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CREGAN
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Leduc, Alberta - CANADA
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 Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| taigagreen wrote: |
This i liked!
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Holy Crap! That looks like a toy. That is one of the biggest tub-tops I've seen. Do you think it is tippy?  I really like these and have been trying to pursuade the banker/wife that they would make a sweet family hauler. Needless to say it is not going well yet but the seed has been planted!
Craig |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Worms wrote: |
Our local e-bay alternative (http://www.trademe.co.nz) has a bunch of these (the $NZ price probably converts well enough to make them look SUPER cheap to you guys).
There are thousands of them here in New Zealand. The auto boxes and diesel engines aren't well known for reliability though ( autos die and engines crack heads / blow head gaskets). I'd only buy a V6 manual if I were in the market, but they're really hard to find!
Allan |
Allan, you must be referring to the older models with the 2.4.
The 2.5 4D56T Mitsu diesel is one of their best small vehicle engines. There is a reason why they still produce that same engine and put them in Hyundai's and still make L300's.
The 2.4's had head gasket issues and the 2.8 Toyota diesels had head cracking issues. Not the 2.5 Mitsubishi's.
My last Pajero with the 2.5 TD engine went to 340,000 miles before I sold it. And it's still going strong. The current owner loves it.
All I did was oil changes, adjust the valves and timing/water pump replacement every 50k or so. They are very reliable engines.
It's the 2LT toyota diesels that have been bombarded with cracked heads. That is why Toyota replaced the head with the 3L which resolved the cracking with the extra cooling ports.
L300's never came with a V6.
| oldskoolsteve wrote: |
I've heard up here in B.C. the authorities aren't happy with all the RH D's coming in and are starting to re-flag for inspection years later.
They really want to stem the influx of Jap imports.
Apparently when they inspect your vehicle, if it doesn't pass and you don't have the money to bring to code they have the right to escort the vehicle to the crusher.
Some kid brought in a Skyline to mechanics school only to be inspected, failed and crushed within a week. |
There are horror stories like this one which I'm glad to point out are completely false.
As for getting a car crushed or turned around at the port, it happens. Why ? Because morons import skyline's that are 14 and 1/2 years old or they didn't bother to check the manufacture month date before it landed on Canadian soil.
There have been RHD vehicles in Canada and the US for decades. Looks at the government service vehicles, garbage trucks, post office cars, etc...
There is zero tolerance for someone who imports and tries to register a vehicle or JDM illegally. That is where you hear many stories from but they usually get twisted around so much that by the time you hear it, it's made to sound like RHD's are dangerous or RHD's are being outlawed. Both of which are incorrect.
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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Worms
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 279
Location: Whangarei, New Zealand
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| Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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| jfarsang wrote: |
Allan, you must be referring to the older models with the 2.4.
The 2.5 4D56T Mitsu diesel is one of their best small vehicle engines. There is a reason why they still produce that same engine and put them in Hyundai's and still make L300's.
The 2.4's had head gasket issues and the 2.8 Toyota diesels had head cracking issues. Not the 2.5 Mitsubishi's.
It's the 2LT toyota diesels that have been bombarded with cracked heads. That is why Toyota replaced the head with the 3L which resolved the cracking with the extra cooling ports.
L300's never came with a V6.
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The L400 had a V6 - Goes REALLY well.
The 3L (the 2.8D) toyota had common head cracking problems, the earlier 2.4's and especially the turbo ones were hideous (not to mention SLOW!).
There are enough pajeros and L300s / L400 here for sale with blown head gaskets for them to go on my list - they often get used for towing loads (usually boats), and probably get hot - maybe you have much lighter towing ratings over there? Dunno.
Bear in mind that MOST of ours start life new in Japan, then come here when they are 2 to 6 years old. The japanese are not well renowned for servicing cars which are diposed of after a few years!
The earlier motor was marketed here as a 2.3... it was seriously bad!
I do have a friend with an 2.5 L200 ute with nearly 800,000 kms on it, and no engine work... no turbo though.
I'm wary of most toyota diesels - their reputation isn't actually as good as most think - any of the C motors (especially the 2CT!) should be enough to give anyone a bad rep - I don't think there is a japanese car in the world as unreliable as a JDM DIESEL estima/lucida (previa narrow body) they eat heads, gaskets and pistons. Even the later 1KZ-TE 3.0L has been know to crack heads without being overheated!
It's really quite strange, but my vanagon has 200,000 kms on it, and according to the previous owner... has never has the head "gaskets" done... it had a new water pump, and I just put in a thermostat. But it hasn't popped yet!
Cheers,
Allan |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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Just picked it up a month ago.
3/4 Montero driveline 1/4 Van body
The setup is similar to Toyo's.
Solid axle 5-link coils in the rear . beefy 9.5" LSD diff.
Front dbl wishbone IFS . 8.5" open diff.
disks all around
4.875 gears
Beefy trans/tcase.
Good tcase with P/T 4H/4L decent ratio's. Also has an in-line viscous coupler that gives you a F/T AWD mode which is good in the snow.
Good flex.
2.8 4cyl water-cooled turbo/intercooled diesel. Puts out enough grunt to pass doing 80mph if needed. Can tow our 3,500lbs trailer with people/gear no problem.
Best of all it's timing chain driven so the only maintenance you need to do is oil changes, glow plugs, fuel filter changes and that's it for up to 300,000 + miles.
Decent mileage. about 26mpg city/hwy's the same.
Seats 8 people. Lots of goodies inside. Tons of room for 2 people to sleep plus gear and moving around.
It's basically a Montero with a van body.
They come in various models.
This one's a short wheel base, low roof model.
The long wheel base one's with mini sun roofs are too minivanish for me.
I like to tinker so did the lift, bar, lights, toyo rims and sliders on their way soon.
I had to hone the rims since the hubs are 108mm dia. compared to the Toyo 106's.
The goodyear Duratrac's are really good. They sling mud better than any other AT I've had and fair on slick rocks and snow.
Although it's RHD, Hyundia rebadged these in Mex and SA in LHD version.
Good ground clearance - no driveline hangups
Great approach angle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hThrQLe0hc
Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psie6XccUQE
Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLzrZjkTaOU
Link
A very good excursion into the extreme north of Russia :
link to the post : http://www.delicaclub.ru/forum/index.php?/topic/8863-neneckii-avtonomnii-okrug-barencevo-more-vara/
The destination place name is Varandey (Варандей) . Here is the track: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pbjihtbsaqyexpgd
PDF file of their expedition from St. Petersburg up to the northern sea.
http://dsmelov.ru/reports/varandei2010.pdf
Gives you a good idea of where these things can go.
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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ericos_bob
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2009
Posts: 71
Location: australia
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| A jacked up delica does look beasty. I probably would have bought one if I hadn't been told they suck off road. Clearly I didn't do enough research judging by these videos. The only place I really find my syncro out performs the delicas would be on sand (tire size being equal) |
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photogdave
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3052
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Worms
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2009
Posts: 279
Location: Whangarei, New Zealand
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| Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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| photogdave wrote: |
| But can it cook you breakfast in the morning? |
They're pretty big and square inside - you could probably get some Westy cabinets in there  |
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ericos_bob
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2009
Posts: 71
Location: australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:22 am Post subject: |
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I just read the newer delica's have a curb weight of 2000 tonne  That's as much as my fully loaded syncro camper. Does the syncro now qualify as a middle weight  |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Here's the build thread I started on our cabinets. I'm not sure what the rule is on linking sites, so I can remove the link if it's not appropriate.
http://www.delica.ca/forum/turtle-l300-kitchen-camping-sleeping-cabinets-10675.html
The stock camping units are cramped inside and I have never cooked inside our westy's, nor in our Delica's so a plan was devised to put the cooking outside but easily accessible and quickly deployed.
I used 1/2" plywood for the baseplate, UHMW polyethylene 1/8" strips (thanks David) for the sliders, 1/2" and 1/4" softwoods for the rest of the cabinets and drawers.
I painted with the Behr water based latex acrylic primer/sealant and the Behr premium latex acrylic topcoat color matched to the interior of the stock L300.
All in all, it worked out well and is very functional.
The sink is stainless bowl (a moderate size - not one of those 'can wash a cup' bowls) and the coutertop is a sheet of 18gauge stainless as well. 20L water storage on the side that is fed via bilge pump into the stainless faucet/sink with a drain 1/2" tube at 10ft length activated by the on/off switch beside the faucet.
The stove is fixed although a few screws and it can be removed for either servicing or replacement. There is enough storage behind the stove for propane bottles and etc...
Above the stove is a shallow drawer for misc cooking gear.
Above the drawers are two large boxes shaped to the rear bench seat contour the maximize space. They are open to use for different configurations.
Underneath the bench seat from the front is a magnetic latch/flipup panel that allows access to the storage underneath the bench inside the unit.
In the front at the engine hump, I made a simple cabinet that triples as a storage unit, bench seat and brace for the lower bed platform.
On the floor, I removed everything and laid down mouldable Dynamat and then EcoFoam in between the Dynamat flooring and 1/2" marine plywood base. Ontop of the marine plywood floor is a 1/8" flooring I have yet to take pictures of.
With this setup, Turtle can sleep 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children and seat 5 people for driving and 5 people in the rear facing each other along with storage space. The rear kitchen is setup to pull up, pop the hatch and immediately begin cooking/cleaning without having to setup any kitchen gear outside on tables, etc...
Any q's just ask.
Thanks to David for the ideas, materials and Rich for use of his shop and materials.
:M
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10250
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice design and nice work as well. I like that bench seat unit up by the engine a lot.
DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Doug.
Will post pictures of the floor and bottom sleeping unit when I'm done
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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axeman
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2009
Posts: 162
Location: east kent, uk
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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not that i am trying to hyjack this thread as it has made some intresting reading, but my syncro (doka) was made/assembled in japan.
neil
_________________
1957, 1200cc 30hp, big window, delux beetle, swedish modle, now living in france
1991 holdsworth villa 3, 2.1, uk van, now sold
1991 syncro doka uk van was 2.1 now B230, out with the b230 and in with a 1.8 20v, and 4 doors
1987 syncro westy was 1.6 jx now ej22 |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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I've never heard of a syncro built in Japan.  
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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John Of the north
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2010
Posts: 173
Location: Calgary Alberta
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| not that i am trying to hyjack this thread as it has made some intresting reading, but my syncro (doka) was made/assembled in japan. |
weird. The vin says it was assembled in Graz, Austria. |
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axeman
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2009
Posts: 162
Location: east kent, uk
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:46 am Post subject: |
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| John Of the north wrote: |
| Quote: |
| not that i am trying to hyjack this thread as it has made some intresting reading, but my syncro (doka) was made/assembled in japan. |
weird. The vin says it was assembled in Graz, Austria. |
your wrong there! look at the top of the picture it says "assembled in japan" it's a 1990 uk spec rhd doka with minimum options, started life as a very basic pick up, with 5 seats front and rear lockers (standard on all uk spec vans),
i am the 3rd owner, first bought by the national trust and owned by them for 12 years and the sold on to a private owner who i bought it from for 500 english pounds (yes you read that right).
i know of at least one outher rhd syncro that was also assembled in japan
neil
_________________
1957, 1200cc 30hp, big window, delux beetle, swedish modle, now living in france
1991 holdsworth villa 3, 2.1, uk van, now sold
1991 syncro doka uk van was 2.1 now B230, out with the b230 and in with a 1.8 20v, and 4 doors
1987 syncro westy was 1.6 jx now ej22 |
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John Of the north
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2010
Posts: 173
Location: Calgary Alberta
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syncrogreg
Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2009
Posts: 742
Location: USA (Nashville TN)
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CREGAN
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Leduc, Alberta - CANADA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Jfarsang - You are the first I have seen on both forums! I have to tell you that this thread helped inspire me to talk the little lady into getting one. I just read my old posts at the top of the page and it only took 2 years! It never clicked in until now that was you. Here is a pic of my winter van, and since winter lasts seemingly 10 months of the year it is my daily driver (My westy gets the summer love!):
Craig |
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jfarsang
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Vancouver, BC
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| Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Nice ride
_________________
'86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10250
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 12:22 am Post subject: |
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On the "made in japan" thing. I used to work for both GM and Lexus and it was common to ship partly assembled vehicles called "knock downs" to other countries to avoid import tarrifs. Most common on trucks, vans, suvs and commercial chassis. His Syncro might have been shipped without an engine, seats and wheels. Then offloaded to a port facility where these parts (in a container next to the chassis on the ship) were put on the chassis. This permitted a "Made in Japan" plate to be installed and avoid said tariffs. Very common. I don't know how VW did their program but I'm sure that plates indicates this common technique in use.
DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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