Offroad-Express

hey guys i'm thinking about a petrol pajero LWB as a tow wagon/camper the theory being do some shiny trips in it and use it to tow my G wagen if i ever get it sorted.

So what i would like to know what are their weak spots what should i be aware of while looking.
I'm thinking of spending $3-5K age doesn't worry me, do i need to be aware of K's.
I have seen a few listed with tiptronic auto what year and engine did that come out.
How easily serviceable are the engines.
What are the pro's and con's of GDI.
How common are the rear diff lock's in these.

that's enough questions to start with

But but but but I think you might be confused, its a Mitsubishi, not a Mercedes...!

Running gear - fantastic.
Diff locks - On all NZ new models but not very common on Imports.

GDi's, ho hum, they are fixable but the injection pump can give problems. Petrols go hard and are reliable but once again, pushing a 2 ton brick, love the petrol.

Might just about get a 2.8Tdi for that money. Same with all small diesels, you may have to put a new head on it at some stage but the vehicles are so cheap that doesn't really matter.

Bang for your buck - great.

NJV6 wrote:Bang for your buck - great.

thats part of the reason i'm looking at them

i get the impression the transmissions and drivelines are fine the engines are the weak point but if you look after them properly they will treat you right

I recently sold my bush basher Terrano and purchased a 2.8D LWB limted edition Pajero 1994. Its a amazing wagon for its age and a class above the terrano in terms of ride quality.

I got mine for $4.5k with 240K on the clock, the body is in great shape and the interior is pretty good (has been used as a family wagon and kids have had a go at the back seats etc)

I bought it because I had a lot of towing to do (up and down the country a couple times) and the terrano wasn't very comfortable to tow and the manual gearbox has exploded on me twice towing my race trailer (2.5-3 ton trailer)

The pajero towed well but even from factory they have a real problem with EGT getting away on you on long climbs, I suspect this is why they are prone to cracking heads as the expansion of the ally head at high temps will severely weaken them.

The auto box is real nice and if you put it in hold it wont just drop a gear and rev it tits off like most other diesel autos.

So far in mine I have installed boost, water temp and EGT gauges to keep an eye on things. I have replaced the turbo seals and bearings which took a $150 kit and 3 hours to do the job (They are prone to being smokey as the turbo seals shit themselves) and given it a full service. Next up on the maintenance items is injector rebuild. I am fairly sure mine is a bit low on compression but it does not burn oil and starts well so it can stay that way. They are prone to eating glow plugs due to the glowplug ECU shitting itself. Easy fix to install a manual glow plug heater, mine is fine at the moment.

On the performance side of things and generally modding, i first started by blocking the EGR which took away a lot of smoke at takeoff I then upped the boost to 15PSI which shaved 50C of egt temp but mainly stopped it smoking at full throttle and gave it a bit more go. Just yesterday I installed a water/meth injection kit which initially seems to have dropped egts by around 150-200C which is massive and that is just running water, if more power is wanted mixing 50/50 water meth will yeild a 20% power increase with no other tuning. Have seen dyno charts of people making 50% more power and getting close to 200hp and 400Nm outta the 2.8. Next up is a 2.5" exhaust to extract a bit more torque and get rid of some heat then we can start adding some more fuel.

I have also installed a catch can which stops the heavy breathers dumping their oil in the intercooler and cleaned that out.

I have finished towing with it now and am so happy with it I am going to keep it and I am in the process of converting it to a camper and have installed a third deep cycle battery in the boot along with bed base, draws, power inverter, 22" tv and curtains. Plenty of space in the LWB to work with. The goal is so that me and the missus can go camping for a week without needing to top up so will be adding water tanks and a fridge etc soon. It will get fun to make it all fit with that on board.

Anyway thats enough of my rambling but over all very happy with mine and Im sure the petrols would be good to just thirsty as hell, when I looked into it, it would cost me double in fuel including RUC, I get around 700kms to the tank which cost 120 to fill from the fuel light.

If you are interested I can get some pics up for ya.

Cheers,

-Sketchy

pics are always good

Rear difflocks come in the soft top shortys.
I have two shortys, both v6(6g72),one a soft top and one not, one manual and one auto. The auto is a pleasure to drive and have had no probs, manual ones tend to hammer clutches under extreme use.

Oh yea, they are both very thirsty so not sure how they would go towing a camper, may have to hook on a tanker aswell

kaupoi wrote:Oh yea, they are both very thirsty so not sure how they would go towing a camper, may have to hook on a tanker aswell

i don't plan on towing a camper i want to set it up as a camper and occasionally tow my G wagen.
and can't be much thirstier than my current driver a 190E 2.3 16V Mercedes Benz

There is a v6 pajero for sale in Ashhurst, Manawatu , belongs to a guy in my 4wd club,SWB, is very capable , lift kit, snorkle etc, asking around 5k I believe, call Ken on 063268515, evenings

cheers
Greg

I have a 96 nz new 2.8 lwb, what a great truck i have owned it 5 years maybe almost 6 and done about 50k in it. only had to do the usual stuff oil brake pads etc, until my trip at new years where we went to wanaka fully loaded with gear and it cracked the head i would say buy one even tho it cracked the head, i had my foot up through the hills to try and keep in our convoy and i guess thats what cooked it,

Mr racer i see your've done alot to keep an eye on things, i'm just about to get my head replaced can you recommend some cheap mods so this doesn't happen again, i have already blocked off my egr,

once again i would recommend a paj to anyone. other than the head its been a great truck and get an nz new, DIFF LOCK for free oh and slidy windows at the back and the seven seaters rear seats fold ALMOST flat, great for camping in!!

my 2c

Lee

WRNGLR wrote:There is a v6 pajero for sale in Ashhurst, Manawatu , belongs to a guy in my 4wd club,SWB, is very capable , lift kit, snorkle etc, asking around 5k I believe, call Ken on 063268515, evenings

cheers
Greg

good for camping if he is a midget i guess

but a good truck if anyone else is after a well sorted SWB for wheeling

do the tiptronic transmissions have lockup on the converter or not

I've got a swb paj up for sale too. 160k's, 1996 v6. 4.5k. Would be a sweet tow wagon for a sleeper trailer but not ideal if your making a camper.