Talk:Troopers
From Planetisuzoo Wiki
Here are two posts to http://www.planetisuzoo.com/ that explains the model year differences in the first-gen Troopers.
Jerry Lemond posted an explanation of the 1986 and 1987 differences as follows:
The major (running gear) difference is in the frame in the front. The 1987 has the '86 front axle assembly, which is the 8-bolt (same as all '86's), but it has the '88 front suspension, upper and lower control arms, different ball joints, and a somewhat removable front under-engine cross member like all late Troopers. It also has a removable transmission cross member, basically the same (10-bolt) rear axle, except for being about four inches wider, and the '87 has the '88 and later front brakes with the '86 rear drums.
A former Isuzu technician offered a general overview of the First-Gen Trooper differences:
1984-1985 had a 1.9 liter carbureted OHC 4-cylinder engine and a four-speed transmission with a two-speed transfer case, and an 8-bolt front and a 10-bolt rear differential. Automatic-locking hubs completed the power flow to the front wheels.
The 1986 had a 2.3 liter carbureted OHC 4-cylinder and a five-speed transmission with a two-speed transfer case, still with the 8-bolt front and 10-bolt rear through 10/86. This was also the first year of the 4-door. A 2.2 liter 4-cylinder OHV turbodiesel engine was available for '86 and has proven to be very popular in today's used vehicle market.
The 1987 was a transitional year, with the chassis and suspension of the upcoming 1988 model, but the running gear of the '86. The '87 model (11/86-06/87) had the larger front a-arms, knuckles, and hubs as on the '88, but with an 8-bolt front with one-year only longer CV axles, and a 10-bolt rear with drum brakes. This, too, was a one-year only, slightly wider rear axle than the '86 to match the wider front track of the revised suspension. It still had the 2.3 carbureted engine and 5-speed manual. There seems to have been a small number of diesels produced for '87 and are difficult to find today.
The 1988 (beginning 07/87) was the culmination of improvements started in '87. It had the carry-over stronger front suspension, but now had a 10-bolt front diff. A new 12-bolt with disc brakes held up the rear. It had the new 2.6 port-fuel-injected 4-cylinder OHC engine with a stronger, redesigned MUA 5-speed and two-speed transfer case. An automatic trans was an option for the first time. It was a 4-speed overdrive Aisin-Warner in the same family as found in the Toyota and Jeep Cherokee. This AW30-80-LE model had an integral hydraulically-controlled chain-driven two-speed transfer case. Manual-locking hubs appeared for the first time on this year's Trooper with the auto trans. There was no more diesel.
1989 brought a GM 2.8 V-6 as an option with a five-speed or a European GM automatic transmission. A notable option was factory 31/10.50x15 tires on "snowflake" wheels with 4.77 gears in the diffs instead of the standard-issue 4.56's. This was standard on the short-wheelbase RS model, which came with the 2.6 and either an MUA 5-speed or the AW30-80-LE automatic.
1990 and 1991 carried over with 2.6 and 2.8 drivetrains available with manuals or autos. The RS was no longer available.
The above production dates come from an old parts manual and stresses why production dates are important when ordering something. Of course, that's not to say Isuzu couldn't have thrown a few curves in subtle differences. Also, many years have passed since these were new, so who knows what parts have been changed on the ol' warriors. This information may help determine what one needs to know before doing any repair or modifications to their Troopers, though.
