L400 manual transmision

[obeygravity]

How offen does one come across an L400 with a manual transmission? Either for import or reselling within Canada? Are their any major mechanical concerns vs an automatic, or fuel efficency differences (because of gearing) like with the L300.

[obeygravity]

Ok, has anyone even seen one in person.......I've been led to believe they exist.... I would really like a Delica, but my wife doesn't want us to sit in the crumple zone, and we both are uncomfortable with the concept of an automatic transmission....

[jessef]

I've driven two and they suck. The manual trans is weak (both needed a rebuild with a few months of landing in Canada and 4/5th is poorly geared for our highway use.

Auto is the way to go without question and I can't stand auto's.

[nxski]

If one refused to drive auto I assume you could just buy an auto and install an aftermarket manual system!? Throw enough money at it...

[roadie]

Ok, has anyone even seen one in person.......I've been led to believe they exist.... I would really like a Delica, but my wife doesn't want us to sit in the crumple zone, and we both are uncomfortable with the concept of an automatic transmission....

My wife got into a front end collision with her L400 18 months ago. The front of chevy cavalier that hit her was completely destroyed. I went to the accident scene and drove the van back home. Not a shake or shimmy even at highway speed. Bumper/grill/headlight/bull bar were changed, and a minor dent in the frame pulled. Both front fenders were perfect as was the hood/rad. Everyone (five people including children) in our van were fine. There were injuries to the occupants of the other vehicle. Luckily not severe. If she had been driving a Caravan, Windstar, Sienna, etc. I'm sure it would have been worse...

[nxski]

I think the point being made is that there are many L300 manual transmission vans lying around but barely any L400's. Because the L300 requires you sit in the crumple zone the op would prefer an L400. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

I have seen some in Japan auction Market, but hardly see good condition L400.
We sold two units of crystal lite roof manual L400 last year, contact us if you want to go for.

http://www.delica.ca/forum/1994-delica- ... -9996.html
http://www.delica.ca/forum/1994-delica- ... 10523.html

Steven

[roadie]

I think the point being made is that there are many L300 manual transmission vans lying around but barely any L400's. Because the L300 requires you sit in the crumple zone the op would prefer an L400. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hmmmm....That never occurred to me, but no one ever said I was the sharpest tool!! How are the 300's for collision safety btw?? Our L400 replaced an Estima Lucida. The deli is superior in absolutely every way....

[nxski]

I beleive the 2wd European cargo Delicas (without bullbars) are 5 star side and rear but a pitiful 1 star frontal. That being said I've heard of a telephone pole being felled by an L300 (front impact) with no injuries to the driver or passenger. The driver attributes this to the bullbars on the front. I have another friend who took out a telephone pole with a corvette zr1 and both driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. I know those 2 examples cannot really be compared because speed was probably different and the zr1 had airbags, a cockpit cage and tear away zone, but it makes you wonder.

[obeygravity]

Yes, the question was about manual in an L400... so far there has only been one response from some one who drove one (two I guess)...Just wondering if a negative sample of two is representative of the whole lot....I have a Sprinter Carib whose engine should normally be good for close to 300k yet it died after 80k...(in a sample of 1, that is pretty bad odds) The replacement has had no issues.... any idea what percentage of L400's came with a manual transmition? There was a statement about the gearing of 4/5 being wrong for here... 110kph is me going fast....do you know how it does in that range?

[jessef]

the 5-speed in the L400 is virtually identical to the L300 except it's pushing a larger drivetrain.

If you have 31" tires, the 5speed is okay on the highway up to 110. If you are running stock tires 235/75/15's, at 100km/hr the rpm's are screaming. It is not geared for highway use.

As far as the percentage of manual vs. auto's. That's a loaded question which can only be answered by speculation.

I would guess there's probably a dozen L400 5speed's in Canada.

One thing to note as well is the shifter position. It's not comfortable to drive in the city as the stick is low and if you have a bad shoulder or short arms, good luck in driving it for any extended period of time.

What I'm saying is that specific transmission and ergonomics (inside shifter) is not suited for the L400 and mechanically does not have a good track record.

Track record = all Mitsu 5-speed transmissions in North America for the Mitsu Montero. They are junk and people usually swap them out for auto's unless it's a shorty.

My advice. Try one before you buy one and I would definitely not recommend to import one from Japan until you actually drove one. If you do import, do it via an importer or dealer that can offer a good warranty on that transmission otherwise the rebuild is about 3k.

After driving them and seeing both pulled for rebuilds, I wouldn't buy one. That's one opinion. I'm sure others will chime in who actually own or have driven a few.

[tonydca]

I think the point being made is that there are many L300 manual transmission vans lying around but barely any L400's. Because the L300 requires you sit in the crumple zone the op would prefer an L400. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hmmmm....That never occurred to me, but no one ever said I was the sharpest tool!! How are the 300's for collision safety btw?? Our L400 replaced an Estima Lucida. The deli is superior in absolutely every way....

[thedjjack]

I can talk to the L300 5speed...Love it...but it is geared for 80km/h I usually keep it around 3,000rpm on 31" tires which is around 100km/h....diff ratios are the issue (4.11 or 33" tires would be better).

The transmission seems similar to Ford/Mazda trucks but for the L300 has external shifting with cables...the syncros are weak and from my reading fluid type makes a big different.

You can get a stiffening pan for them that looks like it helps (people managing lots of HP/torgue through them)....

I shift mine very slow given the linkage on the L300 and double clutch down shifts (especially cold (I will add a oil pan heater if I move to cold again), run full synthetic, and do not down shift to stop (brakes are like few hundred to re due but rebuilds are lots $$$$ stop down shifting in my youth)...

I think the L400 transmission would be much easier to find parts given the conventional shifter location and shifter length would be an easy mod... If you factor in a rebuild in the purchase and a stiffening pan etc....and run 33" tires, regear, or drive under 110km/h I suspect it would be great...

I have never driven the L400 yet one with a 5speed....I am ok with sitting over the wheels, but I grew up on motorcycles and it seems safer then those crazy fun things...

[FalcoColumbarius]

Those two comparisons are like matching apples to oranges. The Starex is impacting a flat surface square on, the Express Van is impacting an irregular object oddly. The Starex is doing 56 kliks but we don't know the speed of the Express Van, however, judging by the way the aft end kicks up in the air I would think closer to eighty.

By the way, Starwagons are built differently to Express Vans. Take Josh's Delica: Driving on the No. 16 at 80 KPH; oncoming vehicle going roughly the same speed; veers into Delica's lane; estimated moving impact 160 KPH; Delica does a 270 and hits another vehicle; Lands on wheels in ditch; Other two vehicles are a mess, Starwagon sustains superficial damage.

Now this is different than hitting something anchored, like a wall ~ but I would think a more likely scenario. Either way there are many variables in accidents. When I was first hunting for my Chamonix I looked for crash test results and the major complaint about the Starwagon is what it did to other vehicles. Having said that I think back to that poor girl who ran her delica off of the Bamfield Road, striking a tree that fell on the wagon, crushing her. The engine was still running and the frame carrying the tree. What would have happened if her Delica was equipped with a roll cage?

I've driven a manual Starwagon once, shifted okay but I have heard a fair amount of critique toward the manual. Auto handles highway speeds better at a lower RPM, better on fuel. 100 KPH in auto tranny is roughly 2,600 RPM, in a manual it's three grand. Plus you can still gear down an auto tranny, just not manually clutching.

Falco.

[obeygravity]

Yes it was a loaded question...I was looking for justification to keep pursuing a manual tranny. I don't have the time or money (and despite what i'd like to think, the skill) to do the mods it sounds might be necessary to make a stick work. Oh well, maybe the mediocrity of a manual will be offset by the fabulousness that is Delica.