Well, if you read my introduction post you know that I am new here. I am going to pick up a 95 Montero SR tonight (I am excited), but the downside is that it needs a motor. Evidently the original engine dropped a few valves and the PO decided to tear into the motor only to find that it was toast. So, I am buying this vehicle CHEAP and need to find a motor to put into it. Does anyone fairly close to Mid Missouri have an engine they would be willing to part with for a good price (I would be willing to drive a good distance if the deal was right)? Also, if I can't find a good motor then what swap options do I have that don't require extensive work (ex: rewiring the whole car/ remapping fuel etc...). Any help would be great, thanks in advance. Cole

You will find allot of interchangeability in Mitsu engines.

For an almost direct install get an imported 3.5 DOHC engine for about $1500. These are Diamante engines but will swap in.
You can install a later SOHC 24V engine, if you get one from a Montero it will go in with little fuss.
If the lower end of your truck survived the valve crash then just do the heads. Any post 93 DOHC head will do, the castings are the same. The 91&92 do not have the mount for the cam sensor.

I have a good set of 24v DOHC heads I don't need - came from a '95 Diamante - will need at least cleaning, but they appear to be straight.

Frank

I see that you are running the 3.8, how hard was that install and was it worth it? Did you source your 3.8 from a Diamante or??? Thanks for the replies, hopefully someone has one that's been rolled or wrecked or something like that. I hate to spend 1500.00 on a used motor, was hoping to be able to find something alot cheaper, but it seems these 3.5's are hard to find <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Or how about just a normal 3.0. Would this be a straight forward swap? Would i have to change anything, or would it basically be plug and play?

Frank, if coletrain777 doesen't need your heads i might be interested

Frank,
I don't think I will need the heads, I won't know until tonight when I pick up the Monty, but I think the whole original motor is in pieces and some of those pieces are missing. So I would imagine I probably need to find a complete engine. I appreciate the offer though. Now to find an engine for less than 3x's what I paid for the vehicle.

The 3.8 in mine is from a 2006 Galant. If you were to keep the SOHC heads it would be a very straight forward swap. Me being a nut who is willing to go on a limb converted it to the DOHC.
Is it worth it, I do not know yet, I have never driven a stock SR. Like you I bought mine with a bad engine. I went the way I did since I tow with my rigs and want as much mid range power as I can get. This thing does make good power.
I would not recommend a 3.0, these trucks are heavy. Not knowing if you live on flat land or a hilly area mine still does not have enough torque to climb grades at a medium speed in top gear. When warm weather arrives mine will get a new exhaust which will free up a bit of power.

The least expensive engine you will find are the 3.5 SOHC Diamante engines. You will need the water plumbing and oil sump from a 3.5 SOHC Montero to make it work.

So I picked up the 95 Monty SR last night, and it is really nice. The leather is in pretty good shape, the body is excellent, the huge sunroof is really cool, I dig the back seats, and overall I really like it. They seem to have done a good job taking the old motor out (no cut wires or sloppy work). The motor is missing the heads and intake and other misc parts, and is completely torn down (totally bare block). So I am going to need a complete motor for sure. I just found one with 78K from a salvage yard in Chicago, it comes with a 100 day warranty, and the best part... it's only $500. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> This seems to be turning out to be a wonderful deal so far!

Cool! Keep us posted.