L300 2WD to 4WD Conversion?

[Yokohama]

I have a 1990 4G64 AT RWD L300; I would like to know if the RWD L300 can be converted to 4WD without a major redesign. I know that the front cross-member and transmission will need to be changed.

Thank you.

[jessef]

Define major redesign

[deli1733]

I would just sell it and buy a 4x4 and save the headache.

[Yokohama]

Define major redesign

Meaning things like cutting and welding the body. I can do front cross-member and related parts, transmission (can you get a 4WD AT?), propshafts, etc.

I would just sell it and buy a 4x4 and save the headache.

USA, enough said.

[jessef]

Search and you shall find !

http://www.delica.ca/forum/import-to-the-us-3293.html

I have an L300 LHD mitsubishi van that was imported new into the US and carries a washington title. The van was bought into Canada to modify it from 2wd/gas to a 4wd diesel. Most of the body conversion has been completed and the vehicle basically requires the running gear putting in and finishing. The owner was on the forum but due to the amount of time it took to find a body shop that was willing to take on the complex job of converting the vehicle the owner has fallen off the face of the earth. I have about $7000 invested in this project and figure another $2-3 k would complete it so that it is a fully legal `Delica` on US roads, no illegal import or grey area, just a LHD US registered van that has been modified. If interested in this project, please call 250-927-4536 or email ccautos@telus.net for more details and 100`s of pictures of progress and parts van. Thanks, Glen

[Yokohama]

Search and you shall find !

Thanks for for the thought, but I have no desire to pay $$$$ for a half completed project that is stuck in Canada (as it is not a running van).

If this conversion is possible, I just want to have the parts shipped to me, much more doable.

[konadog]

Pretty sure ccautos Glen is talking about completing the project and selling it as a working bus... That's what I got from his post anyway.
Either way, good luck with your quest!

[thedjjack]

I think you would be better to just start fabbing it up then trying to convert.

get a old Mazda pickup for the transmission/transfercase.

Fab up a solid axle from a 1984 or older mini Toyota pickup or sub frame of the Mazda for independent.

Check local laws around modifications (such as welding to a frame, in bc the welder needs to be certified and sign off on it).

start fabbing. Big project. but do able.

good luck.

[Yokohama]

I think you would be better to just start fabbing it up then trying to convert

Fabrication is exactly what I am going to avoid; if I have to do that I will just forget about it as it is not worth it. What I want to know is if I can directly swap the parts from the same generation 4WD L300 into my 1990 RWD L300.

[jessef]

What I want to know is if I can directly swap the parts from the same generation 4WD L300 into my 1990 RWD L300.

No, it's not possible to swap the parts from 4WD to 2WD without bodywork/metal fabrication.

[thedjjack]

I think you would be better to just start fabbing it up then trying to convert

Fabrication is exactly what I am going to avoid; if I have to do that I will just forget about it as it is not worth it. What I want to know is if I can directly swap the parts from the same generation 4WD L300 into my 1990 RWD L300.

It is so not a direct swap that just fabricating without the 4wd version to get parts off would be easier! Sorry about your 25 year rule, it sucks.

[Yokohama]

(sigh)......................Why did they not offer the USA a 4WD version? Toyota did!!!

[konadog]

(sigh)......................If I want a 4WD van, I guess I will have to find a 1982-1989 4WD Toyota ...

I would much prefer a 4WD L300....

Pretty sure ccautos Glen is talking about completing the project and selling it as a working bus... That's what I got from his post anyway.

Just sayin' well, repeating I suppose...

Or what about an older delica from Japan? They made em as 4x4 since 84...

[marsgal42]

You can do anything you like if you have enough time, money and determination. I'm reminded of VW's Golf W12 GTI, or the Ford Transit van with the Jaguar XJ220 engine that was on Top Gear last week. Blowing exhaust indeed...

Like any other major rework job (e.g. engine swap), you would want a complete 4WD Delica as a donor, whether you could register it on the road or not.

...laura

[mararmeisto]

(sigh)......................Why did they not offer the USA a 4WD version? Toyota did!!!

Probably because Jeep and Ford wouldn't let them.

The Japanese imports were 'allowed' onto this continent to fill the market the NAMPOS weren't willing to fill: small, affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles (which mostly translates into small cars). This helped the NAMPOS make their fleet numbers look good and also gave them access to the Japanese market - with trucks.

Trouble was, the Japanese didn't really need big trucks, they needed trucks that would fit on their roads.

Also, in North America, vans were for work not for fun, not for the family. Look at the market and you'll see that NA lagged the rest of the world by about 20 years before what we called minivans took off here. VW van in Germany - 1960s. Ford Transit in England - 1960s. Mitsubishi and Toyota in Japan - 1970s. Here in NA: Ford Econoline and Chevy something-or-another, panel vans, with mostly third-party conversions to camper vans and similar designs.

The North American market was (and still is) very protectionist in nature, at the expense of customer selection. Henry Ford used to offer the Model T in any color the customer likes, as long as the customer likes black. Not much has changed in nearly 110 years.