Igorskiy86
Observer
Igor's 2002 gen 3
This is my first post on this awesome forum. I have been able to find lots of info about the montero and builds on here motivated me to buy my own.
The car I found is a 2002 montero limited with 140k miles. I had it for about two weeks now and really like how it drives and feels. The power of the 3.5 seems to be perfectly sufficient for daily driving and I believe it will be enough to get me out to the trails, but will have to find out how it does towing my track car with trailer in a few months. Originally I wanted to find 2003+ with under 100k miles, but after looking at a few cars I started to realize that mostly everything available had issues with traction control warnings, rough running engines, oil leaks and problems with transfer case lights. With that in mind I started looking for 01 or 02 limited because I don't have to worry about traction control and with cheaper price I can just buy arb lockers when needed. I was not opposed to doing some work to the car myself so I was not against buying a car needing tlc. The car I ended up with is in a good condition on the body and interior is really good, just need to soften up leather of front seats but it has a common issue of valve seals leaking, and it seems to need a new cat converters.
My plans for the montero is to first repair valve seals, I plan to remove both heads and re machine valves and seats, replace head gaskets and rest of gaskets on the top, change water pump, timing belt, rollers, belt tensioner, spark plugs, wires and what ever else I find wrong. After that deal with cat converter issues. The good thing is after work is done I will now that I should not have much to worry about the engine for 60-100k, which is especially comforting when you are in remote areas.
After the car is healthy once again I want to start hitting up trails around LA area and do mods to it as needed.
My modification/service plans are:
- Change transmission, transfer case and diff fluids
- Tow hitch
- - Done - Tires, went with Cooper ST MAXX 265-75-16 on stock rims.
- - Done - Lift kit OME HD front and rear both springs and struts
- - Done - Rock sliders
- Fabricate protection for under side components
- Arb front bumper
- Dual battery
- Arb compressor
- Winch
- Arb front locker
- Arb rear locker
- Roof rack
- Fabricate rear bumper, probably when I damage original one
- Possibly re gear it and go to 33 inch tires
As it sits today!
When I bought it!
View attachment 246540
View attachment 246541
View attachment 246542
View attachment 246543
View attachment 246545
This is my first post on this awesome forum. I have been able to find lots of info about the montero and builds on here motivated me to buy my own.
The car I found is a 2002 montero limited with 140k miles. I had it for about two weeks now and really like how it drives and feels. The power of the 3.5 seems to be perfectly sufficient for daily driving and I believe it will be enough to get me out to the trails, but will have to find out how it does towing my track car with trailer in a few months. Originally I wanted to find 2003+ with under 100k miles, but after looking at a few cars I started to realize that mostly everything available had issues with traction control warnings, rough running engines, oil leaks and problems with transfer case lights. With that in mind I started looking for 01 or 02 limited because I don't have to worry about traction control and with cheaper price I can just buy arb lockers when needed. I was not opposed to doing some work to the car myself so I was not against buying a car needing tlc. The car I ended up with is in a good condition on the body and interior is really good, just need to soften up leather of front seats but it has a common issue of valve seals leaking, and it seems to need a new cat converters.
My plans for the montero is to first repair valve seals, I plan to remove both heads and re machine valves and seats, replace head gaskets and rest of gaskets on the top, change water pump, timing belt, rollers, belt tensioner, spark plugs, wires and what ever else I find wrong. After that deal with cat converter issues. The good thing is after work is done I will now that I should not have much to worry about the engine for 60-100k, which is especially comforting when you are in remote areas.
After the car is healthy once again I want to start hitting up trails around LA area and do mods to it as needed.
My modification/service plans are:
- Change transmission, transfer case and diff fluids
- Tow hitch
- - Done - Tires, went with Cooper ST MAXX 265-75-16 on stock rims.
- - Done - Lift kit OME HD front and rear both springs and struts
- - Done - Rock sliders
- Fabricate protection for under side components
- Arb front bumper
- Dual battery
- Arb compressor
- Winch
- Arb front locker
- Arb rear locker
- Roof rack
- Fabricate rear bumper, probably when I damage original one
- Possibly re gear it and go to 33 inch tires
As it sits today!
When I bought it!
View attachment 246540
View attachment 246541
View attachment 246542
View attachment 246543
View attachment 246545