New member new ride

[swellseeker]

Just got a "new" gen 3 and thought I would make my first post. Sold my 1991 land cruiser(sad day) but I am stoked on the Montero. I have been looking around the board for a while and some good info here. I was originally looking hard at the gen 2 but just could not find a decent one. I eventually found a gen 2.5 with only 60K but turned out the motor was bad and would need to be replaced so I kept looking. I saw this gen 3 and it snowballed into a purchase. I was not looking to spend more for the gen3 and originally was never a big fan of the design. But once I researched this forum and others and saw the potential with tires, lift and ARB bullbar, I was sold.


to do list-
get tires
remove running boards
get my surf racks on.
cut remaining cladding flush as others have done for a cleaner look. I wish I could remove all of it but the rear corner looks like it would not be flush. I love the look of the Ausi gen 3's look without the cladding and basic black bumpers.
2" lift.
ARB

thanks again for all the great info.

[Silverwulf]

Welcome! I have been toying with the idea of a gen3 too. Enjoy the ride!

[DougL3NC]

Welcome! I have been toying with the idea of a gen3 too. Enjoy the ride!

I will sell you mine!

[DougL3NC]

Sold my 1991 land cruiser(sad day) but I am stoked on the Montero.

Should have swapped you my 01 Limited for your Landcruiser....I've been looking at 80-series Landcruisers for weeks now. Gotta sell my Monty first though!

[silvElise]

welcome to ExPo and nice monty!

[off-roader]

Nice Gen III. Been seriously considering a Gen III in the same color as my Gen II SR for daily driver use. Would also round out my collection of Montero's LOL.

Should have swapped you my 01 Limited for your Landcruiser....I've been looking at 80-series Landcruisers for weeks now. Gotta sell my Monty first though!

Doug,

Why are you looking for a LC? Realize that in stock trim, you're looking at 15mpg when empty whereas with my 96SR running 35's and geared up fully (body armor, aftermarket bumpers, & loaded w/ camping gear) I normally get 15mpg.

Unless you're after uber hard core trails necessitating solid front axles, the LC's gains are minimal IMHO if not there at all.

HTH.

[DougL3NC]

Doug,

Why are you looking for a LC? Realize that in stock trim, you're looking at 15mpg when empty whereas with my 96SR running 35's and geared up fully (body armor, aftermarket bumpers, & loaded w/ camping gear) I normally get 15mpg.

Unless you're after uber hard core trails necessitating solid front axles, the LC's gains are minimal IMHO if not there at all.

HTH.

The bulk of the 80-series LC's are OBDI...which in NC means A LOT! It means good tires and no blown bulbs get you an inspection sticker. If the cat goes bad, gut it and go on. If the MIL light is on, the inspector doesn't care.

OTOH, I like the Gen2 Monty's but the 95 up SR's have the DOHC motor...and I'm just not jivin' with that engine. The Gen2.5 is the SOHC like I have now, but again comes back to OBDII. I know people love the 3.8 in the NP chassis 3rd Gen's, but you really need to look at the price difference in a lot of the engine parts.

As for fuel mileage, I've been dealing with 12.5 to 13MPG since I started driving my Gen3 even when it had stock size tires. 15MPG would be nothing but a small move up.

I'm really in a pickle because my heart belongs to the 3 diamonds, but that upside down sombrero is really tugging at me!

[Inyo_man]

Great looking rig!
Start saving your pennies now, because as you know the mods. never stop.
(Nice to see another Gen III getting outfitted in the states.)
Have Fun

[off-roader]

As for fuel mileage, I've been dealing with 12.5 to 13MPG since I started driving my Gen3 even when it had stock size tires. 15MPG would be nothing but a small move up.

Then expect 8-10 with the LC. It's all in the driving you do and how you drive it.

I see what you're saying about the OBDI vs OBDII though.

You could always get a gen II LS and then upgrade the rear differential to the SR diff and housing w/ locker

[swellseeker]

Should have swapped you my 01 Limited for your Landcruiser....I've been looking at 80-series Landcruisers for weeks now. Gotta sell my Monty first though!

That would have been too easy! haha. Except we are on opposite coasts.
My 91 LC needed work though. It had a bad bearing and would leak oil out the rear main seal like crazy. If I was single, I would have put the cash into it and fixed it up but with the family, the Monty is soooo much more comfy and practical for road trips and adventures. The 91 is slow and drinks gas. I used to take it ghost town hunting in NV with my dad and his H2 and he would complain because I was always stopping to get gas.

I got tires on it the other day. Wanted to go with 265-75-16 but with tire prices I went with the stock size Hancook Dynapro. I still want to get the 2" lift but not sure how it will look with the stock tire size. The gen 3's just seem to look complete with the lift.

Has anyone taken off the cladding? I have been inspecting it closely and it looks like it can be done all the way along both sides and end up flush with the f and r bumper.

Thanks again.