Expedition Delica pt1

[jessef]

could you show some detail please on how the awning attaches?

I bought the awning from a fellow who had it installed on a mid-80's VW westy.

The gutter attachments didn't fit, so I took a grinder/cutter to them and bent them to the mitsu's shape as close as possible.

I was determined to get it on before this long weekend so it was a rushed job but it worked.

Awning is a handle/spinner ? mechanism and the two A-arm's extend out and push the awning out. The two flexible/extendable arms drop down and you can adjust them to length. They are on swivels and were originally made to mount to the van which I may end up doing later.

Best pic I have so far.

I'm going to have a full-length roof rack and will have the awning attached to it instead of the way it is now.

On another note, I may have a set of ARB lockers coming in. That will be a nice addition

[after oil]

our vans are hardly twins now.
amazing what steroids can do!

[Erebus]

I've also got an awning. It stores smaller, and doesn't need poles to hold it up.

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Sorry, I don't have photo of it open, but, it comes out as 6 feet wide by 10 feet long!

Check Shady Boy for details.

[jessef]

I've also got an awning. It stores smaller, and doesn't need poles to hold it up.

Sorry, I don't have photo of it open, but, it comes out as 6 feet wide by 10 feet long!

Check Shady Boy for details.

I like the shadyboy.

Reason why I went with this one is that it's 9 wide x 10 long and extremely sturdy.

I needed a heavy duty awning for use in central/south america on coastal beaches = windy and hot.

[jessef]

Redid my suspension and a few tidbits regarding the lift tonight.

SHOCKS

What I had put on when I got Granola :

Procomp ES9000 (gas charged)

Front: 913515
Rear: 919520

What I replaced them with :

Procomp ES3000 (hydraulic)

Front: 315515 (2" longer stroke)
Rear: 319500 (same length except eye top & bottom)

For the rear I added 2" pin -> eye conversion blocks to use with new eye top/bottom shocks giving the extra 2" inches of travel I needed for my lift.

For ride,comfort a gas charged shock is much better vs. hydraulic but because I'm going to be loading my Delica with additional tools/steel bumpers/winch/roof rack/camperize,etc.. the added weight is going to be taxing on the gas charged shocks and I decided to try out hydraulics for now.

BRAKES/DRIVELINE

Line extensions on the rear due to the lift and a bit of cutting in a few areas.

Still trying to find the sweet spot on the transmission spacing (lowering it to match the rear driveshaft/yoke angle/axle). It's becoming frustrating a bit. Cancel out a vibration between a and b, just to get a new vibration from b to c.

Originally, I thought the lift was a simple shackle & spacer up front. It's a bit more complex than that if I'm looking at running my Delica as close to stock driveline/axle articulation is concerned.

Will try and snap some more pics tomorrow.

Going to buy an aluminum spool gun and start making some goodies in the next few weeks.

[jessef]

pics up

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[Todd64]

That looks pretty beefy. Why are the shocks staggered? One pointing back and the other pointing forward?

[jessef]

That looks pretty beefy. Why are the shocks staggered? One pointing back and the other pointing forward?

Most vehicles are like that.

The main reasoning behind the eye to eye shocks and block conversion :

1. eye to eye shocks are the most common style (easy to cross reference most makes = more choices)
2. eye to pin-bottom - pin bottom studs are prone to bending with heavy use (off roading).

Usually you'll see eye bottom - pin/stud top shocks that are mounted vertically in the front. Not sure what mitsu was thinking put them reversed in the rear.

[jessef]

[mararmeisto]

...What I replaced them with :

Procomp ES3000 (hydraulic)

Front: 315515 (2" longer stroke)
Rear: 319500 (same length except eye top & bottom)...

Will those work without putting in the 2" lift, or would I have to chose different part numbers? I find the gas ones a little too 'soggy' so I thought I might put in some hydraulic ones. Besides, Moon Machine's got a bit of a list to starboard (as it were), so I think it might be time to change 'em out.

[jessef]

You would need shorter shocks in the rear if you put in the pin -> eye conversion block (procomp).

It's because the block raises the shock mount point by 2 inches = 2 inch shorter stroke length.

Because I did a 2" lift in the rear, the 2" conversion block canceled out the need for longer shocks.

There is a difference between the 3000's and 9000's.

The 3000's have more of a spongy feel. Better for offroading.

The 9000's have more of a stiffer / 'spring back' type of feel. Better for city/road driving.

Those are my observations between the two on the Delica.

I'm torn between the two. I like the subtle feel of the 3000's but not the harsh spring back that the 9000's have.

I'll leave the 3000's on for now and probably just re-index the Tbars another notch to stiffen up the front.

The good thing about the rear setup now is that it opens up a whole lot of shocks (different makes/models) because that is the most popular (eye top / eye bottom).

I can't believe no one's commenting on the ARB locker. I'm not even certain there are any locked Delica's in Canada. Anyone ?

[mararmeisto]

...I can't believe no one's commenting on the ARB locker. I'm not even certain there are any locked Delica's in Canada. Anyone ?

I don't know what it is, haven't had time to look it up - therefore no comment (yet).

[jessef]

...I can't believe no one's commenting on the ARB locker. I'm not even certain there are any locked Delica's in Canada. Anyone ?

I don't know what it is, haven't had time to look it up - therefore no comment (yet).

http://www.arbusa.com/air_locker_video.php

Night & day compared to an open diff or LSD.

I've done a lot of off roading in the last 20 years.

For me, things like this are for safety. Getting from a->obstacle->b where with a stock vehicle it would not happen at all or may compromise safety (ie. slipping backwards down a muddy logging road/trail or getting stuck in a crossing with only 2 wheels spinning).

[mararmeisto]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I see. Probably still don't need them for Moon Machine. New front brake set with the dual piston/larger rotor, yes; air lockers, nah. Cool though.

[Hankster]

Excellent Choice Howmuchi ?