Lets wake this forum up a bit!

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IdahoDoug
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Vehicle: 1988 Mitsubishi Van Wagon
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

Hey, I often check in here and see nothing going on, so I don't post. Today it made me wonder about the rest of you - if you do the same and don't bother to say hello. So, as Spring arrives here in N. America I thought I'd try and change that just by saying hello and not having any particular question needing an answer. Perhaps it will draw others to do the same and we can draw together a bit around this very unusual and unique vehicle we all have.

I have been using mine as a daily driver a couple times a week. The other day it was a warm Sunday and my buddy and his sons wanted to head into town and test out their new longboards, so I joined up with them and brought my son. I don't skateboard, so I drove the Mitsu and purposely found a parking spot with the van's back end pointed to the lake. I'd brought a little sack with some snacks, and drinks and a blanket a good book, and a couple pillows and had removed the back seat. So while they took off and cruised around, I opened the rear hatch and alternated between watching the seagulls wheel around and reading with the sun streaming in. People walked up and asked about the van and said envious things about my setup. Eventually, I put the book down, stretched out and pulled the blanket over me and fell asleep. In a hectic life, moments like that are gold and it was the highlight of April for me.

Hope you are all well.
thelazygreenfox
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Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by thelazygreenfox »

That's living the good life!
MD :M
Wear your mask, it keeps others from seeing the parsley in your teeth
originalkwyjibo
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Vehicle: 88MitVan/Wgn,90 crg,88 4WDToyotaVan
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Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by originalkwyjibo »

IdahoDoug wrote:Hey, I often check in here and see nothing going on, so I don't post. Today it made me wonder about the rest of you - if you do the same and don't bother to say hello.
Hello!
I've been doing the same thing. I'm hoping to get a little r&r time in a couple weeks so my son and I can go camping while my wife and daughters are at a women's campout but I will be taking one of my Toyota vans. My vans still sit awaiting my attention but I recently rented a three car garage that will help clear up some space and hopefully help move things forward. A few months back I replaced My fuel filler hoses on one of my vans and keep forgetting to post details. I believe my total cost was under $40 so after hearing about your relatives being gouged I definitely wanted to post part numbers and details. I'll try to get to that soon.
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teamtestbot
Posts: 93
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Vehicle: 1989 Mitsubishi Van/Wagon
Location: MA, USA

Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by teamtestbot »

Oh man, I just got around to trying to recover my password. For some reason it wasn't what I thought it was, and I locked myself out of my account trying to guess it :shock:

Ever since the "Accidental Engine Rebuild of 2015", I've done almost nothing maintenance-wise. It's almost boring. Recently, however, the front blower motor went out again. I suspect the pilfered electric scooter motor brushes I installed in a parking lot from 33,000 miles ago have finally worn through - it'll be another fun contortionist adventure getting back in there.

Fighting rust is an uphill battle in salt country. There's 3 spots that I've repaired over the course of the past 3 years which are beginning to return. I'm actually aiming to move out of New England in the coming year, mostly to spare myself the winters, but also to keep the van from getting too beat up. Luckily, as I've detailed in my thread, it's all body panel and cosmetic, but I don't want it growing.
IdahoDoug
Posts: 112
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:21 pm
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Vehicle: 1988 Mitsubishi Van Wagon
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

Thanks for the updates. Our Mitsu continues to soldier on and provide a fun way to zip around town on errands and carry stuff. It has a trailer hitch so it also pulled our trailer with a few yards of rock and bark chips. Probably about 4000lbs. My son learned how to back a trailer with it. I opened the rear hatch so he could see the trailer directly for instant feedback as to how steering inputs change the trailer and it took him about 10 minutes to begin horsing around driving in reverse in and out of the driveway.

I have an armrest in the back that appeared to have the foam crumbling. I unzipped and looked and realized it is just the glue letting go and the shapes are intact and foam is in fine shape - just need to be glued. The foam is built in strips, so easy peazy. So I will be doing that soon.

The engine burns oil and I have determined it is the valves, so I may pull the head and have it reconditioned at a shop at some point.

A couple weekends ago, we drove it up to a campground north of here to hang with some other families and camp. I put the rooftop tent up there and it was fun sleeping 6 feet high. I need to figure out how to remove the spinny seats so we have full flat floor inside for sleeping there as well.
IdahoDoug
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Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

So, the spinny seats are best taking out with the bolts in the tracks that attach to the floor. That way, you lift up the seats and the tracks and have a flat floor. Otherwise you have to deal with 8 hard bolts under you. Also, can I just say that one of the dumbest automotive things I have ever seen is where you fill the washer fluid on these things. It holds about 3 days worth, you have to use tools to take it out, and no funnel or watering can I have works in it due to access. Finally, they made it solid black so you spill washer fluid on the carpet trying to top off the meager capacity.
majormalfunction
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Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by majormalfunction »

How about a meetup in the lower mainland??
originalkwyjibo
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Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by originalkwyjibo »

There's a possibility I may be doing a Toyota/Mitsu meetup in Tacoma Wa this month but it's likely to be somewhat spur of the moment. If it happens I was planning on posting in the US events as well as here.
IdahoDoug
Posts: 112
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Vehicle: 1988 Mitsubishi Van Wagon
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Re: Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

Well, I am installing the 3rd starter in 15 months in my Van. For some reason, they have all failed in the same way. The key turns and the solenoid will not start. Easy to put a jumper together so I can still drive it since this is the 3rd time I have had to do this. These are all NAPA starters so they have a lifetime warranty. I have the feeling their vendor let them down, so I thought I'd alert you folks to this.
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teamtestbot
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Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by teamtestbot »

I take it nobody has had van trouble for months :)
IdahoDoug
Posts: 112
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Vehicle: 1988 Mitsubishi Van Wagon
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

No trouble here, either. I put new tires on it and had it aligned before a 1000 mile road trip and it was like a new vehicle. Tracked in crosswinds, handled fun on curvy roads, braked straight, and much quieter (old tires get hard as well as shallow tread meaning high velocity air). Installed a pair of Hella driving lights I had laying around.

Doug
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teamtestbot
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Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by teamtestbot »

Handled fun on curvy roads?! I have one of those! I took mine up and around the Smoky Mountains in September. It handles unexpectedly well in the mountains, especially with some more rear ballast.

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IdahoDoug
Posts: 112
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Vehicle: 1988 Mitsubishi Van Wagon
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by IdahoDoug »

Man you are really cornering that girl briskly! I have new shocks and new tires and the alignment and these things are fun to drive in a spirited way.
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Big-Bird
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Lets wake this forum up a bit!

Post by Big-Bird »

Very nice van. Loving the stance in the turn. oh yeah...hello by the way.
Yeah I joined the Dark Side because the medical plan is top shelf!

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