Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Hello,

I have been lurking on this board for a while, as I have been lusting after a Delica or Pajero for a couple of years. However, things being as they are insurance-wise in Ontario for the moment, I am going in a different direction, and building my own 4x4/diesel minivan based on a LHD/North American chassis, and adding a veg-oil conversion to boot.

So, I signed up so that I can keep an eye on the tech stuff, and be on the look out for any 4D56T's that come up for sale.

I'm located in the dead centre of the Niagara Peninsula, so if any owners/board members are ever on a wine tour, feel free to look me up.

Feds.

Feds wrote:Hello,
So, I signed up so that I can keep an eye on the tech stuff, and be on the look out for any 4D56T's that come up for sale.
Feds.

Welcome...

Not sure the 4D56T would be my pick of motors if I was building my own mini van. It has just enough power to push a Delica and not very fast.

I would look at OM617 Mercedes TURBO Diesel or Isuzu or maybe 4BT cummins. There was talk about a 6.2L into an Astro Van (6.2 and 6..5 without Turbo are ok but very heavy for the front end). The newer 400L motor is a better motor as well.

Keep us posted on the build.

Cheers

I thought very seriously about the Mercedes or the 4BT, though I was planning for those into a full-sized dodge van. That idea died when I realized that full-sized vans are not 4x4 conversion friendly.

After a lot of thought, the chassis I am planning on using is the 96-98 MPV, and here's why:

1. Comes with AWD: don't have to adapt/scratch build a front suspension
2. Cheap to buy. Clean ones can be had under (sometime well under) $3000.
3. I have a lot of Mazda experience. (6 RX-7's, a B2000, a 323, a Protege5 over the years)
4. A 4D56T should bolt up. With some work.

The whole plan is to find a very rust-free MPV. Perfect would be a low-mileage van with a blown motor or trans. '96 to '98 is preferred, as they have 4 doors.

Out comes the original drivetrain, and in goes a 4D56T, bolted to an early B2600 manual trans/bellhousing (since those trucks came with the mitsu 4G54), and on to an early MPV manual transfercase (comes with 2-hi/AWD/4-hi/4-low, equivalent to Super Select transfer case). I haven't done the math on the B2600 trans and the MPV final drive ratios to make sure 120kph occurs at a happy RPM in 5th gear, but Mazda has enough gear sets that I am not too worried about it, even if I have to open the trans.

Overall, I would probably prefer the 4M40 (since Cat uses it in some of their industrial equipment, and I have good access to Cat parts), but I don't know how different the bellhousing pattern is compared to the 4D56, and I am not looking to build adapter plates, etc. I guess I'll toss that back as a question: can a 4M40 bolt up to a 4D56 transmission?

Feds wrote:
Overall, I would probably prefer the 4M40 (since Cat uses it in some of their industrial equipment, and I have good access to Cat parts), but I don't know how different the bellhousing pattern is compared to the 4D56, and I am not looking to build adapter plates, etc. I guess I'll toss that back as a question: can a 4M40 bolt up to a 4D56 transmission?

Here is a B2200 getting a 4D56: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/s ... hp?t=43424

I do not think the 4M40 bolts up....(I know my 5 Speed could not take it!)

Ford is an easy swap to 4X4 and comes with Diesel already in them...But not the best of fuel.