Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hiya,

im lookin at maybe buying a late 80s or early 90s Pajero LWB, Preferably turbo deisel. Will be selling my 3.5EFI v8 rangie.
Mainly used for city family car, but as a tourer as well. the other vehicle i'm looking at is similar year Patrols.

How strong is the front end (IFS) on these?
What some things to look out for?
How many KMS are too many?

also, are the jap imported ones any good? as there seems to be a few around at low prices with low kms.

any ideas,
thanks,
Shem

smac wrote:Hiya,

im lookin at maybe buying a late 80s or early 90s Pajero LWB, Preferably turbo deisel. Will be selling my 3.5EFI v8 rangie.
Mainly used for city family car, but as a tourer as well. the other vehicle i'm looking at is similar year Patrols.

How strong is the front end (IFS) on these?
What some things to look out for?
How many KMS are too many?

also, are the jap imported ones any good? as there seems to be a few around at low prices with low kms.

any ideas,
thanks,
Shem

Make me an offer... not a chance, theres a White one parked around the corner from here for sale, Gen2, talk to me at Adrians next time, I'll try and get the number. Otherwise theres a guy on here thats got a white Gen1 for sale about $7500, looks ok.

We are all biased, we'll tell you anything to convince you they are the best, whereas the Land Crab owners will just tell you they are rubbish, however the proof is in the fact that Pajeros get through stock what Land crabs need to be modified to succeed.

Get a Paj with rear LSD and slap a front ARB Locker in it and there's no stopping one.

what mods have been done to yours?
yours got lsd?
how is yours on the fuel as well?

u should put some pics of yours in Rigs section, cos your looks pretty good.

smac wrote:what mods have been done to yours?
yours got lsd?
how is yours on the fuel as well?

u should put some pics of yours in Rigs section, cos your looks pretty good.

Stock engine/ Auto, LSD, it got through stuff last weekend that a 60 series and two Hiluxs wouldn't look at.

Fuel 18/100 city, 16/100 country, 20/100 4x4 work (sand)

Hmm.... mods?
31" tyres
50mm suspension (HD torsion bars- so nice, progressives rear)
Monroe Gas front and rear
Removed towbar (4" exit clearance gain)
Dual band CB
Custom reverse / work lamp
Cibie SC spots ( same output as Super oscars)
Dual batteries (battery box in rear)
Removable rear drawer system (2 mins removable)
Removed and replaced ALL bushes

smac wrote: We are all biased, we'll tell you anything to convince you they are the best, whereas the Land Crab owners will just tell you they are rubbish, however the proof is in the fact that Pajeros get through stock what Land crabs need to be modified to succeed.

Get a Paj with rear LSD and slap a front ARB Locker in it and there's no stopping one.

even look for one with a factory rear locker some earlier model gen 1's (nh 3,0lt)did come out with them .....but......then a bit later models (3.5lt)have a stronger drivetrain and a factory 35mm body lift. the ifs ffront end has got to be one of the best (they've been doing it a long time) and has proven itself on many a trials read paris/dakar also receintly out back..... look for damage underneath and lowest k's the 3.0lt motors at least do have a problem with blowing a bit of smoke at startup due to worn valve seals. all in all they are a great 4b and with a bit of decient rubber under them they will go almost anywhere and you will be a lot more comfortible doing it ........hope this helps you

grumpy221 wrote:even look for one with a factory rear locker some earlier model gen 1's (nh 3,0lt)did come out with them .....but......then a bit later models (3.5lt)have a stronger drivetrain and a factory 35mm body lift. the ifs ffront end has got to be one of the best (they've been doing it a long time) and has proven itself on many a trials read paris/dakar also receintly out back..... look for damage underneath and lowest k's the 3.0lt motors at least do have a problem with blowing a bit of smoke at startup due to worn valve seals. all in all they are a great 4b and with a bit of decient rubber under them they will go almost anywhere and you will be a lot more comfortible doing it ........hope this helps you

cheers mate.
i would prefer the diesel, but depends on what comes up. ive seen a few just driving around today.

im stilling thinkin...

i have finally sorted out a problem with the rangie so it starts etc now.

Does anyone know much about the late 80s Jap Import Pajeros????

cos for about 8grand you can get a very low km turbo diesel

I have a Jap Import 2.5 ITD.
Love it, SWB, had 55000kms when it arived in Aus.
I got it fully checked out/ serviced and all suspension bushes changed.
It is a 1990 (NG) Gen1, (none of the first Gen have factory lockers!)
You cannot get airlockers for the front of the turbo diesel.

The LSD works great, and with 33" tyres, 2" suspension tweek, auto box and SWB gets me where I want to go!!!!

consumption is averaging about 12L/100kms mostly city.

Changes to the import rules no longer allow 1989-90 (the ITD into Aus). You can still pick these up as the importers bought these before the changes.

You can still import Gen2 convertable pajeros, so it is possible to get a early 1990 model (some with factory lockers) an option.

I just racked up 3000kms getting to Mt Moffat NP (central QLD) and what a pleasure, being 16 years old but low kms was prepared for anything but only problem perished (cracked) rubber rear exaust hanger.
Cheers

Here is a view from a current Pajero owner and having spent prior 10 years with a 1987 Rangie.

On and offroad the paj (SWB 1994) will not compare compare in Ride quality, a Range Rover just has extremely sorted suspension. What you will notice thou with the Paj is how it flies around corners on road, handling is MUCH better; 1987 Rangies don't have sway bars as standard.

Off road the fact that Pajeros often have LSD's or factory diff locks this makes up for the lack of front end travel. As mentioned a front locker fixes this downfall, and it is a strong front end, not many have broken bits. I have a SWB 3.5 manual and power wise cannot compare to the 3.5 V8, it is simply a more modern engine.

It is easier to get larger tyres under a Paj standard than a Rangie, 33's require a bit of chop on a Rangie but will fit on a std 3.5 which is higher from factory. Off road visibility & gearing in the Rangie is better, there are low range kits available for Paj's now thou.

I really like the Paj, it never fails to surprise me and all my doubters off road.
Regards, Glen

my 87 rangie has pretty warn out shockers etc so the nice comfortable road ride isnt really that good anymore.

All we need is something that will allow is to travel from Adelaide to whereever, then when we get there go camping, go down some rutted tracks, beach work, no rock crawling. but also be reasonable economical at the same time.

from what i can tell the Pajero has everything we need, Diesel, Comfort, and interior space, and half decent off road ability

cheers again

Get a Paj with rear LSD and slap a front ARB Locker in it and there's no stopping one.[/quote]


get one with a factory rear locker and put a locker in the front and theres no stopping them.
id get the import. mine has factory rear locker, factory body lift, came with 32s from factory, factory 5.29s etc... what else do you need?
from what ive seen the front end is near indestructable. as long as you look after the cv boots then they should last forever. i have never heard of one breaking so far.
check my avatar for a pic of it doing rope road up at the wattagans.
the only thing i dont like about my paj is that its too small to carry gear when i go on hollidays, but its a shorty and you want a lwb so it wouldnt be an issue.

j-top - Factory body lift, so yours is a 2.8 Turbo?

smac wrote:my 87 rangie has pretty warn out shockers etc so the nice comfortable road ride isnt really that good anymore.

All we need is something that will allow is to travel from Adelaide to whereever, then when we get there go camping, go down some rutted tracks, beach work, no rock crawling. but also be reasonable economical at the same time.

from what i can tell the Pajero has everything we need, Diesel, Comfort, and interior space, and half decent off road ability

cheers again

I'm not aware of any holiday destinations in SA that a Paj would have trouble with. Where are you planning to go?

Scott

Hi NJ, hows the diff swap going.? You can't get 5.29's for a 2.8.
J Top

HI J Top,

I'll put apdate in - not much to report due to been busy with work, but I have now got the engine out and sold, Funds are looking better because of that. I have just stripped the entire interior and all the other bits ready to lift the body off & discard. I have no hoist at my place in town or anything (Just a friend with a 80hp Case & Loader) so I figure it'll be easyier to get at everything without a body in the way.
I'll update my post...

Yea I thought you couldn't get 5.29's with the larger diff, thats why I was surprised when other J Top paj mentioend factory body lift & 5.29's..... I didn't think that was a combination.

I recieved a couple of photos of a J top I was looking to buy.
the engine plate stated 5.29 diffs, BUT this was for a 2.5 ITD.
J top paj has this engine, not sure about the availability for the 2.8.
sounds like this combo it is not available

NJ SWB wrote:I'm not aware of any holiday destinations in SA that a Paj would have trouble with. Where are you planning to go?

Scott

well not anywhere specific at the mo. in 2004 we went to see my sister an family who live up in brisy and then spent a few days in fraser island etc in the rangie.

i wouldnt mind doing the border track one day.

pretty much that sort of thing really.

the misses is warming to spending more on buying a 4wd as well, so we might be able to get a NJ ('93) Paj. that would be nice.

shem

yeh mine is the 2.5 not the 2.8

did the one you looked at have the diff lock too?