Lifting a 91 Mighty Max

[Harper89]

I have a 91 mighty max 4x4 (manual with 3.0) and am interested in lifting it. I have a couple questions, any help/answers would be greatly appreciated. I'm not that well-learned on this, a bit of a noobie.

I have seen lots of body lift kits and the like, but have seen a little being said about a suspension lift kit from JC Whitney. Anyone heard of this? I've heard people refer to it but have yet to see someone who's actually used it. I'm not real keen on wanting to do a body lift, i'd prefer to get the additional clearance of a suspension lift.

I have yet to check my truck's differential gear ratios, but I'm assuming they are the 3.9s since the 4.2s are supposedly rare. How big of a tire can you run on the 3.9 without ruining the drivability? or should I just look for 4.2s or 4.6s from a montero?

Also, are the stock axles / differentiels / etc. strong enough or would it be better to replace them?

I'm not wanting a serious 4-wheeler, but i'd like some good capability, i'm not fully satisfied with stock capability.

THANKS!

[pennyman1]

For the front, get a set of Montero upper control arms - good for 1-2" of lift. In the rear, there are several add -a -leaf kits available. There was some talk on here about montero torsion bars for the front, but I'm not sure if that is an option. If you go bigger on wheels, the shorter gears will work better for performance.

[MIGHTY MAX MAFIA]

I'm wanting to do the same thang to my 87 mighty max its a 2.6L 5speed 4x4 I wanted to know what year montero will work and what I have to change and how to go about liftin the rear

[mobob]

Well that makes 3 of us. I just want to raise the front 2 or 3 inches, but not sure what all it involves, still searching though.

Bob

[tanzytinkerz]

I have an 86 power ram 50 with the 2.6l 5 spd 4x4 long bed and wanna lift the front to or 3 inches. I have an add a leaf for the rear but have no clue what will work on the front. will the montero work in these too?

[camoit]

I'm not sure what year will work. But if you take a tapemesure and mesure the mounting points you can hit up pick and pull and see what is the same. I want to say a 1990. I think there was some talk in the archive about the years that swap over. You might want to send powerram348 a pm and ask him. I think he has his lifted with the montero arms.

[camoit]

Just to let you guys know I reached out to some of the guys that have lifted 4x4's via a PM so we shall see if they pop in here. You can find them by looking through the gallery at the top of the page.

[tanzytinkerz]

thanks so much! hope they can help.

[mobob]

Thanks camoit a bunch for the help

[MightyMaxNick]

Hey Camoit i just got your PM. I just fit 30X9.5X15 tires on my truck today! The only problem is it rubs on the front just a tad when you fully turn. I do not have a lifted truck but its perfect for me! I will upload a pic in a minute. Btw nice find on that 3.0L 4x4, i also have one. Pretty rare!!

[MightyMaxNick]

image (10).jpgimage (11).jpgimage (12).jpg

[MightyMaxNick]

Before new tires-Muddin the truck.jpgTruck 12.jpg

[pennyman1]

to clear the 30" tires on your truck, trim the pinch weld at the bottom of the wheelwell - it was a tip I saw years ago in an old John Baker performance catalog about clearance issues.

[camoit]

Or smack it with a hammer, it will fold over nice and clean.

[MightyMaxNick]

Yeah thats what i need to do. There is rubbing on the front where the metal trim piece is when the suspension is down

[jeremy2.2]

i have a 94 4x4 3.0 5spd my self and it had 33s with tortions cranked when i got it set up pretty nice but rode like crap so i put 31s and cranked them down level i noticed my lower shock mounts where stripped any one ever have this issue ? truck still rides pretty rough thinking of putting a good after market shock on it any suggestions???? thanks

[tomcat2587]

right now im running 265/70/17s Toyota FJ steelies (32x11.50) no rubbing until full lock and max articulation. in the works is a full front monty upper lower and CV axle swap for the most lift and articulation. when i go to do that im getting new bushings all around im hoping for 3" tops, will get pics after my deployment.

[jeremy2.2]

to clear the 30" tires on your truck, trim the pinch weld at the bottom of the wheelwell - it was a tip I saw years ago in an old John Baker performance catalog about clearance issues.

thanks for the info i ended up tighting my tortion bars down and putting lift shackles from autozone 20$ on back leaf springs with new grade 8 bolts and bushings and i have plenty of clearence running my 33x12.50x16s on it looks good have about 16 inches of ground clearence also added rancho shocks s5000 off ebay up front for 135$ make the ride 1000x better also added a steering stabilizer from rough country and found a complete front end rebuild kit inner outer tie rods uper lower ball joints ideler arm all for 86$ great deal rear shocks are next in order

[Mrieke]

Is that kit still available? Links?