Isuzu Impulse Turbo Donor.

[Fester]

Hey guys. I just checked out an '80's Isuzu Impluse Turbo that is sitting on the back lot of a buy-here, pay-here used car lot down the street. They were closed, but the car was accessible and open.

It's a rust bucket, the drivers window is either broken out of doesn't roll up so the interior is pretty much shot too. It looks like something that could be picked up real cheap like.

Any idea of the Locost donor potential of one of those?

It's RWD with a live axle. Couldn't determine what the front suspension is, but the shock towers in the front don't look big enough to hold coil springs. Are they maybe upper and lower arms?

The engine is probably SOHC - valve cover isn't big enough to be DOHC. It's turbo, with a small intercooler in front of the radiator.

Anybody know anything about more about them? If I can get it cheap enough I might just buy it and push it home this weekend.

[jdgar0649]

Go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Impulse
If it is later 80's it would have the lotus handling package. I believe the front uprights are similar to the Cortina...not sure. Ive heard that it makes a good donor, but you just NEVER see them where I live.
Joe Garrison
Crescent, OK

[KB58]

Read up on them first, who knows.

I was stunned when reading about the McLaren F1 road car. Turns out Isuzu wanted so badly to be a contender for supplying the V12 engine, they designed and built one just for McLaren. Unfortunately Isuzu isn't a name associated with supercars so they got passed up. However, if they have the resources to pull something like that off, maybe their stuff is way underrated. Still, I'd do a weekend of serious research before jumping on it. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's a guaranteed bargain, kinda like a $5 hooker... okay, bad analogy but you get the idea.

[Fester]

It's before the '88 model - it has the pop-up headlight covers.

It does not have the "Handling by Lotus" badges. Not sure that would be of much use anyway since I don't think I'd carry over the swaybars and the dampers (if they could be adapted) are probably shot due to age.

I should have looked at the odometer, but I didn't.

I'm going to go look at it tomorrow and see what they say about it. It looks like they were trying to sell it at one time, but now it looks to gone to use as a road car.

[SportsCarDesigner]

The first gen cars 1981-1989 are built on the rear-drive GM "T" platform... same as the Chevette. Some chassis parts, but not all are interchangable (i.e. upper ball joint but not lower, outer front wheel bearing but not inner, etc). It is ULA front suspension with rack and pinion.
.

[queensb7]

You'll find that the Isuzu Impulse front uprights are identical castings as the Chevette but have been machined for slightly larger bearings and have a large vented brake rotor whereas the Chevette had a solid rotor .
I used these uprights on my car and they proved ideal !
Bob Macleod

[chetcpo]

Way back when this site was started in 2005 there was a thread asking what was the best single car donor for a book chassis build. It was mentioned that the Impulse was a strong contender. The front uprights have been proven to work. (Chevette and Fiero are very similar and widely used) the Chevette rack is what the Stalker kits use so you know that works. It has a live rear axle which plays nice with the book chassis which was designed to use a live axle. I'd search for the thread but it's late. If you can get it cheap and aren't hungry of huge power give it a look.

EDIT- I found it:
Here's the cliff notes

the BEST single donor available in the US is the 87-89 impulse.
it's RWD
uses an SLA front suspension
solid rear axle
available LSD
available 4 wheel disc
available turbo
rack and pinion
it's only real draw back is that it's rear steer instead of front steer on the rack.

[elewayne]

The Implus was "talked up" on the Other list as well, sometime back, but they are fairly rare so not much used by builders. Do a bit of research, but I'd think it would do nicely if it isn't regarded as a "collector" by the lot. Keep the build fairly light weight and you don't need a ton of power, that's what this car is all about and the turbo would be nice too.
Wayne

[Fester]

The more I read about them, the more I like this idea.

I was thinking about a Datsun based build with a solid axle and Chevette front uprights anyway so this seems to be similar parts in one donor.

The stock 140hp is adequate considering I was contemplating a 60hp 1200cc Datsun engine.

The only thing that concerns me is the availability of engine parts when I need them, but I haven't investigated that too much yet so it might not be as bad as I am expecting.

It's a rust bucket for sure, so I'm not too concerned with the collectiblity factor. I imagine the lot is just procrastinating on having the thing hauled away to a scrap yard. All four tires are flat, the drivers window has been down for who knows how long, the battery is gone, there are a few random relays thrown on top of the dash as if someone was investigating an electrical problem and gave up - plus there is major (surface?) ruston every panel. It would be a huge project just to get it presentable enough to sell as a $500 car.

Perfect donor material in my opinion.

Anybody know what the bolt pattern on the wheels would be? It's four lug, it looks like 4x100mm, but that's hard to judge by just looking at it.

I found an online reference that said '83-'92 were 4x100mm. I would not be surprised that the later Geo Storm related Impulse would be 4x100, but I would be surprised that an '83 RWD car would be 4x100mm. Even though all four factory alloy wheels are there, I'd hate to get stuck with an oddball 4x105mm or 4x4" or something.

The best part is the lot is about 50 feet from my garage, so I can walk down there, make a $200 offer on it (sans paperwork), and if they take it, I can push it home immediately.

[horizenjob]

50' from your shop! Not worth haggling much, but I would recommend your first offer is just to push it off their lot.

[elewayne]

Ask if they will pay you to remove it?
The Chevette is 4x100 lug spacing so that would be likely. but who knows.
I've used the Chevette steering column. rack, spindles and brakes. all good useable stuff and that one may have nicer brakes.??? 140 HP is more than enough. Good luck
Wayne

[IndyJoe]

Fester,

What was the outcome? Did you get it?

[Fester]

I haven't had a chance to go talk to them yet. My job took me unexpectedly out of town most of the week.

I've actually been up in your neighborhood a couple of times this week working on some equipment at Fort Harrison State Park. By the time I get home at night, the lot is closed.

[mr.peabody.d]

kinda like a $5 hooker

They suck?
or
You may get more than you bargained for?

Where were you going with that one Kurt?

[IndyJoe]

Fester,

yeah, that whole work thing getting in the way of your hobby kinda sucks > > I'm just a few miles south of Fort Harrison, so you meant it literally:

I've actually been up in your neighborhood a couple of times this week

What type of equipment do you work with?

Let us know how the impulse comes out when you get freed up.

-Indy "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" Joe