I am the proud new owner of a second-hand 95 Montero SR. It just turned 205,000 miles, but it had a remanufactured motor put in at 80k due to a broken crank shaft pulley bolt. (Shown on previous owner's records.)

I have had many 4wd vehicles in the past, some heavily modified and I have to say that I am really in love with this Montero. Great vehicle. I intend to keep it a while!

I bought the car cheap and I have been fixing things up here and there. A few questions I have:

How to replace the bulb in the compass/thermometer? I disassembled it but could not find a replacable bulb.

Largest tire size I can fit just doing a torsion bar adjust/rear spring lift and using the stock wheels? My research says 32 x 12.5 will fit with minor cutting of the front bumper involved. New tires are needed and I want to get bigger ones.

Best place to source a rear 2" receiver. The truck has the plate in the cut out square of the stock rear bumper. Where can I buy the receiver that bolts to it?

Is it normal to have a slight rattling noise coming from the front suspension? It doesn't seem as though anything is loose or worn.

Thanks guys! I'm looking forward to getting this truck fixed up, putting a winch on it and maybe doing some wheeling! :thumbsup:

Scottie

If you like a modified 4x4, you'll probably love this one. I know someone in fremont with a 94 SR (essentially same as a 95SR) running 37" tires with stock axles!!!

Of course he has a 3" body lift (4crawler.com), 4.90 R&P gears (Mitsubishi), 3:1 xcase gears (Misterbishi in Australia). He's also done some awesome mods in back raising the frame and gas tank up 3-4" behind the rear axle to increase off road clearance.

That's awesome. Where did you find it and how much was it?

Others will likely have it but finding a decent parts place is difficult. Try Winchester Auto in Campbell. Also, Mitsubishi will most likely have it. At either place it will probably only cost a couple of dollars.

33x12.5's w/ a 2" suspension lift (valley spring in Dixon CA for coils and torque the torsion bars.)
35x12.5" w/ a 2" suspension lift and a 2" body lift (see www.4crawler.com).
37's w/ a 2" suspension lift and a 3" body lift. (add 4.90 R&P's from Mitsubishi)

Sometimes you can find them on Ebay. Also depending on what you need it for, www.4crawler.com makes a 2" receiver that attaches to that plate but I wouldn't use his as a class 2 or 3 hitch but his will work for things like bike racks and for strapping folks off an obstacle on the trail. That's what I use mine for.

As you've probably guessed by now... of course not <GRIN>. When does it happen? Perhaps check the Ball joints, steering play, etc.

Hey great! Another local mitsu owner who is willing to wheel their Mitsu 4x4 and not just build a poser! :thumbsup: There are quite a few local owners who do take them off road. If you have any questions, PM me your number and we can talk.

For now, I'd be happy to replace the dried and cracked old tires with 32x12.5's. I can mount those on the stock 7" rims, right? Or should I use 32x10.5?

I'll crank up the torsion bars and mount VW springs or mill out some aluminum spacers (temporarily).

I bought this truck from Craigslist from a lady in Scots valley for about $2k. There's nothing wrong with it except the a/c doesn't blow very cold. The a/c manifold says it is compressing the mixture but it won't hold a charge. I put some dye in it and will check it out this weekend to see where the leak is.

I previously was driving a 1983 Mitsubishi 2.3 l Turbo Diesel 2wd pickup. Loved that little truck, but I decided that I needed something a little more civilized and something that could go anywhere. I do miss the little truck, but I like the big Mitsubishi quite a lot.

Regarding the compass illumination, what I meant was, I can't find the bulb inside the compass. I took it apart, but I can't find the bulb to replace it. Anybody have a photo or drawing of the compass diassembled?

I will need to look into a towing package but it is not urgent. I will be towing a race car next year ... about 3400 lbs. incl. trailer.

Biggest things to do right now are get new tires and change all fluids, fix rattle in front end.

Any places nearby to go off road. I hear there is a park in Hollister??

Oh man that's an AWESOME price!! GAWD I hate you right now!

Yes can mount 12.5's on 7" wide rims them however most places will want you to mount them on 8" rims. I'd check what the tire manufacturer recommends.

Also either the 12.5 or 10.5's will be fine. Really depends on the kind of wheeling you do. 12.5's will be wider (bigger footprint, more traction) but also heavier.

10.5's will be obviously narrower and lighter. In shallow mud it will drop down to the hard dirt underneath easier but in deep mud this won't help.

VW springs? Do you mean the Valley spring I mentioned?
Either plan should work fine. If you can mill out spacers and are willing to offer them to others, I'm sure there will be quite a few willing to buy them from you.

When you crank the torsion bars, keep in mind that it's much easier if you lift the front end off the ground so that the tires are in the air. Then you can more easily turn the nuts and not strip out the bolts. I simply used an air wrench and didn't have to undo the lock nut.

Another Monty owner owns one of those TD pickups. He loves it as much as his Montero.

I understand what you mean about the compass bulb. I can probably dig up an illustration from the FSM for you.

As far as the towing hitch, I'd definitely find a full Class III hitch then that bolts to the frame as well as the hitch mount in back.

Oh as far as changing the fluids, be sure you also change your transmission fluid. ONLY USE a Mitsu Compatible fluid (better yet, just buy the actual mitsu fluid) if you're not sure about the compatability. If you use anything else, I'll bet you any money you will have to rebuild your tranny in short order.

Yes there is a place to wheel in Holister. Its a state run OHV area called Holister Hills SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area). Here's their website http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=1179

Scottie,

Here's a couple of pics of a 94SR on 37's.

This is taken from a recent trip he did through the Dusy Ersham Trail.
(IMG:http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/Blossom2468/20070817DusyErshim4x4Wire/47ee1b8a.jpg)

Articulation...
(IMG:http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u296/Blossom2468/20070817DusyErshim4x4Wire/953777fb.jpg)

As I mentioned this rig is totally streetable... although if you're vertically challenged or have difficulty climbing, then you'll have a fun time getting in and out of it. :laughing:

That thing is awesome! WOW! :gunsmilie:

I did find the lamp inside the compass last night. It was right in front of my face after all. I did not have a Mitsubishi replacement lamp. I discovered that a VDO lamp from an 80's BMW console works as a replacement. I also replaced my lamps for the rear wheels in the 4wd dash indicator (they were both out), the "D" indicator for the transmission selector, and one or two dashboard background illumninator lamps in the cluster. Now my dash looks great at night!

This weekend I will make it a project to replace all the fluids - incl the tranny fluid - as I do not know when that was done last. I also intend to take some measurements on the rear springs to mill out those spacers...and figure out what that rattle is up front.

Scottie

Good job finding a bulb. :thumbsup:

If you check the tranny fluid it should be red and fairly clear (not opaque). If it is, then it's probably been recently changed so you don't need to so quickly... but I'd be safe and check it again in a month or so. If it's dirty after a month, then not only should you change the fluid but you should remove and wash the tranny filter. It usually doesn't need to be changed.

Also the surest way to change your tranny fluid is to perform a flush. If you just drain it, then you don't get the fluid in your torque converter.

I'll be anxious to see the spacers! :beer:

IF you're not sure about the rattle and don't have a decent mechanic in mind and just need to find someone to tell you what's wrong, consider speedee oil & tune up in Milpitas. I've been going there for years and they've always done me right. Not the cheapest place nor the most expensive.