Jeff tries to make a hot rod out of a farm truck. '92 Mighty Max

[Jeff V.]

Making an EPB caliper fit would be worse than figuring out the parking brake cables. I think the parking brake electronics on my Audi are more complex than my entire truck.

[aaronatstate]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I decided I "had" to have the bigger 3.5L axle, and at the time I wanted a locker so it was nice to find one locally. Because the 3.5L axle is physically larger than the 3.0L, I need to use 3.5L gears and diff assemblies. I'm going to have to figure out a way to get the parking brake working, as well as modify the companion flange.

There is no 3.5L 4.22 gear option, so that's why I have to change the front diff. All the compatible front diffs are high pinion, which means it'll probably hit my clutch slave cylinder, and maybe some other stuff.

I could solve the slave cylinder issue by finding a Montero Sport bell housing, but those are basically unobtainable. There's still no guarantee it'll clear everything else in the front of the truck.

Had I thought through the locker thing properly (IE realizing it was a stupid idea to begin with), I could have just gone with a 3.0L disc axle and swapped my LSD into that, and left the front diff alone. Then my only problem would be the parking brake.[/quote]

Why not use the air locker they put in the full size Monteros? It fit into that Montero Sport rear axle when I did that swap. Had to use the full size Montero axles, and was able to convert it to disk brakes at the same time.

Didn't bother with the e-brake because it was an automatic, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to make cables.

[Jeff V.]

I have an air locker. That's mainly why I bought this specific axle. I came to my senses and realized it'd be useless on pavement, which is where the truck will spend 99% of the time. I'd rather have an LSD if the roads get slick.

[stealthee]

Instead of trying to multi-quote I'll just kind of blabber about what I have just read.

As for feeling overwhelmed by trying to be different I know EXACTLY what you mean. I could have had my Stealth back on the road years ago if I didn't try to get fancy with things. I'm still fighting things. I've gotten close to throwing tool, parts, etc across the yard on multiple occassions.

What was the compression like on the original engine? If it was worn, and it likely was, that could have been a big factor in why it didn't hold on a hill. My dad had an old Toyota with the 22RE and it held good with no e-brake up until he overheated it really bad one time. After that compression was down and it would creep if parked on a hill.

I understand still wanting the functioning e-brake, but I bet with the new engine it will hold way better than before without it.

[ChargerX3]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]It's in. I'm not exactly happy with several things, but it's moving forward.



[/quote]
That looks pretty good. How far did it poke past the firewall?
[quote=""mjannusch""]I think it is pretty cool to have a nice modern 6G75 in an old Mighty Max. My Max was never anywhere near as sweet...

That little truck sure took a hell of a lot of abuse from me though.

Any thoughts on how to address the wild lack of traction in the back? I drifted mine around corners on a regular basis on those little tires and leaf spring suspension.[/quote]
LSD helps out quite a bit. Unlike Jeff’s mine was an open diff. I finally found a mm 3rd member with lsd and my 4.22 gears. Truck handles much better in the turns. I have since made some more upgrades to the engine and I feel like I can powerslide on demand.
[quote=""Jeff V.""]I'm just feeling overwhelmed with things right now. It'll pass.[/quote]
Give me a call or a text anytime. Least I can do. Heck I did the same to you when I was frustrated.
[quote=""Jeff V.""]I just told you I tried that. This may come as a shock, but KC is very hilly. Putting it in gear AND having one wheel brake that was sort of engaging still wasn't enough.

I had to drive it to a client's site once, and I had to parallel park it at a weird angle so the rear tires were up against the curb so it wouldn't roll away.[/quote]

That’s where I am at with mine currently. Now that I have the rear discs my old brakes lines don’t cross over. For now I don’t have parking brakes. My driveway is a little steep but the increased compression from the MIVEC makes it so I can park and it not go rolling off. Maybe next week I’ll tackle the cables and weld it up to work correctly.

Also just get the stock clutch. It’s more than capable with all that I’ve run through it.

[Jeff V.]

Without quoting everyone, I'll just say thanks for the kind words.

That looks pretty good. How far did it poke past the firewall?

Roughly an inch. Depends on where you measure from. The firewall isn't flat.

Also just get the stock clutch. It’s more than capable with all that I’ve run through it.

I'm just going to reuse one of mine right now. I'll consider a clutch when I rebuild the spare transmission.

Speaking of which, how in the hell did you get that lined up? I had a hell of a time getting the engine aligned with the trans without a clutch installed.

The load leveler helps a lot, but I really need a swivel hook for my engine hoist.

[aaronatstate]

Ah didn't realized you had the locker already.

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Speaking of which, how in the hell did you get that lined up? I had a hell of a time getting the engine aligned with the trans without a clutch installed.

The load leveler helps a lot, but I really need a swivel hook for my engine hoist.[/quote]

Swivel hook is a must I think. When we put the engine back in the Stealth a couple months ago, my dad and I hooked the hoist hook up "backwards" and it caused a whole mess of issues trying to get the engine in.

Can you put the engine and trans in as a unit? Or is it a whole lot easier just to put the engine in by itself?

[ChargerX3]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Without quoting everyone, I'll just say thanks for the kind words.



Roughly an inch. Depends on where you measure from. The firewall isn't flat.



I'm just going to reuse one of mine right now. I'll consider a clutch when I rebuild the spare transmission.

Speaking of which, how in the hell did you get that lined up? I had a hell of a time getting the engine aligned with the trans without a clutch installed.

The load leveler helps a lot, but I really need a swivel hook for my engine hoist.[/quote]
Hmm, all I had was the cherry picker. Nothing extra. I did have an extra hand with me. The only hard part I remember was the thin sheet metal plate not lining up perfectly so we had to power through it. Maybe we ran some long bolts to make it line up and go in straight.
[quote=""aaronatstate""]Ah didn't realized you had the locker already.



Swivel hook is a must I think. When we put the engine back in the Stealth a couple months ago, my dad and I hooked the hoist hook up "backwards" and it caused a whole mess of issues trying to get the engine in.

Can you put the engine and trans in as a unit? Or is it a whole lot easier just to put the engine in by itself?[/quote]

You cannot put them in as a unit. That trans is very long with the tc installed. Maybe if you separated them but still pretty long for that small engine bay.

[Jeff V.]

Found the fuel adapter for $20. They even stole one of 3SX's pictures

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mitsubishi-DSM ... Zx&vxp=mtr

[ChargerX3]

Little less expensive

[mjannusch]

Yeah, might as well get it there. I'm having some trouble finding mine in the mess of a garage I've got going right now.

[stealthee]

Mess? I really should take some pictures of my messy chaos.

[Jeff V.]

Who wants to place bets that my 6G75 is trash?

[Chris GTO TT]

Aww shit

[DCIV]

Oh damn. If it makes you feel any better if you take it to a machine shop it's really not expensive.

12 per bore/12 per hone/ 150 balance/150 assembly and 100 if the crank had to be turned. At least this was when I built and know they havnt gone up much.


Coop

[Jeff V.]

I don't know what to do. This was in the bottom of the original Eclipse pan. I pulled it off and installed the Kia pan a week or two back. At the time I drained out some residual oil, and it didn't look weird or anything.

Tonight I was cleaning up the garage and noticed this sludge when I went to move the pan. So I pulled the lower baffle off and found this crap. It's got the consistency of mayonnaise.

The car I pulled the engine out of was rolled over. So it's possible the block is damaged.

On the other hand, the car sat for 6-8 months before I pulled the engine out. It could be condensation that settled in the pan.

I honestly don't know.

I thought I was having a good day because I got my left engine mount built. Lined it up on the first try. But it went down hill from there, with a bunch more stuff that isn't working out right. Then it culminated with this.

[DCIV]

nothing to do but finish it and see man.


Coop

[ChargerX3]

I think you’re fine. Appears minimal.

[vr4]

I'm betting that's condensation

[Jeff V.]

Well, if the block is shot, I can get another one from a Galant or Endeavor. The only thing specific to the Eclipse (and Galant RalliArt) is the pistons.