Hello!

I'm new here, just opened an account and I must say I am in love with the Raider/Montero. I am currently looking at one (link below), 200k miles, 2.6L, 1200 bucks. I have other pictures the guy sent me, it looks clean but going to look at it Sunday. Any tips on things to look for would be great. Final thoughts on drivetrain would eventually be an old 5.0 with a Tremec T5, solid axles, etc. Looking to turn this into a streetable, but offroad-worthy rig.

http://anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/5440646663.html

Thanks all!

They are pretty stout and very capable rigs, pick it up and hit the trail!

Thanks man. Are there any specific rust spots I should know about? I read about the rear wheel wells being a hot spot.

Thanks again!

And the area around the fuel filler hose,tail light sections. Also the area under the back door.

Thanks guys, going to look tomorrow, any last minute tips, yay. If not, wish me luck!

Check around the windshield carefully.

So, what's the word? Did you pick it up?

You'll love the raider!!
And Here's some "penny" (low budget) mods that will wake up the monster!

Remove the rubber bump stops on the front suspension, cut the rear bump stops off leaving them an inch high. This will give max wheel articulation/suspension travel. A tire in the air is giving no traction. A flexy suspension helps keeps the tires on the ground and pulling.

If it's a limited slip rear diff, find another lim.slip rear diff at a parts yard. Add in one more clutch to each side's pack in yours from the extra limited slip diff. That will make the rear diff hold dang near like a rear locker.

If it's not a Limited slip rear diff, pull yours out and weld the SIDE GEARS (that the axles go into) to the carrier. (this is the only place you can weld up a diff and it not break loose over time.) DO this for the rear, and the front....(weld the front ONLY)if you have manual lockout hubs on the front and you will have a fine daily driver and a nearly unstoppable off road machine despite the smallish tires.

I have ran mine as a daily driver with welded front & rear for 8 years and the performance of the Raider is unbelievable. Mine is literally a off road legend around these parts far & wide.

The trick with a welded front is the manual lock out hubs.
On minimal or semi-slick surfaces you only lock ONE front hub. This gives you absolute full time three wheel drive, but you can still steer normally.
(With a welded front or even a tight locker in a front you can't turn tight at all because the front tires can't differentiate rotating speed to make the turn.)

Leaving one hub unlocked lets the front tires differentiate. Does not matter which hub you leave unlocked.... but I would alter which one randomly to keep wear on the front CV axles even.

When the surfaces get really slick, you lock both front hub and have absolute 4 wheels turning all the time,and the capability to go is amazing and it's slick enough you can steer as per normal.

These and in stalling a Webber 88 carb on the engine are the low budget mods I have done to my '87 Raider and Like I said it's a local legend. Nothing has ever broken or given trouble regarding the welded diffs etc. and as a full time wilderness survival Instructor I'm in the woods in 3 wheel drive !!A LOT!! So much so I managed to wear-lengthen the massive transfer case chain out in the transfer case!

I'm not complaining, She has 180,000 miles on her and those last 80K miles where me putting her through HARD use. No worries, got a new T-case from a yard for $125. Ready for 8+ years of more outstanding service.

All this to say they are amazing vehicles, and with some low budget mods they are unbelievable. Alas there is no perfection in this world...... Raiders are a bit underpowered on the interstate and faster highways. But they more than make up for it everywhere else.

Buy and enjoy.