Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I had to do something about that damage I did, but pulling it out just means I'll bash it in again, so I tidied it up. Here is a step by step guide to how to stitch up your deli so you will be sure no one wants to buy it ever.

Step 1: Assess the damage, man that is ugly...




Step 2: find a zip tie, zap strap, tie wrap, whatever you want to call it, and then a drill bit that will make a hole that it will fit through.



Step 3: Find a spot behind the offending panel that you can zip tie through, or drill through both panels, but hey, work smarter not harder. Then drill your hole...



Step 4: Drill your second hole, think stitches.



Step 5: Zap strap it in and step back to take a look at your handy work.




Step 6: Trim up the loose ends and have a beer



Now I realize this sort of thing may make a lot of you recoil in horror. That is fine. I am not concerned with the resale value of my van, and I would rather spend my money on more fun things than bumper repairs and touch up paint.

Although I should touch that up to prevent any rusting and such, and i'm not quite ready to just pull out the can of rubberized undercoating on it. We're going for monster chic here hahaha, not just plain ugly.

Thanks to Bruce for the little zip tie idea, they really are the new duct tape.

I'd say keep the shiny side up, but I can't tell which side is shiny.

I sure hope Fanny Bay Delica doesn't see that, he might have a heart attack (you should have at least washed and waxed it to lessen the impact!)... but I sure think it was a swell repair Adam. Bruce will never steer you wrong with advice like zip ties.

Josh

zip ties are good... but be careful, you used a standard zip tie which will deteriorate in the sun, should have used outdoor zip ties... (ok, ok! I admit it, I spend to much time at work!!! )

that said, cheap and practical repair. whatever works. (I have to admit than on my old mercedes the front skirting is held together by a block of wood and 2 screws...)

I've got some black ones... are those outdoor? Just went with the clearish one because it was less noticable, If things go downhill i'll throw a black one on. At least it is the kind with the metal tooth not the all plastic one.

Thanks for the heads up.

it probably will never matter, but I'm being anal about it 'cuz my boss is... I've seen what happens to the clear ones in the sun and over time they become very brittle, however that's probably a decade or more (longer than most people own a single vehicle)... it'll probably be perfectly fine for you. and the black one is probably an outdoor one, we get them in black and beige for outdoors... but as I said, yours will probably be fine for a long time yet.

Green1 wrote:zip ties are good... but be careful, you used a standard zip tie which will deteriorate in the sun, should have used outdoor zip ties...

all said and done... how hard is it to replace a worn out zip tie once every 10 yrs? lol

Josh

I was half joking anyway... mainly because my boss has pointed it out to me a few times at work. as I said, not really an issue here (on top of that, it's likely to wear through from rubbing before the UV damage is noticeable anyway)

Gee Adam,

Why didn't you just use a few nails or better yet Duct Tape. Red Green is alive and well in Richmond. :lol: :lol:

Josh - you are right that's not exactly how I'd do it!!!!!!!!

Andy,

How did your weekend turn out anyhow? We missed you during the drive. It would have been interesting to have you and your common sense around! Glad you showed up the first night anyway.

Josh

Josh,

Got to the first night in Weaver Lake but this was more of a 4X4 weekend and I wasn't really up for a couple of days of driving through the back areas, not really my thing. Great bunch of guys though!!

I ended up taking my son to Harrison Hot Springs for a swim then on to the Vancouver Zoo. By the time we got to Whistler it was 5pm and just in time to find a camp ground, he really enjoyed this part because he found some kids to play with for a few hours. Next day we spent at Whistler then back for an evening ferry. He ended up having a great weekend.