*UPDATE*How's this Pajero look? You guys helped me decide :)

[NCpaj]

there's just something about the boxy Gen Is. I have a thing for vehicles with angles

ya the gen 1

all the best with your car and enjoy all the comfy bits

[j-top paj]

Yea, you'll prob need 16 inch rims to fit the disc's is that right?

Count the bolts and what size around the rear diff head.

10 bolts for the diff.
it came with 16s but i have had 15s on it before. but the 15s were fliped so that would have helped

[Clead]

Well guys, I had the 1990 turbo-diesel Exceed model checked out at a JDM-specialty shop, and it's gonna cost a small fortune to get it 100%. Needs: all balljoints, all tie-rod ends, 4 shocks, 4 tires, front calipers, rear rotors, timing belt/water pump/gaskets, some hoses are cracking, and all brake pads are kaput. Total estimate $3500-4000 labour-in. Considering the guys is asking $7000, it's simply not worth it. I've spoken to him since the inspection, and he's offered to come down to $6500 Canadian. Unless he'll go under $5000, or catch up on some of that maintenance himself, I'm going to have to pass this one by. Too bad. I really did like this particular model, and they're rather few and far between here in Canada. I've never seen an Exceed for less than $10,000.

[hudson44]

Needs: all balljoints, all tie-rod ends, 4 shocks, 4 tires, front calipers, rear rotors, timing belt/water pump/gaskets, some hoses are cracking, and all brake pads are kaput. Total estimate $3500-4000 labour-in.

Now you know why it was under $10 000!

[PHIL]

Well guys, I had the 1990 turbo-diesel Exceed model checked out at a JDM-specialty shop, and it's gonna cost a small fortune to get it 100%. Needs: all balljoints, all tie-rod ends, 4 shocks, 4 tires, front calipers, rear rotors, timing belt/water pump/gaskets, some hoses are cracking, and all brake pads are kaput. Total estimate $3500-4000 labour-in. Considering the guys is asking $7000, it's simply not worth it. I've spoken to him since the inspection, and he's offered to come down to $6500 Canadian. Unless he'll go under $5000, or catch up on some of that maintenance himself, I'm going to have to pass this one by. Too bad. I really did like this particular model, and they're rather few and far between here in Canada. I've never seen an Exceed for less than $10,000.

Buddy, I paid 7k to my door, and that's with $500 shipping from Van to here. This was for an auction grade 4, with 35ooo kms on it, and it needed nothing except tires to pass inspection.

Have you considered importing one from Japan? There's lots of companies doing it, esp over your way. I used JDM connection, www.jdmconnection.ca .

Might be another option for you, since it sounds like the companies with landed stock are charging large for what you want....

Keep us posted eh?

[Clead]

Hi Phil, that's exactly where my path is currently headed . I've decided to explore Terra2Imports as an option for now, and Jerry there said today that I could follow your recommendation and go grade 4 Gen II 4dr Exceed for about $8-9K all-in. Maybe even less at an auction. I also decided that I plan on keeping the vehicle for at least 5 years, so I'll hold out for exactly what I want, option-wise. I want the FULL-load with a 5spd. Although the slushbox is awefully tempting after I sat in a 20-minute bridge lineup today in my wife's 5spd Neon.
Anyways, I will keep you guys posted, and thanks for the Gen II suggestion Phil. Maybe it'll end up looking something like this (stolen link from Terra2):

[PHIL]

One more thing to think about, re: stick vs auto:

My 5sp with 33s and 4.88 diffs runs about 3050rpm at 110kmh, whereas I'm told the auto on 31s does it a little lower. If you do a lot of highway, this could be a factor for you, since you want the rpms lower if possible...

But I would def hold out for what you want. I started looking last aug (05) and didn't end up getting in my driveway till aug of 06...

[Clead]

Well, the deicision's made on the trans then. I do about 25km of freeway per day going to and from work. Durn it, the 5spd would have been fun. But not in a 20-minute stop&go bridge lineup. I wanted to do some cross-province traveling with the family next year too, so AT it is.
Thanks for the heads-up. This kind of stuff is never in the manual... (not that I can read Japanese anyways! )
Thanks PHIL,
Duncan