Playing with my Turbo Mighty Max

[rxinhed]

Good evening all, I've had this little turbo Mighty Max about 3 years and she hasn't had much love recently, if ever. The engine conversion involved a stock rebuild on a Starion 2.6L engine with 10psi boost. The truck is largely stock. I've only used Pearl to move trailers around the yard for the last 2 years, this due to some issues that made me uncertain of reliability for my 70 mile-per-day commute. It is high time to return her to that duty. A friend of an online acquaintance was looking for a hi-gear, LSD-equipped differential for a project, and I made the commitment to help with that desire. Therefore, I pulled the rear differential out this afternoon and will replace with a 4.625 LSD from a Montero I parted years ago. My goal is to find a service body, run 33" tires of some kind and drive the crap out of Pearl...sitting too long unused. I have acquired some other nifty parts, now to set out my commuter plan. :smiley_drive:

Here are some yard pics and some play:

Cheers.

 

[GrassCat]

Very good Russell. Let me know when you want to trade trucks.

I think yours is lighter than mine and would be easier to pull behind the motorhome.

 

[rxinhed]

.. you want to trade...lighter than mine...

I'd be curious if he weight was much different. My 72 Chevelle weighed only slightly more than my friend's 71 Camaro.

 

[rxinhed]

Well, after a significant hiatus and languishing at the Montero Ranch, Pearl is getting some love.

Earlier this year, Noah Zimmerman and I swapped some pieces around and I obtained the grille, lamp covers and headlights for the L200 Savannah model. The install is still in progress, as my work year has kept me away from home. Round lights rule!




Past members of 4x4wire will recognize the format here, and see that this post was over 5 years ago:



Well, I sold the sliders to Jonathan Harrison in Fresno over 2 years ago, but I did locate a service body...finally! I have been actively processing the beds, yeah!!
Now, I have to ready the chassis with a structural frame extension to support the rear service body mount and build a receiver hitch.



Also, just to see, I played with my set of roller 33s to see how badly they'd rub. Rub they did! No body lift on the Max is not equal to the Gen 1 Montero wheel well. The rims and tires looked good and still would spin up when the turbo spooled due to the Montero 4.625 gears.



Have to rebuild some things due to sitting, replace others, but she's coming along.

Yay, Pearl!

 

[rxinhed]

 

[Jeff V.]

That looks great. I'm hoping to get my Max in similar shape very soon. It's pretty beat up, but it's slowly coming along.

What'd you do with the plastic fender flares? I'm trying to find a decent set and I'm not shy about paying for them...

 

[rxinhed]

Jeff,

I sold the flares to a gent about a year ago. They were pretty beat.

My plans include ridding the truck of these fenders, going with smoother 2wd units. If I chicken out on that, I'll use some stainless bolts and make the truck look like a Frankenstein.

Cheers,
Russell

 

[Jeff V.]

2WD fenders should be easy to come by. You could weld the holes shut too. It's looking good so far. Good luck.