Offroad-Express

Hey, I'm looking at a petrol pajero SWB - well not not in particular but I'm thinking of getting one of these or the isuzu SWB Petrol... swaying towards mitsi at this stage anyway! Looking to get hold of a early to mid 90's model as they seem to be pretty cheap for what they are... also posted a similar post on isuzu list to get comparisons...

Got a few questions, it will be 90% off road (just a toy) I'm selling my 1980 SWB cruiser... need something a bit more comfy for family! Whats the petrol motors like for reliability and economy (not too concerned about econ as its only a when I go 4wding toy and the very odd trip to town) also are they easy enough to work on?

What are they like for after market mods? I plan on setting it up pretty good - well, snorkel, lift, decent mud tyres, front and rear bars etc... can ya get lockers or lock rites for them?

Thanks!

Chris
Invercargil

look for a soft top. most already have factory rear air lockers in them. if you find one with out id keep looking as they are common in the soft top. on 33s they willl hold their own with most others. the ifs lets them down, but if you get a v6 man you can geta ARB for the front. the autos have a smaller front diff that they dont make lockers for. mods, easy. balljoint flip in the front, wind up torsions, lwb raised kings springs in the rear and a 2" body lift. easy ily fit 33s on then, 35s with some guard trimming. be ware on 35s tho, rear axles are a bit weak but drive sensibly and it will be fine. custom axles shouldnt be hard to get made if you were really worried about them. the boxs and transfurs are fine. older mtrs tend to get a bit smokey, but thats when they get high kms unless they have be treated badly.

the 3.5s have more power and stroger drive line, but the stronger driveline means bigger diffs that get hung up more easily.

serious mods go on to gto twin turbo motors and supercharged std motors, solid axle swaps etc, retrofitting PTO winches... the list is endless.

i have a 3ltr soft top, i got it std with out rear locker and gradually built it up. it ended up on 33s with susp lift and balljoint flip and trimed guards, 5.3 ratio diffs with rear locker, and was holding its own with many trucks i thought would walk all over it. still have it but now its getting a solid front axle (almost done) and 35s. i have drowned mine, (water up to WOF sticker) and thrashed it with minimal maintence and its still chuging along well. the drowning did cost me $500ish tho.. (new comp, stepper mtr, oils, etc) but that was at least 1.5hrs underwater.

so 1 vote for pajero...

now wheres NJV6... he will be num 2 vote.... hes local to you aswell so check out his place..

Sam

I was liking the idea of soft top as it would b good for hunting too... and the factory locking diff.... that would b NICE

It sounds like the mitsi has a few more options for mods and seems to b the stronger vehicle.... my hand is slowly coming up for mitsi.... BUT the verdict is still open...

if it stays cheap its definatly worth considering... you can always retro fit a factory locker... http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 034415.htm

if you end up getting a soft top and want to run 15"rims, you will need to get landcrusier offset. the wheel places may say they dont fit, but i can assure you they do. also some of the factory options that pajeros have are height control, can raise the suspension at the touch of a button approx 2" ( provided your torsions arnt wound up to close to their max) and damper control, hard for on road driving soft for offroad and medium for .. well.... not much really...

just do it... you know you want to...

Finally I'm signed up and my first post is about a Pajero!

As per my signature I have a soft top 1991 and love it. Still yet to take it on missions other then red rocks to see what it can do, but for my first off-road vehicle (also 90% like you) I would recommend it. Hasn't let me down yet and am even trying to do my own work to it which I have never done before and am finding easy to work with the Haynes manual but haven't the balls to touch anything - (But I did tear the sunroof apart completely, brought another one and put 2 together to make 1 working one!!!)

In saying that, the rear diff is poked since I brought it a few months ago which I am not too worried about as the previous owner said it had been happening for a couple of years and I have suspisicions that the rear locker isn't working.

I vote Pajero