I'm looking for more power for work-like activities like trailer-pulling and snowplowing. I thought maybe the Montero gen-1 V6 may bolt up, yes? I'm not afraid to get dirty, but it is my only vehicle right now. I like this little truck and I'd rather work it than get a small pickup or something. Plus it's been in the family since day-one. So, are there any relatively painless power upgrades? (it's got 127xxx miles. all original, getting 17.75mpg)

if your willing to invest money and time into a 2.6 Mitsu Starion turbo engine swap then that's your only route without chopping motor mounts up to make something else fit.

It never hurts to check your carb and make sure the secondary diaphragm is opening. They develop leaks over time that really slows down the secondaries opening.

What you get is a motor that is down about 30% in power.

That said, stock its not a real powerhouse but decent with a stick and it makes good torque.

Without going turbo and keeping the stock cam you can find a few HP by milling the head, a light porting and a weber carb. A decent set of tri-y headers will help a little.

One of the best setup is the TPI fuel injection setup from Australia. The intake needs modification to fit but the intake / cam combo from AU provides about 30 HP.

As pointed out the Starion turbo setup provides a big jump. Its hard not to notice doubling the stock torque/ HP.

Kevin

Not to go OT, but I notice more and more people from PA popping up on the boards. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I have a turbo engine sitting in my garage, but I am hoping to find a project to put it in and buy it from brendan. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> 4cyl 4dr Montero maybe? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Thanks. That's a lot of good info. I'll start checking out the basics first. I'm just brainstorming, but would it make sense to buy a Jasper Starion engine and go from there?

Only if you want to spend a bunch of money and then try to rebuild it again later. Or to put it differently- no.

You want to find a donor car if at all possible. First step is to read the Turbo Bible Thread.

For sure get an 88 or 89 donor car or an engine from an 88 or 89 as complete as possible. All electronics, wire harness, ECU, knock box, intercooler, maf etc...

Snowplowing and trailer pulling.....

If it's just around town get a set a manual hubs then use 4LOW <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

I know of an 88 Conquest nearby Ann Arbor... CHEAP. I almost picked it up myself, but running out of space and couldnt get it stripped down until maybe May or June with my current to-do list.

I'm new to 2.6 Raider world (just left diesel Pajero land), but my roomate has a 2.6 in his D50. I was going to copy his setup on my 2.6 but now you have me thinking...

He was running a Pacesetter header and swithced to the Doug Thorley. He is very impressed with the low and mid range torque increase. He is running a Webber 38 which is impressive power wise but was a pain to tune and has cold start issues that he is still trying to solve.

It took less then 2 hours for him to install and a bit of time tuning afterwards. The total cost was less than $500 (all the parts were new). Can that cost to power gain be beat? How usable is the power band with the turbo set up? Will he be able to build any boost plowing snow?

This is a great thread with lots of good ideas.

Maurie