Hello all. As some of you may or may not know me, my name is Jason. I've been on here a VERY long time (since the 90's) and have had quite a few Montes.

My wonderful SR nicknamed "Lucky"...(don't mind Carlos's SR on roid's on the right)

My old V6 SWB nicknamed "Bronzy".. I miss him so

(and I was a dumbass for selling it)

My 87 2.6 Auto which my dad now has, nicknamed "bluecar"

and finally my pride and joy!! 1986, tough as nails(except for the piece of crap transmission) SWB, turbo, performance built 2.6 Montero! Nicknamed "REDCAR" !!!

And REDCAR is not your avg "stocker" SWB 2.6 Monte either

... unless stock means,
V6 brakes and SR rear end, 160amp GM Bus alt with 4ga wiring all the way around and 3 deep cyl batteries, and more stuff then I can't even remember right now... UGH..

Anyways, as some of you know, I'm running so much power out of my turbo setup that I keep blowing out my 5sp every 2-3 years and I'm getting tired of pulling this $hit out. I keep blowing out the OD or 5th gear.

This time, the tranny has grenaded on me!!!

And I've decided to pull a Kevin and do a 372-L Auto-lockup trans conversion..

This is MY STORY on my road to hell and back!!!

It all starts with me getting everything I need for $650. And that means ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

REDCAR looking all sexy waiting for surgery!!

I'm so used to pulling out the crappy 5sp that this time it took me a record 1hr and 13min to do it BY MYSELF!!! WOOPEE!!!

In the garage and comparing the 2 units side by side. Dreaming of better days ahead of "auto bliss". Boy was I in for a surprise!! Stupid me!!

In case you ask about the image above, that is a fresh, rebuilt and blueprinted TQ for the tranny.

So now, planning the install. A auto-trans has to keep cool right? And I know about keeping a turbo vehicle cool so I yanked the huge cooler off a full size gen4 big body and ordered a 18" Cyclone 3500cfm elec fan because I plan on getting rid of the mech fan. I don't have a problem now but with the TQ adding heat and seeing the guys at Death Valley, I started to think about the issues.... So this is where I'm putting it....

The cooler itself of a big-body...

And some custom built brackets that I made to mount it up front. It's also right in front or near the airflow of the AC-cond fan so that'll help as I'll wire that up if things get too hot while crawling...

And finally all mounted in and ready to cool!!!

SO NOW WE COME TO THE FUN STUFF!!! TRANSMISSION CRAP !!!

Well I gotta pull out the clutch and flywheel so out you go!

And on goes one of the rarest parts that you'll ever see! A 2.6 flexplate! And I've got one! lol

Funny thing is, the guy was going to junk it and throw it away!

Trying to find that thing above is like winning to lottery almost. This one came all the way from N.Carolina after 2 other yards burned me when they said they had it.

Since the V6 transfer cases are different, I got the driveshafts also. Actually, the front spines are the same but the lengths are longer. Just the backs are bigger.

So after putting the 4cyl bellhousing on it, and getting it on, mounted up there, shift linkages all hooked up, it's starting to look like a legit Automatic setup!!!

For now, I'm wiped out. Tomorrow morn, I'll finish typing the adventure and posting pics, but believe me, you guys WILL NOT BELIEVE what has happened!!!

Have a wonderful evening!!
Jason