Project: MUD MONKEY!!!

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:46 pm

Just got back in after 14hrs on the road!

Been out and picked up my new L300 today - a '92 Exceed.

I bought it 'halves' with my best mate and we are going to 'strip it & kit it' ready for some serious off-road action! :D :D

The best bit - it cost us a grand total of £200!! (approx $450!) and that is WITH UK road tax and an MOT!!!

:D :D

All it needed was a new brake pipe on the front which we took with us and changed on the guys drive (10 mins to fit and bleed the system) and I drove it back 270miles without any problems at all!

It's got a few tiny scratches, but none of that matters when you consider what we are going to do to it!

Overall its very solid and drives REALLY well....a TRUE bargain if there ever was one! (and a good day out/adventure too... :lol: )

First thing tomorrow, I'm ripping out the interior ready for lining with wood and eventually fitting the off-road kit, bunks and camping equipment....

Here are some photos of it 5 mins after picking it up! (just had to pop down to the beach for a proper Cornish Pasty before the journey home! 8) 8)

Sorry for the cr4p quality pics - I only had my phone on me!

I'll put some better ones up tomorrow and will update with info as the 'project' progresses...

And the name for this fine beast - the 'Mud Monkey'

Regards,

Bruce.

josh · Post by **josh** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:41 pm

I only wish I could find a ride like that for $450 bucks. I am excited to see the project as you get started... definatly keep us updated with pics of the progress

"Mud Monkey" perfect name.

Josh

Jungle Jon · Post by **Jungle Jon** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:45 pm

josh wrote:I only wish I could find a ride like that for $450 bucks.

Wow, I second that. Congrats on your new ride, 8) can't wait to see the the transformation!
Jon

Post by **BCDelica** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:49 pm

Nice Beach, nice Delica, nice deal.

niekt · Post by **niekt** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:27 am

The best bit - it cost us a grand total of £200!! (approx $450!) and that is WITH UK road tax and an MOT!!!

Didn't even have the bullbar for that

,
Happy driving :lol:

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:35 pm

Sorry for not updating - been quite busy this week (and not looking much different tomorrow or Friday either!)

I'll get some shots over the weekend before I start ripping the guts out of the poor thing!

Always good to have some 'before' shots! I just wish I had done the same with the Mystery Machine! :(

Plans......LOTS of them! This is gonna be one serious motor! Maybe not much to look at - but it'll have it where it counts! :lol: :D :D

Now where did I leave that hammer! :lol:

Regards,

Bruce.

docsavage · Post by **docsavage** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:32 pm

Thought I would post a few pics of my van at work. Playing around the deactivated crossig (did not cross)

and playing in the snow on the snowmobile tracks :D :D .

ccautos · Post by **ccautos** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:09 pm

mmmmm cornish pasty ........... you bringing some with you ????

niekt · Post by **niekt** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:08 am

This is the kind of weather the L300 is made for :D , too bad it's +10°C over here

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:20 am

ccautos wrote:mmmmm cornish pasty ........... you bringing some with you ????

I'll try - but I think they might be a bit 'off' by the time I get them to you!

:lol:

Here are some better pics of the Mud Monkey before I start ripping it apart!

Doesn't look TOO bad! (rusty bull bars are coming off anyway!

)

Wheels are pretty good - just need a clean....but TOO SMALL for my liking!

This shot gives some idea of the wheel/tyre combo I'm after...(you have to try these things out!)

My theory (tried and tested! 8) ) is if the sliding door can function properly, the wheels/tyres can be made to fit on the other three corners. (sliding door binding is harder to fix than the clearance on the front arches!

) This wheel is one of a few 'spare sets' I have sat in my garage! :D :D

These are 8" wide split rims (going to be given a re-furb eventually! 8) ) and the sliding door is going to need some re-fabrication, re-engineering and some creativity on the slider brackets in order to make it clear these bad boys!

The interior looks OK in these shots, but it's pretty grubby.....fairly tatty and it STINKS!!!

Looks OK - even MORE stinky in the back!! Lots of ground in grime...but I don't care because 99.9% of the interior is coming out in the rear!

Jed just couldn't resist getting in at least one of the photos! (and he's usually SO shy! :lol: )

This gives some idea of the sort of state the motor is in close-up! The photos make it look better than it really is, but this one kinda sums it all up really! Neglected and unloved! :( Soon to be given some true care and attention and before long it's gonna be a serious bit of kit!

This is the only really bad part on the body! A long line of rot along the front edge of the sunroof! Is this a sign of a weakpoint in high roof Deli's, or just a one off??

We are gonna rip the sunroof out anyway, so we'll just cut the rot out too and panel it over and seal it up good & proper...

I've already got a rack sorted for it....a ladder too and even a really cool 'wind out' awning!

Wheels are already waiting, so is a spare set of 31" Mud Terrain tyres along with a 1" shackle lift (not going high with this one...)

Funky stainless bull-bar and some beasty spotlights already aquired and just waiting to find the time to start ripping the poor thing apart now!

More photos to come as the work starts....

Regards,

Bruce.

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:51 pm

So you wanna see how much stuff makes up the interior of an L300????

(please note - this is just the REAR interior!

)

And this is what it looks like in the back now:

This was the clearance of the rear wheel BEFORE the interior was removed (5.5"):

And this is the result of an empty rear cabin (6.5"):

That's right - a full 1" lift just from removing the interior!!

(trust me - it weighed a LOT!! I've got back ache from lifting it all into the skip

)

Next step - up on ramps and remove the complete A/C system!

This is 'most' of the system removed.......

......although there are still quite a few pipes to come out, as well as the compressor and the wiring loom.

The front A/C rad was binned a day or two ago (so no pics) and the electric fan for the main condenser has been 're-mounted' to take the role of fan for the coolant system in place of the nasty viscous fan.

This was not only a cheap (free) mod, but also a good way to ditch the viscous fan to reduce noise, increase power and possibly even gain some MPG!! 8) 8) 8)

More updates on the Mud Monkey soon.....

Regards for now,

Bruce.

Post by **BCDelica** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:12 pm

It's great that your keeping us posted on the Mud Monkey's progress, we love it. :D

At the same time those of use struggling to find the odd Delica part will shed a tear seeing all that gear being thrown into the skip!

Post by **Mystery Machine** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:23 pm

BCDelica wrote:At the same time those of use struggling to find the odd Delica part will shed a tear seeing all that gear being thrown into the skip!

I know what you mean......

:(

But worry not - ANYTHING that I can fit in my suitcase has been kept and is in the garage! :D :D :D

The photos only show the stuff that won't fit in my luggage! (and before anyone asks - the four roof electric roof blinds have been kept - so I now have 8 (yes EIGHT!) blinds going spare!!) I can't bring them with me, but if someone is after some blinds, let me know and I'll work out the postage/air fare if you like??

Regards for now,

Bruce.

josh · Post by **josh** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:25 pm

Bruce,

My blinds wont open/close... all but one are permanently closed, and one is always open... any "fix it" parts?

Josh

collector · Post by **collector** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:56 pm

Hi Bruce,
If I may ask, how many Kilometers does the Mud Monkey have on her?