Comprehensive 2nd gen guide?

[TheAntiChrome]

Hi guys, after days upon days of browsing I have decided (read: convinced her) that overland-style camping is something the gf and I can do together. She is on board simply for the camping aspect, and I look forward mostly to the "journey" (read: wheeling). I currently have a swb gen1 that I know will be too small for the task (supplies, me, gf, maybe a dog) so I have decided that a gen2 is what I want due to the "affordability:ability" ratio.

The problem I am having is keeping the multitude of models straight. The basics I thought I had pretty much down, LS has a LSD rear, SR has a Locker.... but then I read that its not THAT easy. The 2000-model SR had no locker and not all SR's prior to that had a rear locker. This leads me to my question/idea.

TL;DR I am confused and I have an idea

----

Can we as a community come together to sort out what engine, transmission, and gears came on each year/model? Perhaps some more specifics

For example:

Year:
Model:
Engine:
Trans:
F/R diff size:
gearing:
open/lsd/locker:

Other options/details could be added as well if they came standard on a certain model; sunroof, leather, etc.

Basically I am tired of browsing CL and looking for the air locker switch or little orange sticker on the drivers side. I would also like to know exactly which vehicles to look for in the yards if I am looking for 4.9 gears, or a leaf-sprung 4.6-geared Sport axle. A simple year/trim range would really help narrow down my search but I feel a comprehensive guide could help a lot of potential explorers.

I hope this takes off and can be made into a good resource, maybe even expanding to other generations as well.

 

[off-roader]

IIRC, it's not super complicated for the gen II and earlier (I haven't payed close attention to the gen III's).

I4 engine models (2.6L) all had leaf sprung rear ends and smaller diffs/axles.
V6 engine models (3.0L SOHC, DOHC, & 3.5L SOHC & DOHC) had coil sprung rear ends and larger diffs/axles.
- 3.0L SOHC & DOHC engines had an +8.5" rear diff and larger axles.
- 3.5L engines had a 9.5" rear diff and largest axles.
-- DOHC models from 94-97 had the most power available but also have the intake manifold butterfly valves with plastic bushings that will likely eventually fail and could get ingested into the engine potentially causing damage/issues.
-- SOHC models from 98-00 had a bit less power than the DOHC but are also less complicated and don't have the DOHC intake manifold (i.e. no butterfly valves to fail).
-- Sunroof was available for all Montero's but there doesn't seem to be a specific package it was included with.

From what I recall, all v6 models came with 4.6x:1 r&p ratio's except the gen 2.5's (98-00) which dropped to 4.2:1. If you plan upgrade the tire size then the 4.2:1 ratio may become an issue.

Gen I
84-89 2.6L i4 engine w/ small diff (8"?) and axles. leaf sprung rear end. Some had LSD's. Only ways to tell are to lift the rear and turn the wheels and check other wheel direction of rotation. Same direction has LSD. Different direction is Open.
89-91 3.0L v6 engine w/ 8.5" ratio rear diff & larger axles. coil sprung rear end. LS's had LSD's. RS's and unbadged models don't.

Gen II
92-93 3.0L v6 engine w/ 8.5" rear diff & larger axles. coil sprung rear end. LS's had LSD's. SR's had a locker. Unbadged models don't have either.
94-97 LS's came with a 3.0L v6 engine w/ a 8.5 rear diff and corresponding axles. Locker was not an option for this model. Cloth seats were standard IIRC.
94-97 SR's came with a 3.5L dohc v6 engine (most powerful made by mitsu) w/ a 9.5" rear diff and larger axles. Leather seats were standard IIRC.
98-00 3.5L sohc v6 engine (2nd most powerful) w/ a 9.5" rear diff and larger axles. Those that came optioned with the Winter Package came with the Locker, heated leather seats, & heated mirrors. No winter package... no Locker.

I'm sure there are additional info that I may be missing but that's what I recall for now. Justice or Grasscat who are also knowledgeable may have more to add or clarify.:ylsmoke:

 

[KarmannMarco]

One small correction on the above. I have a 97 SL and it has the 3.5L DOHC (original engine)

 

[ca18_sean]

One small correction on the above. I have a 97 SL and it has the 3.5L DOHC (original engine)

I thought the trim packages were base, SR, RS, and LS? What's an SL?

off-roader - great post, thanks!!

 

[off-roader]

I suspect he means LS.

Well, I must admit my knowledge on the later Gen II's isn't as accurate as it is on the earlier gen II's... Specifically 94-96 which had the SR trim package that I was specifically after.

As for the rest of my info, there will certainly be exceptions to the above.

Alternatively your LS badges may have been changed from SR. Why? Who knows.

 

[off-roader]

I should add that 4x4wire has quite a bit of Mitsu tech info and is an excellent resource as well.

 

[KarmannMarco]

Ops, yeah i meant LS my mistake.
I wish it was an SR with the wrong badges! Wouldn't mind having a rear diff locker

 

[MontyMcV]

I don't agree with the posts above. Karmannn should have an SOHC in his 97, not a DOHC. Not saying you aren't telling the straight scoop, just that one had never been seen AFAIK in the US. 97 was an odd year in that it was Gen II body, not Gen II.5, and thus retained the LS vs SR trims, but both versions had the same 3.5 SOHC. They also have the lower 4.2X gears, as does the run through the II.5s. This of course is all specific to the US market.

As for logging a bunch of archived data on all the years' models, there is a ton of info on previously well traveled sights- namely 4x4Wire and OuterLimits4x4. Not saying the same info isn't worthy of being on ExPo. Rather, take it as more of a "suggestion" that if the info ever seems slow in coming here, I would attibute it to many people having already sung those tunes so many times they can do it in "no notes." (Yeah, I'm dating myself with with that reference... :bike_rider

 

[zukrider]

i have had 2 94 SR's that were only equipped with the 3.5DOHC, associated trans, and the flares and badges. all the rest is straight up LS. cloth interior, no sunroof, no locker, no 3 way shock.

 

[off-roader]

I don't agree with the posts above. Karmannn should have an SOHC in his 97, not a DOHC. Not saying you aren't telling the straight scoop, just that one had never been seen AFAIK in the US. 97 was an odd year in that it was Gen II body, not Gen II.5, and thus retained the LS vs SR trims, but both versions had the same 3.5 SOHC. They also have the lower 4.2X gears, as does the run through the II.5s. This of course is all specific to the US market.

On second thought, I believe you're right.

 

[TheAntiChrome]

To revive this thread I will ask you gurus a question:

Whats up with the axle codes? I just picked apart an SR built in 6/94 with a 3.0 SOHC, no rear locker, rear axle code "V62" and front code "FC1", ratio being 4.875.

Is there a guide that says which axle code is ring gear size (9.0, 9.5), ratio (4.2x, 4.6x, 4.8x, 4.9x, etc.) and maybe even if its got a locker or not?

Thanks

p.s. I scored the bouncy seat rails and the adjustable suspension from it too, and it had leather interior (brown). The yard is willing to sell me the "active trac" tranny and t-case for pretty cheap if they are an upgrade to the gen1 v6 like I see sitting down the road from my house on my way to work. I feel addicted already and I haven't even driven my swb 2.6 yet...

 

[off-roader]

Not sure.
but I can tell you....
gen 1 1984-1991
2.6l i4 engine = small ring gears and axles
3.0l v6 engine = bigger ring gear and axles (the rear is comparable to a Dana 44, smaller front gear and axles)
LS trim package includes headlight washers and LSD in rear diff.

gen 2
1992-1993
3.0l v6
D44 sized r&p in back
LS has an LSD
SR has a locker

1994-1996
3.0l v6
D44 sized r&p in back
LS has an LSD
SR has 3.5L DOHC w/ massive 9.5" ring gear in back and a locker.

1997 SR dropped the DOHC engine in favor of the SOHC 3.5L but retains the bigger axles and locker.

Gen 2.5
1998-2000
blister fenders adopted instead of plastic fender flares.
winter package retains the locker and also includes heated front seats.
drops 4.6x:1 r&p gears in favor of the more economical but poorer off road performing 4.2:1 r&p gears.

Gen 3
2001 and up. Someene else can chime in on them because I haven't looked at them much since the switched to fully independent suspension which is not so good for rock crawling which I use my rig for in addition to typical overlanding trips...

 

[TheAntiChrome]

If what you say is true then I have found an oddball. perhaps they stuck SR badges on it but I think not as nothing else was modified on the rig save for a Nirvana sticker on the back window lol.

The build date is 6/93 which, in my book, makes it a 1994 but I suppose it could be leftover 93 stuff. First of all its a 3.0 SOHC, autotrans with "active trac" center-locking t-case, dark green exterior, plastic overfenders (not just bare metal), brown leather/woodgrain interior but no seat heaters, unknown guage cluster on the dash as it was gone, dual bouncy fronts but no third row seats, 4.875 axles WITHOUT a locker, but it did have adjustable suspension. Was this thing just a hodgepodge of years and trims or what?

 

[ca18_sean]

The build date is 6/93 which, in my book, makes it a 1994 but I suppose it could be leftover 93 stuff. First of all its a 3.0 SOHC, autotrans with "active trac" center-locking t-case, dark green exterior, plastic overfenders (not just bare metal), brown leather/woodgrain interior but no seat heaters, unknown guage cluster on the dash as it was gone, dual bouncy fronts but no third row seats, 4.875 axles WITHOUT a locker, but it did have adjustable suspension. Was this thing just a hodgepodge of years and trims or what?

This sounds a lot like my 92 SR. The previous owner installed a rear ARB air locker, so I'd assume it was unlocked from the factory. It's a 3.0 V6 automatic with active trac center locking t-case, dark green exterior, painted plastic overfenders, brown cloth interior no heaters, driver side bouncy seat, no 3rd row, and adjustable suspension (removed, but the switch is there).