89 Montero LS six speed swap

[PulsarFriend]

Been popping in on the forum a bunch lately for info on the lj78 I picked up recently and figured I'd actually make an account. Started building this Montero in winter 2023 and just "finished" it spring of 2025. The build was fairly easy considering it was the first "truck" I've built but I had many car builds and swaps under my belt already.

1989 Mitsubishi Montero LS LWB
Stock 6.0 LQ9
Terminator x max with 12.3 Holley prodash
Six speed manual from an 06 Xterra
Full body off frame coating
Front and rear gen 2 Montero arms, cv's, brakes, rear air locked axle,
Manual locking hubs
Bilstein 5100 all around
Front ARB locker in gen 1 diff
Tank raise
Welded up front and rear tube bumpers and sliders
Aluminum skids and tank protection
Prius electric steering column
Full custom wiring inside and out
Front 12k winch from Harbor Hate
Custom high clearance hitch
Air Lift helper bags in the rear
Tekonsha IQ brake controller
Full jbl sound system with a compact self powered sub under the driver's seat
Bouncy seat delete (after modifying an extra to have two and trying them I hated them)
Aluminum roof rack from a chevy work van and a custom aluminum wind fairing
Bronco beadlock ready wheels with 35in takeoffs from a wrangler (Bored out the center to fit the hub bore of the Mitsu)
On board air compressor with fittings on the front and rear and an aux tank mid mounted
Four extra hitches welded into the from for recovery and movable winch mount for hauling cars onto trailer or out of ditches
Anderson connectors front and rear for auxiliary winch and jumpstarting
Finished ply buildout in the rear for storage and level sleeping with the seat folded down

I'm sure there's a lot more I'm missing but this truck has been fun to work on and play with. Me and some buds are going to meet up in Moab this May but after that I'm not sure what's on the docket. I never thought I would like off-roading since I'm primarily a grip driver but it has been a lot of fun getting into some spots I wouldn't normally go which is saying a lot since I'd go play in the cinders in Flagstaff, AZ all the time in my cars. But WA has been a blast getting to know with some fun offroad parks and great camping on the water of glacial lakes. Now that I know what I enjoy after building this truck I may decide to sell this one and build a more purpose built rig.

 

[Taylorious]

THIS IS HOT. @PulsarFriend
So, I just got a SWB with a 4D56 TD... but it's gonna go LS.
I, too, and keeping my L/C... but this'll be a little heater/beater.

Can you give me to some 411 on the engine swap particulars?
Like, what SNAFU's did you hit with mounting and alignment?

...there's a fella in 'Straya that did an LQ9 LS, and he riv-nutted out the front rad support, and pushed everything forward.
Figured it's gotta be to space out the driveline.

I intend to do a LQ9, and (ideally) a H55F, as well as a 9" gen 2 Montero rear end and a SAS fora. 40-series axle up front...

Lemme know! Thanks man!

 

[onemanarmy]

Such cool trucks! Keep it coming!

 

[Taylorious]

Such cool trucks! Keep it coming!

Wish I could LS my 60-series like you did, North Cakalaky!
...had to settle for a SBC that's "CA LeGaL" out here.

This Lil' Monty should be the answer

 

[PulsarFriend]

Thanks @Taylorious, a swb LS swap would be pretty dirty! Space is definitely hard to come by when you're talking modern drivetrain that a chassis is built around going into something else. The transmission honestly was the hardest thing to get to be happy in it's place. I had to clearance out some of the transfer case to miss the torsion bar, the rear torsion bar crossmember to miss the tail housing rib, the front diff mount to clear the oil pan, and the firewall to clear the bell housing even though the body lift helped a lot in that area. As you can see the Nissan six speed with it's transfercase kinda makes the LS look small so I'm sure it'll be a lot more manageable with an h55f but you'll still run into some challenges I'm sure.

 

[Taylorious]

MY LORD that Nissan is a CHONKER.

I'll definitely post photos as I go. About a week into SWB life... so, still in the data/parts gathering phase.

THANK YOU!