Cwn_Anwyn's 87 Dodge Raider DD build

[cwn anwyn]

cwn anwyn submitted a new Build:

Cwn_Anwyn's 87 Dodge Raider DD build

So this is what has been keeping me from working on the Blazer like I should be.

I picked up an 87 dodge Raider (actually a Mitsubishi Montero sold by Dodge) a few years ago to use as a daily driver cause the Blazer was killing me on gas mileage and it needed a break from DD duties. These are fairly capable little rigs but they have a sucky aftermarket support. No one makes anything for them. Stock it came with 4.625 gears (some had 4.88ish gears as a high altitude option). Mine came with a factory Limited slip in the back. They also have a boxed frame from the factory. Mine had the sluggish stock 2.6L 4 cylinder but you could get them with a V6 3.0 also. Here is what mine looked like stock.

(I lost some pics so I had to find an image online that was close to my stock Raider)

View attachment 231093

Read more about this build here...

 

[cwn anwyn]

I paid about 450.00 for it cause it had a "bad transmission" in it. The automatics pump was supposed to be bad. The PO couldnt get it to go into gear at all. It would start and just rev, but it wouldnt go into gear. What was actualy going on was some genius didnt bother to hook up the flywheel to torque converter bolts so it was just spinning. The PO ended up wearing a hole in the torque converter from trying to get it running. Bad thing is he had it taken to two small town shops and they replaced all kinds of junk on it, but never bothered to check those bolts.

Originally I intended on just fixing it quickly and running it as is. But as I dug into the transmission problem I decided to upgrade things while I was there. I cranked the torsion bars to get some lift, added some longer shackles and threw on some 33s. One great thing with these Mitsu products is just about everything is interchangeable. I ended up putting a V6 4 door Montero's (LWB) automatic in it for the better lock up feature. I then decided I wanted some more power then the stock 2.6 so I bought a 89 Chrysler Conquest (Mitsubishi Starion) for parts, but mainly just for the 2.6L turbo motor. Both the Conquest and the Montero share the same motor. Its just the Conquest came with stronger internals and some turbo specific stuff.

 

[cwn anwyn]

Here is a view of the stock 2.6L mess that was in there. (Ignore the date stamp on the pics, I always have that jacked up.)

And here is the old mill coming out.

And then the Turbo mill going in.

 

[cwn anwyn]

The turbo motor has a fairly easy to use fuel injected TB system and is intercooled. Once I had it in, I had to work some plumbing issues for the Intercooler, oil cooler and trans cooler. A few of the other Turbo swapped Monty's have the IC up front like this.

(MontyMcV's on 4x4wire)

I didnt want to go that route cause I wanted to keep my AC and the turbo's oil cooler had to go in that space along with the auto tranny's cooler. The only space I could get the intercooler to fit was pretty low down by the skid plate. And I really didn't like the idea of having it down there. So I decided to go top mount with it. Now the JDM models (Pajero's) can come with a turbo diesel and they run a top mount IC and a nice looking hood with scoop on them. But I knew I wasn't going to have any luck getting that setup here. So I originally planned on going with a WRX scoop on mine along with a WRX intercooler.

 

[cwn anwyn]

Along with working on the motor setup, I was also redoing alot of the interior. I stripped it out to fix some rust issues in the back and to bedline the interior.

 

[cwn anwyn]

 

[cwn anwyn]

I also swapped out the Raider grille for a Mitsubishi grille and added an HID light kit to it along with some fog lights and driving lights up front.

 

[cwn anwyn]

Then I got back to working on the fuel system and motor setup. Ideally I would like to find a later model (88-89) 2 door montero to grab the fuel tank and pump out of. Currently I have an external pump mounted that works, but is noisy as hell. But I cant find a FI tank that isnt beat up around here. But it doesnt help the all the local yards punch holes in them instead of undoing the drain plug that is two inches away.

Here is what the IC setup looked like.

 

[cwn anwyn]

Another great parts interchange that I did on this thing was the front Limited Slip. The Starion/Conquests and a rear limited slip in them that mysteriously is the same differential as the 4 door LWB Montero's front differential. So I swapped in the V6 diff along with the Conquests LSD in place of my smaller 4 cyl diff. While I was at it I threw on some 95 Montero Gen II brake calipers and rotors on it. They are two pot calipers with a bigger rotor then the stock 4 cyl calipers/rotors.

I also picked up another rear end for this beast out of a 95 Montero SR. This axle comes with a stronger diff, a factory air locker and disc brakes with built in emergency brakes. I havent swapped that in yet though. The SRs are coil sprung (same as all the V6 Montero/Raiders) and mine is leaf sprung in the back. I could hunt down a mid Gen II Montero Sport to get the same axle setup with leaf springs but those are hard to find. I got a good deal on mine so I am not too worried about either converting my back end to coils (Ruff Stuff Specialties ) or converting the axle to spring under.

 

[cwn anwyn]

So I got it running almost right but kept having some weird idling issues. But I drove it around and figured I could live with it and took it to work a few days. Thats where I screwed up. These 2.6 motors are notorious for having issues if you overheat them. The head is aluminum and loves to crack or warp real easy if you overheat them bad. Well my idle issue was actually a bad vacuum advanceon the distributor. So while cruising, under boost, the vac advance is supposed to retard the timing. It wasnt doing that very well and I ended up overheating and cracking the head pretty bad.

I tried finding a used head for a few weeks but kept coming up empty. Seems like every one I found in the local yards were trashed or had bad cams. I ended up buying one off a local guy on the StarQuest forums that was supposedly recently rebuilt. But that thing was out of spec and cracked. By the time I would have paid for it to get fixed, I was looking at new head prices anyway. So I went and bought a new M28 head (no Jet Valves) from EMS out of Niles Ohio. Randy did some great work in building this head for me.

 

[cwn anwyn]

 

[cwn anwyn]

Then I got to put it all back together.

 

[cwn anwyn]

After I got done putting that all back together I picked up a different hood scoop. Its a little large, but I wanted to pay homage to the Mopar part of this rig.

I also added a snorkel to it. Yes its fully plumbed and functional.

I also put on JDM/Aussie tail lights and turn signals. I like the look of those versus the US spec tail lights (solid red for the stop and turn and solid orange for the front corners).

 

[cwn anwyn]

Snorkel plumbed into the stock air can and Starion MAF.

 

[cwn anwyn]

So, basically thats where I am at on this currently. I've got a few quick projects to knock out on it. Like sliders and I need to reinstall my roof rack.

Plus I have been seriously considering doing something like this to it eventually.

(another 4x4wire member- he recently sold this rig in WA)

But that will be done after I get the K5 back on the road.

 

[Deuling]

Very cool! That ones in imaculate shape compared to the one my buddy had. I bet that turbo gives it alot more pep. Ill have to show this to my buddy, he really wants a nice one. There is a huge red one that comes to our sand dunes and someone told me its all chevy drivetrain with a blower.... Not sure on the blower but ive heard he rips.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Gawdammit.... Go into your "camera settings", and turn date-stamp OFF.

 

[cwn anwyn]

Gawdammit.... Go into your "camera settings", and turn date-stamp OFF.

I usually do that, but this damn camera keeps resetting. Every time the batteries are swapped out I have to go back and turn it off or update it. I just need to get a new one anyways. This one has some miles on it.

Z

 

[cwn anwyn]

Very cool! That ones in imaculate shape compared to the one my buddy had. I bet that turbo gives it alot more pep. Ill have to show this to my buddy, he really wants a nice one. There is a huge red one that comes to our sand dunes and someone told me its all chevy drivetrain with a blower.... Not sure on the blower but ive heard he rips.

There are a couple MI guys on the Mitsu section of 4x4wire. That red one could be one of them. I know a few guys on there have swapped in chevy drivetrains and are running solid front axles. I dont think I know of anyone with a blown or supercharged one though.

The turbo is pretty fun. It definitely wakes this thing up. Especially at altitude here. I'm still running the stock 12A turbo. But it spools up pretty quickly and I havent even cranked up the boost yet. Its pretty funny to see the look on some of the other drivers when they think they are going to blow by my little brick on wheels. I just give it a little gas and they hear that whine and it takes off like a rocket.

Z

 

[Stomis]

O this is right up my alley

I love the odd ball **** it Ill build everything myself rigs with no support.

So whens the toy front straight axle and 33s coming?