Took my Space Gear to Canada!

[Swisstank]

Hello y'all. I'm not entirely new to this site, having posted a couple questions before actually deciding to take my 1997 Space Gear with me on my move from Switzerland to Alberta. Now I have it here, and it passed customs and hopefully everything will work out. Love the Space Gear/ Delica! Specially with a bunch of kids it is our perfect vehicle.
Having a few problems getting it to pass the Provincial Inspection. The windshield does not have a stamp on it, and now they want me to replace a perfectly good, almost brand new windshield. That seems a bit strange. I had the vehicle inspected just before shipping it, to make sure it was in good mechanical shape, and it passed with flying colours. Now the other thing they want me to replace is a ball joint in the front end. Strange that no one found that before....anyway, safety first, I'll replace the balljoint. Can anyone point me in the right direction for parts here in Grande Prairie, Alberta area? I was told that the Space Gear was built upon the Pajero chassis, and the Pajero was called the Montero here in North America. What are the chances that the ball joint for a Montero will fit the Space Gear/ Delica? I appreciate all the info I can get. I'm sure I can get parts for it in the aftermarket world, but some info might potentially save me a lot of trial and error.
Looking forward to meeting some Mitsubishi Vans on the road! If you're in the area, let me know.
Greetings,
Dan

[LeeHammy]

RockAuto.com
I got ball joints for my Pajero there and I am sure you will find what your after on that site. Just click the European Union flag check box and they will show under Mitsubishi I think.

Cheers

PS.. Just a thought, when you get a new windsheild put in, make sure they do not keep the old one and give it to you, living in GP I know you won't last more than 2 winters before you need a new one. By then you will have need a new one and buying a new one every year helps the economy in that region as they cannot survive on oil money alone.

[Swisstank]

Thanks for the help. Good idea keeping the windshield as a spare. I know all about rock chips from gravel roads! ( Drove big rigs for years...)

Cheers, Dan

[jessef]

What are the chances that the ball joint for a Montero will fit the Space Gear/ Delica?

http://www.delica.ca/forum/l400-upper-a ... 58-15.html

Montero and L400 upper control arms are different = upper balljoints are different = not interchangeable

By then you will have passed inspection, and also have a spare to replace the new one when it chips and cracks from road spray. Who cares if its not DOT by then you are already legal on the road.

This is horrible advice, especially on a public forum.

"Who cares if its not DOT by then you are already legal on the road." ? The CVSE, local police and RCMP for starters. People get pulled over across the country because of illegal compliance items on their vehicles. RHD's are often singled out for this reason. You get pulled over and can be fined, issued a reinspection notice and require a tow from the side of the road due to driving an illegally complied vehicle. Worth it? Not likely.

Please do NOT dispense illegal advice on a public forum.

Dan, please disregard this advice.

[Swisstank]

Hi. Yes, perhaps that is not quite the right attitude on safety factors in general, and I'm not one to operate unsafe vehicles. I do however feel that it is a bit strange that a perfectly fine windshield made from safety glass coming from a country that has some of the highest safety standards in the world, will not pass inspection because it wasn't manufactured here. It is safety glass. just seems a bit weird, is all.
Thanks for all the help.
Cheers

[LeeHammy]

Eeep, a simple PM would have sufficed.

Let me take this time to rephrase my post. Seeing as its a windscreen a season in that part of the country, and having been up there too see how the roads are with oil rig traffic and all sorts of unsafe looking big rigs with wide loads I am sure DOT has its hands full. So Japan being a great manufacturer of goods and the quality of your safety glass windscreen you currently own being wonderful despite not having the letters DOT stamped on it. If someone were to bring up the idea that a quick and safer option were to be that you hold on to your Japanese glass for emergency purposes only in the event your DOT windscreen becomes compromised with cracks and you cannot source a replacement and driving with low visibility through winter roads with a crack in your sight line is unsafe and you can no longer use your van in the winter and you can't walk because of all the snow..gasp. The idea that a Japanese safety glass windscreen is a lesser of two evils option against a fractured, pitted and chipped DOT screen of which will also be illegal will not be an entirely irresponsible suggestion given that the majority of readers on here do think for themselves and have common sense most likely using this idea to buy them some time only till a new windscreen arrives. However I do not suggest you do this as it will be highly unsafe because the Japanese safety glass does not have 3 white painted letters spelling "DOT". Alberta is very strict with its DOT regulations which is why you see so many 8" lifted F650's with 40 HID lights on them. Its safe to see where your going. :P

Another safety tip is to install a sour gas safety throttle that is to be installed in the air intake line to your turbo so if you're ever around the oil fields and sour gas is sucked in it quickly senses this shutting down your safety throttle stalling the engine out thus saving you from going KABOOM!

Remember safety first.

I shall remove my original misleading and horrible post. My apologies.

[Swisstank]

Thanks Hammy....I know what you're saying. I see jfarsang's point as well, as safety is paramount, and we all want to stay legal.

[LeeHammy]

Ya me too, I agree with him. Plus my wording did make it sound sketchy. It is very important especially in Vancouver to abide by those laws. Last thing we want is to give fuel to the argument that RHD's are unsafe.

[jessef]

agreed

Once you get pulled over and issued a re-inspection for a small thing like a missing DOT or side marker in a RHD rig (I've been there), it's not pleasant. Especially if the CVSE person has a hard on for RHD's.

[Swisstank]

You bet. I agree with you both. As mine is a LHD, I'm hoping not to attract too much attention that way.
And having owned and driven big trucks for many years, I'm no stranger to DOT attention. The best thing is to keep it legal. Some of the laws kinda make you wonder sometimes, though.....

[nxski]

Curiosity got the best of me...

What is the difference between the current glass and DOT approved glass? if in fact it is white paint would it not be possible for some white paint to magically appear in the form of "DOT?" (I'm not suggesting this, like I said, curiosity got the best of me)

[Swisstank]

Actually, I have asked around a bit by now, and the different shops, and even the local authorities cannot agree upon one answer. The glass is actually stamped 'Safety Glass', Lamex, E1, etc etc. Its laminated safety glass and it says so on it. Technically it is as safe as anything you can buy on the market here. They agree on that. But because there is a difference of opinion on one or two of the digits, they would either pass or fail it. It boils down to a paperwork technicality, not really a safety issue. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from different inspectors. I might be able to have it inspected as is after all.... Ball joint is in the mail....I'll be putting that in this weekend, hopefully.
Cheers, Dan

[Swisstank]

Ok, a bit of an update in case anyone is interested.
The Space Gear finally passed inspection, even the windshield! Word came down from the big boys at Transport Canada that the E1 stamped on the windshield is equivalent to North American safety standarts. So in case anyone else runs into this problem trying to get a vehicle inspected, don't just go and buy a $1000 windshield. With a bit of research and talking to the DOT directly, you might be able to leave the windshield you have in there.
The balljoint came in the mail, was reasonably priced, and was a perfect fit. Thanks to Steve from Rising Sun!
All is well now, and I'm proudly rolling around Albertan mud with red and white plates on 'er.
Thank you all for the help and tips!
Greetings, Dan

[CREGAN]

We need some pictures to know what we are looking for!!

Craig

[Swisstank]

Hey Craig,
I uploaded a couple pics today, but they are nothing too special. Gives you an idea what it looks like though. Almost like yours, but not as fancy....yet
I'm still trying to figure out how to shrink my pics so I can upload it...but I don't spend very much time on the computer these days...plus I think I'm a slow learner, anyhow! ;)
Have a good day.
Cheers, Dan