SOFpirate's 1996 Montero LS buildthread.
- Thread starter SOFpirate
- Start date
Haha! Well, I really like off-roader's "custom" bumpers. I'm thinking of doing a rear bumper in the similar liking. It's just that I don't know where to place the reverse lights, or if I should just ditch them. Just fab up a custom tuber and call it a day.
As for the infamous side steps, I'm really tempted to take those things off. I just have to bully the wife into letting me. That rig is also still our "family" vehicle. We're almost done paying off that stupid little Mazda MX-5 that we got for "our" car before the kids. I hate that thing, but I'd rather drive the wheels off of it first, then trade in on it. The wife already picked out her new vehicle, because I told her I'm not giving up my Monty. She decided on a 2012 Jeep JK Rubicon. Where I'll get the money, I have no idea.
As for the infamous side steps, I'm really tempted to take those things off. I just have to bully the wife into letting me. That rig is also still our "family" vehicle. We're almost done paying off that stupid little Mazda MX-5 that we got for "our" car before the kids. I hate that thing, but I'd rather drive the wheels off of it first, then trade in on it. The wife already picked out her new vehicle, because I told her I'm not giving up my Monty. She decided on a 2012 Jeep JK Rubicon. Where I'll get the money, I have no idea.
Well, changed the plugs, and as usual, it was a PITA. Turns out one of them wasn't really even connected at all. When we went to pull the boot up, it just came right out! The plug was seated in there and all, but the actual boot and wire weren't even connected. I guess it was getting spark just by the current kinda just arcing through there somehow. Lucky me. When we pulled that plug, it was so fouled and covered in crap it looked like one of my attempts at making fried chicken. Crispy and black. That and the gap on it looked a little off, so we measured it. .75. Yeah buddy! Idled the truck in the garage and revved it a couple of times, in the immediate sense, it seems like that possibly could have been the source of all my woes.
Crap.
I went to check my oil, to see if it could wait a day or two before changing it, and I broke the finger ring thingy off of the dipstick. Then in my futile and feeble attempts of getting it out, I pushed the dipstick farther down the tube. It's not a big deal ... the dipstick is just farther down into the oil pan now, but do you think it would be easier to take the oil pan off since I'm doing a change anyways ... or to try to disconnect the tube? Ugghhh ... FML.
Any advice would be great.
I went to check my oil, to see if it could wait a day or two before changing it, and I broke the finger ring thingy off of the dipstick. Then in my futile and feeble attempts of getting it out, I pushed the dipstick farther down the tube. It's not a big deal ... the dipstick is just farther down into the oil pan now, but do you think it would be easier to take the oil pan off since I'm doing a change anyways ... or to try to disconnect the tube? Ugghhh ... FML.
Any advice would be great.
UGH.
FML. So the not so intelligent previous owner has left me with more fun! He decided that water is just fine to run through your truck vice coolant, so now I have the brown coolant of doom. I know for a fact it's not a head gasket, because there's no oil whatsoever in the coolant, which is nice.
So far the only thing I can think of doing to it is a super flush, you guys have any suggestions?
FML. So the not so intelligent previous owner has left me with more fun! He decided that water is just fine to run through your truck vice coolant, so now I have the brown coolant of doom. I know for a fact it's not a head gasket, because there's no oil whatsoever in the coolant, which is nice.
So far the only thing I can think of doing to it is a super flush, you guys have any suggestions?
eurosonic
Expedition Leader
I know its all the way across the country, but give these guys a call, they might be able to help you out on the rear end. Ive bought a ton of stuff from them before.
http://www.msrecycling.com/mitsubishi/montero.htm
http://www.msrecycling.com/mitsubishi/montero.htm
off-roader
Expedition Leader
Fix the coolant issue. Do a proper flush. Check the radiator before refilling for any calcification that could impede flow and reduce cooling. If it's partially blocked it won't cool properly and can cause major problems. If needed, have it rodded (that's different & cheaper than replacing it). Whatever you do, don't replace it with an aftermarket unit that uses plastic tanks. At a minimum, replace it with a decent used unit from a parts yard like M&S or one on car-part.com. FWIW, last I checked M&S also listed their inventory on car-part.com.
I'm actually tempted to take a set of side steps and properly re-enforce them so they can be used as rock skids. I'm talking .220 wall tubing instead of the stock internals on those steps. Then the rig can look stock while allowing you to hilift of the steps. Would be pretty cool IMHO.
I'm actually tempted to take a set of side steps and properly re-enforce them so they can be used as rock skids. I'm talking .220 wall tubing instead of the stock internals on those steps. Then the rig can look stock while allowing you to hilift of the steps. Would be pretty cool IMHO.
Silverwulf
Adventurer
^^^ good thing I kept my aide steps. Was kind if thing the same thing! Will need them for kids and wife to enter/ exit truck after lift. I noticed a little more effort getting in after I lifted the rear.
Thanks for the inputs on the radiator/coolant issue!
As far as side steps/rock guards are concerned. I'm going to go ahead and pick up a set of actual rock sliders when it's feasible. Also, after looking at the truck just sitting on the 31's with no rock sliders, a decent set of 33's will take that truck a long way. Granted, it's only technically best case scenario after putting them on I'll get a 1.5" extra worth of ground clearance, but these trucks sit pretty high as it is. Side by side, I match up with my buddy's Jeep with a 3" suspension lift on 33" tires right now.
Also, I found a junkyard here locally with two Gen II LS's here. I already pulled all the air conditioning knobs, seeing as I lose them all the time. Next up, a new review mirror, seeing as my wife ripped ours off trying to pull an old air freshener off. Also, one of them has an inclinometer, and mine doesn't have one. I have the oil, compass, and voltage meters on mine. I want to keep them all, and add the inclinometer, but I can't figure how to get it out of the dash, and once I do, how I'm going to fab a bracket to hold it. Any suggestions on that?
As far as side steps/rock guards are concerned. I'm going to go ahead and pick up a set of actual rock sliders when it's feasible. Also, after looking at the truck just sitting on the 31's with no rock sliders, a decent set of 33's will take that truck a long way. Granted, it's only technically best case scenario after putting them on I'll get a 1.5" extra worth of ground clearance, but these trucks sit pretty high as it is. Side by side, I match up with my buddy's Jeep with a 3" suspension lift on 33" tires right now.
Also, I found a junkyard here locally with two Gen II LS's here. I already pulled all the air conditioning knobs, seeing as I lose them all the time. Next up, a new review mirror, seeing as my wife ripped ours off trying to pull an old air freshener off. Also, one of them has an inclinometer, and mine doesn't have one. I have the oil, compass, and voltage meters on mine. I want to keep them all, and add the inclinometer, but I can't figure how to get it out of the dash, and once I do, how I'm going to fab a bracket to hold it. Any suggestions on that?
off-roader
Expedition Leader
1" extra clearance unless you've worn away 1" of tread from your 31's?
As for the pod, nope. 4 into a 3 slot pod doesn't work and the gen II has a contoured dash unlike the gen I's flat dash where you could theoretically extend the pod and it would still fit.
You could remove one of the other gauges. They aren't standard sized gauges so you'd be better served replacing that one with an aftermarket gauge & sender unit.
As for the height, yes they sit high but the body clearance isn't so high depending on the terrain you plan on traversing.
As for the pod, nope. 4 into a 3 slot pod doesn't work and the gen II has a contoured dash unlike the gen I's flat dash where you could theoretically extend the pod and it would still fit.
You could remove one of the other gauges. They aren't standard sized gauges so you'd be better served replacing that one with an aftermarket gauge & sender unit.
As for the height, yes they sit high but the body clearance isn't so high depending on the terrain you plan on traversing.
Oops. My math was wrong. Stoopid publik skoolz.
What I was planning on doing was ripping the inclinometer out of the pod, then making my own bracket for it and mounting it somewhere. Maybe on top of the 3 pod right in the middle of the windshield. YAY MORE BLIND SPOTS!
I've learned that one pretty quickly. Hopefully once I get locked up one way or another I can just flop over the tops of stuff diagonally. We all know the LSD is a lie, no such thing.
off-roader
Expedition Leader
I'd take out one of the electrical gauges instead. The inclinometer would have to be mounted perfectly straight in order for it to work properly.
The LSD in my gen I was pretty awesome. I was able to do the Deer Valley Trail, Strawberry Creek Trail & the Rubicon Trail with it and only had to be strapped once. If your LSD isn't engaging, have the tension on it's clutches checked. Once it is working, make sure you're using LSD additive in the rear diff fluid (allows it to slip when going around turns) so it doesn't wear out the clutch plates prematurely.
