muzila wrote:Love the handle for King Kong on the roof.
Yeah, I actually liked the way the third break light (required on US vehicles 94 and up) looks on it. But the UK hard top removable panel goes over that area. I toyed with the ideal of fitting it on the UK top somehow, but just not worth the work.
Thanks for the compliments, it's been a project that I've slowly worked on a long time. Now it's getting to the point of really dedicating it to off road use.
AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
ATTENTIONGETTER wrote:YOUR SMALL TOP THAT YOU REMOVED FOR ADDED STORAGE - PASSANGER SPACE IS WHAT I BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE NAME OR BRAND AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE I CAN GET 1?
The hatchback top is one of the Japanese Isuzu tops that was available over there. I'm sorry to say that only places I know to get it are in Japan and ones imported to Australia.
I've been in Japan and just got home the beginning of this month. Try to get caught up on the Amigo after being gone. I got the torsion bar upgrade done, what a difference in ride. Though I had odd parts from the factory to sort through, for some reason my Amigo had '86 Trooper torsion bars. Also, I've had a K&N open air cone filter, which was great in the UK. But I found out this last weekend that it gets caked with sand here in the desert trails, and when you go through a nice puddle, it turns into mud on the filter and clogs it. So I've ordered the Safari Snorkel and should be getting it installed this next weekend.
I'll get pictures up when it's done!
Unfortunately the Amigo now has a rival for my affections. While in Japan and found a second project. Here's the day they meet:
It's a 1970 Nissan Laurel that I came across and couldn't pass it up.
Currently the link I have below for it is no good (working on fixing that soon). In the meantime there's pics of it, the Amigo torsion bar swap (will post my other Amigo pics) and so far junkyard pics here:
Photo sets
That's it for an update right now, hopefully I'll have the snorkel update soon!
The hatchback top is one of the Japanese Isuzu tops that was available over there. I'm sorry to say that only places I know to get it are in Japan and ones imported to Australia.
I've been in Japan and just got home the beginning of this month. Try to get caught up on the Amigo after being gone. I got the torsion bar upgrade done, what a difference in ride. Though I had odd parts from the factory to sort through, for some reason my Amigo had '86 Trooper torsion bars. Also, I've had a K&N open air cone filter, which was great in the UK. But I found out this last weekend that it gets caked with sand here in the desert trails, and when you go through a nice puddle, it turns into mud on the filter and clogs it. So I've ordered the Safari Snorkel and should be getting it installed this next weekend.
I'll get pictures up when it's done!
Unfortunately the Amigo now has a rival for my affections. While in Japan and found a second project. Here's the day they meet:
It's a 1970 Nissan Laurel that I came across and couldn't pass it up.
Currently the link I have below for it is no good (working on fixing that soon). In the meantime there's pics of it, the Amigo torsion bar swap (will post my other Amigo pics) and so far junkyard pics here:
Photo sets
That's it for an update right now, hopefully I'll have the snorkel update soon!
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
So the snorkel arrived and it was time to install it.
Here's the open air K&N filter setup I had. It was great in England, but not here in the desert getting caked with sand.
I attempted to fit the old Amigo filter box, but the intake opening is too small and a bad setup for the snorkel's air duct. So I fit a V6 air filter box from a Rodeo:
Here's the snorkel on:
Here's the open air K&N filter setup I had. It was great in England, but not here in the desert getting caked with sand.
I attempted to fit the old Amigo filter box, but the intake opening is too small and a bad setup for the snorkel's air duct. So I fit a V6 air filter box from a Rodeo:
Here's the snorkel on:
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
Well, it's been a week with the new Snorkel and V6 airbox. It ran well except it would hesitate occasionally under WOT. When I installed the airbox, I used the existing filter, knowing it was a bit dirty. With the price of a new filter, I paid a little extra for the Spectre washable filter:
Having had issues with sand on the filter, it's kind of counter-intuitive. But I know that there was much more sand kicked up into the engine bay than there is at the snorkel intake point. Also, the real clogging occurred when the open air filter got wet, something that won't happen with the airbox filter.
Now, with the new filter/v6 box, it doesn't hesitate anymore and runs pretty much like it did with the open air filter.
Also, here's a better picture of the current state of the engine bay. With the Calmini header, smog pump removed (previous mods), v6 airbox and the sand and mud (guess I need to clean it).
Here are some better pictures of the Amigo with the snorkel as well:
And a rear shot with the new badge inspired by friends:
Hopefully the next rear pic with have the new license plate I ordered.
Having had issues with sand on the filter, it's kind of counter-intuitive. But I know that there was much more sand kicked up into the engine bay than there is at the snorkel intake point. Also, the real clogging occurred when the open air filter got wet, something that won't happen with the airbox filter.
Now, with the new filter/v6 box, it doesn't hesitate anymore and runs pretty much like it did with the open air filter.
Also, here's a better picture of the current state of the engine bay. With the Calmini header, smog pump removed (previous mods), v6 airbox and the sand and mud (guess I need to clean it).
Here are some better pictures of the Amigo with the snorkel as well:
And a rear shot with the new badge inspired by friends:
Hopefully the next rear pic with have the new license plate I ordered.
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
So I've gotten around to installing new shocks and steering stabilizer. I had replaced the stock steering stabilizer (with an Eibach) back in '97. And the shocks (with Pro Comp ES3000) back in '03.
So for the new parts I was torn between hydro vs nitro and if I wanted to stick with Pro Comps. Part of the reason for new shocks was because the rubber bushings were completely worn out. So looking between Skyjackers and Pro Comps I noticed Skyjackers came with polyurethane which I prefer and with the boot (the Pro comps don't). Since the price between the two are about the same, I decided to go with Skyjackers. As far as the hydro vs nitro, I've liked the hydro's previously, but figured I'd give the nitro's a shot.
So here's the change in the fronts... Out with the old, in with the new:
And for the rear, I went with a slightly linger shock:
And I got the new steering stabilizer in:
And while getting these done, I found something else I need to take care of:
My front left sway bar link broke sometime. The funny thing is, I haven't noticed any difference in the ride at any point, so I still have no idea when it happened. Oh well, guess it'll be another run to the junkyard soon.
So for the new parts I was torn between hydro vs nitro and if I wanted to stick with Pro Comps. Part of the reason for new shocks was because the rubber bushings were completely worn out. So looking between Skyjackers and Pro Comps I noticed Skyjackers came with polyurethane which I prefer and with the boot (the Pro comps don't). Since the price between the two are about the same, I decided to go with Skyjackers. As far as the hydro vs nitro, I've liked the hydro's previously, but figured I'd give the nitro's a shot.
So here's the change in the fronts... Out with the old, in with the new:
And for the rear, I went with a slightly linger shock:
And I got the new steering stabilizer in:
And while getting these done, I found something else I need to take care of:
My front left sway bar link broke sometime. The funny thing is, I haven't noticed any difference in the ride at any point, so I still have no idea when it happened. Oh well, guess it'll be another run to the junkyard soon.
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
MAY ASWELL JUST TAKE THE SWAY BAR OFF IT IMPROVES FRONT FLEX HEAPS.
AND I DIDNT NOTICE IT AT ALL FOR ON ROAD USE
AND I DIDNT NOTICE IT AT ALL FOR ON ROAD USE
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
Yeah, I've thought of getting rid of it before. I actually had it disconnected when I live in Vegas a long time ago. I did notice the difference then, but I've had a lot of other suspension upgrades since then. I would like to have a quick disconnect type, which I've seen for Jeeps mainly, never one for the MU/Amigo.
Since I was speaking of suspension upgrades, I forgot to add the new torsion bar install from last month. I've had the ball-joint flip and spacer with cranked stock torsion bars since '03, but the front's been a little to bouncy with the stock torsion bars. I ordered new upgraded torsion bars at the beginning of the year, only to find they didn't fit. After researching I found that for some unknown reason my Amigo ('94 so end of that model in US, so may be a cause) had '86-'89 Trooper torsion bars (the spline ends are different size). So this last month I finally got the mounts for the proper upgraded torsion bars:
Here was the original bar and mount:
Under that mount, the aft lower control arm mount bolt has a splined head and fits into it, so that had to be replaced (the old wrong one is on the left):
Also a little interesting, the Trooper torsion bar that was in the Amigo is a thinner bar, but has larger splined ends, you can see in the bolt head size difference here (the one wrong on is on the right):
Now here's where you can see the bar differences. These are the forward mounts. You can see the larger splined end, and though it's hard to see, the new red bar is slightly thicker:
Here with the rear mount, you can see that the new red bar is slightly thicker:
The new bars are great and made the ride SO much better. And now with the new shocks it's felt better as well... on the street at least. Still have to wait and see how the off-road ride is.
Since I was speaking of suspension upgrades, I forgot to add the new torsion bar install from last month. I've had the ball-joint flip and spacer with cranked stock torsion bars since '03, but the front's been a little to bouncy with the stock torsion bars. I ordered new upgraded torsion bars at the beginning of the year, only to find they didn't fit. After researching I found that for some unknown reason my Amigo ('94 so end of that model in US, so may be a cause) had '86-'89 Trooper torsion bars (the spline ends are different size). So this last month I finally got the mounts for the proper upgraded torsion bars:
Here was the original bar and mount:
Under that mount, the aft lower control arm mount bolt has a splined head and fits into it, so that had to be replaced (the old wrong one is on the left):
Also a little interesting, the Trooper torsion bar that was in the Amigo is a thinner bar, but has larger splined ends, you can see in the bolt head size difference here (the one wrong on is on the right):
Now here's where you can see the bar differences. These are the forward mounts. You can see the larger splined end, and though it's hard to see, the new red bar is slightly thicker:
Here with the rear mount, you can see that the new red bar is slightly thicker:
The new bars are great and made the ride SO much better. And now with the new shocks it's felt better as well... on the street at least. Still have to wait and see how the off-road ride is.
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
Well, the new plate showed up today:
Just getting prepared for when I roll on the trail someday.
Just getting prepared for when I roll on the trail someday.
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
He He He I like it. Very cleaver!!!!!
Re: AMU's Amigo (aka MU)
Here's a pic of the new rear badging and plate:
The sticker on the left is the Japanese learner sticker (Shoshinsha or Wakaba mark). It's something you get used to seeing in Japan, and I figured the way I drive it would be suited for me, so I picked one up this last trip. Just so happens the new plate matches it pretty well.
The sticker on the left is the Japanese learner sticker (Shoshinsha or Wakaba mark). It's something you get used to seeing in Japan, and I figured the way I drive it would be suited for me, so I picked one up this last trip. Just so happens the new plate matches it pretty well.