TripleJackInGA
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 77
Loc: Alvaton, GA
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Hey guys and gals -
I;ve been on here before, looking for a truck, and I *finally* found a good one.
I live in Metro Atlanta, and having owned a troubled 89 Raider in the past, wanted another 2-door.
I found one on my local Craigslist and bought it tonight.
It's an 85 2-door Montero. 4-cylinder, 5-speed, AC, Bouncy Seat, LSD, and aftermarket black steel wheels with 33x12.5x15 tires on the stock suspension.
The clock reads 153k miles, but I think it's more, depending on how long these tires have been on it.
The condition was great, especially considering the age. No rust at all, save for one spot of surface rust in the rear door-jamb, and one on the pass. door-jamb. Looks like it's had one re-spray on the paint. It's a medium metallic blue. Body is in great shape, and the PO has never had it off-road in the past 5-7 years he's had it.
It has AC,, which works great, heat works great, but is missing a radio.
The PO put a new clutch/PP/TOB/Slave-Cylinder and brakes all the way around it. It was his daily driver, but he lived only about 10 minutes from work.
The truck runs, drives, and stops excellent, with no vibration, shaking, or anything out of the ordinary.
Under the hood everything's in place. He bought a used carb off of eBay, because the old one had the stuttering issue with the vacuum diaphram. He actually took the time to attach everything back like it's supposed to be. The truck even passed the fairly hard local emmisions test, which is run on a chassis dyno here for older cars like this.
The only mechanical issue at all with the truck is a low idle. It hovers just above stalling in neutral, and when the AC is cut on, it doesn't seem to idle up at all. I don't know if this is a mis-adjusted carb, or maybe that in conjunction with an AC solenoid to idle the engine up when it's cut on.
Ah, there is also the Hazard Flasher Switch. You hit it once, and all 4 work normally. Hit it again, and maybe just the rears work. Hit it again, and maybe the rears and one front work, so I figure it's the switch. The turn signals flash properly, but very slow. I'm guessing a flasher.
The only other thing I see is that the light in the dash that is supposed to tell you when the wheels are locked, and the little 4-wheel symbol, do not illuminate when in 4WD, so I will be doing some archive searches for that.
I only paid $1900 for the truck, which i thought was great, considering the lack of rust!
Anywho, I;ll be on more, and I'll be mounting some serious lights on it, since I work for Hella.
Any lighting questions, please let me know. I've worked at Hella for almost 7 years, and have pretty much seen and heard it all in terms of wiring/mounting issues.
Speaking of which, what's the alternator output on these things? Anyone mounted a high-output alternator from something else on these ? I will probably be drawing some big amps to run some big lamps.
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TripleJack
85 GenI SWB 2.5/5-Speed on 33s
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rxinhed
The Mitsubishi Parts Guy
Reged: 02/21/05
Posts: 5936
Loc: Gerber, CA
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The stock alternator is about 45 amps. There are some direct bolt replacements of about 90 amps (or so) from Starions/Conquests/perhaps Diamante models too for which I would recommend using the 'search' function in the tool bar and reviewing both the Mitsu Archives and Drivetrain Bible.
There are several of us who part out Monty's but I think we're all currently out of the hazard switch. If the plastic is not brittle, you may be able to disassemble the switch and clean the contacts, minding little springs popping out during disassembly.
The other lighting issue on the dash indicators may just be bad bulbs, but could be related to the connectors at the transmission.
Nothing wrong with BIG lights! I really like my Cibie' old school stuff!
Welcome to the Wire! 
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1987 Raider (Roxy), 1988 Mighty Max turbo (Pearl), 1987 Ramcharger (Ryan), Sundry parts and parts cars
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OldColt
Roll Me Over
Reged: 09/19/06
Posts: 2599
Loc: East Wallyworld Vermont
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The Starion will give you a 75 amp unit, that has been enough for the lights I run, or used to.
One item to watch for is the alternator changed in 86-87. The two wire plug changed as well as the belt width. So you want the early one.
Beware of rebuilt units.
There should be room for 4 4000s up front and a pair of spots on the roof.
Hey with the motorsports you might not need so much alternator as with 100 watt bulbs.
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Cheers, Charlie
If It ain't broke, Modify it!
87 Montero turbo Converted back in 1989
95 Montero SR 3.8 DOHC First one?
Will a 94 Macrocab turbocharged with a 6 speed be next?
ffmsd.com
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Old-Colt
http://6g72rwd.forumcircle.com
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TripleJackInGA
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 77
Loc: Alvaton, GA
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Thanks for the info guys.
I'm sure you guys already knew this, but the calculation to figure out the Amperage draw on lighting is taking the Wattage of the bulb, and dividing it by the Voltage that the system is running at. The system is rated at 12 Volts, but of course it fluctuates, and usually runs a bit higher. For the sake of argument, I usually figure it at 12, which would make a 100 Watt lamp draw 8.33 Amps. With say 4 lamps, you're pulling down 33.32 Amps.
Yes, the HID Motorsport lamps will draw less after startup, because they pull a continuous 35 Watts (2.92 Amps), but at startup they have an in-rush of about 15 Amps each for a split-second.
I'll probably go with the new Rallye 4000 Compacts though. They're the same exact design, just as tough as the full-size 4000s, a better reflector design, and they're 24% smaller, so easier to mount. I don't want to block up too much surface area on the in front of the radiator.
I'm also going to update the headlamps with our sealed-beam replacement E-Code headlamps, and I'll be able to run several different types and Wattages of H4 bulb then too. The pattern is also much cleaner with those.
I'll definitely be on the lookout for something from a Starion, etc., but I'm also going to talk to a local Auto Electric shop. They rebuild starters and alternators, and they're good. I know they can rewind old 6 Volt generators to run on 12V, so if they can do that, they should be able to boost the output of an alternator relatively easily.
On the hazard switch, I figured I would disassemble it and check the contacts. That worked on the power window switches on another older car once. I just hit them with a nail file and all was good.
One thing I will look at in the future is a different tire size. It's got 33x12.50 on it now, and on top of being off about 5-7MPH in the speedo, it makes a small engine even smaller. With these tires, 5th gear is reserved exclusively for the highway......downhill......in a hurricane...with a good tail-wind.
:)
All in all, I'm very pleased with the truck so far. I don't expect it to be like a new truck, because A) it's 22 years old, and B) it's using technology and design that's also 22 years old.
For the money, I think I can't lose.
Have a good one, fellas!
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TripleJack
85 GenI SWB 2.5/5-Speed on 33s
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OldColt
Roll Me Over
Reged: 09/19/06
Posts: 2599
Loc: East Wallyworld Vermont
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Now its a bit more work,but a nice way to mount a more powerful alternator would be on a Starion engine. Then the tires are not an issue and you can run 70+ into the wind uphill.
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Cheers, Charlie
If It ain't broke, Modify it!
87 Montero turbo Converted back in 1989
95 Montero SR 3.8 DOHC First one?
Will a 94 Macrocab turbocharged with a 6 speed be next?
ffmsd.com
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Old-Colt
http://6g72rwd.forumcircle.com
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JAVYPRO
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 02/04/01
Posts: 1832
Loc: Buford, GA USA
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Welcome to the forum TripleJackInGA, it is great to see more and more people from GA, I live in Buford GA just minutes from the Mall of Georgia. You will also have the chance to meet fasteddy, jeepdriver, david, markg, dadrab and so many others. You now can become part of those that hold the record for the largest gathering of Monteros in the history of this forum, no one has come even close.  
WOW Big Words ah?
Well, talking about alternators, you can also use the alternator off of the 89-91 V6 LWB it is a direct bolt on and and so is the wiring. You just have to swap the pulleys and DONE.
Welcome
Javy
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88 red Montero with the Dakar Special Edition decals, 438,000 miles (As of 7/23/2012) some occational blue puffing but still strong and counting!!! I am going ppsshhh (turbo), Stay tuned =) ...
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TripleJackInGA
Getting the Wheeling Fever
Reged: 06/08/06
Posts: 77
Loc: Alvaton, GA
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Do you know the output on the 89-91 V6 LWB Alt off the top of your head?
For my needs, I would like to have a 500 Amp alternator, hehe.
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TripleJack
85 GenI SWB 2.5/5-Speed on 33s
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Edited by TripleJackInGA (02/14/07 12:01 PM)
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OldColt
Roll Me Over
Reged: 09/19/06
Posts: 2599
Loc: East Wallyworld Vermont
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Quote:
you can also use the alternator off of the 89-91 V6 LWB it is a direct bolt on and and so is the wiring.
Are you sure about the wiring? His will not have the oval plug.
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Cheers, Charlie
If It ain't broke, Modify it!
87 Montero turbo Converted back in 1989
95 Montero SR 3.8 DOHC First one?
Will a 94 Macrocab turbocharged with a 6 speed be next?
ffmsd.com
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Old-Colt
http://6g72rwd.forumcircle.com
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MI_Mitsu
Rock Warrior
Reged: 03/24/06
Posts: 703
Loc: Romulus, Michigan (Detroit)
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Quote:
Well, talking about alternators, you can also use the alternator off of the 89-91 V6 LWB it is a direct bolt on and and so is the wiring. You just have to swap the pulleys and DONE.
Welcome
Javy
Funny I too was thinking about alternators!
I looked through a Bosch new/reman alternator catalog the other day and my 89 3.0L V6 alternator seems to have a funky case mount with a dual mount points on one side (front casing?) (albeit only one point of the two is used). Anyway, even a new Bosch alternator for the 89 V6 LWB is rated at only 65A. Pitiful if you ask me.
FRANK! Been meaning to ask you, in your signature, you say yours has a 135A alternator? DO TELL! would love to hear more about it. Did you have a local shop "upgrade' the internals, or did you "modify" the casing of a different aftermarket unit? I tried matching up similar Bosch units with the same pigtail code, but the best I could find were mid/late 90's Mitsu alternators rated at 100A. Would just love to hear more about your 135A unit!
MI-Mitsu
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89 Montero LS 3.0L/Auto
91 Montero RS 3.0L/Auto
87 Dodge Raider 2.6L/Auto
90 MightyMax 2.4L/Man
Parted/gone - parts available!
89 Montero LS 3.0L/Auto [Blue/Blue] (identical to my 1st), 88 Conquest SHP
Others: 37 Lincoln
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ghostraider
Body Damage is Cool
Reged: 02/11/07
Posts: 1167
Loc: cal
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you know.......
We have two 55 watt empi's and a 55 watt piaa fog as well as extra interior accent lighting...we even pull a trailer with a ton of running lights on it.....
But our Raider is bone stock and we have never upgraded alternator....i have run all the lights and stereo and everything and never see the volt meter dip below 12-14....
Everything is wired in excellent with fused relay protection so i wonder if that helps.
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