a newish 2.5 build..kinda

[vanatee2000]

I picked up my 2.5 about a year ago for 400 bucks since it had a blown head gasket. I figured that was easy enough But alas after the hg was replaced I still couldn't get it to start due to low compression. So bad rings, replace them or just replace the motor. Well after a plastigauge of the rod bearings I saw it was much worse than rings. So I chose to replace the motor. I did a quick timing belt video while I had the motor out and I think it's somewhere around here. Anyways, I sold my lifted, high top astro van and now have a little extra dough to put toward the montero. Today I picked up a range rover classic great divide expedition bumper for under 200 bucks since the width was right. I'm working on retrofitting it. So here is a before and after. Next up is a one body lift, new wheels which I already bought (set of 4 16x9 for 80 bucks) and tires then I'm trying to decide if I should buy a cheap Chinese roof top ten or fiberglass one to the roof custom, ala ursa minor's style and platform. Images are via imgur because image hosting in this forum is terrible for mobile users.

http://imgur.com/GQHUbcA

http://imgur.com/BhrC5xT

 

[Dolomiti]

Great color. Do you have a link to the RTTs?

 

[vanatee2000]

I was just looking on Alibaba. I talked to a company and they said after shipping and everything to Colorado it would be 1180 bucks for a hard shell rtt. Probably quite a but cheaper for the soft type

 

[Dolomiti]

Good stuff. Found a bunch on EBay too.

 

[Jay Ayala]

I picked up my 2.5 about a year ago for 400 bucks since it had a blown head gasket. I figured that was easy enough But alas after the hg was replaced I still couldn't get it to start due to low compression. So bad rings, replace them or just replace the motor. Well after a plastigauge of the rod bearings I saw it was much worse than rings. So I chose to replace the motor. I did a quick timing belt video while I had the motor out and I think it's somewhere around here. Anyways, I sold my lifted, high top astro van and now have a little extra dough to put toward the montero. Today I picked up a range rover classic great divide expedition bumper for under 200 bucks since the width was right. I'm working on retrofitting it. So here is a before and after. Next up is a one body lift, new wheels which I already bought (set of 4 16x9 for 80 bucks) and tires then I'm trying to decide if I should buy a cheap Chinese roof top ten or fiberglass one to the roof custom, ala ursa minor's style and platform. Images are via imgur because image hosting in this forum is terrible for mobile users.

Very nice. Great find.


1989 Dodge Raider 3.0L
1997 Mitsubishi Montero 3.5L

 

[vanatee2000]

Took it for a test drive

 

[vanatee2000]

So I got some new meats today. Cooper Discoverer ATP 265/75r16 on some Eagle Alloy Series 118 wheels, which I got off craigslist for $25 each. Out the door, the tires were something like 680, but with a 70 dollar mail in rebate from Cooper. So far, they seem awesome -- and they are quite a bit bigger than my worn out BFG 30x9.5/15s that were on there before.

Glamour shot

With old 30x9.6 BFGs

With the new 265/75/16 Cooper ATPs

Width comparison between the two tires

Height comparison

 

[Toasty]

Montero's should have come stock with 33's, truck looks good.

 

[Toasty]

Maybe if you come wheeling in Az sometime i'll modify that front bumper to fit the Montero body lines better. If you want...

 

[vanatee2000]

I appreciate that, but it's not necessary..I built the brackets to position the bumper about an inch too high because my next move is a one inch body lift and figured I'd rather not have to make another set of brackets.

 

[Toasty]

I meant at the corners, bring them in a bit. Sorry

 

[Dolomiti]

That thing looks great. Love the color and the wheels.

 

[vanatee2000]

ahh i know what you mean, sneak. there are actually side wings that came with the bumper but they are just about two inches too long, so they extend into the wheel wells...im going to give them a cut and add them back on, then it should be pretty close. i will probably do a custom build, rather than keeping this retrofit, after the new year...and after i build a rear bumper in the next few weeks

 

[Toasty]

Awesome, I have that same truck by the way. Mine's not as nice :drool:

 

[raysobi]

color!