DecadentToast
New member
Hello Expo members! I just got my first Montero and my first real 4x4 body-on-frame off-road-capable truck. I've dreamed of having an overland & off road vehicle for years and was finally able to get one! This site and 4x4wire helped a lot with my search and decision making and I decided I wanted a 2nd Gen SR for the 3.5L engine, the factory rear diff lock, and the adjustable suspension. 4Runners are overpriced here in Colorado, everybody's got a Jeep already, and I like to have something a little less common. I also wanted a full size SUV so I could fit my dog and gear and one that could fit kids in the future. And I've heard a lot of good things about the Monteros in terms of ability and reliability. The Montero SR gives you so much bang for such little buck even in stock form.
This was before I brought it home:
I picked it up a week ago with 203K miles on the clock. It had been sitting for a few months but started right up and ran fine. The seats are a little beat up but the body was very clean, no rust, and had a custom blue/white metallic paint job. Tires were bald and fluids probably haven't been serviced in a long time. It sounded like it was a totally stock mall-crawler, just driven around town until she got a new car. The oil pan and valve covers are painted green, so I wondered if it had any engine work but the seller didn't know/remember. Even though it had been sitting for a while, it made the 1.5 hour long drive home without breaking a sweat. Seemed to me like a great deal considering all the important things work. There is an oil leak from the rear of both sides of the engine, I'm guessing it's a cam seal? It smells like it's probably burning oil through the valve guide seals too.
After changing the oil and topping off the fluids, and driving it to work to make sure it ran well, I got rid of the bald 31x10.5x15 tires that came with it and bought some used 33x12.5x15 Goodyear Duratracs to hold me over until I have the cash for a brand new set. The taller and wider tires gave it a whole new look that I was pretty excited about. So of course I had to take it through the obligatory muddy lot near the tire shop.
This was before I brought it home:
I picked it up a week ago with 203K miles on the clock. It had been sitting for a few months but started right up and ran fine. The seats are a little beat up but the body was very clean, no rust, and had a custom blue/white metallic paint job. Tires were bald and fluids probably haven't been serviced in a long time. It sounded like it was a totally stock mall-crawler, just driven around town until she got a new car. The oil pan and valve covers are painted green, so I wondered if it had any engine work but the seller didn't know/remember. Even though it had been sitting for a while, it made the 1.5 hour long drive home without breaking a sweat. Seemed to me like a great deal considering all the important things work. There is an oil leak from the rear of both sides of the engine, I'm guessing it's a cam seal? It smells like it's probably burning oil through the valve guide seals too.
After changing the oil and topping off the fluids, and driving it to work to make sure it ran well, I got rid of the bald 31x10.5x15 tires that came with it and bought some used 33x12.5x15 Goodyear Duratracs to hold me over until I have the cash for a brand new set. The taller and wider tires gave it a whole new look that I was pretty excited about. So of course I had to take it through the obligatory muddy lot near the tire shop.
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