Oh hello, I didn't see you there!

Hello everyone! I have been lurking on the boards for a couple of months now, and I figured that I might as well get around to introducing myself.

My name is Ed, I live in NC. I am pretty new to the whole 4x4 scene, but I am pretty familiar with the "working on mechanically stubborn cars from the 80s" scene (I previously owned a 1988 Fiero, my first car actually... I think my dad has a sick sense of humor).

I recently bought an '89 V6 SWB which I left at my parents' house (I go to school 4 hours away and don't have the tools to work on it here) with a request to drive it every now and then to keep it from suffering the ravages of inactivity until I get around to working on it over summer.

Well, they did... and they also didn't pay attention to the thermostat, and long story short, I have a 3000lb paperweight. No worries though; the 160k, 26 year old engine probably needed to be rebuilt/replaced anyway (it was leaking oil when I got it so I had already figured I'd be spending money).

Obligatory intro picture:


Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and apologize in advance for the inevitable day(s) when I ask a silly nub question(s) (yes, I know "SEARCH FUNCTION, MORON!").

Welcome to the forum. Nice rig Mr Ed. Hey, I just noticed something about your roof rack. I have the same one and either I have mine installed backwards, or you do. Please tell me I have mine righ because if not, mine has been on wrong for the past 12 years.

Your Montero looks like it is in fantastic shape, take good care of it and it will take good care of you.

Sharp looking ride! Welcome. My first Montero was an '88 two door. I searched what seemed like forever to find one and stumbled on one at a local "cash for clunkers" deal. Bought it wholesale on the cheap ($900) because it ran like crap, but like yourself, have many hours working on 80's vehicles. I opted to drive it the short distance home and dropped in $10 in gas and within a few miles, had run through all the crap in the carb and lines. She purred. A quick tune up and a little TLC provided me with a fantastic truck that took me all over the place. I always enjoyed the looks on the faces of others on the trail when the Montero rolled by and past their built Jeeps and Toyotas on the same trail they are on. I still enjoy those looks now, but from the front seat of my '97 LS. A wonderful follow-up to an already wonderful example of classic over-engineered, Japanese quality. I've been quietly eyeballing and shopping for a Gen 3 to use as my daily while I finally get a chance turn the '97 into the truck I really want. And, if Mitsubishi brings the Montero back to the U.S. In 2017, I will probably look at buying one of those, unless they release anything like the concept. Ugh. Anyways, welcome to the Wire!

First off, thank you! I paid a bit more than I should have for it, but I was basically buying the body and interior (it's as pretty inside as it is outside, minus the missing stereo cover, which I have gathered is frequently long gone by this point in a Montero's life anyway.)

As for the roof rack, it's funny you should mention that since I was looking at it last week when I went down to visit over spring break and thought the rack looked like it was on backwards (it is opening to the rear and has the "enclosing bar," for lack of a better term, blocking the two sides and the front)

So I think you're in the clear on that, LOL.

That said, it's just the rack the Montero had on it when I bought it. It will be one of the first things to get replaced (after the engine, of course <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> )since all of the bars on which cargo would sit , except for one, rusted where they're welded to the frame of the rack and were apparently repaired with a mixture of duct tape shop rags and black spray paint! Whatever works though, right?

Maaan, I saw a nice SR for sale on CL the other day for $675 because it was leaking some oil and the guy thought the tranny was bad (though, from the description he gave, and researching through here I think it might just be bad fluid/old filter.) But I am so wary of buying an ODB 2 car again that I talked myself out of getting it. I love that sweet sweet computer controlled performance, but dear god I don't want to get a computer science degree just so I can do a tune up, or change the oil (exaggeration, I know, but still. Headache increases in direct proportion to the number of systems the car's computer is tied into.

Half the reason I aimed for a gen 1 was to keep it as low tech as I could while avoiding a carb (never had a car with one, only a general idea of how the thing actually works, looked at the one on my friend's SBC and decided I never wanted to bother with one!)

I wish I had the performance of a later gen, but at the risk of sounding like a poser; screw performance, gen 1 monteros, defenders, (older model) patrols, and FJ40s all look like something you'd see Indiana Jones driving through a jungle. I can put better parts on my gen 1, but I couldn't (well... as easily at least) put my gen 1 body on a 2, 2.5, etc.

That is just how I personally feel though. Every non-sport Montero is awesome in it's own way.

Last year I replaced my original engine with an import ("less than 50,000"). It has worked fine. The temp gauge really only tells you it's too hot too late.

just curious what part of NC are you from and what part you are going to school? I am from the middle of the state and thats where both of mine are at but I am at school north of Raleigh. Looks nice. I like the blue

Welcome. I bought a fiero for my son because he wanted it, then he got in a fender bender and decided he didn't want to work on it...So it's mine now. I hate working on that thing. I swear it bites as I bleed everytime I work on it.

I'm from the Charlotte area, and I'll be returning there to attend UNCC in the fall. Currently I am in Greenville at ECU. (followed my girlfriend here when she got accepted to their dental program, but ECU sucks so I am leaving lol)

Are you at Duke or UNC? (Please say Duke <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> )

Yeah, the Fiero was a useful tool for learning how to fix the worst case scenario EVERY TIME! lol But you know what they say "If you want to be a mechanic, buy a Fiero."

The only thing smaller than the car, was the space available to work on it. I think the worst job I ever endured with that car was removing and the replacing the gas tank. The recess where the elbow hose to connect the fuel tank to the filler neck was only around 2 inches wider than my hand.

That being said, I wish I had the money back then to swap a 3800SC series II into it. The Iron Duke was torquey, but it just wasn't enough, and that 2.8 was one of the worst engines GM ever produced. But the buick 3.8 turns it into a bad little machine!

If you have the 4 banger, have you had to replace the plastic timing gear yet? With craftsmanship like that, it's hard to believe GM stayed out of bankruptcy as long as they did <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Why limit yourself to a V6? There used to be a local guy here with a Northstar V8 powered Fiero that was a monster at the autocross.