Life after the L300?

[glenn]

http://www.delica.ca/forum/v8-van-9111.html

If you google it, you get quite a few hits too. You can find them for sale in NZ. I read somewhere that "everything is basically in the right place" and very few mods are required. But I defer to those who know what they are talking about.

[mararmeisto]

None of the sports cars coming out of Japan entice me. I might like them more in 10-20 years once visions of Fast and the Furious have faded from memory.

Some of the sport cars coming out of Europe are amazing though. If I had the cash I'd definately buy that new Mercedes retro gullwing coupe and drive off into the sunset...

You probably haven't seen the new Subaru BRZ - check this out: http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebPa ... SiteID=282

The Toyota Scion FR-S is the same vehicle, just with a 'yota badge on it. It's actually a collaboration between the two companies.

[delica 304]

I'm actually trying to convince my wife that the BRZ / FRS would be the perfect car for her!

I'd rather a Pajero or Pajero Jr for myself.

But to chime in to the earlier comment about caring for your bus, I bought my L300 for 13K (taxes included) in '08. I had to sell it in '10 when I was forced into exile, and 5 Star sold it for me for 12K BEFORE taxes! Take care of your van and you'll get your money back!

Still, I miss my van!

[glenn]

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My wondering eye has led me to this. I won it at auction on Saturday. 97 Jasper, Grade 4B and I can't believe how cheap it was. I have been eyeing the V6 gassers - lots of hp, and they are consistently much cheaper than the diesels. In the end, I went for a diesel because I want to do a WVO conversion. I always wanted to convert my L300, but engine problems prevented me from following through.
I went for a series one because now that series 2's are importable, there is less competition for the nice series 1's at auction and there are some stinkin deals.

And as for my L300. I still plan to finish the utility wagon conversion I've been planning and working on since I bought it, fix the head (fingers crossed it's just the gasket - doubtful though), and then sell it. It's still a looker, and I know someone else will love it.

I have to admit, I've really come around to the looks of the L400. With a few mods, they look pretty fantastic

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[konadog]

It's a 300 or nothing for me. Well, I have a little Civic for a cheap run-about, but the 300 for work, back-country travel and camping. I've tried to be open minded about it, but still can't see any appeal in the idea of a 400. If I needed to replace my bus and couldn't find a good 300 I'd likely get a Nissan or a Toyota pickup instead. But, in the meantime, I hope to have many clicks left in my L300...

[atarijedi]

From some scouring of the internet, I have found out that supposedly you can get a brand new 4d56 engine (L200) for around $3400 + shipping as a crate motor. They come from Hyundai though. But if they are the Gen 3 like everything seems to indicate, you would be running around 175HP and 295ft-lbs or 258ft-lbs based on manual/auto transmission, respectively.

Quite a boost for the ol' Starwagon!

Prices came from people on the forum expeditionportal.com, and it makes me wonder if you could simply drop one of these engines into an L300. Probably have to beef up the powertrain though.

There is also a company in Australia which sells the engines (enginesplus.com.au) for $3575, as well as the 4M40 and 4M41 for $4600 and $5500, respectively. In case anyone wanted to upgrade their L400.

[Firesong]

This came up before. Question was the wiring. Things change dramatically apparently.
Might take a lot of time to get all the electronics.

[atarijedi]

Just the wiring? Or does that include all the electronics like a new ecu, and etc...

I think I will contact hyundai tomorrow to find out what comes in the "box".

Sent from my A110 using Tapatalk 2

[yojimbo]

At a guess its abig difference, it might just be a 4d56t by name, but the 4d56t in the l300 doesnt really need an ecu, mechanical injection pump with a feed I expect for cold timing change and thats about it, apart from maybe the glow plugs control, the new one I bet is an electornically controlled pump where the ecu fully wired in is essential.

[Manitoba deli]

If you want towing power, I hate to say it, but the series2 l400 kicks butt. I personally don't care for the looks of them, but my wife likes it and that's all that matters. Of course I still have my series 1lwb l400, and an l300, but the series 2 has noticebly more power than the series 1. It's still the 2.8l with a mechanical IP, but it is electronically controlled. That being said, there are more sensors and wiring that could cause potential problems, and the tranny is also electronically controlled. The series 2 also doesn't get the attention the l300's and series 1 l400 get, but a very noticable hp jump on the series 1. So if your having trouble deciding on what to get, follow my lead and get 1 of each. You won't be disappointed.
Jason

[psilosin]

So if your having trouble deciding on what to get, follow my lead and get 1 of each. You won't be disappointed.
Jason

Lol. Best statement of the day!

[Rattlenbang]

I haven't had my Delica very long, but I have had it long enough that I get the feeling it will be very much like my other novelty vehicle - a 1987 Vanagon Westfalia. It's pretty much a given in the VW community that to keep these on the road you have to have either very deep pockets or the ability to do the work yourself. I bought one and restored it a couple of years ago in which the PO had spent 10 grand on repairs over the previous decade, and rust eventually convinced them to let it go for very little.
With the amount of work and parts I'm throwing at this Delica, it's deja vu all over again.
The Westy is a brilliant design but the quality was never there. They had issues even when new, and have only gotten worse over time. Parts also have quality issues. Because of this I swapped the awful waterboxer with a Subaru 2.2. Much better engine and far more reliable.
Age is part of the equation but only part. I had a 91 Acura Integra that clocked 425k kilometers before I dumped it a few years ago (still going strong), and in all that time I only had to replaced dizzy, CV joints, and alternator brushes. Very few manufacturers boast that kind of quality, and VW doesn't and it doesn't seem to me that Mitsubishi does either. From what I can tell, its a toss-up between the two.
Given that I do my own work, I accept that. The reliability factor just becomes part of the adventure when traveling. If I break down, I'll deal with it then. I'm also a sailor so compared to the crazy sh*tshow that so often happens at sea, a van breakdown is a piece of cake!

[nxski]

You definitely won't get the same reliability as a Honda car but it's much better than a VW bus. It's sounds like you may have a lemon. I've put lots of work into mine but in terms of general maintenance I've been pleasantly surprised. Financially I was better off with my Civic but compared to the VW bus owners I know, I'm sitting pretty. Also, as a brand Mitsubishi is very good with reliability as is Volkswagon, there are always black sheep though.

[konadog]

I had a 71 VW bus back when it was the same age my L-300 is now. I loved that VW and drove far and wide in it and had many adventures - lots of them mechanical... I know my delica isn't indestructible, but it is waaay tougher and more reliable than that VW ever was. I've made my share of trips down to CCA with issues here and there, but in the 5 years and 100,000 it's yet to be epic.

[Rattlenbang]

That's good news then. I bought this rig knowing it needed a new head gasket (read, new head), after which realizing turbo needed a rebuild, brake caliper sticking, timing belts needing to be done, a bit of bodywork, glass shades needing repair, new keys cut, AC reconnected, accessory belts replaced (okay, I knew that by the screeching when it started up), thermostat, wheel alignment and tire rotation. That list is about as long or longer than any Westy I've bought to restore, although in this case the work is all mechanical rather than bodywork, which is the reverse of most Westies I've owned. I know that this was the result of the PO not taking care of things as they cropped up, and that the vehicle is a lot more complicated compared to the Vanagon chassis. No matter I'm learning tons, and that's important to me. But it does seem comparable to my Westies. I had an aircooled 80 Vanagon Westy that I drove to SoCal twice without a hiccup, so they can be fairly reliable if you treat 'em right.