Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

1988 Mitsubishi VanWagon (USA registered) and put in the entire 4x4 drivetrain / engine / components from a freshly tuned Delica.

Once the conversion is done, it would be a rare one in the states.

A 1988 Mitsubish VanWagon 4x4 2.5L Diesel

Q. How much do you guys & gals (if any american's on here as well) think it would be worth on the market ?

I'm gauging interest and whether or not it's worth my time to do the conversion and sell it in the states.

Thnx

Posted on some other forums (US) and it doesn't look like there's any interest at all.

So much for that idea !

I think it would gather more interest if you did the swap to the Montero. You could get a 98/99 Montero and make it diesel, I think you would have a winner. Or the LC 80's series and put the Japanse diesel in it.

I found a montero with a blown motor for $850 recently. 4D56T with transmission about $4000 plus labour....hmmmm. What do you think?

Sounds like a good plan as well. Much easier conversion.

The front frames on the vans look completly different Jesse, and would have to guess some major fabbing would be required. The 2wd van is quite lighter duty forward. It's a bad idea to take a VIN from a $500 1990 USA Mits van and putting it on a JDM 1990 Delica, no. Seems too easy, so it's gotta be against the law.

But, a dodge D50, 4x4 pickup looks do-able for a powertrain swap.

I looked at an 88 this morning in WA.

It won't happen. Waaaay too much work.

BCDelica wrote:t's a bad idea to take a VIN from a $500 1990 USA Mits van and putting it on a JDM 1990 Delica, no. Seems too easy, so it's gotta be against the law.

A straight VIN swap is certainly not a good path. The reality is that there is no hard and fast rule on US Customs importation (Believe me: I've done more research and spoken to more officials than any sane person should). The reality is that US highways are awash in 100% legal vans and cars that have a "mixed" heritage. The one thing that all of these vehicles have in common in order to be legal is that some member of their direct family made it into the states for sale as a new car. Great examples of this are:
Toyota Hilux/Tacoma
Toyota Surf/4runner
Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero
various Volkswagon TDI's

So an example is that you can't bring in a Hilux to the US, but you can bring in a half-cut (diesel engine, solid axles, drivetrain, etc), combine it with a US Tacoma and get a vehicle that is 100% US legal and is for all intents and purposes a Hilux - it's just a homegrown version.

The same can be said for your Pajero/Montero combination. This is even better than the Hilux because the diesel engine you'd swap was already sold in the US on domestic vehicles (give or take an upgrade or two).

As to the Delica/L300 combo - it isn't impossible but you'd have to be motivated to do it (a) right and (b) legally.

Hope this helps - if you have questions let me know as I have spent a lot of time on the subject.

I was very sad to find out that my dream of a delica in the states is being bahsed... I am looking for a fuel efficiant 4x4 that i can convert to WVO and live in (in the states..) ANY SUGGESTIONS???
it seems that thats very difficult to find here...
thanks!
Itai

Have you thought about a Suzuki 4x4 and a tdi vw. It has been done. On the show trucks or was it extream 4x4. Then they put it on veg oil.

itaigoldman wrote:I was very sad to find out that my dream of a delica in the states is being bahsed... I am looking for a fuel efficiant 4x4 that i can convert to WVO and live in (in the states..) ANY SUGGESTIONS???
it seems that thats very difficult to find here...
thanks!
Itai

Fuel efficiency and 4WD generally do not mix well, but that depends on your definition of "fuel efficiency". You may want to think about a Montero or 4WD Mighty Max. They are fairly easy to find, and would be reasonable with fuel.

The Mighty Max came with a 4G64 starting in the late 80's, so you could do all the 4G64 mods. Also, the Montero sport came with a 4G64 in the 90's.

Just wait 2 years and you can get a RHD one under the 25 year rule