I am looking at a really nice 97sr with a blown motor. According to the old man, the engine got hot, lost power and never restarted. My questions are:

1. Is this engine rebuildable
2. If so, what is the cost (assuming I am not doing the work)
3. If it needs a new engine, what is the cost for the engine and the install?

I want to spend at or below $2000.

For $2k and no work youself, I think the best you can hope for is a used motor that someone else installs.

Been there with that same motor.. I picked up my old SR for $400 bucks though in the same situation...you'd be surprised how tough they are... granted you'd probably spin the bearings in about 1000 miles like I did.. If it turns over.. you could probably change the fluids and I bet it would start right up and drive.

You're looking at a pretty penny for a bottom end rebuild, and getting the heads shaved if they are warped. That still doesn't include the reason why it even overheated in the frist place. In your case, you may want to look at one of those JDM long blocks, but you'd loose the montero cams unless you swap those over too. The 3.5 motor seems to be the most expensive mitsubishi engine I've touched. (3.8 would probably be more)

It'll be alot of work to run through the whole engine.. After what I've been through with engines, its best to leave no stone unturned... maybe I picked that up from FrankR? To have someone else do the work to install even a JDM engine.. it's not quite as much work as the DOHC version of that truck by far.. but its no walk in the park anyway.. You'd pay far more for the engine/getting it swapped in than you'd pay for the actual truck in the end. It would be a good summer project if you're willing to learn like I did.

I'm jealous though.. I miss having a Gen 2 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

im pretty sure 97 is a 3.5 sohc.

those can be had for a dime a dozen....especially if it uses the non-crossover block. i have heads and a bare block sitting in my garage from a 3.5 sohc

Spot on <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Heads? Hmmm

Thanks for all the help. As it stands, the guy doesn't want to sell for less than $2500. It is in really nice cosmetic condition (Interior looks new) but I told him to call me when he decides to sell for $1000.

i picked up my 95 SR with a blown engine for 301.

ive seen them on CL for 700-1100 a few times too.

FWIW there is a 92 SR with blown engine on the Milwaukee Craigslist for $1K OBO.

Damn, I could ALMOST afford to buy it and trailer it back to Chicago for parts! Hey Bretwalda, good to hear from you.
Houston