 3.1 d/t 1994 166,000 ks 5 years now have not a had a thing wrong with it pass a warrant no problem each time Guy
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Post by dasnoboarder on Jul 30, 2008 18:49:25 GMT 11
The MU all the way. A modified one will turn many more heads and get more interest that just another Jeep.
With twin air-lockers and good suspension, the MU will be unstoppable!
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Post by guythorn on Jul 30, 2008 19:33:30 GMT 11
allso a thing to look at what are parts like for the truck you are looking at .
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Post by holden on Jul 30, 2008 20:32:55 GMT 11
What short off ks are on your Mu somtimes it is better to keep what you have it looks like you have a good truck I have a Mu 3.1 d/t 1994 166,000 ks 5 years now have not a had a thing wrong with it pass a warrant no problem each time Guy My MU has done 230.000Ks still going great. |
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Post by holden on Jul 30, 2008 20:36:58 GMT 11
allso a thing to look at what are parts like for the truck you are looking at . after market parts ?? I can get real cheap after market jeep parts and some toyota and isuzu (Isuzu mostly after market standed parts) but mostly jeep. |
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Post by geeves on Jul 31, 2008 9:17:23 GMT 11
Out of my prices above are 1500 for tyres and rims. Most likly you will need to buy these whatever you do. Also just remembered that jeeps have a habit of breaking rear driveshafts when you lift them. There is a mod for this. Ive seen a jeep throw a driveshaft at the top of a nasty climb. Took us 30 minuites to find the driveshaft but it was defunct. Unfortuanatly it took the tailshaft of the gearbox with it. Only vehicle to make that climb though was a fully locked 40 series painted like a zebra
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Post by Pissy on Jul 31, 2008 9:54:16 GMT 11
I'd keep the MU and if you are dead set keen on improving it do a SAS and lockers, (as already mentioned). Although I am bias toward the Mus  MUs is a car with its own style for individuals unlike the Heeps and Hilux's which everyone has and rarely uses them. Its so much fun to 4wding with who have never seen one up close and they are really interested with them, especially when you keep up and out perform their big 4WD (twin lockers helps,..hehe) Plus if you sell the MU then you will not the get the typical responses you get when people ask what 4wd you drive,....ISUZU MU,.......whats that? Its even funny telling them what the MU stand for,.......? which they all think its a joke until you them them MU sticker on the sides,.....  ;D P.S. Heep was NOT a spelling mistake for Jeep  |
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Post by geeves on Jul 31, 2008 11:13:29 GMT 11
Over here there is more Mus than jeeps.
SAS is a big mod Unless you do a lot of tracks requiring big articulation or huge wheels its unneeded. There is a movement in NZ away from big tyres and a lot of clubs and landowners are limiting tyres to 33 inches except for competition. The therory is that they cut up the tracks more but I belive the reality is that its the actions of some of the the people that can afford the big tyres that does the track damage.
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Post by mudgrip4 on Jul 31, 2008 12:12:33 GMT 11
If you have to fork out that much cash, I'd stick with your mu. You can develop it extremely well for a few grand.
The 2.8 Hilux is a good unit - after a turbo has been bolted on - but from many years club experience it is not as strong in the drivetrain as the isuzus. They actually break quite often on trips - diffs and shafts etc. Still ok though.
The wrangler is a not such a great idea for offroading unless you are a home mechanic with a big wallet.. Have aquaintances in the jeep club here in Christchurch, and club joke is that J E E P stands for JUST EXPLODE EVERY PART. The jeep can be made to do very well with exc articulation, but mechanical standard is not great for alot of offroading.
You have already begun the process with your mu - I'd stick with it and develop it. Excellent motor and sturdy little truck. You can create a fine on/offroader for a few grand. And if you think carefully how you lift/locker the front end - they prove very tough and durable.
I developed and used my last swb 88 bighorn - almost same as your mu apart from body - on hundreds of club 4x4 trips and never saw it bettered by any other make of the same specs. It was in fact quite often the best truck due to its own strengths, and a very sturdy unit.
You have a good one there if you develop it correctly - at not too many $$$. And there is a helluva lot of experience on this site to help guide a project - a big plus. Certainly it has helped me a great deal over the years.
Mike
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Post by holden on Jul 31, 2008 14:28:08 GMT 11
Out of my prices above are 1500 for tyres and rims. Most likly you will need to buy these whatever you do. Also just remembered that jeeps have a habit of breaking rear driveshafts when you lift them. There is a mod for this. Ive seen a jeep throw a driveshaft at the top of a nasty climb. Took us 30 minuites to find the driveshaft but it was defunct. Unfortuanatly it took the tailshaft of the gearbox with it. Only vehicle to make that climb though was a fully locked 40 series painted like a zebra We have broken the rear driveshaft twice not bad but at slow speed on the wrangler. |
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Post by holden on Jul 31, 2008 14:35:24 GMT 11
I'd keep the MU and if you are dead set keen on improving it do a SAS and lockers, (as already mentioned). Although I am bias toward the Mus MUs is a car with its own style for individuals unlike the Heeps and Hilux's which everyone has and rarely uses them. Its so much fun to 4wding with who have never seen one up close and they are really interested with them, especially when you keep up and out perform their big 4WD (twin lockers helps,..hehe) Plus if you sell the MU then you will not the get the typical responses you get when people ask what 4wd you drive,....ISUZU MU,.......whats that? Its even funny telling them what the MU stand for,.......? which they all think its a joke until you them them MU sticker on the sides,..... ;D P.S. Heep was NOT a spelling mistake for Jeep When I tell people in my club that I have a Isuzu MU they just laugh and say I sould get a nissan but not big fan of nissans. |
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Post by holden on Jul 31, 2008 14:46:45 GMT 11
If you have to fork out that much cash, I'd stick with your mu. You can develop it extremely well for a few grand. The 2.8 Hilux is a good unit - after a turbo has been bolted on - but from many years club experience it is not as strong in the drivetrain as the isuzus. They actually break quite often on trips - diffs and shafts etc. Still ok though. The wrangler is a not such a great idea for offroading unless you are a home mechanic with a big wallet.. Have aquaintances in the jeep club here in Christchurch, and club joke is that J E E P stands for JUST EXPLODE EVERY PART. The jeep can be made to do very well with exc articulation, but mechanical standard is not great for alot of offroading. You have already begun the process with your mu - I'd stick with it and develop it. Excellent motor and sturdy little truck. You can create a fine on/offroader for a few grand. And if you think carefully how you lift/locker the front end - they prove very tough and durable. I developed and used my last swb 88 bighorn - almost same as your mu apart from body - on hundreds of club 4x4 trips and never saw it bettered by any other make of the same specs. It was in fact quite often the best truck due to its own strengths, and a very sturdy unit. You have a good one there if you develop it correctly - at not too many $$$. And there is a helluva lot of experience on this site to help guide a project - a big plus. Certainly it has helped me a great deal over the years. Mike I got my intercooler today and still have to put my LSD in the rear. so it still being done and not at a bad price. but all 2nd hand  . And if I got a hilux I would be putting a 3.8L v6 holden in it and sorting it.  |
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gecko
Isuzu Junior
Posts: 92
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Post by gecko on Jul 31, 2008 15:48:14 GMT 11
jeeps are awsum then WW2 finished... i would keep the mu, the only jeep i would want would be a jeep from 1940-45 how much fun would that be ive heard how they could do a water crossing, pick it up place it on a tarp, wrap the tarp over it, place it in the water and everyone sits on top and rows, lol everytime i see a jeep i wonder how many things have fallen off of it i dont know why i think that may have come from top gear.
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Post by geeves on Jul 31, 2008 16:30:26 GMT 11
You can buy a kit to fit a holden v6 into the mu as well . It does cost a little more than the hilux because you need to buy a hilux transfer case which you would have if you bought the hilux. What sort of 4wding do you do?
The nissan patrol is a reliable beast but it is big and heavy Ive seen them stuck between trees a few times Also seen them bogged in soft conditions. They still need major suspension mods to get the best out of them and 33 inch tyres have the diff heads closer to the ground than yours are on 31s. There is a reason that the big boys always have 35s or bigger on the nissan. They go well though with a big block chevy. In saying that though a club member down here is looking at swapping his big block shortened patrol for something smaller after his son drove up a hill then drove back down to see why dad was takeing so long He drove down turned round and drove back up when the nissan was only going by winch. Ok he cheated by haveing a rover powered zook with lockers and steering at both ends
Try disconnecting your front sway bar and see what flex you get. That on its own and a borrowed set of 32 inch muds will scare a few of your fellow club members. You will equal or better a suprising number of them on the ramp with no other mods. Mudlark posted figures from his a couple of years back that even put some coil sprung wagons to shame.
If I had unlimited money I would buy a jeep but as Im on a budget the bighorn will have to do. Also how reliable has the Mu been How many other trucks do just as well at this. Ive had the bighorn for 11 and a half years and thrashed it fairly well. It has only been towed home twice and needed urgent repairs to get home one other time. Even the work corrola has been towed to the garage more times than this in only 4 years
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Post by dasnoboarder on Jul 31, 2008 16:48:20 GMT 11
When I tell people in my club that I have a Isuzu MU they just laugh and say I sould get a nissan but not big fan of nissans. I got a similar response when I went to check out the Auckland 4wd club. One member told me MU's drive like crap, are just horrible and his Nissan is better. I fully believe in each to their own, but people like that just p*** me off... |
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Post by holden on Jul 31, 2008 17:32:11 GMT 11
You can buy a kit to fit a holden v6 into the mu as well . It does cost a little more than the hilux because you need to buy a hilux transfer case which you would have if you bought the hilux.What sort of 4wding do you do? The nissan patrol is a reliable beast but it is big and heavy Ive seen them stuck between trees a few times Also seen them bogged in soft conditions. They still need major suspension mods to get the best out of them and 33 inch tyres have the diff heads closer to the ground than yours are on 31s. There is a reason that the big boys always have 35s or bigger on the nissan. They go well though with a big block chevy. In saying that though a club member down here is looking at swapping his big block shortened patrol for something smaller after his son drove up a hill then drove back down to see why dad was takeing so long He drove down turned round and drove back up when the nissan was only going by winch. Ok he cheated by haveing a rover powered zook with lockers and steering at both ends Try disconnecting your front sway bar and see what flex you get. That on its own and a borrowed set of 32 inch muds will scare a few of your fellow club members. You will equal or better a suprising number of them on the ramp with no other mods. Mudlark posted figures from his a couple of years back that even put some coil sprung wagons to shame. If I had unlimited money I would buy a jeep but as Im on a budget the bighorn will have to do. Also how reliable has the Mu been How many other trucks do just as well at this. Ive had the bighorn for 11 and a half years and thrashed it fairly well. It has only been towed home twice and needed urgent repairs to get home one other time. Even the work corrola has been towed to the garage more times than this in only 4 years (quote) (You can buy a kit to fit a holden v6 into the mu as well . It does cost a little more than the hilux because you need to buy a hilux transfer case which you would have if you bought the hilux.) How much would it come to for the kit and the hilux transfer case???. (quote) (What sort of 4wding do you do?) My club goes by Family shiny, SHINY 4X4, CLUB 4X4 and HARD YAKKA. I would be doing Family shiny and SHINY 4X4 will do CULB 4X4 when I have a snorkel and mud grips. if you know what I mean LOL. (quote) (Try disconnecting your front sway bar and see what flex you get. That on its own and a borrowed set of 32 inch muds will scare a few of your fellow club members. You will equal or better a suprising number of them on the ramp with no other mods. ) How well do they drive on road with no front sway bar How high do you need to go (S lift) to put 33" Muds on (quote) ( Also how reliable has the Mu been How many other trucks do just as well at this. Ive had the bighorn for 11 and a half years and thrashed it fairly well. It has only been towed home twice and needed urgent repairs to get home one other time. Even the work corrola has been towed to the garage more times than this in only 4 years) It was allmost going to rebuilt the engine (really really bad) but it come right and is now going must better then when I brought it thank to me and my money. thx kane |
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. And if I got a hilux I would be putting a 3.8L v6 holden in it and sorting it. 
