School me on the Mighty Max

[PirateMcGee]

So I'm tossing around the idea of selling my 2001 Montero Sport and picking up a Mighty Max. My 4wd is now my second vehicle and a pickup is just so much more useful in that regard. I am also considering a Toyota Pickup (had before) or Nissan Hardbody so comparisons are very helpful. I would likely only get a V6 5speed model (when were these made?). Info from my googlefu is pretty sparse....I can't even seem to find what trims were offered, cab configurations, or years engines were offered. How is the parts supply? Not looking to modify other than maybe a locker or lsd (if possible) but would want to restore worn out parts with as much OEM as possible.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

There were a few turbo diesel models as well.

 

[Toasty]

I have a Gen 1 V6 Mighty Max :wings: But seriously they came in a standard and extended cab, the 12V V6 is plenty powerful in those 1989-1995 I believe. Parts are easy to come by and the early Montero Sport rear axle is a bolt in. I would love to import a 4 door Pickup cab and drop it on a Montero Sport frame.

 

[PirateMcGee]

I have a Gen 1 V6 Mighty Max :wings: But seriously they came in a standard and extended cab, the 12V V6 is plenty powerful in those 1989-1995 I believe. Parts are easy to come by and the early Montero Sport rear axle is a bolt in. I would love to import a 4 door Pickup cab and drop it on a Montero Sport frame.

Is it the same 3.0 used in the non 3.5 Montero Sport and Early Montero? How are the manual tranny and t-case? I know a common complaint with the Montero Sport manual trans is that 1st gear is not low enough for offroad coupled with the kind of high strung t-case. Does that hold true on the MM?

An extended cab V6 5speed seems to be a pretty rare bird.

 

[Toasty]

The Mighty Max 3.0 is the old distributor type found in the Gen 1 Montero and very early Gen 2's, The manual trans is super tough but you can only get 2.85 crawler gears for it. Edward on 4x4wire has a writeup about putting the NP case on the Sport trans, not sure if they are the same. either way just assume limited support for any Mitsubishi manual trans. I always pull them in favor of automatics and crawler gears.

 

[rxinhed]

Mine is for sale, Starion powered: http://redding.craigslist.org/cto/5306579414.html

This one is near the East Bay: http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/5314482929.html

 

[Toasty]

Wow! That White one is seriously awesome, rare and totally a steal at that price. I'd buy it and swap in a Montero automatic and call it a day.

 

[rxinhed]

Wow! That White one is seriously awesome, rare and totally a steal at that price. I'd buy it and swap in a Montero automatic and call it a day.

On the other hand, if someone bought mine, I could work on my W400 that is closer to my heart.

 

[magoh76]

Wow! That White one is seriously awesome, rare and totally a steal at that price. I'd buy it and swap in a Montero automatic and call it a day.

I don't much about Mighty Max's, what makes that one rare?

 

[JohnnyBfromPeoria]

My neighbor Jorge has an '83 4x4 2.6 auto that he bought from Toasty. We cleaned it up and took it wheeling and I have to say that it is one FUN truck. Currently it is pretty stock with the exception of BFG A/T's in 31x10.5 on 7" wide Gen 2 alloys and KYB Gas-A-Just shocks up front. We really don't know how many miles it has on it since the early trucks' odometers roll over at +100K, but it must be considerable since it likes to burn oil past the rings. I've noticed 2WD chirping of the rear tires in slow turns, so it most likely has an LSD, it handles really well on trails, climbs like a mountain goat and actually has decent power for on-highway use to get to the trails. It also gets better gas mileage than any Montero I've owned.

Eventually it will need some more front suspension/steering work and an a/c line needs to be replaced. The interior is pretty scary as far as the seats go, but the thing runs and like I said it's FUN. Jorge, his brother HoseB and I all use it to take care of our 'truck-related' chores that the Monteros don't do as well.

John B.

 

[Toasty]

Dude! Montero seats bolt onto the Mighty Max seat rails! Makes it soon much more comfortable.


Magoh76, That one is rare for a lot of reasons and each one makes it an even more of a unicorn because it has that configuration. First off Macrocab Mighty Maxes are not real common and highly desirable in the MM community, second it's a 4x4 Macrocab which i've never even seen in the US before although they are rumored to exist. On top of that it's a late model giving it the 2nd generation 12V 3.0 (note the MAF) I almost think you could just about drop in a 3.5 for that reason. Even more it's an Automatic which i've never seen in a v6 4x4 MM (again we know they exist) and it's an LS so it was in it's day the top of the line pickup from Mitsubishi, if we could confirm an Offroad package (orange sticker in the door jamb) we'd have a very desirable Mighty Max for 4 wheeling.

If i didn't already have a Mighty Max i would snatch that one up and throw a Montero Sport 3.5 and auto trans in it and a Sport locking rear axle and just be 19 flavors of awesome.

 

[4D55 Performance]

The first gen and second gen trucks are more or less the same truck under the skin. The 3.0 V6 is the most powerful engine but the 2.3 Turbo diesel is by far the most desirable because of it durability, power, and economy. I wheel my fully restored 1983 turbo diesel on classic truck expeditions and it keeps up with the Ford Broncos, Jeeps and Landcruisers just fine. My Mitsubishi Pickup has 4.97 first gear, 3.9 ring gears and 1.9 tcase. I think it is a really good combo for expedition use. Since we are promoting and discussing overland travel and expedition use on this website and not rock crawling, the stock gearing should be ideal. If you are looking for a truck for expedition use you wont be disappointed. If you are looking for a rock crawler you may want to look at a different vehicle.

 

[Toasty]

Spence , what happened to the silver one with JK SAS and Atlas?

 

[4D55 Performance]

Spence , what happened to the silver one with JK SAS and Atlas?

She's sitting on the side of the house. It needs a battery and power steering pump. I have had it for 13 years but over the past six months I have thought about selling it for about 8K or parting it out. It runs fine it just needs a little love and those parts replaced.

I really have no more place for it in my life. When I bought it I did not have any kids and now I have 5. Also my interests and my collection have changed. I have started a collection of stock Japanese 4x4's from the 1980's and the Silver Truck does not fit in the collection because it is not stock. I also have a huge camping project on the horizon so stayed tuned.

 

[magoh76]

Dude! Montero seats bolt onto the Mighty Max seat rails! Makes it soon much more comfortable.


Magoh76, That one is rare for a lot of reasons and each one makes it an even more of a unicorn because it has that configuration. First off Macrocab Mighty Maxes are not real common and highly desirable in the MM community, second it's a 4x4 Macrocab which i've never even seen in the US before although they are rumored to exist. On top of that it's a late model giving it the 2nd generation 12V 3.0 (note the MAF) I almost think you could just about drop in a 3.5 for that reason. Even more it's an Automatic which i've never seen in a v6 4x4 MM (again we know they exist) and it's an LS so it was in it's day the top of the line pickup from Mitsubishi, if we could confirm an Offroad package (orange sticker in the door jamb) we'd have a very desirable Mighty Max for 4 wheeling.

If i didn't already have a Mighty Max i would snatch that one up and throw a Montero Sport 3.5 and auto trans in it and a Sport locking rear axle and just be 19 flavors of awesome.

Thanks for the education Toasty. I've been a Ranger guy most of my life but the little MM looks appealing, especially since I've drunk the Mitsubishi kool-aid.