Considering a 91 Montero LS (thoughts?)

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Dartmouthbrian

Observer
Hello all. I am new here, but I've been watching and learning from the board for a while. My name is Brian and I'm in Seattle. I've always been a Land Rover guy, but I am making a switch to Monteros (I think). I don't know a ton about Monteros so Im here seeking advice. I can turn a wrench and have rebuilt VWs and Land Rovers.

So here's whats going on. I have found a pretty solid 1991 Montero LS 5spd in the Maroon color with a kind of unique interior color (at least from what I've seen).

I went and looked at it today and here is the skinny on it.

CONS
1. Blown head gasket (smokey tail pipe and milky oil).

2. Some strange rattling/knocking under the truck when driving (yes I took it for a SUPER short drive). It seems to be mid truck drivers side, but not 100% it's def not in the engine compartment. Maybe catalytic converter? Any help here would be AWESOME.

2. A leak coming in from somewhere under the dash. The passenger side floorboard carpet was SOAKED.

3. Drivers side floorboard was damp.

4. Paint on hood and top faded and clear coat peeling.

GOOD
1. $500 bucks

2. Paint on rest of vehicle nice and shiny.

3. No rust from what I could see and the truck looks overall clean (doesn't look beat all to hell off road).


So I've priced what I perceive to be needed to do a top end rebuild. Is it even worth it? Should I hold out for one that I don't have to sink $1500 + right out the gate?

I would post a pic, but not sure how to...
 

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B

bitoy

Observer
Nice find! I'm not sure on the cost of a top end rebuild but if you can source a diesel powerplant then that rig is going to be a winner.
 
plh

plh

Explorer
Wet carpet could be windshield seal or rust in the windshield frame (under the seal) pretty common. Repairable if you can find a replacement seal.
 
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1morebike

Adventurer
I bought 1990 5sp a year ago and really like it. I will say i have had to do alot to in the first year but thats to be expected. I would say if your down for the work i would go for it but if you keep looking you might find one in better shape for little more. I bought mine down in portland with newish enginge for $1800. They are pretty cool and realitvly easy to work on but no the best highway vehicals. Oh and the dream of a diesel is kind of that because the price is crazy high and then getting parts is hard when 3.0 gets decent gas mileage and you can get parts at pretty much any auto parts store.
 
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Dartmouthbrian

Observer
1morebike said:
I bought 1990 5sp a year ago and really like it. I will say i have had to do alot to in the first year but thats to be expected. I would say if your down for the work i would go for it but if you keep looking you might find one in better shape for little more. I bought mine down in portland with newish enginge for $1800. They are pretty cool and realitvly easy to work on but no the best highway vehicals. Oh and the dream of a diesel is kind of that because the price is crazy high and then getting parts is hard when 3.0 gets decent gas mileage and you can get parts at pretty much any auto parts store.
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Cool thanks for the heads up. Where are you in WA? Yeah a diesel would be cool. If I could find a Ram 50 diesel in a salvage yard here in WA, I would go pull it myself!
 
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1morebike

Adventurer
Im down in olympia. I thought i remember see craigslist ad about windshield gaskets and i was righthttp://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/4704590805.html
 
Evo666

Evo666

Observer
Hi Brian! I'm from Seattle as well. I'm an owner of a 2.5 though. Love the vehicle and can't wait to bring her to the mountains to snowboard.
 
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ultrakill

Adventurer
I purchased a 1990 RS in of last year. I paid $3,300 since it really had no issues besides brakes and tires (fresh engine rebuild and all). Since then I have put double that only because I do off-road it frequently and abuse it. It has held up just fine, and I would say without the off-road abuse it would be just fine around town or for a hour our two drive on freeway.

First thing I would do with that one is obviously do whatever repairs are necessary, and then take off those dumb looking stick-on fender vents. Other than that the Montero pictured is pretty clean. I would probably get windows tinted too, right away since that really adds a lot to the look of my vehicle at least.
 
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Dartmouthbrian

Observer
Raptortruckin said:
4D55t or 4d56t would not be the best choice for the 4drs considering the weight of them. That and the 4D55/56 swap isn't going to be as straight forward on the v6 trucks as it is on the 4g54b 2.6 trucks (same engine family).
Wet floorboards....Smell like coolant? If Yes then heater core need replacement.

I love my montero, it gets about the same mileage as my subaru outback did lol. So yes daily drive mine and work requires travel, so mine sees a lot of highway use.

I straight traded for my 99 subaru outback I had, just not a fan of the subaru nor wrenching on the boxer motor. Plus I'm a Mitsubishi kind of person and belonged back in a Mitsu :). My 91, hasn't needed much yet in terms of work, just developed a powersteering leak I've narrowed to the gearbox, just waiting on time for when I can order a new one and get that done. Mechanically it was fairly well taken care of, the issues I have encountered lately are just age/mileage related. Came with brand new wheels and 32" Wrangler MTRs so no complaints there.

Its up to you what you should do, 5spd V6 4dr isn't exactly a common combination. Most would be auto.

May see me occasionally NB on I-5 at least once a week, I don't venture into the heart of Seattle much. Not hard to miss though, Blue LWB, 90s purple tint, CB antenna on the right corner of the front bumper.
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Hey thanks for the info! Good to see some WA folks around here. I'll def keep an eye out for you.
 
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