So, I bought a 1991 Montero. Dubbed "The Dog" by the previous owners. It had a blown radiator cap and wasn't running but the engine rolled and despite some bumps and dings I couldn't help it and wound up paying $400 for it. Being from Ohio, rust is the devil and this thing was fresh from California without a speck of rust on it, so that to me was priceless after battling it on past vehicles. Long story short, the truck, which had been sitting about a year, fired right up when the radiator cap was soldered back together. However it was clear a new head gasket was needed. During that project I re-did the timing belt, any gaskets/seals I came in contact with and the water pump as well as checking the head thoroughly. I had bad terminals and ground and didn't know it or check them so I cooked the starter in my excitement to drive it, so it has a new one of those too. After all that it has been running fairly well, with the exception of a few things that don't seem to impact performance. My goal throughout is to keep it as stock as possible while making a capable camping/overland rig.
Although the truck is rust free it has some pretty severe clear coat rot, some dents and bumps that id like to pull and fill and I want to keep things rust free. I don't necessarily want to dump a bunch of money to repaint it and then take it out and have it striped up by sagebrush and whatever else. I have been looking into the monstaliner (I like the fact it doesn't have crumbs in it) route and that seems to turn out pretty good and people like it. I just like the look of them stock and hesitate to do something as drastic as that. Any thoughts on this or other ideas?
Also I am trying to diagnose the seemingly infamous ticking/knock. Does anyone have any way to discern whether it is a knock or the noisy lifter/guide issue? I am currently running royal purple 5w-20 oil with some Marvel mystery oil and it seems to quiet it down slightly. I tried the 3000rpm cycle and it made no difference either. the noise seems to be equal in loudness from the top and bottom and is definitely on the driver side.
I appreciate any feedback/answers and apologies if this should be in a different area, I am still getting my bearings on here.
Although the truck is rust free it has some pretty severe clear coat rot, some dents and bumps that id like to pull and fill and I want to keep things rust free. I don't necessarily want to dump a bunch of money to repaint it and then take it out and have it striped up by sagebrush and whatever else. I have been looking into the monstaliner (I like the fact it doesn't have crumbs in it) route and that seems to turn out pretty good and people like it. I just like the look of them stock and hesitate to do something as drastic as that. Any thoughts on this or other ideas?
Also I am trying to diagnose the seemingly infamous ticking/knock. Does anyone have any way to discern whether it is a knock or the noisy lifter/guide issue? I am currently running royal purple 5w-20 oil with some Marvel mystery oil and it seems to quiet it down slightly. I tried the 3000rpm cycle and it made no difference either. the noise seems to be equal in loudness from the top and bottom and is definitely on the driver side.
I appreciate any feedback/answers and apologies if this should be in a different area, I am still getting my bearings on here.