Hello from Minnesota Dontcha Know!

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:23 am

Hi all,

I'm flying in to Vancouver Monday, March 6th at which point I will be the proud father of a 1991 Delica Exceed!
I have been crazed with the idea of owning a Delica for about a year, which coincidentally is about how long my wife has been completely irritated with me!

It was also long enough for me to have read so many posts about maintenance, mods and parts that can't see the forest for the trees, lol.

The only downer to this trip is I can't spend any time in BC. I have to pick up a friend in Seattle later that day and head straight back to Minneapolis.

Looking forward to being a part of the community and will hopefully be able to contribute back!

I better get back to pacing a trench in my floor.
Bob

Furi · Post by **Furi** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 4:38 pm

Bob, Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to a few pics of your ride when you do pick it up and have a safe trip. I was just going to suggest if you wanted to add yourself to a map we have for US owners; but I see a mark on New Brighton, MN. Is that you?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Thu Mar 02, 2017 5:01 pm

Welcome, Bob! I think you're about to drive the weirdest car in MN, you might need to get used to the stares

I took a 2-door '96 RAV4 through the Dakotas and Minnesota a few years ago, it was like I'd arrived from outer space.

javabob wrote:It was also long enough for me to have read so many posts about maintenance, mods and parts

Mostly the posts about cold starts, I imagine. It's going to be interesting to hear how you get on in winter (but the aircon will be nice during Summer/Road Repair).

Lapprentis · Post by **Lapprentis** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 2:31 pm

If you plan to use it in winter time, rust proof it as soon as you can: these tin metal japaneese are rusting very fast....

Lapprentis

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:43 pm

Furi wrote:Bob, Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to a few pics of your ride when you do pick it up and have a safe trip. I was just going to suggest if you wanted to add yourself to a map we have for US owners; but I see a mark on New Brighton, MN. Is that you?

Yes it is. I got a little ahead of myself!

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 8:52 pm

Growlerbearnz wrote:Welcome, Bob! I think you're about to drive the weirdest car in MN, you might need to get used to the stares I took a 2-door '96 RAV4 through the Dakotas and Minnesota a few years ago, it was like I'd arrived from outer space.

javabob wrote:It was also long enough for me to have read so many posts about maintenance, mods and parts
Mostly the posts about cold starts, I imagine. It's going to be interesting to hear how you get on in winter (but the aircon will be nice during Summer/Road Repair).

Yep, the cold starts jumped right out at me. It seems like dual batteries and a thinner oil is the route to go, but I am definitely open to suggestions!
Sounds like you have a pretty good take on Minnesota. Really cold, long winters that destroy the roads, then 4 months of road construction. The latter of which seems to either be planned by monkeys with banana maps, or sociopaths that take great pleasure in making life difficult for us.

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:40 pm

Lapprentis wrote:If you plan to use it in winter time, rust proof it as soon as you can: these tin metal japaneese are rusting very fast....

Lapprentis

I've heard some good things about Fluid Film. Although it's DIY, it appeals to me more than paying a Ziebart $800 to spread tar around the undercarriage. There is only one other choice here and they use Autoarmor and charge $1200.

Killbert · Post by **Killbert** » Sat Mar 04, 2017 5:53 am

javabob wrote:Hi all,

I'm flying in to Vancouver Monday, March 6th at which point I will be the proud father of a 1991 Delica Exceed!
I have been crazed with the idea of owning a Delica for about a year, which coincidentally is about how long my wife has been completely irritated with me! It was also long enough for me to have read so many posts about maintenance, mods and parts that can't see the forest for the trees, lol.

The only downer to this trip is I can't spend any time in BC. I have to pick up a friend in Seattle later that day and head straight back to Minneapolis.

Looking forward to being a part of the community and will hopefully be able to contribute back!

I better get back to pacing a trench in my floor.
Bob

Have a safe trip!!! Congrats! Saw you on the USA Forum! Sweet dude!

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:11 am

Hey javabob. I live just north of you in Manitoba, only 13 miles from the boarder. I bought a L400 last fall. The seller rust roved my van for $250. ( if i remember correctly). They use a product made by Wuerth.
Are you driving home trough Manitoba?

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Morgonzo · Post by **Morgonzo** » Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:34 am

Hey welcome! Hope your adventure has a happy as expected beginning and end. I look forward to pictures of your new obsession!

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:48 am

204explorer wrote:Hey javabob. I live just north of you in Manitoba, only 13 miles from the boarder. I bought a L400 last fall. The seller rust roved my van for $250. ( if i remember correctly). They use a product made by Wuerth.
Are you driving home trough Manitoba?

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

Oh man, we're practically neighbors! Unfortunately I'm not driving through Manitoba. That was my original plan but I'm picking up a friend in Seattle and driving him back. Thanks for the heads up on the Wurth rust proofing, I'll start reading up on it.

javabob · Post by **javabob** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:50 am

Morgonzo wrote:Hey welcome! Hope your adventure has a happy as expected beginning and end. I look forward to pictures of your new obsession!

Thanks Morgonzo, I'll get some pictures posted as soon as I get back!

204explorer · Post by **204explorer** » Mon Mar 06, 2017 5:55 am

Maybe we need to organize a international deli meetup. I live in Morden. The Walhalla boarder crossing is closest to me.

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javabob · Post by **javabob** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 8:38 pm

Hi Everyone,

Finally got the Deli home! Mother nature threw everything at us. Snow storms, ice storms, avalanches, 20 car pile-ups, and closed mountain passes. It was like that all the way from Seattle till about 6 hours from Minneapolis.
The little Deli just chugged along as if nothing was wrong. We even rescued some stranded people that went off the road during one of the storms.
I'm still too exhausted to type,lol, but I thought I'd post a few pics.
Two things I need to do right away are point the headlights in the proper direction, only being able to see 15 feet ahead of you is a little unnerving. And I really need window weatherstripping. I didn't notice before I started driving back that almost all of it is gone on both doors.
Otherwise I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to start tinkering with all the little bits that need fixing.

Furi · Post by **Furi** » Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:11 pm

Glad you made it home ok!! What an adventure though.
No doubt some of the people you pulled out of the snow now have a pretty good story to tell about a super hero in an unusual rig from the past emerging through the blizzard and saving them before riding off into the blinding storm! :)