poodwaddle
New member
Following in the footsteps of Steinbeck, I am naming my truck Rocinante (after the horse of Don Quixote). Rocinante is a 1998 Montero that has seen a few abusive owners. He needed a lot of work and I am discovering even more as the days pass. I took him on a ride around the U.S. (following much the same path as Steinbeck in Travels With Charlie) and he performed marvelously. I learned to love even his little eccentricities. He is an old horse, set in his ways. I noticed that the Monte Gen II and Gen II.5 have become rare vehicles throughout the U.S. but when I crossed south into Tijuana I see quite a few of them. They appear to be a popular export, and I suspect that finding parts in junkyards might be a bit easier here.
My only complaint was a terrible turning radius. About a week ago I discovered that some former owner or inept mechanic had replaced Rocinante's steering box with one from a Montero Sport. The Sport has a steering box with a three bolt pattern and the Montero has 4. Realizing that he had the wrong box he apparently decided to drill a diagonal hole into the frame and tap a bolt into it. This gave out on me and my steering went to heck as the box wiggled under any bump in the road (amazing that the whole thing didn't break and cause an accident). I am no mechanic but it wasn't a hard fix. Even without speaking much Spanish I found a junkyard with a Monte steering box and swapped it out. Not only did this fix the problem with the steering wiggle, it also gave me a much better turning radius.
I have not done much else mechanically to the vehicle. Just new tires, alignment, and standard maintenance. He burns a bit of oil and I suspect valve guides. I would like to have the whole engine rebuilt but I don't trust Mexican mechanics so I will probably go to Texas or Arizona and find someone competent there. Just looking at the engine tells me that it isn't a job for an untrained handyman like myself. If anyone here knows of a good mechanic in the south I would certainly appreciate the advice. After that and a few other adjustments are made I will take him on a trip down south into Central America, and if I live through that then who knows where to next.
I recently did a little paint job. I went nuts and painted the lower trim with bed liner. I love the look. Now I just need the red repainted. I really should have had that done first since masking on it will be impossible. Oh well. At least I plan to go with the same color so it isn't essential that the painter mask right to the edge.
I would like to squeeze a few more horseys out of... um... my horse. Any suggestions? I am considering a performance exhaust system and perhaps intake system. Has anyone tried these and can say if they make a difference? Since my vehicle is made for expeditions south of the border I am even considering removal of the cat (mine is a Cali model with the extra HP robbing stuff). Can anyone say if this makes a difference on a Monte and if performance cats do the job? Also I am curious how the Monte's sensors will handle a new exhaust system. For intake I am not convinced. I have seen the typical high performance air intakes under the hoods of teenager's Hondas. The look is just not what I am after. I want real performance, not some silly chrome parts to impress my friends. Does anyone have a short list of possible HP improving mods? I suppose manual hubs are even helpful to some small degree. What do you veteran Monte drivers say?
My only complaint was a terrible turning radius. About a week ago I discovered that some former owner or inept mechanic had replaced Rocinante's steering box with one from a Montero Sport. The Sport has a steering box with a three bolt pattern and the Montero has 4. Realizing that he had the wrong box he apparently decided to drill a diagonal hole into the frame and tap a bolt into it. This gave out on me and my steering went to heck as the box wiggled under any bump in the road (amazing that the whole thing didn't break and cause an accident). I am no mechanic but it wasn't a hard fix. Even without speaking much Spanish I found a junkyard with a Monte steering box and swapped it out. Not only did this fix the problem with the steering wiggle, it also gave me a much better turning radius.
I have not done much else mechanically to the vehicle. Just new tires, alignment, and standard maintenance. He burns a bit of oil and I suspect valve guides. I would like to have the whole engine rebuilt but I don't trust Mexican mechanics so I will probably go to Texas or Arizona and find someone competent there. Just looking at the engine tells me that it isn't a job for an untrained handyman like myself. If anyone here knows of a good mechanic in the south I would certainly appreciate the advice. After that and a few other adjustments are made I will take him on a trip down south into Central America, and if I live through that then who knows where to next.
I recently did a little paint job. I went nuts and painted the lower trim with bed liner. I love the look. Now I just need the red repainted. I really should have had that done first since masking on it will be impossible. Oh well. At least I plan to go with the same color so it isn't essential that the painter mask right to the edge.
I would like to squeeze a few more horseys out of... um... my horse. Any suggestions? I am considering a performance exhaust system and perhaps intake system. Has anyone tried these and can say if they make a difference? Since my vehicle is made for expeditions south of the border I am even considering removal of the cat (mine is a Cali model with the extra HP robbing stuff). Can anyone say if this makes a difference on a Monte and if performance cats do the job? Also I am curious how the Monte's sensors will handle a new exhaust system. For intake I am not convinced. I have seen the typical high performance air intakes under the hoods of teenager's Hondas. The look is just not what I am after. I want real performance, not some silly chrome parts to impress my friends. Does anyone have a short list of possible HP improving mods? I suppose manual hubs are even helpful to some small degree. What do you veteran Monte drivers say?
