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AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

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NastyAMU
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 5:06 pm

AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by NastyAMU »

Hello everyone, I'm Brian. I'm currently in New Mexico, USA. I've got a 1994 Isuzu Amigo (US spec version of the MU) 2.6L 4wd, known to all of my friends as the "Slow-migo." I picked up in Las Vegas, Nevada back in '97 and had it there for two years, then had to move to Japan for 4 years. I was unable to take the Amigo, so it sat in storage with family for that time. I returned from Japan to get it out of storage and shipped to the UK with me for 6 years. After that, it returned with me to the US where it is now. It's recently hit over 100,000 miles and great to have it back in the desert rock crawling that I like.

Modifications and Accessories:

Suspension: Skyjacker Nitro 8000 shocks, Darlington Off-Road 3" lift spring pack rear, previously Calmini HD rear shackles... now extended ones, Sway-A-Way torsion bar, ball joint flip w/ 1/4" spacer, low profile droop stop front, Energy Suspension front sway bar and rear leaf spring polyurethane bushings.
Tyres/Wheels: 265/75R16 Kumho KL71
Brakes: Powerslot slotted rotors and EBC Green Stuff brake pads, both front and rear.
Bullbar: JDM Isuzu MU front and side nurf bars
Spot lights and Lighting: front fog lights, front spots relayed into high beams, rear fog light and rear spot tied into reverse.
Engine: Calmini Camshaft, removed Smog Pump system
Drivetrain: Centerforce Dual Friction clutch disc/pressure plate, LUK Flywheel
Intake: Rodeo V6 air box w/ Spectre filter and Safari Snorkel
Exhaust: Calmini header, 2.25" full exhaust, Magnaflow cat/muffler
Sound system: Infiniti 10" subwoofer (gotta have good tunes to the ride out)
External: truck bed lining from body molding down, SLOW-MIGO badging, "0773H" plate, Isuzu MU hatchback style hardtop and Vauxhall Frontera Sport hardtop

The Amigo as it had looked when I first got a hold of it. This was the day it was shipped from the US to the UK.
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When it got to the UK, it was joined by the Skyline I had in Japan and brought to the UK as well.
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After arriving, I started putting on the Japanese MU parts I collected, starting with the front and side nurf bars.
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Next was the MU hatchback style hardtop.
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After a few years with that top, I wanted to have the rear seats and more cargo space available. So I got the hard top from the Isuzu licensed GM Vauxhall Frontera Sport. It's the most functional hardtop I've found. The top panel, side and rear windows can be removed.
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After returning to the US, it was time to fix rust spots on the lower parts of the door that it got from the UK weather. Once fixed I put truck bed lining from the body bolding down, something that helps anyways going through the brush on the trails.
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Now it's back at home out on the trails.
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I still have some work and mods to do. Some that will happen and some that are pipe dreams. First I have to get a different ride to be able to tow it out to and from the trails, since the 2.6 petrol engine is slow on the highways. Also that way if I break it on the trail, I can get it back. The last reason is so I can start doing some hard work on the Amigo. I'd love to do the front SAS and replace the engine. My most recent idea is the possibility of having an SR20DET power it, just for something different.
dasnoboarder
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:15 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by dasnoboarder »

That's one well travelled truck!

Looks good,
I like the lines of the Japanese hard-top I have, but to have removable sides and top like yours would be awesome.
I find visibility for rear passengers to be a bit lacking :)

Most of the MU's in NZ are either 2.8 or 3.1 diesels, I've never seen a petrol one up close.
Be sure to let us know if you put the SR20DET in it!

Andy.
NastyAMU
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 5:06 pm

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by NastyAMU »

I like the MU's diesel engines, when I was in Japan I was very tempted to buy an MU and strip it's engine/drivetrain when I left. But I couldn't resist getting the Skyline. I'm headed back to Japan for several months and still think about getting a junked MU's engine... But since having the Skyline and friends with Silvias, I want something with a Nissan's RB or SR. I was going to get an old car body to put an RB into, but can't afford a second project car and a new vehicle at the same time. So the SR in the Isuzu sounds like a good compromise, just going to be awhile before I'll be able to get to it.
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geeves
Posts: 1980
Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 1:56 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by geeves »

Nice truck. Just looked up that engine though and not sure its a good choice. Good power but at high revs. In a heavy vehicle with fairly high gearing like yours it will probably perform worse than the original. How about one of the nissan 4 liter v8s from there bigger cars that we dont get here
dasnoboarder
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:15 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by dasnoboarder »

Lexus/Toyota quad-cam v8 (1UZ-FE) would be my choice if I did an engine swap.
NastyAMU
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 5:06 pm

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by NastyAMU »

A V8 is tempting and the usual way to go for an Isuzu engine swap here in the US. But just been thinking of something different.
It's all still up in the air though. It all hinges on if I can get a new vehicle when I get back from Japan. Planning on a Toyota Tacoma (aka Hilux) quad cab with short bed and TRD supercharger. Then I can get the Isuzu off the road for some major work.
Jayarr69BluMU
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 4:37 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by Jayarr69BluMU »

Tidy truck bro god i love the MU most versitile car ever never see two the same...
unlike ya skyline lol gotta love the rice haha
muzila
Posts: 73
Joined: Tue May 12, 2009 7:48 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by muzila »

Love the handle for King Kong on the roof. :-)

Or was that mighty Joe young...... :roll:
slightlydodgy
Posts: 63
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:30 am

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by slightlydodgy »

Good looking truck
chrisfnq
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 4:21 pm

Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)

Post by chrisfnq »

very nice ride, like the rims..
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