Hello all -

As some of you may know, I've been busy off and on with the installation of an Isuzu 4JB1-TC diesel into my 1988 Trooper. It's now on the road at about 90% complete, and I need to tie up some loose ends.

The diesel is heavier than the 4-cylinder gas engine it replaced by about 200-250 lbs. (my best estimate, anyway) and, as you can guess, the front suspension is basically sitting on the bumpstops.

I've read through a lot of threads on adjusting the torsion bars, but I have not seen any specifications for determining stock ride height (e.g. distance from ground to fender lip) as everyone wants to do the adjustment as part of a lift.

I want to be at factory height - anyone know the measurements?

Also, I will have to see whether HD torsion bars are warranted - I want to try the stock bars first, though, as it's the cheap solution.

Thanks.

Assuming that '88 is a later '88 with the 10 bolt front axle and 12 bolt rear, then the height is measured from the ground to the center of the headlights. It needs to be 33-34 inches, per the FSM for a '90. (It would also be a square headlight Trooper.)

If yours is an early '88, which is like the earlier ones with the 8 bolt front and the 10 bolt rear, then someone else is going to have to chime in.

Mine's the late '88, so I would think those numbers are the ones I need. Thanks, Jim.

Now to see whether the stock bars are up to the task...

Hopefully they are, since finding heavy duty ones will be a real challenge. There were some made at one point, and there are, I believe, some available for the later years, but not that generation.

If you run out of adjustment, post up and one of use will go through the procedure to re-index your torsion bars.

For what it's worth, I'm running stock torsion bars with a Darlington Bumper and a Warn 9500 winch; easily 200 pounds heavier than a stock bumper. I thought the heavy duty bars rode to rough. I'm probably riding 2-3 inches higher than stock.

BTW - that means that I have a set of HD bars somewhere in the garage.

Mine is a 1990 Amigo but I think they use the same bars.

I have a set of HD sway away bars. they were for a rodeo, and the spline is slightly different, but I could send the mounts and adjusters with them. PM if interested

Thanks for the offers and information, guys. I've adjusted the stock bars (33.5" to center of the headlights) and all seems well, so I think I will run it as-is for now. The ride seems good, and once I get the new shocks in, it should be even better.

calmini has heavy torsion bars for 86-89 isuzu troopers. just visit this page, http://www.pureisuzu.com/torsion_bars3.htm .

They may have some or they not. It certainly would not be the first time that Calmini has put something on the web site that is no longer available.

thats a bummer.