Drive-By's L300

[Drive-By]

Hi, I'm Chris from Darlington and this is my Delica story :D


Earlier this month I decided it was time to bite the bullet and say goodbye to my trusty L200 2WD in favour of something 4WD before the winter and to take its place as my daily driver and Mitsu-Mech work horse. I'd considered a newer L200 or even a Strada but wanted something a little more capable and comfortable in the snow. The shortlist came down to either a MK1 Shogun similar to the one I bought my girlfriend Livy last year,which was unstoppable in the snow, or a Delica. I've had an L400 before but always hankered for an L300. I can only say its down to my love of older Japanese cars and I like the boxier more eccentric styling :)

Here's a pic of my old L200 which the L300 has replaced, which I was surprised generated so much interest on retro-Rides and sold in a hour of me posting it up.



...and here's the delica just after we got back for the epic roadtrip to collect her from Bradford- on Avon



Looking a little tired and in need of some TLC but for a £600 car which had been stood for 9 months she's in pretty solid shape :)

Plenty of changes and plenty of TLC on the way for her which I'll keep updating

[Drive-By]

Over the last couple of weeks I've been trying inbetween work load to get as much of the general mechanical items sorted as well as making sure she's in a fit state to be driven daily. Using her for my business I can't have a mitsu-Mech car not looking it's best can I

Chris who I bought the L300 from was kind enough to give me a full service kit bar the oils with her. So right away she's had a major service with Oil, Air and Fuel filters changed. Fresh oil in the automatic gearbox, tranfer and the front and rear differentials too. Friction fighter was also added to all the oils bar the auto box.
All that and a good check over of the brakes with a bleed/flush and service of the drums and calipers left only the auto hubs to adjust which were quickly sorted.

After I noted how soft the suspension had been feeling I turned my attention to the torsion bars. Two notches of re-indexing and some adjustment has go her levelled out with only 10mm difference now lower than the rear.

Next on the list and very important to me on any car was Underseal and I wasn't going to waste any time getting her cleaned off and coated knowing our countries love of salt in the slightest breath of bad weather :puke: Hate that stuff. I know it can be argued it saves lives but just as much as driving to the conditions and I don't appreciate my pride and joy rotting out from underneath me prematurely.

A good clean off and 5 litres later...





Much better and now I don't cringe everytime I drive in the rain :)




More soon as there's plenty on my "to do" list as well and some exciting changes :D

[Drive-By]

Made a start on some upgrades yesterday including a trip down memory lane :)

I've been trying to decide on a steering wheel for my Delica and for my girlfriends MK1 Pajero and had been looking at Nardi wood wheels which I love but I have been on the look for something a little more rare, months of ebay searches finally paid off and yesterday I ditched the standard wheel...



...for something I hadn't seen in a long time :)



It's an Ital Volanti wood rim which was a dealer optional extra back in the late 80's and early 90's Mitsubishi Dealerships. I used to fit these as an apprentice and even then they were expensive. Luckily the scrapyard didn't see much value in it

A small start on the BIG plans :)

[Luna-Sea]

[FalcoColumbarius]

My god you've got one of those vans.

I am looking forward to your project. We have a couple going on presently ~ it's great to see people doing things to their wagons and it gives me ideas. Keep us posted, please.

Falco.

[nxski]

Very cool to see the 2 wheel drive version of my truck looking so good! It's nice to imagine what could be

I can't wait to see what kind of modifications you'll do with that Delica!

[Drive-By]

Very cool to see the 2 wheel drive version of my truck looking so good! It's nice to imagine what could be

I can't wait to see what kind of modifications you'll do with that Delica!

My pink Bosozoku van is actually a Hi-Ace super Custom under the skin, not a Delica but it does show I guess the two ends of the vanning culture in japan. With at one end the crazy manga inspired offshoot of the outlawed biker gangs to the family weekend camping trips in delicas which seem almost a national pastime in Japan

As for Deli mods probably nothing that hasn't been done before but still hopefully bringing something fresh and eye catching as she's my new daily and my work bus/mobile advertising for my business Few bits already on the boat from Japan and drawing up a few to fabricate over here too

[nxski]

Very cool to see the 2 wheel drive version of my truck looking so good! It's nice to imagine what could be

I can't wait to see what kind of modifications you'll do with that Delica!

My pink Bosozoku van is actually a Hi-Ace super Custom under the skin, not a Delica but it does show I guess the two ends of the vanning culture in japan. With at one end the crazy manga inspired offshoot of the outlawed biker gangs to the family weekend camping trips in delicas which seem almost a national pastime in Japan

As for Deli mods probably nothing that hasn't been done before but still hopefully bringing something fresh and eye catching as she's my new daily and my work bus/mobile advertising for my business Few bits already on the boat from Japan and drawing up a few to fabricate over here too

Sorry for the confusion, I meant the pick-up truck that you sold (L200). The hiace looks even more amazing though!

[Drive-By]

Ah the Mighty Max, yeah I have plenty of love for D50/L200's, built a lowrider 2WD LWB in the early 90's. That's where the Drive-By comes from, we were a lowrider mini-truck club when we started in '92

[Strada 92]

Really cool the L200!
I had a 50 ram 2wd 1992 with 4G64 engine.Good little truck.Very reliable.
What kind of engine was in yours?

[Drive-By]

Really cool the L200!
I had a 50 ram 2wd 1992 with 4G64 engine.Good little truck.Very reliable.
What kind of engine was in yours?

Mine was a 2 litre 4G6 too and my first one was the 4D56 2.5 Diesel

[Drive-By]

It's a little late getting to this update but I've managed to find a few minutes to bring it forward...

During the winter months she started using a little water and curing one water pipe leak only resulted in the water pump seals blowing which meant just one thing, the head gasket had failed. Something given the time she was standing and her age it was only innevitable I would have to confront but not to be scared of as the 4D56 is pretty much the simplest diesel I've ever worked on in over 22 years with Mitsubishi.

Now the castings on many modern cylinder heads are far from refined and even Lancer Evolutions benefit greatly from some mild port work. The 4D56 is no different...



Where the valve seats are sunk into the head a very visible step is left which anyone with a laymans understanding will tell you creates a vortex which commonly is twice the size of any shear step up or down narrowing the port or tube by double its height. A 2mm step could mean a 4mm loss in diameter of flowing gas.





So a little work....






Can make a big difference :)

And this isn't only limmited to the cylider head. The exhaust manifold and turbo hot side also got some attention....











I also had Turbo Dynamics of Darlington recondition the turbo core. Along with myself swapping the hot side for a smimilar period shogun hostside with a filter flowing waste gate design casting.



Damaged parts were next for replacement as the cambelt went on..



the jigsaw puzzle remains of the cambelt cover were repalced with a second hand intact one and the injector tips replaced with new from Breedon & Gell of Darlington. Not the best pic but you can make out the worn out tip has a crater from the high pressure wearing away at it.



will post the completed. item later along with more :)

[Drive-By]

Good guys wear black!

With the new Mitsu-Mech stickers on the way it was time to make sure they had a nice fresh canvas to be painted on :) And while the delica was in the bodyshop the exterior bolt ons got some satin black attention. The mirrors and booms got flatted back and acid etched before their color change. Even the rear light clusters got some revamping. Some careful masking off the a dusting of satin black.....



... then a coat of laquer.




et voila :)

[Drive-By]

More parts arriving from Japan each week now and the arches I got have been resprayed to match :D





Hopefully I'll get these bonded on at the weekend

[FalcoColumbarius]

Way cool, Drive By, keep us posted. What product are you painting your arches with?

Falco.