Bernard's Isuzu MU Wizard Journey

So I am updating the list of replacement parts that I need to get for my Isuzu MU Wizard. Most of the priority parts are suspension parts. Here is a list. Suspension parts rear coil springs rear shock absorbers full suspension bushings (front and rear) The reason I am putting suspension parts as a priority is because I can hear squeaking when the vehicle drives. I have already replaced the front and rear shock absorbers but I had to modify the later because the bottom bushings did not fit. I had bought a part that would fit an Isuzu pickup. The front I used shocks for the Trooper (Bighorn) which fit perfectly. I have also been thinking of getting used coil springs from Trooper wrecks. However, I am reluctant because I think it would be worth putting in new coils - they last longer. I'm going to try and get my hands on new ones - wreckers will be a last resort for suspension parts. I am also going to replace the rear bump stops. I only noticed a week ago that they ...

Last weekend I visited Baruni Wreckers to find parts for the Isuzu MU Wizard. The vehicle has been sitting at my office car park for months and its about time I resumed my journey into making her beautiful again. My ultimate dream is to restore her to her former glory. Unfortunately, there are other expenses that need to be considered, parts to be sourced and time to actually do the work (which I don't have much these days). Anyway, it was my cousin Daniel who took me to the wreckers. He has been there several times sourcing second hand parts for his Toyota Hilux Surf (2.8 Turbo Diesel) so when he suggested we check the wreckers, I immediately jumped at the idea. It was disappointing that I could not find any Isuzu MU Wizard or Holden Frontera in the yard so we had to improvise and I bought parts from an Isuzu Trooper. The parts we purchased were a torsion bar on the driver side and the rear sway (stabilizer) bar which is broken. The wreckers is a treasure trove for...

So recently decided to start a video blog for repairs on the Isuzu MU Wizard and writing can can be a bit time consuming. I am using a Lenovo K320t smartphone which does not have the best camera - but should do for now. I am also using FilmoraGo to edit the videos on my phone. Here is my first video.

In my last posted I told you about my busted radiator. However, what I did not tell you was that with my vehicle grounded, I am now walking to work and back everyday. This is one of the best things that has happened to me in a long while. Ever since I got a vehicle, I have gained weight and I believe it is because I am not as active as I used to be. When I was in school (high school and college) I would walk. There were basically two reasons for that. Firstly, I did not like the crowding in buses. The other was because I did not have enough money to spend on public transport everyday. So when I was in Grade 12 I used to walk from our house at Telikom village in Waigani to Gordon every day and back. In college, I would catch a bus from Waigani bus stop to 4 Mile and then walk down to DBTI. It was my daily routine and exercise. I continued this practice until I started working, and then taking public transport became necessary. However, when I bought my first vehicle (a used T...

So the Isuzu MU Wizard has a busted radiator. I tried sealing it with high temperature silicone and it worked for a while. However, the silicone kept coming off because of the dirt. I never bothered to do a through cleaning of the crack. Anyway, I had the radiator removed last week and the Wizard has been sitting idle at the car park. I wanted to inspect it and find a more permanent solution. Below are pictures of the radiator. The rust is a telltale sign of a leak in the radiator. A front view of the radiator.  The crack is along the top tank and I could use some epoxy glue to hold it. However, I am not too sure it will last. Hence, I have gone ahead to find a new replacement. Unfortunately, that has not been too easy or cheap. A new radiator imported from Australia will cost me around K800 plus freight and shipping of around K600. In total that is around K1400. Notice the crack.  None of the local radiator shops I have approached have provided any pos...

HELLO!  Its been a while since I last posted an updated and I'm sure you are wondering what's been happening. Well, life is happening and I don't seem to have enough time to blog, but there have been some positive new, and some bad too! You cant have it either way. The good news first! The good news is that I managed to find shock absorbers for the MU Wizard. It took me a while but I found them in Papua New Guinea's second largest city, Lae.  We were driving around after a meeting when I spotted a Motorist Discount Center (MDC) and asked the driver to stop. I got the suspension parts for around K280.  Now they are standard shock absorbers for both front and rear. The models for my vehicle were not available but the salesman offered parts that were meant for the Isuzu Bighorn and TR (Faster) which actually share the same chassis.  The only things left are the suspension bushings and coil springs.    I haven't done the installation yet....

So I've reached a crossroad in this project. On one hand I would love to fix up the vehicle and gain some sort of accomplishment and pride. However, I would like to have it in the best condition possible because I would like to go on rides on the highway during weekends. I've also been thinking about renting accommodation away from the city - and I need something reliable. Don't get me wrong, the Isuzu MU Wizard has a beautiful engine and runs quite well. However, I am yet to get it into a stage where I will not worry about it breaking down. In addition, I have broken the driver's side window and that is another expense to the list of repairs I am yet to complete. I've used plastic to protect against the elements while I wait for the replacment.   As I also mentioned earlier, trying to get the right parts for this vehicle is like finding a needle in a haystack. I have paid an importer to bring in a replacement from Australia - but they have found it a bit...