ISUZU MU pros and cons...

D1HARD · Post by **D1HARD** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 8:20 pm

I am looking at a number of different 4WDs at the moment and the Isuzu MU is one.

Is there anybody out there that can shed some light on them,I am looking at an early 3.2ltr Deisel 3 door...
Are there many aftermarket products available for them? (suspension,lift kits,etc) Or is that why Supralux is going it alone... :wink:

(in style though)

Any help welcome..

And there are a load of cheap Surfs out there but most are 2.4 deisel turbos,and I heard they can be problematic (head problems?)anybody shed some actual facts on that too...

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:18 pm

I can help here

The MU is a good little truck. They are stylie, quick for a diesel, comfy and have all the mod-cons like airbags and abs if you get a '96 on model.

The biggest con of a 3.1 TD is that it is a hand grenade, kind of like the 2.4TD from the surf... they are prone to blow up... catastrophically. Unfortunately they are NOT like the surf in replacement cost. Where a 2.4TD motor will cost around $1000, a 3.1 TD Isuzu motor will cost about 4 times that much.

Hence why the next major mod will be bye-bye oil burner and hello 3.8V6

As for that 5-door surf thing, they are good value for money, and if you have the diesel tested before you buy it then do regular servicing you SHOULD be ok... They're no racecar, but hey...

I'm doing my mods because I'm mad... completely and utterly mad

Oh, and cos I could... I had an axle lying around that I needed to use before it got rusty

There are kits, mainly from Calmini in the US for doing some pretty nifty mods to the standard IFS setup... and if you check the Isuzu club website (http://www.clubisuzu.com) theres a very strong contingent of Kiwi owners of the MU, and a few in Wellington which could be handy for you. There are lots of simple ways to make them far more capable offroad which are pretty easy to do at home.

If you do get one and want to sell your Rugger let me know... I might consider using its engine to repower the Hilux

Steve

Rural53 · Post by **Rural53** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:47 pm

Steve, is the statement about the 3.1TD being a hand gremade from personal experience or hearsay?

pinky · Post by **pinky** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 9:58 pm

if you had seen what i have seen as regards to the above engine you would run a mile as i worked in a isuzu dealership for 3 years . these engines are that nasty evan the mechanics would cringe when one would come in to the work shop ( usually towed in ) hope this helps as this is my 2 cents :shock:

D1HARD · Post by **D1HARD** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:04 pm

Thanks Steve..
I am really in a rut,I just sold my Civic which was my daily driver..I wasnt expecting to sell her so quick.

And three days before the Civic sale the Ruggers Glow plug relay went on the blink and the Rugger wont start,(its a $570.00 part from Japan :shock:

)...and I'm just thinking do I go for another 4WD all together or go with the devil I know..and replace the leafs and get some of the Hilux suspension in there (one of the Hiluxes are compatible according to G-Guy 4WD in WGTN) and get the body lifted.

The Rugger is bloody good engine wise bar one mystery oil leak (not the sump and not the rocker cover and not the filter or sump plug).
It is very capable off road as far as I have been round the South Coast,I really want a certain persons Hilux...hint hint..

but its become a time issue...I need wheels asap...

Rural53 · Post by **Rural53** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:04 pm

How did they actually fail? Was there a common root cause, say lack of maintanence or overheating? Was it the intercooled ones or all of them? You have me worried.

D1HARD · Post by **D1HARD** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:08 pm

pinky wrote:if you had seen what i have seen as regards to the above engine you would run a mile as i worked in a isuzu dealership for 3 years . these engines are that nasty evan the mechanics would cringe when one would come in to the work shop ( usually towed in ) hope this helps as this is my 2 cents

Wow...thats kinda killed that...

Everywhere I go the 4WD shops say "Oh Rugger,there a great truck" I thought that sorting the Ruggers engine could be a pain but that sounds even worse.... :shock:

Cringing on arrival...lol...not a good look... :lol:

tomsoffroad · Post by **tomsoffroad** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 10:41 pm

And three days before the Civic sale the Ruggers Glow plug relay went on the blink and the Rugger wont start,(its a $570.00 part from Japan )...

I've got a Hilux glowplug relay you can have (you pay freight bout $4 I would think ) surely they must be roughly the same

Let me know.

Cheers Thomas

D1HARD · Post by **D1HARD** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:09 am

Thats really good of you thanks!!

I had a look at the Hilux Glow plug relays at a wreckers and they were much larger....does that matter?

Is it 12v or are they all 12v??

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:36 am

You can start a diesel without the gp's working, you need to use a couple of kettles full of boiling water to heat the air intake manifold.... or so I've been told....
\

tomsoffroad · Post by **tomsoffroad** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:19 pm

D1HARD
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:09 am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats really good of you thanks!!

I had a look at the Hilux Glow plug relays at a wreckers and they were much larger....does that matter?

Is it 12v or are they all 12v??

Its 12v
I would imagine that any auto sparky could wire it up without drama.

PM me your address and I'll get it in the mail :wink:

Cheers Thomas

mumad · Post by **mumad** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 5:31 pm

I have a 2.8 mu, and with some easy mods it goes most places that my mates nissan safari goes, sometimes more, never had any motor trouble, mods like a 3" exhaust, removing the emission controls and a snorkel make them go, am fitting up my intercooler at the moment, a bit more boost (16psi) gives you about a 5 to 10 horsepower gain.

DJ · Post by DJ » Fri Jun 03, 2005 10:24 pm

I really want a certain persons Hilux...hint hint..

yep got the clue even if its a bit cryptic :lol:

its underway you will have all details and pix asap.
cheers DJ

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 4:25 pm

Haha... and I thought that hint was for me... looks like someones been looking at ALL the Hiluxes on here...

Mines not really going to be ready for sale or daily driving for a wee while yet... too much else to do unless someone says "heres the cash, make it go"

The 2.8's were pretty reliable from experience but the 3.1s I only know by reputation - I haven't had any problems with mine yet but am planning to V6 it before I do...

Steve

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:14 pm

Hi
the hint may be for you as well :lol:

all will be revealed soon?.Steve have you had any dealings with 3litre twin turbos in a lux pros? cons? cheers DJ

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:47 am

I haven't, but I have heard of guys running them in the US and doing 4-wheel burnouts in them

The downside would be that the Hilux gearbox will not handle that power long-term, nor will things like the CVs.

Mike - SupraSurf - runs a 7M non-turbo, which is the closest I am aware of and hes running 37's happily with it... quite a noticable power increase over the 5M's we all run.

Hope this helps

Steve