My 1999 Vehicross, "Silvia", progress thread

Well I decided to just start a thread for the build progress on my 1999 Isuzu Vehicross. This way I can just keep all my postings on my mods and such in one thread instead of taking up thread space. Well her name is Silvia, she's #1209 and painted Astral Silver. I picked her up in orlando for the tune of $4000 bucks back in April. this is what she looked like when I picked her up:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...Z/IMG_0114.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...Z/IMG_0112.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...mAirZ/vx10.jpg


I pulled the step bars off and installed some Aisin manual hubs as my first "mod":

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...0505205141.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4434.jpg

I knew I wanted to toss a lift on her so I bought a set of OME 912 coil springs for the rear and went to work. I bought a set of 5 Isuzu Snowflake rims (16x7.5) and purchased some new 285/75-16 (33x11.50) Definity Dakota MT's:

Bringing wheels/tires home
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...0513144015.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...0523154145.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...3101528-00.jpg


I installed the SBC window brackets today (during which I found out someone had tried to fix the drivers side window before and messed up the regulator) and gave her a good cleaning inside and out. I also decided to move the CD player down to the cubby hole/cd changer area in the dash, going to mount some gauges (oil pressure, boost, AF) in the original radio slot. Here are some pics of the inside after some cleaning today:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4429.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4428.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4430.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4427.jpg


After some cleaning decided to take out the factory spare since I have a full size now, never realized how happy she would be without a spare back there :bwgy:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4421.jpg

I decided to haul some "tools" back there now, which include: gas can, air compressor, jumper cables, towel, and my hitch mount:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4422.jpg

I also realized there is a decent amount of room for some necessities in the jack/lug wrench areas (got a big tow strap, some ratchet straps, bungie cords, full size maglite, first aid kit, tire pressure gauge, LED flashlight for your head lol)

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4424.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4425.jpg

Also decided to work on my headlights tonight while the wife was watching the new sex and the city movie with her friends from work. Took some 3M rubbing compound, a little elbow grease, and voila!

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4433.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4432.jpg

And last but not least, I can't forget my most precious cargo:

My 4 month old daughter Chloe
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...Z/IMG_4419.jpg

My 22 month old son John
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...Z/IMG_4417.jpg

They need a place to ride:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4436.jpg


Well that's it for now folks, I've got some new balljoints, headlight kit, mecatech CV boots, urethane greasable sway bar bushings, low pro droop snubbers, and my gauge setup on the way, so updates coming soon! Will probably be ordering some sliders here soon to start modifying for her :yeso: Thanks for checking out my gal!

Well it was dark when I finished her last night so decided to snap a couple clean pics. It was her first bath since I've owned her lol:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4437.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4438.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4440.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4442.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4439.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4443.jpg

Looking good man. Sounds like me, I went from bone stock to what you see now in about 3 months time(except my bumper). I will say one thing, you need to get a new tow strap. Most parks and meets HIGHLY frown on the use of tow straps with hooks on em. As a matter of fact, the Zu group in uhwharrie won't let you use it. Those hooks are 8oz of fling death if the strap breaks, not to mention the damage it will do to the vehicles. Just go to harbor freight and pick up a 30 foot strap and a couple of shackles from northern tool. Less than 50 bucks total, and that is definitely worth it, especially with all the work you are doing to her. Sorry, lecture off, just don't want to see anyone get hurt, or broken rigs from something as silly as a cheap tow strap.

Thanks man! I've actually got one in the house lol. I had that one in there for emergency road side stuff, like if I need to hook it up behind a friends truck to pull it out of the way. Thanks for the advice though! I use the good one with my hitch ball on or my front tow hooks but I'm planning on putting some shackles on her. I had her flexing out yesterday on a trail but my stupid cell phone won't send the pics to my email anymore, it's pretty irritating. My wife took the digi cam to work yesterday, blah.

I love being a pack rat sometimes with car parts lol. I had a 91' Suburban parts truck awhile back and I grabbed this neat little light assembly from under the hood:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4448.jpg

It has an on/off switch and a retractable cord. Well I was thinking about mounting it under the hood but couldn't find a real good place for it, then I got a bright idea, I'll mount it in the rear cargo area, above the drivers side cubby hole. It'll be tucked up out of the way, can turn the light on when needed at night, and the cord is SUPER long and I can run it all the way to the engine bay with plenty of slack to use it as a flashlight if needed or just have it hanging from the hood. Probably be a few days before I actually mount it up but thought I'd post my find!

Lookin good man, can't believe you can haul the kiddies in yours, I'm afraid it would rattle em to death!

Adorable kids too. All 'round good job so far I'd say. Ha.

Thanks and I can't believe how smooth she rides with the lift and tires lol, no rattling of the kiddies. And they won't be in there when offroading unless it's just driving down a smooth trail.

Adorable kidz dude.

I can almost remember mine that young (youngest is now 16)

We still throw him in the back of the VX - shoot, at 16, he can even fall asleep back there (of course - at 16 he can fall asleep whilst taking a shower).:)

BTW, nice mods too (didn't wanna totally jack the thread).

what color paint did you use on the dashboard? I am thinking of doing mine also but would only want it if it was exactly the same as the doors and leather. Would you recommend a different shade than what you used? How do others feel about a painted dash. I am still on the fence as to whether it is good or bad. I imagine a bright colored dash would be distracting but maybe i will get used to it.

Thanks man! It already feels like they are getting big so fast! Seems like yesterday John was just born. As far as the dash, well it was done when i got it and honestly, whoever did it did a DAMN good job with it. I mean part of me thinks it was actually a "dealer" thing or something. I didn't like it at first but it's growing on me. I'm thinking I may paint it astral silver to match the truck though, haven't decided.

if you paint the dash here is a tip.. tape off the area around the gauge cluster, dont paint it!! i painted mine silver and didnt tape that area off, i had nasty glare on any day with sun, couldnt see the gauges at all.

ya mine is still black in there too

thanks for the tip. Can anyone recommend a color, specific brand or type of finish (satin, gloss, matte...)?

Got the panel and gauges in today. I didn't get a chance to get them wired up yet (kiddies woke up from there nap and now about time to get ready for work) but here are some pics of the install:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4451.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4452.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4453.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4454.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RamAirZ

I love being a pack rat sometimes with car parts lol. I had a 91' Suburban parts truck awhile back and I grabbed this neat little light assembly from under the hood:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4448.jpg

!

---

I hate you!!!!! I scoured over dozens of old F100s, old Cherokees, and burbs for one of those!! I have been searching for ever a year at the yards. They are always gone, or busted. I will have one:evil:
I want to replace the bulb with an LED cluster. That way if I leave it on, no worries.
Good find man.

Thanks man. I'm planning on putting an LED cluster bulb in there as well. Put my new 8500K H4's in today, got to use them on the way home from work, man do they light the road up good!

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4461.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4458.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4456.jpg

Well this weekend I decided to start tearing Silvia apart to replace the Upper/Lower Ball Joints, install my low-profile droop snubbers, Mecatech CV boots, greasable sway bar bushings and also installed my aluminum gauge trim panel to make my stock gauges match my new ones in the dash.

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4469.jpg

Pulled off the entire spindle to make getting to everything easy

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4466.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4467.jpg

Check out those NASTY!!! CV boots lol, talk about torn.

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4464.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4465.jpg

I cleaned out all of the old grease and got the shaft ready for the new boots (didn't even have to remove the shaft!, gotta love the cone tool)

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4470.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4471.jpg

New boot on with shaft still in the truck :)

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4472.jpg

Got everything back together with the new joints (with an upper ball joint flip) and snubber, now she's ready to go!

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4473.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4474.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4475.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4476.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4477.jpg

Truck is a little muddy from playing on a trail near my house. She's all buttoned up now and ready to go now. Took her out for a quick romp earlier and all sounds/feels good. I need to put the sway bar bushings on today, it got late last night finishing everything else (had to wait until wife and kids were asleep to get work done uninterrupted lol)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RamAirZ

I love being a pack rat sometimes with car parts lol. I had a 91' Suburban parts truck awhile back and I grabbed this neat little light assembly from under the hood:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4448.jpg

It has an on/off switch and a retractable cord. Well I was thinking about mounting it under the hood but couldn't find a real good place for it, then I got a bright idea, I'll mount it in the rear cargo area, above the drivers side cubby hole. It'll be tucked up out of the way, can turn the light on when needed at night, and the cord is SUPER long and I can run it all the way to the engine bay with plenty of slack to use it as a flashlight if needed or just have it hanging from the hood. Probably be a few days before I actually mount it up but thought I'd post my find!

---

I have the same light! They work awesome....
You left out the BEST part tho....not only do they have a long retractable cord, buit also the base of the light is MAGNETIC allowing it to stick to various places while useing the light...like the hood, shouldn't have to have it"hanging there"?

Mine isn't magnetic :( That's probably why I didn't mention it lol,. is there a magnet stuck to the back of the light? I have some "residue" that looks like it could be glue from something that used to be on the back of the light. I got jipped! oh well, I'll just buy a stick on magnet lol

Hmmm I ASSumed they all were magnetic...:confused:

Mine has a circular magnet epoxyed (I guess) into the reccessed area on the underside of the light.... :?: It seems to be a fairly strong magnet.:yeso:

Nice addition for sure...

Ya I think mine must have came off at some point or someone took it off, I can see where it was. I'll just buy one, good tip though thanks!

Well decided to go exploring today and found a few mud holes, nothing really to "climb" on except this hill lol. The one pic with the right rear tire stuffing, I tripped on a root so it's a little tilted haha. I kept it just because it showed the rear tire.

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4481.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4482.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4483.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4485.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4486.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4487.jpg

And all the ruts are mine lol, I played in it for a bit, stupid cladding catches most of the mud haha

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4488.jpg

Looks a lot like Ocala scrub brush.

Ya it's Florida crap is what it is lol. Still had some fun just driving around but not a whole lot to play on, just mud pits every so often

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Retra...Q5fAccessories

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/CTP-15702A

http://www.pfyc.com/pc/GN3007/GPLIGH...ood+Light.html

http://www.justforjeeps.com/underhoodlight.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...d=400123311391

light bulb replacement
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...specs%2F67.htm

For a second I was like SPAM?

ha.....just trying to work the google on the internet machine.

lol ya I gotcha. I opened it and was like, should I click these then saw the "underhoodlight" part in one of the links and knew what it was

I went with my buddy Chase and his friend William today and found a nice little spot. But MAN getting up this one hill was a PITA! The ground was like powder. I got stuck once up to the door and backed out after a little digging and got a run at it and almost made it to a "hard" patch on the left with a little trail but Williams Jeep got stuck and I had to stop. I made it further than he did on his first try with lockers lol. I wanna go back again and try it soon and see if I can make it all the way up, we had to both be winched up the hill it was THAT bad lol. My buddy Chase has some awesome pics of my truck but these are what I got for now:

My riding buddy:
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4491.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4492.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4493.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4494.jpg

Beautiful spring water running through this creek. Both of these hills were pretty damn steep, especially for Florida!
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4496.jpg

Airing the Jeep down some more
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4497.jpg

Hooking the winch up
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4498.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4499.jpg

My 2nd run at it got pretty far up without digging in (mud tires and sand=suck)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4501.jpg

Going through some tight trails, scratched the **** out of my truck and have an inside full of leaves and twigs from crap coming through the sunroof lol
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4504.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4505.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4509.jpg

Chase has some sweet pics of me coming up the hill the 2nd time and going through this tight area with the side of my truck basically on a wall. Hopefully he sends me the pics soon. The only part that made me sad today (don't care about scratches or the CV's making noise), the stupid silver receiver trim on my hitch came off :( I liked that lol. The Jeep guy was impressed with the VX today, especially after making it up that hill the 2nd time. We plan on going back again and trying to make it without a winch lol. Your feet sunk just walking through the crap. He is actually a "nice" Jeep owner, not one of the douchebags. He invited me to come with him to some other places around here and might get some free parts to do a solid axle conversion up front from him too lol, if I decide to do that instead of getting new CV's and dropping the diff.

Finally got some of the pics from my friends computer, here are a few:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv033.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv044.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv043.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv037.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv035.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv074.jpg

View from the top
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv034.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv050.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv049.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv051.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv053.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv069.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...ross/tv070.jpg

And my new keychain :)

http://www.webglider.com/Laser/plane...m/DSC07157.JPG

Great pics! And where'd you get the keychain?

Thanks! A member on the Planet got a new laser machine and decided to mess around with making stuff. He started with the planetisuzoo logo and then the logo and skull, I had him add the VX in the eyes. Thought itd be a neat little memento

The local jeep group invited me out to a place called Mobile Swamp today, it's basically a HUGE area with tons of trails, mud pits, hill climbs etc. It started pouring while we were out so it made the clay trails super slick but tons of fun! Like last time though, the good pics/vids are on my friend Chase's camera, he's got a few good vids of my climbing and runnign through the trails. There was one hill in particular that was pretty steep and fairly slick with the recent thunderstorms. some of the Jeep guys had some trouble with it even in 4WD (one was running Maxxis Bighorn's and the other had Swamper TSL Radials). Will (my friend with the Rubicon) had no problems with the hill in 4WD and made it look easy, but in 2WD he couldn't get far at all. Then they turned and asked what the VX could do and said give it a shot. I said sure, I'll try in 2WD first (my CV's are still clacking, waiting on my new ones) for the heck of it. They kinda giggled and said sure thing, when you get stuck just try and back down and try in 4WD. I made it up that f'er in 2WD on the first shot! I stopped at the top and got a standing ovation lol. I only got stuck once and it was in this deep wet clay pit that I was a little over confident with, I thought I'd try it in 2wd since I made it through all the trails even in pouring rain on steep clay inclines in 2wd, ya I had to be winched out lol. I made it through in 4wd but sunk in with the front hubs unlocked and it was over. When we got done with one of our long trail runs and they found out I was in 2wd the whole time they were like 'are you serious!" Ive always said the most important mod for any vehicle is the driver mod, I showed the Jeep guys that today :lol: They are great bunch of guys with some sweet rigs, they loved the VX though! One of the girls with them called it cute though :( Here are a few pics that I snapped and I'll post the rest probably tomorrow or wednesday, sucks that it rained so much, couldn't get out and snap as many pics as I wanted to:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4634.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4635.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4636.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4637.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4638.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4639.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4640.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4642.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4643.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/IMG_4644.jpg

I actually aired down this time, which I didn't do in my last sand run (was far away from an air pump and forgot my compressor at home).

Got the other pics and the vids from Chase, here ya go (if you want to come down, I'll show you that hill in person, doesn't look near as steep in the video):

Video of hill climb (click to watch)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...h_100_0120.jpg

Video of me just running through the trails (click to watch)
http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...h_100_0130.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0121.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0122.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0124.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0126.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0128.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...s/100_0129.jpg

That looks fun! We don't have hills like that here in central FL... I would have to go to the local land fill to find something to climb like that!

lol ya there are some fun hills around here, this whole place it setup for trucks so not sure if the hill was there before or if it was man-made, either way it's a ton of fun! You should bring your new VX sometime :)

I talked with the guy again today and the lift that was on it has ben taken off and stock springs put back in. He said the lift springs will come with it so now it's basically a completely stock VX except for an aftermarket CD player. In other words, she's not set up to handle slicker than owl poo red clay!!! I'll have the springs back in it and some new tires and rims soon enough.

Just put some tires on it and you'll be good to go :) If you need any help with that stuff lemme know, we could have a wrenching day. I'd be irritated that he mislead people by posting pics of a lifted VX with nice rims/tires but that's not what your getting.