Find of the week - USA Mitsubishi Pajero [UPDATED]

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
04/14/2020 at 18:09 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! got me trolling local Craigslist (and that it is Friday so... fuck it) for interesting car finds. Unfortunately CL seems to have been on a long, slow death march for years and today was no exception. However.... I did fine one or two vehicles of note. This one standing out particularly.

[This post was originally from 4/10/2020 at 12:19PM PDT and is updated where marked ]

Today I bring you a 1991 Mitsubishi Pajaro located in Oklahoma City and offered for sale for $3,500.

I was initially very excited to see this. It has the 2.5L turbo diesel engine with intercooler, BFG KO2s, and 62,000 miles. That sounds excellent.

Sadly it is an automatic and has a very inadvisable steering wheel replacement fitted. I assume it was an airbag delete, but who can say.

Oh. And the crankshaft is broken.

Yes, apparently, the crankshaft .

I... actually did not know that was a thing that could break. Certainly not a thing I feel like could break without taking quite a few other things with it? Or, rather, I feel like there had to be something else wrong to make this go south the way it did. Slight possibility they mean camshaft, but same with “something else certainly broke with it.”

I’m not sure what these go for, but to be honest even with a knackered engine this might still be a good find. I forget which Oppo recently imported one of these, so maybe they’ll chime in. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! recently snagged one of these, so maybe they can chime in!

[Update 4/14/2020]

Well this fine(ish) vehicle won’t be joining our fleet. My partner, George, was in contact with the seller for a bit, but the seller appears to have gone dark and George isn’t going to chase him.

We did learn a few things from both the seller:

The vehicle was purchased from Duncan Imports, a place that I really, really want to go some day

The failure happened at idle

No tear down has been performed

From research we learned:

The engine in this has a whopping 99HP and 177 torque

Crankshaft failure is not an unusual failure and usually happens at low RPM... because diesel

This particular engine has a counterbalance pulley to relieve stress on the crankshaft. Often the belt will break and go unnoticed, leading to crankshaft failure

“Pajero” apparently means wanker in Spanish

I’m sad this little JDM dream won’t be joining our fleet, but also happy we don’t have to deal with it.

[Post from 4/10/2020 continues]

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Full text:

1991 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine (2500 TD/2.5 TD) with an intercooler.

Factory Right Hand Drive (RHD)

Super Select 4WD with locking differential

Electronic shock absorber factory option with three settings: S (soft), M (medium), and H (hard) which allows for a change in ride quality and handling depending on road conditions via a switch on centre console.

Nardi Torino wooden steering wheel

4 Like New BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 Radial Tires -30x9.50R15 and 1 Brand New Matching Spare that are currently on the vehicle but not pictured. Vehicle will also include the tires pictured.

99779.328 Kilometers = 62000 Miles

***currently selling as is***broken crankshaft - currently not operable*** Located at my diesel mechanic’s shop.

Clear title in hand. Will have the vehicle towed to you for free within 100 miles.

Please email for additional information. Still available if posted.

DISCUSSION (17)

Chariotoflove > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 12:23

I forget which Oppo recently imported one of these, so maybe they’ll chime in.

Wait, we have someone here who already owns a Pajero? This group must be cooler than I thought.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Chariotoflove
04/10/2020 at 12:24

Unlikely.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
04/10/2020 at 12:26

Apparently it is ITA97 .

Chariotoflove > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 12:27

Huh. Surprised he barely mentioned an acquisition like that .

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Chariotoflove
04/10/2020 at 12:30

notsureif.gif

Chariotoflove > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 12:33

Hehe.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 12:34

Neat. An importer would probably sell this for around 10K in working order. This might be a truck worth flipping for one so inclined. That 4g54 diesel is usually considered bulletproof, so this would seem like an unlikely failure. Like the larger 2.8l 4M40 in my Pajero, that 4g54 was also used by Cat in a variety of small skid steers and excavators, among other equipment. It shouldn’t be too hard to source another engine, and most Cat mechanics are familiar with them.

These trucks often didn’t have airbags for the Japanese market. My 1994 doesn’t have any, although it still has the original steering wheel. That it still has the original wheels is rare, and I’m envious. Aftermarket wheels, steering wheels and radios are super common on imported JDM trucks.

Looking at the ad, if the truck actually has the very rare factory locker and not just the limited slip rear diff that most have, it is indeed a rare truck that someone should snap up and fix.

UserNotFound > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 12:37

Good thing the 1UZ- FE bolts right up to those automatics (alledgedly)!

UserNotFound > Chariotoflove
04/10/2020 at 12:38

A number of us own Pajeros.

edit: wait a minute ...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/10/2020 at 12:48

Thanks! You may or may not have forced my partner to spend the rest of the day researching these. We’re within the 100 mile free tow range and he wants this thing something fierce. Any speculation on the engine damage?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 13:01

If I had to guess, someone ran their overland-build in progress low on oil and the crank snapped after a bearing or two seized at high rpm. That kind of scenario is the only context I know of cranks snapping.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
04/10/2020 at 13:14

Thanks! It is... unclear if this will be a new addition to our stable but certainly going to be an object of fixation this weekend.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
04/10/2020 at 13:17

Another thing that caught my eye is this truck still has the factory brush guard and fog lights. From my fog light project, it isn’t uncommon for those to get str ipped off before they’re exported. They sell for some money on eBay if you don’t have to have them and/or were willing to accept something less sexy for fog lights.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/pajero-fog-lights-done-1842502326

https://www.milneroffroad.com/

These guys have some stuff for these trucks.

http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/MITZY-BIT z

Probably the biggest used parts seller.

There is a Canadian company or two that also stock some parts for these. I don't have the links here at work, but if you Google around you can download the factory shop manuals and parts catalogs for these trucks to get a better idea about them.