Project Samson

Nov. 01, 2005 By George Reiswig

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1990 Isuzu Amigo
Owner: George Reiswig

For some reason, Jeepers tend to laugh at me when I show up at a difficult trail.

I bought the Isuzu Amigo new, based on how well it performed in the offroad tests that the dealer didn't know I had done. It came with 31x10.50 tires, which were replaced with 32x11.50 BFG Moab MT's, 33x12.5. Dunlops, and finally 34x9.50 Super Swampers.

I have also added a Warn 9000 winch...overkill, but I got it used for $300. To keep up with the winch, I added a second battery. Shortly thereafter, I figured out that an alternator from a Renault Alliance would fit nicely on the AC mount, so I could have two separate electrical systems, which can be switched together in parallel if needed. Recently, I added a Premier Power Welder with the heavy duty alternator. Other modifications include (I'll try to remember them all):

Rancho RS-9000 shocks with remote control
ARB locker in the rear; compressor hooked up to an on-board 5 gallon air tank for airing tires
Front limited slip differential
Custom 3" lift...spring-over in the rear with spring pack modifications, CALMINI kit in front
Custom gauges/meters on dash for electrical status and peripherals
Roll bar
4 easily-removable Hella 500 offroad lights
Considerable body armor in vulnerable places; e.g. 1"x2" flatbar on rocker panels
Waterproofing
et cetera, et cetera, with little room for more

This truck has been through some hard trails, such as Broad Canyon in New Mexico. It never fails to surprise people with what it can do. The biggest recent modification I've made was fabricating and installing a custom bell housing which allows me to run a Toyota transmission, a Toyota transfer case, and Marlin Crawler Gears, for a 198:1 crawl ratio without affecting the highway gears. Gearwell Industries is doing market analysis to determine whether the market will support a full production run of the adaptors required to make this modification.

All photos compliments of Rick Anderson

Crawling up a rather steep boulder field in the Jones Creek OHV area, near Portland, Oregon.

Crossing Jones Creek, in the Tillamook State Forest, Oregon.

Pulling out a stuck CJ-5 seemed to make my truck feel better...maybe it made up for being laughed at by Jeepers. I had to drive through the mud and around the Jeep to get to this point.

This is me starting into the mudhole where the CJ-5 got stuck.

Before the lift....yes, I got stuck on this one, but it was the only challenging obstacle in sight! "Honey, can I afford that lift now?" Gotta love body armor that works!