Nuke VX build thread

[Ldub]

Holy carp! I can't wait to see the end result. Ascinder is gonna love this thread!! He's doing pretty much the same thing.

Bart

I agree with what Zeus said. Would anyone else be concerned with the amount of oil volume lost from the modified oil pan?? I would have thought a low profile oil pan with side bolsters would have been a better solution. Just seems he lost about 2 quarts work of oil on that pan modification.

I didn't look closely at the pics until after reading Zeus's post and have to agree with his obsevations. Hopefully your builder will be able to get all the issues worked out and create a safe beast for you. Keep us updated.

X 2...

That being typed...

You're my hero Ferris sleveritt....

[ZEUS]

That's good to hear! Like I said, I just didn't want to see you get scammed. It's just all too common hearing about people getting screwed by shops so thought I would throw out my 2 cents... didn't mean to step on toes or offend.

[RamAirZ]

I think the main reason no one has tried it here is most people are afraid to hack into a VX even though the frame is just a Trooper. Plenty of Trooper guys have done it, so in all reality, it's been done, just a different body on top. Other people don't have the money to pay someone to do it or the skill to do it themselves, and other's don't see a "need" for it with what they use their trucks for or get rid of them before getting to it. Ascinder's is coming along great and looking forward to the finished product as with Sam's here. I wouldn't say all questions are jealousy............

[ZEUS]

I looked at this kind of build for my VX very seriously and went back and forth on the idea for quite a while. I couldn't bring myself to do it because IMHO the VX body simply does not lend itself to the concept of an adequate, usable, hard core, off road rig. I felt the end result would not have been worth the effort - for me - even if it was built correctly the first time... it's a rolling art piece.

Call me jealous, but I have a question. What does this statement mean? "Questions will come until the cows come home, it's Jealousy..."

Answers will leave until the cows leave home, it's Acuity...

[VCrossfan]

I think the main reason no one has tried it here is most people are afraid to hack into a VX even though the frame is just a Trooper. Plenty of Trooper guys have done it, so in all reality, it's been done, just a different body on top. Other people don't have the money to pay someone to do it or the skill to do it themselves, and other's don't see a "need" for it with what they use their trucks for or get rid of them before getting to it. Ascinder's is coming along great and looking forward to the finished product as with Sam's here. I wouldn't say all questions are jealousy............

OOOPs my bad, I missed the trooper members in "THIS" forum (as stated) that have done the SAS

[RamAirZ]

OOOPs my bad, I missed the trooper members in "THIS" forum (as stated) that have done the SAS

nice, good call. Didn't mean on this forum and wasn't really referring directly at your comment but more an overall consensus.

[sleveritt]

Here are the latest projects nearing completion. I got around to painting the roll bars, the dash panel and applying the red Durabak liner. It's amazinh how much warm weather makes this possible. I've also painted the roof liner, A pillar plastic, sun visors red (but those are still drying).

[Bob Barker]

I'm jealous, then again I'm not asking questions... Just sitting here green faced mumbling to myself about what I probably will never have!

[RamAirZ]

I'm jealous, then again I'm not asking questions... Just sitting here green faced mumbling to myself about what I probably will never have!

Is that the same face you have when your at Hooters or looking at porn? Just joshin' with ya

[sleveritt]

Couple of pics of the added padding to the interior roll bars. I've got to protect the kids' heads!



Battery Box and interior winch mount


Just a little room left over!


Had to paint some interior panels to match.


Here is how it all looks!

[VXobsession]

Why didn't you just do this to a Jeep? You hacked up a rare VX and just turned it into a big off-roading machine....you stripped everything out of it that made it unique, that made it a real VX. That sucks....another VX gone.

[Mile High VX]

Why didn't you just do this to a Jeep? You hacked up a rare VX and just turned it into a big off-roading machine....you stripped everything out of it that made it unique, that made it a real VX. That sucks....another VX gone.

I think if you start at the beginning of the thread it makes sense as he started with an abused VX with engine issues. It had been sitting idle for over a year, so in essence it was already gone. Cost more to fix than you would ever get back.

Congrats on the build....it's looking good and he's taken a "dead" VX and brought it back to usefulness...hats off!

[espidus]

While my personal opinion is that I want to keep my VX with what makes it unique from alot of other off-road vehicles, like the IFS that gives it better handling for rally and on-road applications, I must say that "someone had to do it" to the SAS. Yes this vehicle is now only a VX in body, but I can say, at least that makes it on hell of a good looking offroad machine. As long as everyone does not go this route, I say "hats off", I would not do it to my own, but good work anyways.

[sleveritt]

Yeah, those previous guys can kiss my ***** right in the crack! I've always appreciated the quality of Isuzu vehicles but there are SEVERE limitations as to building it for serious off-roading (not trail-riding). If you are really impressed by V6 engines and IFS, there are a ton of CUV's out there - but you have to compete with the soccer moms too. It is totally the LOOKS of the vehicle that garner it's attention getting. I've retained those looks for the most part inside and out. The fender flares will have to be modified once the clearance issues are worked out.

Why not do this to a Jeep? Well, for most Jeeps, you have to upgrade the: engine, transmission, transfer case, axles, wheels, tires, etc. That amounts to just starting with a Jeep tub and replacing everything else, but then you have another Jeep (again in name only). Jeep tough with Chevy stuff? What is so unique about that?

Mile High is right? Didn't you pay attention to the first pics? I found a VX for $1000 BECAUSE it was severely abused and neglected with a bad engine. Once I decided that 37" tires were my smallest for consideration for my off-roading, then it dictates upgrading everything else in the driveline - including a CSB V8. (I had enough gear-hunting when driving my Trooper on the interstates with 40mph headwinds.)

As I can't drive it 2 miles to a nearby field without someone following me (or pulling me over - thanks Ozark PD and FD) to see what that awesome vehicle is, I think I've got the mix that I want. That is why it is MY build. Go ahead and add an after-market stereo and ArmorAll the panels. You will have an original. There is certainly a crowd for that. I want to get back to serious off-roading, V8, mechanical linkages, solid axles, and large tires! We can park our vehicles side-by-side sometime and see who gets more walk-arounds...

(If you don't like it now, don't check back. By the end of the summer, I will have completed welding classes and will begin adding some armor to the outside.)

[SinJin]

(If you don't like it now, don't check back. By the end of the summer, I will have completed welding classes and will begin adding some armor to the outside.)

Love it !

Please continue to add updates, it's amazing !!!