Jeff tries to make a hot rod out of a farm truck. '92 Mighty Max

[Jeff V.]

Since Coop asked in another thread, here's where the truck stands.

I've barely touched it since I dropped the engine in around Christmas of 2018. Yes, 18..not 19.

Since then about all I've done is jerry rig the harness enough that I can program ignition keys and get the immobilizer happy. (I bought a Chinese clone MUT3 from Antero). I basically took the entire harness out of an Endeavor from the firewall forward. It's going to be a pain to make it physically fit into the truck body. Right now there's a big bundle just hanging over the fender. It's too long in some places, and too short in others. I can solder in some extensions, but shortening it will be a lot more work.

I also modified the steering column to accept the Endeavor ignition cylinder and key reader, and I've got a modified V77 Montero accel pedal bolted to the firewall. This is necessary because of the throttle by wire system.

So besides that, it needs coolant plumbing to the heater core and radiator, fuel lines to and from the tank, and some short chunks of exhaust pipe. I'll also need a whole lot of little brackets for things like the airbox and the relocated power steering reservoir.

The AC compressor is going to need some custom brackets and shims too, but that's the least of my worries.

There's some other stuff I want to do, but it's not necessary for the truck to move under its own power.

[DCIV]

I am still for, making it run, even if push button start, and selling to someone who wants that project. Or sell me the 3.8 for the same price as the vehicle right now.


Coop

[Jeff V.]

Nobody is going to buy this thing unless it's for scrap.

Push button has nothing to do with it. Making the electronics actually work is the smallest problem I have, and it's actually the one part I want to do.

[ChargerX3]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Since Coop asked in another thread, here's where the truck stands.

I've barely touched it since I dropped the engine in around Christmas of 2018. Yes, 18..not 19.

Since then about all I've done is jerry rig the harness enough that I can program ignition keys and get the immobilizer happy. (I bought a Chinese clone MUT3 from Antero). I basically took the entire harness out of an Endeavor from the firewall forward. It's going to be a pain to make it physically fit into the truck body. Right now there's a big bundle just hanging over the fender. It's too long in some places, and too short in others. I can solder in some extensions, but shortening it will be a lot more work.

I also modified the steering column to accept the Endeavor ignition cylinder and key reader, and I've got a modified V77 Montero accel pedal bolted to the firewall. This is necessary because of the throttle by wire system.

So besides that, it needs coolant plumbing to the heater core and radiator, fuel lines to and from the tank, and some short chunks of exhaust pipe. I'll also need a whole lot of little brackets for things like the airbox and the relocated power steering reservoir.

The AC compressor is going to need some custom brackets and shims too, but that's the least of my worries.

There's some other stuff I want to do, but it's not necessary for the truck to move under its own power.[/quote]

Yea, you've tackled one big hurtle and are now up against the electronics where Im sure you will be up to the challenge. I dont envy shortening the harness to fit though. Ugh!

Coolant routing should be straightforward. Whats wrong with the fuel lines? Airbox brackets are usually just spot welded, so hopefully that isn't too bad to modify. I didnt have the modify the location of the power steering reservoir, but then mine is a 90 and had the trashcan MAF that I think pushed it back and out of the way.

With warm weather here Im excited to see you finally finish her.

[Jeff V.]

I'm using the 3.8L Montero fuel rails and intake system. The rail inlet is on the driver's side now, and the airbox fills up the entire right front corner of the engine bay.

They're all solvable problems. I'm just fucking lazy.

[ChargerX3]

I blame the effing vette!

[Jeff V.]

It is 100% the Corvette's fault

[Jeff V.]

Believe it or not, I actually did truck stuff today.

I decided to do a little work on the wiring harness. As part of that, I decided to temporarily install the injectors just so I could make sure the connectors are located in the right place.

Hmm....the 4G Eclipse injectors are too short for the 3.8L Montero fuel rail and lower intake. (It's identical to the 3S setup). Well, I have 3.5L Montero Sport injectors. That's fine for mockup, but there's no way in hell they're the right flow rate. There's a pretty clean 06 3.8L Montero at the junkyard right now, so I could go grab the injectors off that. But are those even right?

Did some Googling...couldn't find the flow rate for any of them. So that lead into a deep, deep dive into my old ECU ROM file archives. That was a hassle unto itself, but I found what I needed.

3.5L Monte Sport = 240cc
3.8L Eclipse = 290cc
3.8L Monte = 277cc

The Monte injectors are off, but not by much. 3S injectors would fit, but the electrical connector is wrong.

Dunno if 16 year old 'close enough' Montero injectors are worth the effort. I feel like I can do better.

This is what I'm dealing with.

[vr4]

Those look quite similar to my original Maxima injectors. They flow just a hair over 300cc/min at 43. High impedance.

[Jeff V.]

I forgot to mention that. The Eclipse injectors are 12 ohm and the Sport injectors are 14.

The Eclipse injectors are marked HDB305F, so that makes me wonder if they're actually 305CC and my correction factors are off. I'll worry about that later. I'd be happy with anything around 300 as long as I know for sure what the flow rate is, and I can get the voltage compensation tables.

For fun I looked up the 3.8 MIVEC Monte injectors. I think those are also 290. They don't interchange with anything Mitsu sold in the US, and I'm not sure they'd fit anyway. The rails and injectors are different from anything I've seen.

[vr4]

https://maxima.org/forums/all-motor/677 ... rison.html

I'll throw a meter on my old DE injectors tomorrow if you like.

I'm currently at the upper limit of my "hr" injectors so I have some "vhr" injectors on the way. They flow 385 at my 51psi pressure. Should be right in the sweet spot for fueling on the Maxima using a piggyback to control fuel. I need to add fuel between 2k and 5k but don't want to pull timing to do it.

Shit. I should put this in my own thread. Sorry Jeff.

[ChargerX3]

I remember running into this same obstacle when building mine. Iirc you need to change your lower intake in order to make the those injectors work. I’ve also always considered them to be 305cc.

As you probably already know I decided to go with the 360cc turbo injectors and wired in the resistor pack to make mine work with the 98/99 ecu.

[DCIV]

Woot!


Coop

[aaronatstate]

With the numbers you posted, if you turn the pressure up on 3.8L Monte injectors from 43.5 to 48, you'll have 291cc of flow rate, same as the 3.8L Eclipse.

[Jeff V.]

I can't change my lower intake due to my upper intake.

So far it looks like Maxima and RX8 injectors are both candidates. I'm sure there are quite a few others. It'll be a while before I need them. I can do start up and idle tests with the 240s, and even that part is still way off.

[ChargerX3]

Which upper you using?

Appears the 2.4L used the same injector cc size but wonder if it’s got the same dimensions?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Eclipse

[aaronatstate]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]I can't change my lower intake due to my upper intake.

So far it looks like Maxima and RX8 injectors are both candidates. I'm sure there are quite a few others. It'll be a while before I need them. I can do start up and idle tests with the 240s, and even that part is still way off.[/quote]

Worst case you get an AFPR and turn the pressure up. Using those 277cc injectors (if that is their true flow rate) going to 50psi gets you 297cc. You would maybe need a different fuel pump, but a stock 3S turbo fuel pump should be enough.

[Jeff V.]

Using the 3.8L Monte upper.

350Z - 310cc
370Z - 355cc


I'm reading a lot about advances in spray pattern and droplet size. I'm wondering if there would be any drivability gains by swapping a set into the VR4.

[vr4]

[quote=""Jeff V.""]Using the 3.8L Monte upper.

350Z - 310cc
370Z - 355cc


I'm reading a lot about advances in spray pattern and droplet size. I'm wondering if there would be any drivability gains by swapping a set into the VR4. [/quote]

If you want to test shoot me a message. I'll send you mine.

I can get more easily if I need them. Right now they're just sitting in an engine I'll probably never use again.

[Jeff V.]

I'll let you know. The pictures make me worry it won't fit all the way into the rail opening.

RX8 primaries are 350cc and look like identical to the Sport injectors.