I've been "clean" for 6 months. Then I fell off the wagon behind a cheap used car lot. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> Just stopped to take a look, whats the harm? Minor front body damage, locked up motor, torn seats, dirty/missing carpet. The dealer made me an offer I couldn't pass up. Fixed a no start problem on a Toyota, got the monty for $1.08 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The body stuff is repaired, dead motor removed. Have several choices for motors. A "good runner" 3.5DOHC for $2100, E-Bay 3.5's for $1500 ect. Tempted to try a 3.8 Mitsu swap but that might be more than I want to deal with.

At least I have a reason to lurk around here now. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

My bro has a 120k mile or so rolled 95SR in LA if you would be interested. Kinda of a long drive.

There's an ad on the Phoenix Craigslist for an engine & trans from a 98 Montero. That would be the 3.5 SOHC instead of the DOHC that you have but some mixing & matching of parts could yield a running motor for not too much $$$.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/pts/672466398.html

Thanks for the replies.<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Louisiana is tempting, been too long since I've been out that way. Phoenix is a bit closer, but still a haul.
Found a 1997 3.5sohc a few hours from here. Still in the truck, they will let me run a comp test, but they won't let me remove it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> The pricy mill in SLC was run, good comp test, 110000mi, they will let me pull the lower oilpan and 90day return. At least between Denver and SLC, if I see something I don't like, I can leave it and not feel too bad.
Thanks again....

It's alive! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />Found an engine in Vernal UT. (car-parts.com). Runs good, no ticking, but smokes after idleing. The heads from the dead engine did not crash, so I'm going to clean, check out, refresh and swap + t-belt stuff.

Driving the Gen II is great. Lots more power than the 3.0, feels better at speed. Holds 75mph w/no trouble. Put on about 200 miles so far, first mileage check showed 18+mpg.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> Bob

did you tear down the old engine yet? i just picked up a 95 3 weeks ago with a locked up motor too. the carnage was amusing.

have an upper oil pan?

The upper pan looks intact, but the windage tray is mangled from the con rod. The main cap/web has a chunk missing as well. The cyl. wall is damaged, the top half of the piston stayed in the bore. Nothing hit the head, they both are checking out flat/clean. No signs of damage to the cam bores. This one must have had a quick death.

Another 3.5 I pulled apart had tons of metal chunks in the head, wiping out the cam bearing surfaces, locking the valve lifters in the bores. The crank in that one had wiped out the main bearings, and chewed into the block. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />

These are tough engines but "The addition of oil is not retroactive" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> Bob

And that a few of us truly agree with while others have yet to learn.
Kind of goes with coolant too.

The windage tray should be quite cheep from a dealer.

yours sounds more thrashed than mine. mine dropped the con rod cap off thanks to driving for who knows how long with a spun bearing, smacked the side of the upper pan and cracked it, snapped 1 of the pan bolts off clean. slight ding in the windage tray but not bad. piston hit the head but no damage to the valves. 1 of the mains was pretty trashed but the other 3 were ok??? block and girdle undamaged. heads were ok (just redone with all 24 valves and 12 guides 2300 miles ago. receipt in truck)

i have a thread in parts wanted looking for an upper pan <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />