I like the engine, It's really easy to work on, parts are cheap and in stock, and the power is good (excelent for a 4cyl). My top highway speed was 70MPH and that was with the big tires, so it gets moving. Going up hills wasn't bad but wasn't fast either, out on the trail it just kicked ass. Running this engine on montero cooling system doesn't allow it to get hot even on 100 degree days while crawling. It's definately the ideal engine to replace the 2.6 in the old 2 doors.
I still love the 3.5 though and I am kicking around the idea of starting over with a 3.5 powered montero for this build but we'll see. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Having been in Pa_jero's 3.5 full body Gen 1 and your chopped off Gen 2 with the 2.4, do you really believe the 2.4 is the better of the two to go with in a Gen 1? Availablity is huge on the 2.4 isn't it?!!

The 2.4 is a great engine for all around reliability and low cost operation plus it's more powerfull than the 2.6 so it is a real upgrade for the Gen 1 SWB.
Now the 3.5 is just a monster engine, if you want balls that is the engine you want. PA_JERO is learning that it comes at a price, he can grenade CV's like they're nothing. He's going to have to upgrade his front axle assembly to the 8" V6 stuff. His truck is lightning fast though, I'm pretty sure it would blow the doors off of a Turbo 2.6 truck it's scary fast. So it really depends on what you want and what you can afford, He got his 3.5 on the cheap (traded work to JohnnyB for it) but it needs some cash poured into it still. The 2.4 is just more practical and i think that engine can save a lot of Gen1's from the crusher.

This is a pretty crazy little beast you have going Toasty. I would love to copy it if I had the time/space/money to go for another toy right now. An economical, radical, strange little crawler is just like something I would do too if I could. Should you ever decide you need to sell it, I'd like to claim first right of refusal!

As for the 2.4, it sounds (and looks) like it is a great option. I am not sure if a fuel efficient crawler has ever been done before either. I've sat here thinking about some sort of hybrid arrangement as I actually think electric motors would make the best crawling option (full torque at 0 rpm anyone?), but for simplicity sake, a straight forward, reliable 4 is probably the way to go.

I'm debating selling this one or parting it once i retire the other montero's from their DD duties, we'll see though. It'll be harder to just chop either of the other two since i have a lot more money invested in them and my '94 is really nice and clean still.

I still think the headlights is the best feature on it. I amsure you can find some lesser quality monteros to hack up. If you like you can come and do a chop on my gen 1 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The 4g64 2.4 is a really nice motor, and you can do some amazing things to it. The head and turbo stuff off a 2.0 4g63 will bolt on, and if it makes the same hp/cubic inch as a 2.0, it should crank an easy 240hp set up stock, mucho more if you pump it up, which is a piece of cake. I've seen lots of dyno sheets on 2.0T's pushing 350hp. Reliably.