1983 Mighty Max 4x4

[LukeGirard]

So I'm keeping the truck and buying a BMW to drive right now. My plans for the 4x4 are to rebuild or replace the engine, replace all the fluids, get the seats reupholstered, get new carpet, and possibly paint. I won't update until after I have bought the BMW (1974 BMW 2002) and can save up money to work on the truck. Thankfully I now have a full time job at a Pizza place and get paid $9.50 an hour. I can't wait to get it running and take it off roading. Sadly it doesn't have a name yet, any suggestions? :P

[noahwins]

Tiffany, Bride of Chucky.

Do you know what kind of engine you want?

[LukeGirard]

I don't know stock would be easiest especially with smog. That or swap in a diesel but that costs some serious money.

[noahwins]

I have a 4D56 sitting on a pallet.

I love 2002s. Favorite car of all time. Got pics?

[LukeGirard]

Sadly I don't but next time I go over to my friends house to work on it I will take some. It's orange and has a nice patina. ;) The cylinder head is currently at the machine shop getting cleaned and honed. I'm replacing the head gasket, carb gaskets, and hopefully all of the cooling system other than the radiator before I start driving it. It's been sitting since 1995. They got it running and replaced a lot of parts, got new tires all to sell it and then the headgasket blew. So now I get to work on it and then buy it for cheep =)

[LukeGirard]

So from a financial stand point would it be cheaper to try and find a running G54B or rebuild the current one I have. If I did rebuild it I don't have a garage or air tools would it be best to have a shop rebuild it and if so are there any shops in SoCal that do good work for a good price? Let me know I want to get the ball rolling so I can drive this thing!

[LukeGirard]

Would this engine work in my 1st gen Mighty Max? http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-remanufactured-G54B-2-6-longblock-with-jet-valves-and-2-vent-tubes-in-block/231540061232?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D30003%26meid%3D7cce1a044dcc42e4a0a1f2c6bc53 19a7%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D2315 38400468

[pennyman1]

not if you are replacing the 2.6 - the one on ebay is narrow block

[LukeGirard]

not if you are replacing the 2.6 - the one on ebay is narrow block

So the 1st gen 2.6 is a wide block? My block is blue and thought it was the narrow block. The transmission is wider than the block on both sides.

[pennyman1]

on 1st gen trucks, all automatic motors are narrow block (12.5" c/c on lower tranny holes). 2.6 5 spd motors are wide block (13.25") and 2.0 83 - 86 motors are narrow block regardless of tranny. The ebay motor is a 2.6 for a front drive caravan or k car - there are many differences between that motor and the truck 2.6. It can be made to work, but you have to know what the differences are to make it work. Definately not a drop in replacement - that is why it is so cheap - no one is going to put a motor in an 80s caravan or k car, and it won't fit the truck easily, or he would be asking 2-3 times what the price is.

[LukeGirard]

Oh okay. I hope I can find something soon I want to get it running asap!

[LukeGirard]

So I found another 1983 4x4 Mighty Max for $350. It had a little accident with a telephone pole but it still runs no problem. It also supposedly has a Warren Locker? My plan is to pick it up and swap engines and possibly put the manual trans in my truck. Am I going to have a problem fitting the manual trans under the auto body? I've heard that the transmission tunnels are different. Anyways i'm going to pick it up on May 9th! Now here a some pics. I'm not sure what engine that is though.

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[pennyman1]

engine is a 2.0 l - the tranny is not a problem, but the tunnel will be with a stick,as the gas pedal is offset to the left instead of the right and will end up under the brake pedal when you swap in the manual pedal set. you have to use the manual gas pedal and massage the tunnel to give you room to fit it in, or use the auto tranny on the 2.0 - it will bolt right up as it is a narrow block motor.

[LukeGirard]

How can the engine be a 2.0 if the trucks 4x4? I thought all 4x4 came with the 2.6. And I'm picking up the whole truck so I can swap the pedals. Will the transfer case on the transmission work no problem or will I have to swap them? And is the wiring for the 2.0 and 2.6 the same?

[pennyman1]

the telltale signs of it being a 2.0 are the plastic timing cover and the p/s pump being high up on the exhaust side of the block. Since you would have both trucks, any differences in the harness can be swapped from one truck to the other. Why not fit the wreaked one instead - its already running - and use the other as the parts truck? BTW - in 83 MMM came with 2.0 in the base 4wd and 2.6 in the SPX model.If you do swap the motor to your truck, use all the parts from the donor truck to ensure a match.

[LukeGirard]

So if the frames not bent on the new truck just swap the cab and bed over? That's sounds like a good plan to me and if it needs any other parts I can just swap those over from the 4x4 I already have.

[pennyman1]

Thats what I would do

[haruman]

If you have an auto flexplate you want to part with after all your swapping, I want it. Desperately. (2.0, 6 bolt crank, 3 bolt torque converter)

[LukeGirard]

I will have 2 trucks after this weekend. One is a 2.6 Auto and the other is a 2.0 Manual. I will be taking the body off the 2.6 and putting it on the frame of the 2.0. I will then have a bare 4x4 frame with a complete 2.6 engine and auto trans that I will be getting rid of.

[LukeGirard]

So I picked up the parts truck today. The frame is super bent but it still runs and drives after hitting a telephone pole. I'm planning on swapping the 2.0 with the 4 speed manual trans into my 4x4. I'll also swap whatever else I need to to get the 4x4 running. The parts truck is also a 4x4 just the base model. And now some pics
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[LukeGirard]

So I've started stripping the parts truck. I'll post pictures when I get home this evening. There are a lot of good parts that didn't get damaged in the crash. If anybody needs anything just let me know and I can see if I have it.

[Mandle]

Darn it looks like your grill is shot. I need one.

[LukeGirard]

Sorry! The grill was gone when I bought it. The headlights still worked even after hitting the telephone pole though! They aren't even cracked. These trucks are so tough. I drove it on and off the trailer with 3 wheels.

[haruman]

Auto Flexplate! :)

Wait, which one is the parts truck?

[LukeGirard]

I'm keeping the manual transmission and doing nothing with the auto transmission.

[LukeGirard]

Alright here are some pictures from the teardown. If anybody needs any parts just let me know!
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[haruman]

Well, like I said before, I'd be willing to buy an automatic flexplate if you got it.

[LukeGirard]

Well, like I said before, I'd be willing to buy an automatic flexplate if you got it.
If the flexplate is good your welcome to it.

[haruman]

If the flexplate is good your welcome to it.

Thanks man! I really hope it is. It's frustrating to be stuck on one part keeping me from running...

[LukeGirard]

Thanks man! I really hope it is. It's frustrating to be stuck on one part keeping me from running...

Can you post a photo of the part you need? I'm not exactly what the flex plate should look like. I haven't separated the transmission from the engine yet.

[haruman]

Here it is, sorry for the crappy cell phone pic:

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[noahwins]

The sliding rear window, the raised lettering tailgate, the vinyl rear cab panel and the chrome windshield trim pieces are all uncommon and worth keeping, Luke.

[incorporatedx]

Here it is, sorry for the crappy cell phone pic:

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Hey. im in Mesa and I'm pretty sure i have a spare 3 bolt flywheel. I would trade it for a 4 bolt flywheel, or the quad headlight grill, or the raised letter mitsu tail gate. any of those.

[LukeGirard]

I have to see what flex plate is on my truck. It's the 2.6 engine so I'm not sure how many bolts it has.

[incorporatedx]

I have to see what flex plate is on my truck. It's the 2.6 engine so I'm not sure how many bolts it has.

All of the 4G52 (2.0) and 4G54 (2.6) are 6 bolt centers, the difference in bolt patterns is the torque converter, the image you showed is the three bolt torque converter, which i have here in mesa, i also have a spare auto trans and a spare 2.6 engine.

I have a good running 2.6 narrow block here in mesa and I'll buy that grill and tail gate off you if you're willing to part with it. PM me your number if you want.

[haruman]

All of the 4G52 (2.0) and 4G54 (2.6) are 6 bolt centers, the difference in bolt patterns is the torque converter, the image you showed is the three bolt torque converter, which i have here in mesa, i also have a spare auto trans and a spare 2.6 engine.

I have a good running 2.6 narrow block here in mesa and I'll buy that grill and tail gate off you if you're willing to part with it. PM me your number if you want.

Hey, I'm the one that needs the 3 bolt torque converter flexplate. I'm in Gilbert.

You know how many teeth it has? I'd be willing to trade you money for it if it's the right one. :)

[incorporatedx]

Hey, I'm the one that needs the 3 bolt torque converter flexplate. I'm in Gilbert.

You know how many teeth it has? I'd be willing to trade you money for it if it's the right one. :)

I went out this morning to grab it and count the teeth when i realized it's from my 4G32 engine, which is the 1.6 liter, which means it uses only 5 mounting bolts at the crank, so it wont work for anyone here. I'll label it and tuck it away with my other Colt parts. Sorry about that Haruman :(

[LukeGirard]

So I'm having a problem. The engine swap went great but I can't get it to stay running. The engine isn't getting gas. I looked at the hardlines and some were kinda dented from the engine smacking into them so I replaced them with good hardlines from my parts truck. I can't get it to stay running and it's really frustrating me. If anybody can think of why it's doing this please let me know.

[incorporatedx]

So I'm having a problem. The engine swap went great but I can't get it to stay running. The engine isn't getting gas. I looked at the hardlines and some were kinda dented from the engine smacking into them so I replaced them with good hardlines from my parts truck. I can't get it to stay running and it's really frustrating me. If anybody can think of why it's doing this please let me know.


Check your soft lines back by the tank, check your fuel filter, get it running on starting fluid long enough to prime the pump and fill the carb, but it sounds like you might have an air leak somewhere along the way, or the pump isnt picking up enough to prime itself, pull the line from the pump to the carb off and have someone crank it over while you hold the hose into a bucket, make sure fuel gets flowing then put it back on the carb, sometimes the pump can't prime when it's all hooked up.

[haruman]

I went out this morning to grab it and count the teeth when i realized it's from my 4G32 engine, which is the 1.6 liter, which means it uses only 5 mounting bolts at the crank, so it wont work for anyone here. I'll label it and tuck it away with my other Colt parts. Sorry about that Haruman :(

It's all good. Hoping Luke has the one I need. :)

[LukeGirard]

So I haven't been able to get the truck to run. It starts if you pour gas into the carb but won't stay running. I'm really to sell it. It's just sitting in my backyard, I have no money to spend on it at the moment because of college and I now have a car to drive. My mom also wants it out of the yard. Any offers? I also have a ton of extra parts now.

[mikewarme]

I want the 83. Whats your price ?

[LukeGirard]

I want the 83. Whats your price ?
$1000 would recoup all the money spent on this project. And you can have all the extra parts you'd like and I now have extra parts from 4 of these trucks. The truck I'm talking about is the silver 83 4x4 that wasn't crashed and disassembled.

[Dweezil8675]

Hello, I am pretty sure I just bought this truck this past weekend. Im talking about the 83 that you did the motor swap in. The tell tale sign is the camper top with the same stickers still on it and the plates lol. I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about the history of this truck? my plan is to put it back on the road and restore it. Thanks for any help!

[LukeGirard]

So I got everything swapped and running it just needed a new fuel pump. So the guy that got it from me fixed that and then proceeded to drive it. Without checking any fluids. So he drove the truck with no transmission fluid and I'm pretty sure the engine oil was low too. So go through and check all the fluids. I hope the transmission isn't toast because it worked perfectly fine before he drove it without fluid. I know the auto transmission is also broken and it won't fit on the 2.0 that's currently in there. It also needs new engine mounts one of them is bent. Other then that just cosmetics and tires and it should be good to go.

[Dweezil8675]

Awesome! Thanks! I checked the fluids and the coolant,oil, it looked good! it still runs great! The only problem now is that the transmission is stuck in first gear. So I have already dropped the tranny and I am going to look at all the pins and the shift linkages in it. The gears look brand new and the fluid was very clean! So I'm sure it is just a quick fix. Good truck though I'm very excited about it! I really appreciate your quick response!

[LukeGirard]

I really wish I'd kept it but I just didn't have the time to work on it anymore. I do plan on getting another one very soon! Maybe the clutch just went out?

[Dweezil8675]

The clutch looks really good and the throwout bearing is smooth. I thought the same thing. but when we loaded it on my trailer it climbed up on it no problem and no slipping. Like I said I will be getting back to good street worthy condition again. Ive already bought gauges for it and I plan on redoing the interior as well. any idea about the mileage of the 2.0 you swaped in?

[LukeGirard]

I think it's had about 140,000 miles on it. I had to swap the cluster into it so I think that's the cluster that came with the engine. Maybe the shifter just broke and the transmission is fine? And I have a set of red sport seats if you want those instead of the bench seats. They need to be rupolstered but they're the ones that came out of that truck. I still have a lot of mighty Max parts.

[Dweezil8675]

I'm thinking the shifter broke too. And if you have any parts at all id be willing to take them off your hands if you would like

[LukeGirard]

I'm up in the High Desert so if you want to come by and get some parts you can have some. I would try and sell them on here but I just haven't had the time to list any of them.

[Dweezil8675]

What part of the high desert?

[LukeGirard]

Apple Valley.

[Dweezil8675]

awesome, im in 29 palms! not to far at all! once I get paid I will contact you to purchase some parts from you! Thanks again.

[LukeGirard]

Cool just let me know!

[Dweezil8675]

Do you know what parts you have off the top of your head that you would like to get rid of?

[LukeGirard]

A steering wheel, door trim, hub caps, wiring, interior peices, headlight housings, and just a ton of random parts.

[Dweezil8675]

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just got the new tires and painted the wheels, still waiting on the tranny to be rebuilt but its almost street worthy!I just wanted you to know your old truck is in good hands. She's gonna be taken care of and restored!

[pennyman1]

I thought that truck looked familiar - glad to see it saved!

[Dweezil8675]

Thanks pennyman1! I am just waiting on the transmission to get back to me now....then maybe I can finally drive it!

[pennyman1]

You won't regret it. I almost went for that 1983 4wd TD on Ebay, but it was just too rough and I already have 2 other ram 50s waiting for love, and Geronimo waiting on brake pad replacement.

[Dweezil8675]

I don't think I will regret restoring the truck at all! everyone who sees it really likes it! I love the truck. I was looking for a project and this one fit the bill! Its in pretty good shape too. Lukegirard did a good job on it. Any tips about these trucks? This is my first mighty max and im always open to suggestions or tips.

[LukeGirard]

Do you know what the problem was yet?

[Dweezil8675]

apparently it was missing the shifter detent ball sleeve and spring....so it wasn't shifting out of first. The guy I took it to said the rest of it looks great though so that's a relief

[Dweezil8675]

I have no idea what the guy you sold it to did to it but the rest of the truck looks good still.

[LukeGirard]

That's good! Did he patch the hole in the floor from the auto shifter?

[Dweezil8675]

nope, I planned on doing that too. No big deal!

[LukeGirard]

That's good! Hopefully everything else works good!

[Dweezil8675]

I hope so too.ill post updates and pics as it comes toghether!

[LukeGirard]

Awesome!

[Dweezil8675]

I may have a problem though with the title, it appears that they never transferred it from you to him so I have the title with your signature on it releasing it and a second signature under that.... so now I am in a pickle with putting it in my name. I will call the DMV and see what I can do but I may need to contact you about how we get the title from your name into mine..... I didn't notice it when I got the title at first. My idea was to have you file for a replacement title then I can transfer it into my name, I will of course pay for everything. But like I said I will go to the DMV and see what they suggest, I am hoping to not have to jump through to many hoops. I would of course drive to your nearest DMV if needed so as not to inconvenience you at all. Ill let you know what I find out. Again I hope it doesn't come to any of that.

[LukeGirard]

If needed I have AAA and they're usually really good at allowing that stuff. So if you need to meet up with me at a AAA we can get it done in about a half an hour. We wouldn't have to wait in the huge lines at the DMV.

[Dweezil8675]

awesome. I would really appreciate that! I will give them a call tomorrow and let you know! Thanks again!

[LukeGirard]

Welcome!

[Dweezil8675]

So the name on the title says cramer Christopher Carlyle, is that you? or no?

[LukeGirard]

No I'm Luke Brand. I don't think I ever transfered it to my name because it was already on Non op.

[Dweezil8675]

Gotcha, it still is on non op so that's good while I figure out how to transfer this title! thanks for your help so far!

[LukeGirard]

Welcome! No problem. I wish I'd be able to keep it.

[Dweezil8675]

its a good little truck. I can see why you would want to keep it! pretty easy to work on too. Parts are a little hard to find I guess but all in all its a good truck. you did a darn good job on the swap as well. if I didn't know any better I would think that was the motor that came in it!

[LukeGirard]

I swapped the harness and the engine from the other truck with hand tools in my backyard in dirt lol. You should replace the motor mounts the passenger side one is a little bent. The truck I got the engine out of was crashed but it still ran perfectly. The only things I needed to finish before I sold it was the hole in the floor from the auto shifter, the hole in the firewall for the clutch cable, the speedomoter cable, and fuel pump it would have been good to go.

[Dweezil8675]

sorry for my late response. I got it running I have all the gears back again, damn shift fork needed seated. no big deal. ive fixed everything except the motor mount and hole in the floor but other then that she is good to go! thanks again! not a bad job you did for doing it all with hand tools in the dirt!

[LukeGirard]

Thanks! Glad you got it all working!

[jameyw]

Ok, so I have a 94 mighty max and was wondering if anybody can tell me where I can get smoke taillights and headlights or any custom head/taillights

[LukeGirard]

How's Maxwell (The Truck) Coming Along?

[Dweezil8675]

Good!!! Fresh carb rebuild and I actually found some shiny bits under the grease and oil! It's got all new bushings up front and shocks all the way around and I threw some new half shafts in the front! I'm still working on the registration though....I think I'm just gonna get it registered in Ohio to avoid all the crazy California stuff.

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[geezer101]

Scrubbed up nicely. The engine looks like it's been reasonably well maintained (which is kinda rare with gen 1 trucks) It's shaped up to be a really good find! :thumbup: