Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Glad you were able to solve it, but not really happy it happened to you after putting so much work into the van. I am really going to have to plan a trip to BC again, I'm envious of all who have been able to see this creation in person.

Jason

As for the moment the only damage is teh plastic shroud. Will pull the valve covers in the next couple of days to see if there is anything else.. Maybe now is a good time for an engine swap..

If I understand correctly your timing belt and balance belt broke. If that's correct, then you'll have more damage then just the plastic shroud as these are intereference engines. Crank and cam shafts in synch via timing belt. If belt goes. Cam and crank are not in synch = internal catastrophe.

Sorry to hear but like you said ... The upside is a bigger engine !

An unfortunate example of how these vans can be ticking time bombs if you haven't had your belts replaced...don't count on those 15 year old belts even if they look good.

Hope it all works out for you.
-Mark

Wonder what it takes to fit a 4M40 in place of the 4D56?

DelicaDJ wrote:Wonder what it takes to fit a 4M40 in place of the 4D56?

Personally, I would be looking at one of the 4.3 litre engines from the Nissan Safari/Patrol.

Another thought, anything larger, would it have to be mid-mounted? Is there really enough room in the engine bay for something much larger? A 4M40 maybe, but something larger than that?

The 4M40 engine with the trans is a lot taller and longer than the 2.5. You'd have to cut into the body a lot. We had a discussion a while ago about fitting larger engines but I can't recall if it's ever been done (Oz, uk, Russia, etc ..) there is just so little room and I wouldn't want to be cutting into the unibody structure in the front.

The inline 6 4.2L out of the Nissan is a monster of a block. I have a hard time picturing that block fitting under the seats !

But then look at superexceed.

It would be a challenge

Fitting a Motor:

Biggest problems are cooling and rear driveshaft length,

Get an American 4 speed truck trans with an overdrive frees up length. You can always add an removable doghouse at the back for longer motors....you need to shorten the transmission to get the driveshaft in.

Engines:
Cummins 4BT (same as the 6BT in pickups minus 2 cylinders) -simple and bullet proof can make HP in the 400-500 if you want or a nice 200HP and 300FtLbs range.

Mercedes OM617 Diesel (me and Arnold talked about this motor). Cheep to buy, 5 cylinder cast iron head, chain drive valves, simple injection. Maybe the toughest diesel small engine ever built. They are everywhere. I put this in the Cabover Jeep 4 years ago. Overheated once and hot seized the engine (pistons got to big for the cylinders and the motor stops). Cooled down and ran like new. Try that with an aluminum head! Lots of people making trans adapters. Nice with a Short Toyota transmission.

Toyota Landcruiser Turbo Diesel -Not much experience with these 6 cylinders but lots of support around the world. Change the bottom end bearings and one tough powerful motor.

Problem is the transplant will be costly, unless Arnold can get this work done himself or through friends.

Costs I spent re-powering the Jeep (all fab work was done by me and a buddy):

Motor/Transmission for a low mileage 300SD Mercedes $600.00
Motor Mounts we used the Car front cross member $Free
Divorced Transfercase $500.00
Drive Shafts X3 totaled $1200.00
Steel for Crossmembers $120.00
Oil Pan redesign $free
Rework Cab to clear Turbo $free
Wire Glow plugs (I re-wired the entire Jeep) $Free
Custom Radiator to Cool $600.00
Exhaust System $100.00 for metal
Certified Welder to legally weld to the Chassis $400.00 (I tacked everything)
Shifters for everything to Forward control $600.00
Adapter, clutch, transmission to make it fit L300 $1200.00

This is doing all the work myself, add labour 150 hundred hours

FalcoColumbarius wrote:Check Delica Club Australia. They have done it a few times.

Falco.

Done what, specifically? The OM617 Merc swap, or some other engine?
Just wondering.
Smiles...

There are quite a few L300's in New Zealand used car listings with Toyota 6-cyl and other modern engines with readily available parts.

I know Arnold wants to stay diesel.

I would never put a "modern" gas engine in if I was going to places were you cannot guarantee the quality of the fuel. Same problem with newer Diesel as they tend not to be as accepting of low quality fuels and have lots of electronics (I have re-wired cars for fuel injection, love it here...not so much in the middle of no where!).

If I built my Jeep over again I would have put a stronger chassis under it and fit a 6BT or more likely a 4BT in. I drove a 6BT with a dino'd 950ftlbs the other day! That was fun! Dually 4X4 and it still had trouble finding traction!

Now is the time for a new motor as fixing the current motor will be $$$$ and it cannot push a load 6 wheel Delica.

I personally would look at the Nissan, Mercedes, Toyota, Hino, and Canter line of motors and look at buying a complete front half imported. Now, were is my plasma cutter?

Number 1 concern is shortening the overall length of transmission and transfercase so there is room to fit a driveshaft in there and way bigger radiator. Needs to climb high elevation, steep grades in 45C weather without problems.

Here is my OM617 Swap into my sold Jeep FC includes the tremclat paint job!:
http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?1232 ... C170-Build

Sorry, modern diesel.

thedjjack wrote: I would never put a "modern" gas engine in if I was going to places were you cannot guarantee the quality of the fuel.

What you mean like north america ???