Full disclosure....this is my first post, I've been a member of this forum for a whopping 1 hour. So here goes...

I'm an aspiring off-roader and an armature mechanic. I've always dreamed of getting something like a Jeep or 4Runner for camping/road-trips/hunting and the such, but as luck would have it, I am in the proud new owner of a 1997 Mitsubishi Montero SR for the whopping price of Free.99

-3.5L SOHC, 24 valve engine
-Automatic transmission
-4x4 with locking differential
-Every other flippin' bell and whistle available in 1997

This vehicle came to me from my mom who purchased it new. In true mom-fashion, she treated it like a precious snow flake (she even saved the original window sticker which showed the MSRP as $40K!) . It went to the dealership at the slightest sign of worry and has never truly been off-road. The vehicle has no body damage and zero rust (central California kept). It has just passed the 200K mile mark and still runs incredibly well. The only issue I've found is that it has an oil leak at the valve cover gasket and it hasn't been put into 4x4 mode in over 5 years.

The reason I've joined this forum and am posting today is that I'm curious to know this vehicle's potential. I like that is a unique beast on today's roads but worry as to the availability of parts now that it is almost 20 years old. I assume that an engine rebuild is inevitable due to its mileage and I'm afraid to try to put it in 4x4 mode because it has been nearly 5 years since that has been engaged.

As to my personal background...I've been working on cars since I was 15. I've never attempted a rebuild of an automatic transmission or worked on a 4x4 system, but I've done just about everything there is to do with a motor and vehicle suspension.

So now I come to the point...Is this vehicle worth the time, effort, and money to keep running. Let me know what you think based on what you know of this vehicle's potential and mechanical ability. If it comes to having to pull the motor and rebuild it, will I be able to find parts? If the 4x4 systems needs repair due to neglect, will I be able to find parts? The usual old-car stuff.

If you've made it this far, thanks for taking the time to read through this post.