My '94 Montero SR Build (Ellie)

[dieseltechJay]

So I worked for Mitsubishi for 3 years back in 2000 and always wanted a Montero for adventures. I was a road racer so money usually went elsewhere. Now, I'm 37 and caught the adventure bug last year after a trip to the Eastern Sierras while tagging along with some friends and their rigs. So last week the gf and I happened across this gem in craigslist. Only 118k miles, but the timing belt let loose on the freeway. That being said she was had for only $400. We'll see how bad things are when I pop the heads this weekend. Interior is in decent shape with some minor usual issues here and there. Previous owner kept referring to it as a "her", and being a dad and Pixar fan I opted for the name Ellie after the movie UP. "Adventure is out there", lol. Sappy I know.

In the meantime I plan on implementing ideas I've been gathering over the last year. OME suspension, bigger tires, Yakima rack, rally seats, and various other improvements. Also plan on addressing the usual clearcoat issues with painting the hood matte black, and roof white. The road racer in me wants to go crazy with the motor, but for now I just want to get her on the road, and maybe get a second motor to build up. Also, the road racer in me wants to drop weight in spite of all the extras I want to add. Gonna see how creative I can get and try to possibly shed weight while still adding it. Looking forward to getting to know you guys (and gals I suppose) throughout this journey.

 

[TheMole]

Nice pickup and welcome to expo! Looking forward to seeing the progress and the sharing of your Mitsu knowledge on this forum.

 

[Clem]

Welcome!

Looking forward to the progress,

Clem

 

[MummifiedCircuitry]

Nice score! I have a 97 SR that's the same color as yours. Mine actually had the timing belt tear when the previous owner had it. It just suddenly stopped running, he found the timing belt had torn, but not snapped, he just popped on a new one and nothing else was damaged, has been fine for 2+ years. I hope this is the case for you, or at least it's not completely destroyed.

 

[billygoats]

If you are interested in a run, I'm doing cleghorn this sat morning. 0800 at the trail head. Beginners are welcome!

 

[dieseltechJay]

So cracked open the valve covers finally, and got to see the first signs of the carnage. Valves stuck open, and loose roller rockers galore. A couple were completely unseated and just laying in the head.


As I was taking things apart what surprised me most was the fact that the heads had shown signs of being wrenched on before. My initial feeling was neglected maintenance and that the timing belt had never been done. I haven't gotten the accessory plate off to see the bottom end, but now I'm thinking it was a half-a$$ed timing change and a follower/idler pulley bearing seized. Never seen a melted timing belt like this before.

 

[MummifiedCircuitry]

Yikes, never seen a t-belt in that condition before. Still looks like it held on and didn't snap though, did it skip some teeth?

 

[mcskibadee1]

Damn, That looks like just a belt where the teeth were rubbed right off. Is that what the black is, remnants of the teeth on the belt?

 

[dieseltechJay]

It did skip several teeth so valves are bent on both intake sides mainly. I think the exhaust valves mostly survived. Clearly the smooth side had something that caused it to turn to liquid because it's about half as thick as it should be, and there was hot rubber flung everywhere inside the covers. Oddly enough the belt teeth are all that remain on most parts. Can't wait to get the rest of the front disassembled so I can see the whole picture.

 

[MummifiedCircuitry]

I saw a post where a 3000GT water pump seized up and the belt just cooked itself slipping over it. Judging from the look of that very rusty coolant pipe, this could be a possibility? I've only had one other time where the t-belt was torn up, a rock got lodged under the crank pulley between the lower cover and the belt rubbed on it. Either way, you have some work ahead of you, and not the fun kind.

 

[plh]

I saw a post where a 3000GT water pump seized up and the belt just cooked itself slipping over it.

My guess too

 

[dieseltechJay]

I saw a post where a 3000GT water pump seized up and the belt just cooked itself slipping over it. Judging from the look of that very rusty coolant pipe, this could be a possibility? I've only had one other time where the t-belt was torn up, a rock got lodged under the crank pulley between the lower cover and the belt rubbed on it. Either way, you have some work ahead of you, and not the fun kind.

You may be right. For some reason I was thinking the water pump was a toothed gear. Yeah, the entire cooling internals is rust colored. The radiator was rusted through and weeping. I have a feeling it was getting nothing but tap water for years. Previous owner said it sat for 6 years and was revived 2 years ago when the teenage daughter started driving. Helps explain the low mileage.