The Full Monte

[Duck Vader]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I would recommend using metal. [/quote]

:d err:

I can't weld, that is the biggest issue.

[Jeff V.]

I can barely weld. I might try it anyway. Go to pick n pull, grab some random fenders and body parts, and use those for practice.

[Duck Vader]

OK. Then I need to buy a welder...

[Duck Vader]

There is also the money and time involved. After I buy welder, learn to weld enough, etc. I can probably pay someone to fix it for cheaper.

[ChargerX3]

Welding isnt that hard. The hardest part of welding is just getting everything properly prepped and your setting correct. It does help to have someone who knows right along side of you to help with the learning curve, but many people still learn how to do so on their own.

[Duck Vader]

I am sure I could, but worth the time and money? Made it this far without needing it.

[Jeff V.]

Friday evening, I swapped wheels between the Max and the Monte. It looks so ordinary now.



Today was a little bit of a let down. I can't use my Quickjack with this thing. The geometry of the Montero frame doesn't work with the jack frames I have. The truck frame gets too narrow forward of the firewall. I can't get the Quickjack frames into a place where they have solid contact with the truck frame while still being parallel to each other. The Max has a different frame from the Montero, but I suspect it would have the same problem. It's more of an annoyance than a real problem. Both trucks are so tall, it's cake to get normal jackstands under them. It's not a big loss.

I spent the afternoon disassembling the front brakes. Corrosion is so much fun. I had to grind down an allen wrench and use a torch to remove two bolts on the passenger side auto-locking hub. Fortunately, nothing has broken. Yet.

I think tomorrow I'm going to go to the junkyard and grab a new muffler. Then I'll get the front brakes reassembled. I still haven't looked at the rears. All I care about at the moment is getting through the stupid MO "safety" inspection. As long as the blinkers light up, I doubt they'll care about the rear chassis harness laying on top of the carpet rather than being routed underneath along the frame.

I've already passed one important inspection. Our orange cat approves

[Jeff V.]

Lots of work. Still not even close to done. Had problems getting the auto locking hubs apart so I could change the brake rotors. I'm going to need a few new bolts for those. Breaking everything else down and cleaning it up took forever. Then I found out Rock Auto sent me brake pads for a 2nd gen. I can use those on the pickup, but that doesn't help me now. I've got new ones coming to O'Reilly tomorrow. On the bright side, the rear brake shoes are basically new. So I don't need to do anything but bleed them.

I went to the junkyard and spent a couple hours hunting around for a muffler that'll fit in the space and has the tiny ass pipe Mitsu put on this truck. I ended up getting one off an 03 Lancer of all things. Hopefully I can rig something up.

Besides that, I still need to fix the issues with the slow turn signals and intermittent brake lights, as well as the fuel gauge. The lighting issue may just be due to a burned out bulb. This thing uses really old 2 prong flasher units, and supposedly they'll flash slow if there's not enough load. The fuel gauge problem is likely in the cluster. The wiring seems fine.

I kind of want to play hooky from work tomorrow, but I may wait until a little later in the week to make sure I don't have any more surprises. The weather is changing fast and I need to get this thing done ASAP. Fortunately work is slow this week, so it won't be a big deal to take a personal day if I need to.

[DCIV]

Keep at it!


Coop

[vr4]

Check the sender for the fuel gauge. Mine was funky when I got it. Below half tank of would just drop to empty. It was worn out.

[ChargerX3]

I’m sure Vira will let you borrow the Vr4 if push comes to shove.

Truck looks like it’s meant to be with those wheels. Yea they are smaller but still fit well. Changing the rotors is a big pita even when not rusted. I’m surprised you didn’t just install your larger ones since you already had them on hand. Are you keeping the auto hubs?

Good luck with the exhaust. My muffler separated from the pipe so I’ve been on the hunt too. Found an 89 full size today but it’s suffered the same fate. Wonder if it’s a more common occurrence.

[Jeff V.]

I'll make sure to check the level sender in the tank. I don't know where I'd get a replacement though.

[Jeff V.]

Is this the truck you found?

http://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/JA4GJ51SXKJ007926

There's a couple small things I could use off it if you're willing to grab them for me.

[vr4]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I'll make sure to check the level sender in the tank. I don't know where I'd get a replacement though.[/quote]

I ended up finding a good one in the yard

[ChargerX3]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Is this the truck you found?

http://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/JA4GJ51SXKJ007926

There's a couple small things I could use off it if you're willing to grab them for me.[/quote]

Yup that’s it. I don’t get out that way too often but what were you needing?

[Jeff V.]

Mainly the two gauge clusters. And a handful of trim pieces. Nothing too crazy. Don't make a trip just for me. But let me know if you end up back in the area.

FYI, that thing has an LSD.

[ChargerX3]

You want the main cluster and the dash center cluster? Yea I saw it had lsd when I was there. I already have an lsd from another truck a few years back that matches up with my 4.63 gearing.

This weekend was 40% off so I grabbed a lot of things.

[Jeff V.]

Yep. The main cluster, and the smaller center one with the oil pressure gauge in it. The other stuff is some simple trim bits.

[vr4]

I'm going to be crushing my 91 soon....

It doesn't have the 3 small gauges. RS model so it's a stripper. I do think it has AC

[Jeff V.]

Off the top of my head, I need the following:

Trim bezel for interior tail gate door handle.
Center console lid
Front diamond emblem
Front turn signals (assuming the metal shield isn't rusted out)
Front fender V6 badges

There might be some other stuff, but this is all easy to remove and fits in a small box.