Offroad-Express

Looking at getting one in replacement for my bighorn as I want a diesel again for traveling/touring. Now we are debt free we decided to stay in NZ and not go to OZ.

Was looking at getting a 3.1TDi Bighorn but I know to many people who have had them not last very long.

My budget is aound the $4k mark

Previously owned Mitsi's
1990 LWB Pajero 3.0L
1995 SWB Soft Top 2.8L (Owned for a few days)
1997 Challenger 2.8L

So far the one I have found is a Auto LWB factory diff lock NZ New looks tidy but obviously not as fancy as the import ones (Family has owned a few mainly V6 ones and this would be my 3rd Pajero but 2nd 2.8 which I owned for a few days and swapped for the bighorn)

So far after going through this section I have found some good info.

But got a couple more question.

I saw the SWB rear Safari/Patrol springs fit and give about 4inch of lift and 60series shock give more length. Are the shocks standard shocks or A/M ones?

Surely the front wont go as high as the back so how do you go about leveling that out. My thoughts are wind up the front and ball joint flip and trim the bump stops, anything else to reccomend?

Some have duel battery systems factory. the particular one Im looking at doesnt. Is there any issues with this? The SWB had it and on cold days started all good but with the Challenger only had 1 battery (Brand New) and it struggled to start on cold days. Can one be added to give the same effects as a factory duel battery set up?

Towing... With the Challenger it would heat up with just a car trailer on the back going up hills the cooling system was checked and in perfect condition so how would I avoid this from happening? Larger exhaust, bigger intercooler etc

And lastly would a Auto handle 33s without any issues? Im going to get a A/M transcooler fitted if I get this one for cheap insurance and Trans/diff breathers, etc. I have googled it and it looks like they should be sweet but just wanting to make sure.

Cheers in advance

Ray

I'm not an expert on the 2.8, but here's my experience with the 3.5:

Not much advantage having longer shocks due to the radius arm setup on these. On mine, the radius arm bushes bind up about the same time the standard length shock bottoms out.

They are very difficult to level out. Impossible with 4" lift in the rear! I've done a ball joint flip, and trimmed the bump stops - but I've had to put back original bump stops as the next limitation is outer tie-rod ball joint angle. I was ruining tie-rod ends within weeks. I've got about 50 mm lift at the front end. The upper A-arms are really short, so beyond 50 mm lift at the front, the ride starts getting pretty dubious. Next stop would probably be custom arms or SAS.

The 2.8 should already have a trans cooler, but then your 2.8 challenger should have had one as well. The pajero one does look to be slightly bigger. Also, I can get my torque converter to lock up in 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the road, and the 2.8 should have the very same trans (V4AW3). Your challenger might have had the same unit, but being a '97, might have had a V4A51 (got the chassis #?) - don't know anything about that model.

Haven't done much towing with mine - just a Waverunner on the road and on/off Muriwai, all up weight is probably about 400 kg. No issues there on 33s.

I have towed heaps with our 2.8Pajero and it never gets hot. Towed my Suzuki, a Renault 12 wagon, a Daimler dart, a Lada and a Lada full of car parts (separate loads). struggled a bit on the last one but was alright. Mind you the turbo is well worn now.

I would think with 33's the gearing would be a bit too tall. When off road it seems a bit tall with the standard 31"s. Also we could lock up the trans too. but ours has no diff lock.

My 2.8 swb pajero is for sale and will be under $4,000 if you are interested.

Hi Ray, I'd say there is/was something wrong with your challenger for it to heat up. Mitsi's generally have very good cooling systems and i doubt you would have a problem.
If you are not worried about it riding a bit harder then you could put GQ springs in it but make sure they are SWB factory ones. Try not to go to high in the front as it will also ride poorly.
33's will make it make harder work of towing, no doubt, thats simply a bigger tyre effect. A 2.8 LWB already has the lower diffs so you cannot change them out for lower.
A single battery should be fine but there is room to put in a second one as I have done.

Glen

Ok sweet cheers for all the replies. It now gived me a better idea on what I can and cant do.

With the suspension lift would Sagged Safari LWB springs be good to use or just go SWB ones?
I only want to lift it enough to get the 33s in the guards and get some decent flex out of the back end. How would I go with the whole making sure the rear bushes dont bind up? Longer arms?

It was really strange how the Challenger would heat up my thoughts were the exhaust may have been blocked somewhere and causing to much back preasure and thus heat things up.

I know a friend of mine has a 2.8 LWB and they tow heaps with no issues and I would basically run 33s for off road and 31s for towing and open road driving unless its a off road safari and I have to travel.

Yeah I will look at getting the 2nd batter fitteed and wire it up the same way its from factory on the other models.

Northland_Pajero. Cheers for the offer but really looking for a LWB as with 2 kids its really anoying ATM with a SWB Bighorn.

I can understand needing a LWB with kids, with the SWB I normally have the seats folded forward using it as a two seater.

With the right offset wheels you can get 33's in the guards with no lift on that model as they have a factory body lift to fit the body over the larger transmission than the earlier ones.

northland_pajero wrote:I can understand needing a LWB with kids, with the SWB I normally have the seats folded forward using it as a two seater.

Yeah its rather frustrating but then I see people with 2 door escudo's with 2 kids seats in the back haha so shouldnt complain to much.

NJV6 wrote:With the right offset wheels you can get 33's in the guards with no lift on that model as they have a factory body lift to fit the body over the larger transmission than the earlier ones.

Ok thats good to know. I was looking at a offset that would make them sit flush with the guards (if not slightly outside).