I thought that was for the 4cyl. 7.25" front??

I thought you used the 4cyl. 8" rear LSD for the front of a V6 8" axle?? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Or am I wrong??

The truck LSD wont work b/c the bearing caps (I think thats the term Kevin used) are to wide for the housing but the quest LSD will fit. I just traded a 4cyl LSD out of a 87 for a quest LSD to put in the front of my V6 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

[quote}
are early trooper front ends sought after? i see them every once in a while.... [/quote]

I think they are hard to come by because the round headlight grill was only offered untill 87. 88 was the first year of the square headlight. So there is a 3 year window. And like everyone knows the Trooper in the first 3 years had bad motor issues, so many early trooper probably went to the yard sooner than later. Just my hunch.

Rog,

If parts and serviceability are your biggest concern, I'd say go with the 2.8L Trooper. Some won't like this answer here, and many may talk about ugradeability of axles and suspension with parts from newer trucks. They are absolutely right about the Gen I Mitsu rigs. You can upgrade those parts with absolutely no problem, given you can find the pieces you need to do it.

The thing that people don't talk about is ease of repair of a Mitsubishi 3L engine and accompanying transmission. Expensive is the key word in the rebuild process if you use OEM parts. The other issue for me is that the only dealer within an hour of me closed a couple months ago, and we won't be getting another. I'm quite sure you don't have that problem in Portland, but for me, rapid parts availability is an issue.

On to my point...the 2.8 is a gutless bastard, at best, in the Trooper. VERY widely used in a wide range of vehicles, though, and VERY easily replaceable with a 3.4 (60* Chevy V6 family) from a RWD vehicle which there were also a large abundance of when I was pondering this very issue a few years ago. The other great thing about these engines was parts availability. Lots of aftermarket out there, I've heard no issues with parts not able to be found. YMMV, though, as I haven't been looking in the last couple of years.

I answer this way without knowing your wrenching ability or the scope of what you'd consider out of your comfort zone. As always, this is my VERY humble opinion, and I hope you have fun with the decision. That's what it's really about, after all. I truly think you'll enjoy either rig if you know what you're getting into when you buy it. The surprises are what suck and will drive you to despise your rig even if you loved it when you bought it.

Good luck!

I don't see what the big deal about dealer parts are... I used a Felpro rebuild kit on my engine in the Montero and have had zero problems. Even small differences in the OE parts and aftermarket suppliers can be overcome by a competent mechanic. I paid about $120 for my engine overhaul kit, and 3 mins of searching I found a source for my auto trans overhaul kit. The parts are out there, just depends on how dedicated you are to doing the work. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Sure dedication to doing the work can overcome small flaws in manufacturing resulting in a little excess material here and there. What dedication to doing the work doesn't overcome is how long seals last, or how long a water or oil pump will go. Unless, of course, your definition of dedication to work means doing the work over again when the aftermarket part fails. Sorry, I'm not that dedicated. I don't know what parts are made where or how long they'll last. I don't have any statistical evidence to argue for one over the other. What I DO know is that these engines run for over 200k miles, in most cases on OE parts.

Just my opinion. I'm glad yours is working out for you, though! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

So The Trooper 2.8 has just as much HP as the Inline 4. I've read that in other posts. Thats sort of disapointing. I was hoping for the oppisite. Swaping 3.4 in place of the 2.8 is something I can do...But really dont want to if I can help it. I've had other vehicles in my life that did not have the factory motor trans combo and my experience were bad. Mis matched wiring harnesses, parts counter dudes getting confused, radiator hoses from one machine, to fit the frankenstein under the hood.

I've never see a 3.4 in a Trooper. I might be projecting my bad experiences. But I'd hate to get into that kind of a project only to discover that it wasnt as easy as everyone said it was going to be.

I also understand the difference between OEM parts. I know that they are of a higher quality and should last longer and do a better job. My only argument with that suggestion is that Portland has NO Isuzu dealers of any kind. That was one of my problems the last time I owned the 4 cyl trooper. There was no authorized dealer, no realy knowlegeable mechanics, no suport of any kind. The only help I got was from forums and back yard wrenching.

One of the things that made me consider the Mitsubish was the fact that they are still in the business of making cars and trucks. That tells me that they are doing something right. People vote with their wallets and Isuzu lost out due to some mistakes. (thats my guess anyway).

So I'm am very greatful for this discussion so far. It is shedding new light on these two machines.

Jon your thoghts and input have been very helpful and very objective. And the others who have posted have brought up some great points.

I'm curious what people think of the Mistubish Montero Gen-1 as a stock machine. I doubt I'll ever lift it, swap out difs or run mondo tires. I'm going to be driving dirt roads with a canoe on the roof. I'll haul a trailer to the dump. I'll drive up the mountain to go snow shoeing... I'm not going to go rock crawling or ford a muddy river.

With my use for the machine in mind, what do you think of these two machines in their stock forms??

Thanks for the input so far.

Short and to the point:

1. Isuzu isn't out of the car building business, they just don't deal in gasoline vehicles in the USA. I won't debate the bad business decisions for the US. They are well known.

2. Bang for buck out of the box...I'd vote for a 3.0L Montero or Raider, put on A/T tires of choice and drive the hell out of it. It will be upgradeable if and when you come to the decision to do so. Gearing is slightly better in the stock Monteros, and you'll likely enjoy the power put out by the 3 liter. It is NOT a 2.6!

3. Yes, Mitsubishi is still here in the AWD market for now. The number of off-road rigs are drastically reduced, but they ARE still here.

Good luck with the search!

CapnCrunch has a well running 2.6 stock with 5.29s and turning 33s. He says he can drive all day long on the high highways in CO.

Have you read the Turbo Bible thread yet? There are bunch of ~200HP 2.6 rigs out there now...

Not trying to hijack, but how about this one?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1323906842.html