Offroad-Express

Hi Guys

ive been signed up here on the forum for over 2 years, and this is my first post!!!

Ive cracked the head o newly purchased 1997 Mitsubishi Challenger. Luckily I can sauce a cheap new head complete. ITs currently at North shore diesels being repaird.

My Question is, what can i do to stop this from happening. It looks like a worn out water pump was the culprit... but what about egts .. what can i do to keep them down? any info much appreciated. Its been a very expensive car and ive only owned it for a week!!!

Mods- please feel free to move this if ive posted in the wrong section!

To help with EGT's you can fit a larger diameter exhaust, this helps the heat escape a bit faster. An intercooler upgrade could also be useful, might be able to squeeze a big front mount in.

The No.1 thing you can do to control your EGTs is fit an EGT gauge and drive to it.

Then, if you want to cane it, start doing things like exhaust, intercooler, turbo etc etc

Ok cool thanks for the advice, any places recommended for exhaust upgrade? I'm based in upper harbor West Auckland, Also where can i get a good EGT gauge from..

Any one mounted one on a 4m40? in the manifold? or after the turbo? sorry for all the questions

Best place for the egt probe is in the collector on the manifold, just before the turbo flange.

thanks Zukmiesta, Has any one built or got a exhaust upgrade on a challenger? did it help much with egt. Im to used to petrol v8's and drive the challenger like i would the V8.. hence the cooked head. Lesson learnt. No im wanting to do all I can to avoid a repeat

I have a 96 challenger. My water pump went at 150 thou. Nearly cooked it but caught it just in time. Ive been watching the oil and water for a couple weeks to be sure. I plan to to rebuild the turbo and make a dump pipe. This sould be a good mod. Does anyone think its good idea to put in a hood vent? Lots of jeep guys do on their xjs. The intercooler one is off center and a second one would sit nicr over exhaust and manifold. Thoughts?

Hey fish,

Let me know mate. Yeh unfortunately I missed the temp gauge for just a little to long.

Im going to do a dump pipe also and exhaust upgrade, Were are you going to get yours done?
Also going to git EGT gauge and a better water temp gauge, with a warning light and alarm!

have you done any mods?

Na no mods really. Just a set of 31s and a tidy up. I dont know who to get the pipe made by yet. That tomsoffroad has done them but I dont know what it would cost. Challenger mods seem challenging as they are not too common and there seems to be a lack of bolt on kit out there. Great waggon tho. Never had mine stuck yet... I think mk triton snorkel will fit ect so can be done just might have to get a bit thrifty on it.

tell me about it mate, I cant find anything on them at all.
keep in touch if you come up with any usefull information!

Seems my truck just had a new thermpstat before the water pump shat itself

Having cracked two 4m40 heads this is what i did to solve the problem
1 Replace radiator. Only last appox 10 years
2 Fit E.G.T gauge do not go over 600c
3 Fit water temperature gauge,standard gauge does not tell you that the
engine is overheating until it is to late.Temp should run between 75 an
85c

4 Fit new water pump
5 Add approx 20 mil of high viscosity oil to fan
6 All of the above should solve your problem, in my case the main cause
was the radiator

waypa wrote:Having cracked two 4m40 heads this is what i did to solve the problem
1 Replace radiator. Only last appox 10 years
2 Fit E.G.T gauge do not go over 600c
3 Fit water temperature gauge,standard gauge does not tell you that the
engine is overheating until it is to late.Temp should run between 75 an
85c

4 Fit new water pump
5 Add approx 20 mil of high viscosity oil to fan
6 All of the above should solve your problem, in my case the main cause
was the radiator

Awesome thanks heaps mate, it seems the engine had a few botch jobs done on it recently which didn't help. cam chain was loose bolt wearnt tight holding the tensioner - wanker who sold me the car to wont front up.

OK cool so you would recommend a new radiator over a repaired one?.. ill prob go for the new radiator I think.

Were about's did you put the sender in for your egt and water temp gauge?
Ill be doing both of these at the same time.
Do you tow with your car? whats the egt's like when towing?

Sorry for all the questions - I just want to do all i can since im throwing so much $ at this thing now!

Hi. Yes go for new radiator buy from mitsubishi will cost you a bit more .My first radiator was an import out off (china) cost me the second head
Fit water temp gauge top radiator hose
I fitted my egt gauge just after turbo can fit before turbo just keep temp under 600c and i had no more cracked heads
I have a 1500kg caravan an although it would pull the caravan it would struggle on the hills down to 60k second gear, would restrict towing loads to7or800kg
Hope this helps you
Ps my challenger was fitted with arb lockers front an rear, do not remove rear torstion bar or you will break shocks

waypa wrote:Hi. Yes go for new radiator buy from mitsubishi will cost you a bit more .My first radiator was an import out off (china) cost me the second head
Fit water temp gauge top radiator hose
I fitted my egt gauge just after turbo can fit before turbo just keep temp under 600c and i had no more cracked heads
I have a 1500kg caravan an although it would pull the caravan it would struggle on the hills down to 60k second gear, would restrict towing loads to7or800kg
Hope this helps you
Ps my challenger was fitted with arb lockers front an rear, do not remove rear torstion bar or you will break shocks

Ok what causes the shocks to break?? .. you couldn't post pics of your gauges could you?.. Ive gone for the new radiator. Fingers crossed I dont have any more issues with it after the big repair

sorry don!t have any photo have sold challenger.Too much movement sideways breaks the bottom ring of the shock.Fit a rear locker don!t need to remove sway bay, will transform your vehicles off road ability.
Best tire size 31 however will take 32 with 50m suspension lift
You would be well advised to fit rock sliders.