Weeee!

Dropped the truck down and put the adapter plate in for a test fit, see if you can find the problem.



Yep, the Benz starter is ~ 4 inches too long to clear the pass side motor mount.

The trans is ~ 4 inches forward from the tunnel, so it looks like all signs are pointing to me moving the damn thing back 4 inches and dealing with a shifter in the middle of the freaking seat.

Then I remember that I need to redo the motor mounts anyways, and that problem goes away.

The problem that is still rearing it's ugly head is that of where the oil pump ends up siting.

It's perched just right so as to possibly hit the front swaybar unless I can raise the driveline up another 2 inches, or somehow move/dispense with the pump. This is after removing the pickup and relief valve, so no clue as to how I'll pull this one off with them in place.

I'm thinking I can space the trans mount up about an inch if needed, and space the tcase roll bushing thing the same amount. Ironically the Montero one I originally ordered woulda been ~ the right height for that...

I might have enough room above the engine to mount a radiator and do some creative duct work to pull air from the front. I think the suggestion of 2 smaller radiators on either side will win in the end, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I think later today I'll strip out the unneeded PS line brackets and such, get the engine on the hoist again, bolt on the adapter plate sans starter, and see where I actually stand on this. I have a sneaking suspicion my tape measure is playing tricks on my brain, but I can't quite prove it...

Not being able to see this with the engine set in place, I would change the seats to the buckets allowing the shifter to move back. To me it is more important to get the engine to sit where it needs to with all the accessories functioning.

Agreed, making sure the engine fits and the vitals like the alt and waterpump function is top priority, I'm just bouncing a handfull of ideas off of everyone to get a different perspective
If I do indeed need to move it back to fit it all properly, I'll notch the seat a bit more and redo the cover, no big whoop there.

I'll have the same issue of where to put the oil cooler and A/C condenser no matter if I move the trans back or not, but if I move it back I can cut the upper rad support and shoehorn the rad in at the same ungodly angle and arangement I had it in before.

I won't be certain as to how much or how little room I have till the engine's in there without it's pan for a test fit.

Looking back, it fit fine in the other truck with the original pan after some frame notching, with 1/4" or so between the pan and swaybar. The pickup is ~ 2 inches long and rests on the pan bottom for all intents, so I have ample clearance there after I remake the pickup flange and put the relief on a 90. I measured out from rear of the block to oil pump, and I seem to have enough room to clear the front frame member as well, but I'm not entirely sure.

If I can catch a few hours shuteye I'll hopefully have some definitive measurements by the end of the day.

Remove the swaybar...

I go way too quick around corners to ever think of doing that... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />
This thing will be a DD asphalt queen till I'm feeling frisky one random evening. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's a pickup right, you'll lose traction out back before you can get a tire off the ground, leaf springs and KYB's are more than enough to make it ride like a brick.

So removing the swaybar won't affect driveability that much because it's the pickup? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Yes it will, you probably would not like it without the bar during spirited driving especially with the weight increase of the swap.

That's what I was thinking, increased roll would cut my cornering fun down a bit. Was open to being wrong though, wouldn't be the first time, or the last, and Mitsu has done weird crud before...

Ended up helping my Grandfather unload and stack a face cord of firewood today, the truck can wait.

Ahh my wife and I brought in 1¢ cord yesterday. We call it exercise.

I have not checked the details but Montero or Sport T bars might be an upgrade.