Did I over estimate my Montero? I bought it thinking I cold use it as my daily driver and continue with my 30 minute 65 to 70 mph commute everyday that I usually drive with my 06 dodge ram. I got the bugs figured out with the fuel system and was out trying to test it by getting n the highway and keep up with traffic. I can get up to speed to 65 but I have a hard time keeping it there. Any hill or overpass or wind and it wants to drop down in speed and I have to gun it to open up WOT to get back to the speed. I just seems like the little 4 banger is more of a 45mph'r engine. At high speeds it's high revving and I constantly have to work the gas to keep it where I want it.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Maybe enlighten me on the way most of you all drive these. I'm young I didn't drive in 1987 when this was new and the speed limit was 55. Lol

Cheers! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Or we can turn this into "how fast does your 2.6l go?" I saw the 3.0 guys have a thread.

Did you get the carb / fuel issues resolved? While the 2.6 isn't necessarily a speed demon it can run at 65mph without too much issue when properly tuned...

Mine will do 55mph up any highway hill etc. I've had it up to 70mph and didn't seem to have much struggle (on the flats!), but I've got a 5 speed whereas yours is an auto.

I could routinely tow 3500 - 4000 pounds over 100, but mine was turboed. Originally mine was much like you describe, it made hills seem like mountains. There are others whom could cruise just fine and get decent gas mileage.
Those that have swapped to a turbo engine have little interest in going back to the carb. Power and mileage improve greatly.
I just put together a stock 5 speed that I use for snow plowing. I am already thinking i want a different engine, not sure if it will be a 2.4 or a V6. Maybe just fuel injecting the 2.6.

I believe I got all the carb issues. It don't have any hesitation at low speed and at high speed it picks up good but it just doesn't like highway speeds, it does not drop rpms any more or lose power at highway speed. It just seems like its a chore to drive 55 or more. If I gun it it will go to 70.

Maybe I need to check the timing? Maybe the weber would give it new life.

I thinks is worst with the auto... the 5th gear on the 5 speed is a .856 and with the Over drive it is .688 I am not sure if you have the same final drive ratio but if so its likly just dont have the power at that low rpms to hold 70mph. I have had 2 carbed 2.5 both 5 speed they would go 70mph might be a bit more rpms then I liked but it was not that bad I have towed a fair almount with the 2.6 carbed. I also have had a turboed 2.6 montero that ran great! I all so tryed the 2.6 with both TBI and MPI N/A. They both made better power over the carbed motor. I have not had an auto tho.

What you describe sounds typical. Still, I would verify the motors condition with a compression test.

Some low end can be picked up by milling the head .030" and a bit of port cleanup. Not a huge gain but combined with a valve job, it helps.

I went with a turbo.

Kevin

As for ignition timing, adjust it a few degrees at a time and see how it reacts.
Porting these heads will give a fair amount of increase, enough to let you cruise 70 into a headwind uphill, who knows. probably not. The intake ports have a restriction next to the valve guide that responds well and the short side radius on both in & ex both have room for improvement.
A good exhaust system with mandrel bends will help the top end as well. I would not go over 2?".

The automatic does eat up some precious power, I spent such a short time with the stock engine and I do not recall the cruise RPM. I do recall wanting the 4.86 gears in mine even with the turbo.

Also, its possible to mix and match parts from the auto. The lockup converter tranny does not have as tall an OD gear. If you put that gear in a non lockup unit, it will pull a bit better on the highway.

For a normally aspirated 4 cyl I would not use a lockup converter. I would use the V6 unit non lockup with the lockup trannies gear set.

I realize that this might be a bit out there... But it is an option to swapping the axle gears and keeping the auto.

I also found that the cam is ground for higher RPM power than how the vehicle is geared. If you can ever get a hold of the roller cam and rockers that came on the 2.6 in AU it should be a lot better match to your setup.

I was able to get one shipped as part of a complete top end from a Magna motor. So far I have only used the cam and rockers, it has a lot better low end TQ than the factory cam.

There are some other non roller cams that you can run as well. The 2.0 liter cam has a bit less duration and may work as well.

You lose some top end power, but gain in the mid range.

Kevin