How best to use $2,000

[Houndoc]

If you think you are going to buy something and only need to have jiffy lube change the fluids and put gas in it you are sorely mistaken.

I'm not stupid. I know that any vehicle takes work and maintaince.

Even a budget ride needs money spent on it here and there.

But the older they are the more they are likely to take.

Then you need to trade the one you have for a rubicon.

And if the family could fit in a rubicon, that would make a nice option, but is not an option.

 

[James K]

well, then I am at a loss. You keep asking for advise, yet you keep rejecting it because it is not what you want to hear.

 

[mbryson]

........But the older they are the more they are likely to take.......

Not necessarily true. You could spend a LOT of money fixing or engineering underbuilt factory parts on a not-as-trail-worthy-as-the-marketing-dept. would like you to believe vehicle (may or may not be the case with the Mits?).



Here's the facts.
1) You're wanting to 'build' a Mits Montero Sport.
2) I don't know of anyone on here that wheels one or even has one.

I'd wheel it where I intended and decide what I needed from there. That way YOU'LL KNOW what will get you where you want to go.

For how I wheel, a limited slip kinda sucks, but I made it work in my XJ for a while as I had the FRAGILE D35 in the rear (with a front ARB). With the IFS, I'd not be inclined to do the front locker. How's your gearing for the desired 33" tires? That alone might make you want to stay with the 32" tires you have (if your performance is barely adequate with them?).


Best of luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Shawn]

Hondoc,

In our sport $2,000.00 could be alot of money for some applications and just peanuts for others. You can take that $2,000.00 and dump it into your Montero and gain very little based on the "lack of trail worthy" type wheeler it is. Or, you can take that $2,000.00 and dump it into a wheeler that has more of an offroad base already. What people are trying to help you with is spending your money the right way and not blow it and regreat you did later.

If you spend that 2 grand on the sport what do you gain? What advantages in the offroad world will come your way? What kind of trails are you after? If you think that 2 grand will do much to the sport, well... You would be better off spending the money on a wheeler that is going to get you what you are after.

I would also like to add, wheeling cost money, alot of money. If you go out and wheel and brake something that is money. Money, money, money. Maybe you should question if this is the sport for you.

Just my $.02

 

[Kris K]

Like the last couple of guys have said. I think your money will be better spent on a buget rig. $2K would go along ways on a Samurai. I just saw a soft top Sami today for sale I didn't see the price though.

Heck with a samurai you could get.
Samurai $500-$1000
SPOA $400-$500.
Rear spool $100
T-case gears 4.1's $400 or a little higher.
Tires 31's $100-$200 used if you had rims already.

Thats just over $2k

Or you could get a samurai with a couple mods already done for pretty cheap.

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=27187

I had alot of fun with my samurai set up like this.

 

[Houndoc]

Sami won't work- have three kids.

 

[Budbeater]

Just for comparison sake (and following in the spirit of the last couple of posts) this is what I could do with my 71 K20 long bed chev for $2000

(my truck has BFG AT35s (two new MTs to swap on 'go stupid' days) on a 4" lift with cut fenders, 355 with Edelbrock carb and intake, Hooker headers, Flowmaster super 40s, Warn winch and Warn front bumper, D44 front Eaton HO52 rear (both open diffs))

1. Plasma cutter + pipe= full exo cage + money left over depending on the model of cutter
2. 14 bolt axles and locker for the Eaton, Posi for the D44, onboard air, 6 inch Tuff Country to replace the 4 inch lift and new fenders

3. B&M 177 mini blower, 14bolt axles and locker for the Eaton

4. New bed, fenders and doors (I have a new cab that will go on this summer). New paint (I can spray). 14 bolt axles and locker, + money left
over

The list is endless. If I were looking at the Montero situation I would look at my own experience and realize: It is hard to have one vehicle that is capable of everything WELL. It is easy (and cheaper) to have a vehicle that does one thing well, and another vehicle that does something else well. In that spirit I have decided that there is a limit to what I am willing to do to my fullsize truck. I am going to maximize its towing capability with an eye to some mild fire road and muddy west desert ranch road capability. It will not rock climb or mud bog. I can spend alot less money on an ATV or a Jeep and get those capabilities.

Put the $2000 into a small size truck (hell go to the junk yard and get a Toy for almost free, buy or salvage some fullsize axles like a D44/14 bolt combo, and put a small block chevy/th350/203-205 combo between the rails, build a suspension using well thought out salvage parts (like springs) and new parts (like heavy duty shackles) and you will have a small buggy with overkill strong parts with a capability far exceeding that of your currently well running and un-bent Montero. It will take less time to build the Toy than it will to tear apart the Mitsu, and you will still be able to drive the Mitsu.

Budbeater

 

[yellowbronco]

Perhaps we've forgotten one very important thing: Maybe he loves the Montero?! I know I get very attatched to vehicles.

 

[James K]

Perhaps we've forgotten one very important thing: Maybe he loves the Montero?! I know I get very attatched to vehicles.

no, it has to fit his 3 kids.

and he wants it all and with no work on his part and for the low, low price of next to nothing

your answer to your poll is not listed.........................and it is do with your money what makes you happy and stop asking everyone else to make up your mind for you.

 

[yellowbronco]

My friend used to have a Montero, like an 87'. We beat the crap out of it! It was a 2-door and it had a tilt gauge on the dash that got into the "tip-zone" at 20 degrees. I don't think it would have made it to 20 before rolling

 

[cruiseroutfit]

$750
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=29816

Toss some springs & an lunchbox locker in the rear, and your golden!

 

[Houndoc]

$750
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=29816

Toss some springs & an lunchbox locker in the rear, and your golden!

Ya, great deal. Stuck siting at work yesterday and it sells. Oh well, I'll make something work well with the M. Sport.

 

[rolloverBill]

I've been reading little by little on this and the one thing I saw off the bat is you said you wern't very mechanical. I don't think that I've seen any Monteros out there in Moab. If you were to go ahead and build it, it may never break. However, if it did I know alot more jeep/toyota mechanics on the trail then Mits boys. If you do decide to upgrade the Montero then I suggest that you do get involved with the swapping of axles, installing lockers, and putting a lift on.

 

[Houndoc]

I've been reading little by little on this and the one thing I saw off the bat is you said you wern't very mechanical. I don't think that I've seen any Monteros out there in Moab. If you were to go ahead and build it, it may never break. However, if it did I know alot more jeep/toyota mechanics on the trail then Mits boys. If you do decide to upgrade the Montero then I suggest that you do get involved with the swapping of axles, installing lockers, and putting a lift on.

Good point.

Always smart to be able to do some on the trail repairs. I have done a fair ammount of work back 15 or so years ago (engine swaps in both an old chevy PU and a Subaru Brat, plus alot of other work to the Brat-cv joints, wiring, tranny work etc). Hopefully some of that will come back if/when needed.

I guess it is more accurate to discribed myself as lacking desire to do mechanical work I can avoid.

 

[cannoncrawler]

well

budget wheeler!!!!

Save the montero for the road

I have about 2000 into mine at it does plenty....

I am not trying to say """look at me"""" but heres how i got lucky


I found a 90 ramcharger with a 4inch lift and 38 bald swampers for 500 bucks!!!

welded the rear and but a winch and bumper on and bought some near new 39 inch Iroks......I have done almost zero repairs and this thing is my kids favorite thing. I have two kids and one on the way, and I can haul all the crap I need!!!!!!

I have just over 2 grand into this thing. it went all over moab and everywhere else I wanna point it.....

I had a new car just eat a 3 grand transmission, so the maintaining line is BS...



just keep yer eye out!!!! a deal will come along!!!!

 

[Houndoc]

I had a new car just eat a 3 grand transmission, so the maintaining line is BS...
QUOTE]


Not that at this point the thread is going anywhere productive, but I think we all know that repairs are more frequent the older a vehicle gets (sounds like my body as well, but thats another issue).

And that is my main reason for not wanting to go the budget route. When I drove "budget" cars out of budget needs in the past, road side break downs and tows to the shop where not uncommon. Haven't had one in the last 10 years with new vehicles.

So, unless something amazing shows up, the Montero upgrades are the direction I will go (FYI for those not familiar with the M. Sport, a mall crawler it is not- IFS yes, but otherwise a solid built rig. Think along the lines of the Toyota pick-ups, 4runners etc. )

Will probably do the lift along with either the axle swap (if I can find one at a decent price) or limited slip. Then down the road front ARB or SAS.

 

[pELYgroso]

I had a new car just eat a 3 grand transmission, so the maintaining line is BS...
QUOTE]


Not that at this point the thread is going anywhere productive, but I think we all know that repairs are more frequent the older a vehicle gets (sounds like my body as well, but thats another issue).

And that is my main reason for not wanting to go the budget route. When I drove "budget" cars out of budget needs in the past, road side break downs and tows to the shop where not uncommon. Haven't had one in the last 10 years with new vehicles.

So, unless something amazing shows up, the Montero upgrades are the direction I will go (FYI for those not familiar with the M. Sport, a mall crawler it is not- IFS yes, but otherwise a solid built rig. Think along the lines of the Toyota pick-ups, 4runners etc. )

Will probably do the lift along with either the axle swap (if I can find one at a decent price) or limited slip. Then down the road front ARB or SAS.

IMHO, the Mits doesn't compare (at all) to a toyota pickup or 4runner. again, IMHO. Another thing you need to consider is that YES, you can build a budget rig that won't break for 2000. It's called a toyota. those trannys and engines go forever. AND, if you do build the Mits, how much is it gonna cost to fix when the tranny goes out eventually? I'd bet a heck of a lot more than it would be to buy a Toyota tranny!! (i'm selling one right now for less than 100 bucks) -and swapping is a cinch!! You can buy a built Toyota for LESS than 2000 bucks that will do SO MUCH more than the Mits AFTER you invest the 2000 into it. AND, after you're done with the Toyota, or roll it or whatever, I bet you can sell the parts off it for a bunch more than the parts off your Mits. (more demand) I don't want to be a jerk but you're not thinking right, man! IMHO:greg:

 

[Samarig]

See, you're biggest argument is that your Mits. Mont. is going to be more reliable than an older vehicle, but what you're not considering is that as soon as you start wheeling that thing reliability goes right out the window. no matter how reliable something NORMALY is, once you start pushing it beyond what it was really built for you WILL break stuff. and that is the very reason everybody is suggesting leaving the monty for the road. if you break your trail rig at least you can still get to work on monday.

 

[Houndoc]

IMHO, the Mits doesn't compare (at all) to a toyota pickup or 4runner. :greg:

Based on??

When I was meeting with Seth and the others guys at Rock Logic, they both commented on how much the set-up (suspension, axle etc) both front and rear, is like the Toyotas. Unfortunately the differences, gears etc (mine has 4.62s) are enough to prevent a quick swap in the rear or use of Toyota for SAS.

The reality is that there are not as many M Sports running around and after market parts are certainly limited, but I do not think there is anything wrong with the Mitsubishi as a starting point or its stock off-road cpability compared to other SUVs.

It does have truck-based platform, not car based, good clean underbody with pretty good clearance (9"+), good gearing (4.62), power and torque very similar to jeep 4.0, fits 32s stock etc. Only weakness is IFS, but certainly not alone it that regard.

So, an up graded Monty it will be. I will post exactly what once I know how easily I can find a rear axle with locker.

 

[cannoncrawler]

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good luck to ya!!!!!!!






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