mu manual conversion

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:50 pm

Hi,

My 92 Isuzu mu decided it had had enough of the auto and promptly blew it up. Not wanting to part with 2k upwards to rebuild it, I want to convert it to manual.

Question: Will a manual out of a 1990 lotus bighorn bolt up to my mu (both 4JB1 engines) ? I realise driveshafts etc will be out. Is there anything else i need to know?

I hope to get the box, pedals, flywheel, centre console and all the bits for the conversion from a wrecked bighorn. (1990 lotus)

Thanks in advance
blair

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:40 am

or buy mine

Already a manual, just needs a motor...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... d=90932887

To answer part of the question tho - I am pretty sure the bighorn MUA5 box is the same as the MU one... you will need driveshafts etc - the interior trim is different as well.

Steve

Mattman · Post by **Mattman** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 7:49 am

That's a great price for your MU Steve, would be wicked with a Lexus in it.

What are you doing to the Bighorn, SAS etc?

Matt.

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 10:43 am

Mattman wrote:That's a great price for your MU Steve, would be wicked with a Lexus in it.

It would be cool with a V8 in it... but its too short for the conversion (ie the rear driveshaft would be 2 UJs and just enough tube to weld them together) and its too small for the family... I can either get the wife and kid in, or the wife and dog, or the kid and the dog (not saying which is the prefered option, but the kennel won't take the wife

)

I have no fascination with the lexus motor tho... its complicated, heavy and lacking sadly in torque (comparitive with other big engine options)... the 2JZ straight six has as much power and sounds better... the only advantage the 1UZ has is that its shorter... but I'll stick with the Holden V8 for this project due to the phenominal low-end torque at low revs and the simplicity...

Mattman wrote:What are you doing to the Bighorn, SAS etc?

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... pic&t=1927

Follow this thread.. hopefully will get a whole bunch more done on it in the coming weeks

(Sorry for the off-topic, hows the gearbox problem coming along Blair?)

Steve

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:18 pm

Id love to buy your one,(lose the isuzu running gear tho) bit out of my price range though. :cry:

I just bought a manual (M75) and all associated bits needed for the conversion off a guy on trade me. $500 for the lot. So as soon as I get it Ill start the process of chucking it in.

Man, I wouldnt reccomend a mu to the devil himself. I had a sj410 suzi that put up with unbelievable amounts of punishment without complaint , this mu cant even stay on the sealed stuff without regularly crapping out. Shocking.

Thanks for you r help

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:25 pm

gtblair wrote:Id love to buy your one,(lose the isuzu running gear tho) bit out of my price range though.

Lose what Isuzu running gear?

bugger all left of it in mine

gtblair wrote:I just bought a manual (M75) and all associated bits needed for the conversion off a guy on trade me. $500 for the lot. So as soon as I get it Ill start the process of chucking it in.

M75? Are you sure thats not MUA5? $500 should be pretty good for the conversion... One thing to watch tho is to make sure the clutch is good... a new basic clutch kit will knock you back $700 for one of these...

gtblair wrote:Man, I wouldnt reccomend a mu to the devil himself. I had a sj410 suzi that put up with unbelievable amounts of punishment without complaint , this mu cant even stay on the sealed stuff without regularly crapping out. Shocking.

Thanks for you r help

No worries.,.. I'd recommend them, but I know the weaknesses... I still think they are a neat truck... they look good, and with a little help they go good too

Good luck with the conversion - don't forget to post pics and keep us up to date with how it goes for ya...

Steve

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:49 pm

ok,

I threw the manual box in and its the wrong one!!

The hole for the gear lever is under the dash. Ive seen pics of manual mus and the gearstick comes out mid hole. And the wreckers in auckland(only place that have bits) want $195 for each driveshaft!!!

Also wont start coz its not getting a signal from the auto console saying its in park.

Soooo, Im thinking of just wrecking it out. Get something else, .

What do you guys think? Keep it and finish the conversion or cut my losses and wreck it. Im getting bored with it.

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:51 pm

Wouldnt mind this one. Already set up for off roading.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... d=97944378

Good buy?

4wdnuts · Post by **4wdnuts** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:58 pm

buy steves for a way less if he still has it. bang your motor in and that truck will be way WAY more capable than the black one

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:08 pm

Hasn't it been pulled to bits?

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:49 pm

does his come with those huge tyres?

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:51 pm

And any idea what he wants for it?

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:20 am

Its minus the motor and 2 diffs (axles still there, just the nuggets removed)... I'll sell it with the Simexes on it for $3500, reg still live and ready to go...

Can probably find a couple of good diffs to go back in it... depends what it would be used for etc...

Otherwise the Simexes go on the Bighorn, and the rest gets sold as bits

Alternatively you can have my MUA5 5-speed and the shafts, pedal box, etc... for $400

Steve

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:24 pm

Awesome!

2 questions, How much do you think it would cost to get your mu going? Would my 2.8 engine and diffs be enough?

or

Would that gearbox bolt straight up to my 2.8? Are the 2.8 and 3.1 mu parts interchangable?

Thanks for your help

gtblair · Post by **gtblair** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:20 pm

could i come and have a look at it?