nwoods
Expedition Leader
Okay! I am finally able to spend a couple more dollars on the Monty and get it tuned up and tricked out. My Monty is a 1998 SR with 184,000 miles it. History is unknown, but maintenance was probably not a high priority for the previous owner(s). However, it runs fantastic, shifts beautifully, and all systems currently work.
Things I have already done:
1. new alternator
2. new battery
3. new belts
4. new air filter
5. new windshield
6. new interior dashboard lights
7. topped off all fluids
8. new stereo and speakers (a man's got to have his priorities....)
9. new Tires! (33"x10.5"x15" BFG KM2's)
On the list to do is the following:
1. Change fluids in Engine and Tranny
2. Change fluids in Front & rear diffs, and transfer case
3. Replace Timing Belt and water pump, and crank bolt.
4. Replace spark plugs and wires (though that looks like a real PIA to do, probably do it when the timing belt is being done)
5. Repack wheel bearings (should they be replaced... I dunno?)
6. Flush the radiator, possibly replace the thermostat (proactively, but how long do they last?)
I contemplated getting HID headlights, and also replacing the door lock actuator (mine is fidgety), and replacing the window operators for front and rear windows, but Sean showed me a bit of what's all involved and I probably don't have the mechanical poise to pull that off without breaking more things, so I will probably let that pass for now and wait until I am out of money and forced to do it
I also thought about getting a replacement fuel pump and replacing the fuel filter. No clue if that is hard to do. Sometimes those things are in the gas tank and darn near impossible to service. No sure about the Monty?
The big ticket item on my list right is the lift! The 1.5" body lift kit is dirt cheap at $85 with the good bolts. The Ironman suspension lift with springs, shocks, and torsion bars is $500 or so. I CAN"T DECIDE! It seems stupid to be indecisive on something like a suspension lift, but in my opinion, the Monty suspension is its weakness, and I'm not sure pouring $500 into that hole will make it any better. I really need some feedback and advice on this. On all my past vehicles, a suspension lift made major improvements in articulation, load handling, ride, and off road clearance. I'm not sure a lift on the Montero will accomplish anything other than clearance, quite possibly at the detriment of ride quality. Though bouncy, I LIKE the ride of the Montero right now in stock trim. It's light on its feet, controllable on the freeway at 70+mph, and performs well on the street. It's terrible off road though, with virtually no articulation. In any sort of unlevel surface, the truck's body pitches over instead of the wheels articulating up or down, and of course that results in one or more wheels dangling (and spinning) uselessly in the air and the truck's center of gravity tipping over more than a properly suspended truck ever would. The culprit seems to be the torsion bar design, and not the anti-sway bars. I am definitely not certain that a conventional suspension lift will help this vehicle very much, but I would LOVE to be proved wrong on this.
Right now, with the 33" tires, the truck rides pretty high. I'll bet I can run Nightmare Gulch in current trim, though I would like sliders just to be sure
I don't think the 33's rub anywhere, because there isn't much up travel in the suspension and my bumps stops are stock. If they don't rub, I'm not sure I need a body lift. Or, conversly, if I got a suspension lift and shaved the bumpstops, would I still need a body lift? Help! I'm getting myself all confused by overthinking it.
Here is a photo of the truck in stock trim with standard sized tires:
Here is how she looks with the 33's. So much better!
Things I have already done:
1. new alternator
2. new battery
3. new belts
4. new air filter
5. new windshield
6. new interior dashboard lights
7. topped off all fluids
8. new stereo and speakers (a man's got to have his priorities....)
9. new Tires! (33"x10.5"x15" BFG KM2's)
On the list to do is the following:
1. Change fluids in Engine and Tranny
2. Change fluids in Front & rear diffs, and transfer case
3. Replace Timing Belt and water pump, and crank bolt.
4. Replace spark plugs and wires (though that looks like a real PIA to do, probably do it when the timing belt is being done)
5. Repack wheel bearings (should they be replaced... I dunno?)
6. Flush the radiator, possibly replace the thermostat (proactively, but how long do they last?)
I contemplated getting HID headlights, and also replacing the door lock actuator (mine is fidgety), and replacing the window operators for front and rear windows, but Sean showed me a bit of what's all involved and I probably don't have the mechanical poise to pull that off without breaking more things, so I will probably let that pass for now and wait until I am out of money and forced to do it
I also thought about getting a replacement fuel pump and replacing the fuel filter. No clue if that is hard to do. Sometimes those things are in the gas tank and darn near impossible to service. No sure about the Monty?
The big ticket item on my list right is the lift! The 1.5" body lift kit is dirt cheap at $85 with the good bolts. The Ironman suspension lift with springs, shocks, and torsion bars is $500 or so. I CAN"T DECIDE! It seems stupid to be indecisive on something like a suspension lift, but in my opinion, the Monty suspension is its weakness, and I'm not sure pouring $500 into that hole will make it any better. I really need some feedback and advice on this. On all my past vehicles, a suspension lift made major improvements in articulation, load handling, ride, and off road clearance. I'm not sure a lift on the Montero will accomplish anything other than clearance, quite possibly at the detriment of ride quality. Though bouncy, I LIKE the ride of the Montero right now in stock trim. It's light on its feet, controllable on the freeway at 70+mph, and performs well on the street. It's terrible off road though, with virtually no articulation. In any sort of unlevel surface, the truck's body pitches over instead of the wheels articulating up or down, and of course that results in one or more wheels dangling (and spinning) uselessly in the air and the truck's center of gravity tipping over more than a properly suspended truck ever would. The culprit seems to be the torsion bar design, and not the anti-sway bars. I am definitely not certain that a conventional suspension lift will help this vehicle very much, but I would LOVE to be proved wrong on this.
Right now, with the 33" tires, the truck rides pretty high. I'll bet I can run Nightmare Gulch in current trim, though I would like sliders just to be sure
I don't think the 33's rub anywhere, because there isn't much up travel in the suspension and my bumps stops are stock. If they don't rub, I'm not sure I need a body lift. Or, conversly, if I got a suspension lift and shaved the bumpstops, would I still need a body lift? Help! I'm getting myself all confused by overthinking it.
Here is a photo of the truck in stock trim with standard sized tires:
Here is how she looks with the 33's. So much better!
