It's not a Delica, but it's close!

[DR1665]

The few folks here who know me know I've got a disease, and the only prescription, is more Mitsubishi Delica. Well, I finally got tired of my second Galant VR4, sold it, and used the funds to purchase a Mitsubishi 4WD. It's a 1989 Dodge Raider. Remember back in the 80s, when the Big Three decided the best way to compete against the Japanese was to re-badge Japanese cars?

He's just a SWB Pajero 2.6L carby 5-speed with 106bhp that can't do more than 55mph uphill (on a good day), but he just carted me over 1,000 miles to a rally in Ridgecrest, California, (about 100mi SW of Death Valley) with flying colors. Love my new toy. Now I just need to find the Mararmiesto sent me and get it installed!

I'm currently dealing with a spotty wifi connection at the office, so getting the pictures off my phone and onto my site is taking some time, but figured I should officially mention to the fine folks at Delica.ca that I am no longer bound to prepared roads (and it feels good).

[CREGAN]

Congrats! Raiders are awesome little vehicles. I have had hours of fun off-roading my old mans. He has an 86 Red Raider and it is pretty much bullet proof. My father in law also has an 87 Silver so I am in the process of talking him into selling it to me for parts. They are not speed demons by any stretch but they can sure go lots of places. Welcome to the club.

Craig

[CREGAN]

Forgot to add- check this bad ass Raider out:

http://www.delica.ca/forum/sold-turbo-d ... 10207.html

Craig

[FalcoColumbarius]

Right on, Brian ~ Looking forward to the picture of your Raider sporting the Mitsumaple.
Regarding speed, especially up steep hills, my view is "life is a journey" ~ if one wants to break land speed records ~ buy a jet.
Congratulations on your new wagon.

Falco.

[DR1665]

Right on, Brian ~ Looking forward to the picture of your Raider sporting the Mitsumaple.
Regarding speed, especially up steep hills, my view is "life is a journey" ~ if one wants to break land speed records ~ buy a jet.
Congratulations on your new wagon.

Falco.

Thanks, Falco. You're absolutely right. This was the hottest, slowest, loudest, trip I've ever made in a vehicle. It was 9 hours there, 8 hours back (tail wind, less interest in economy). For at least six of those hours each way, it was at least 40*C in the truck. I had to keep all the windows open, which meant there was no hearing the radio over the roar of wind and 31" mud tires, but it was also the most fun I've had on a road trip in a long time.

It was an experience I'll not soon forget. I could feel the temperature climb and fall with altitude and geography changes. I could smell the Creosote bushes (they smell like rain - which is very cool when you're in the middle of the desert), the Colorado River on the Arizona/California border, and the odd truckload of onions or watermelons I passed along the way. Every other trip I made was merely passing through, but this time around, I felt like I was part of the land. Strange, but true!

And now I can't wait to get out and explore some of the dirt roads I saw with friends. A couple jerry cans of fuel, a couple more of water, a cooler full of brats, beans, and beer, and a sleeping bag, and I'm ready to go. CAN'T WAIT.

Here's a view out my windshield on the way back out to civilization from my position along the rally stage.



I'll try to get the MitsuMaple installed here pretty quick. Will definitely post pics once I do.

Oh, and speaking of speed records, here's Bill Holmes and Keith Jackson (who placed second and first overall) flying past. Go full screen, HD, leave the volume up. That's what it's like to volunteer at rallies in the desert southwest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PiSno1RCS8

[mararmeisto]

NOW you're in the in-crowd. Nice looking rig. More pictures please. How much work does/did it require?

I wonder what it would take to drop a 4D56T into the engine bay...

[CREGAN]

NOW you're in the in-crowd. Nice looking rig. More pictures please. How much work does/did it require?

I wonder what it would take to drop a 4D56T into the engine bay...

Did you check the link I posted above? It has been done and it looks pretty sweet.

Craig

[DR1665]

NOW you're in the in-crowd. Nice looking rig. More pictures please. How much work does/did it require?

I wonder what it would take to drop a 4D56T into the engine bay...

Northwest Mitsubishi Diesel actually specializes in diesel conversions - and I've interviewed the guy - but we're expecting a baby this fall and I've still got a race car collecting dust in the garage, so it's kind of hard to come up with the scratch for a swap right now. I would like to toss the Mikuni 2BBL in favor of an Ozzie Magna 2.6 MFI manifold and Megasquirt'n'Spark at a minimum; maybe throw one of these turbochargers on it.

Rather than repeat the whole story, I have a blog setup for my Mitsubishis - Tarmac & Gravel - if you'd like to get the full rundown, but a high level overview of how much work it'st required...

1st weekend with it: Rear door wouldn't unlock from outside, lubed all lock cylinders. Problem solved.
2nd weekend with it: Removed non-functional alarm box, no longer starts with key, came with push button bypass. Problem "solved."
3rd weekend with it: Kid in Honda makes wild right turn from inside lane, US$1600 in damage, lies to insurance, I'm going to court soon.
4th weekend with it: Starts, dies, starter won't turn. Turns out you need 3FT of extensions to get the starter out. (Literally.)
5th weekend with it: Replace starter. Problem proves to be corroded starter lead from battery. Problem solved.
6th weekend with it: Battery dies. Replace battery. Problem solved.
7th weekend with it: Local Montero guy shows me the ropes, we do plugs, wires, cap, rotor, bleed brakes/clutch, grease front end, etc.
8th weekend with it: Drive 1,000 miles round trip to California rally race outside Death Valley. Not a single hiccup.

Will need front brakes this month. Will need tires by July. Oil leak will wait for the not-hot season to return. Should probably think about changing driveline fluids over to Redline synthetics here pretty quick, too.

Can't wait to go camping with it once we get back from "GBXM World Tour 2012" in June! :)

Some more pictures...







I still need to figure out what to call the damn thing, though. My 97 Talon was "Daisy" because she had personality. My 86 Volvo wagon was "The Brick" because it was the color, shape, and speed of a brick. The GVR4s were like cold, unemotional Borg, referred to by only their badge numbers - 195 and 464 - but this thing has personality like Daisy did. When I climb aboard, I feel like anything is possible. To adventure! Huzzah!

But what do I call it? Monty seems hackneyed. I toyed with calling it the "Lost Ark," since it's a Dodge Raider (on paper, we know the truth), but something's missing from that. When I swapped out the Dodge grille for the Mitsu piece I flipped the V6 badge (since it's a 4-banger), which kinda looks like "9Alpha," but that seems too cold for it. I want to call it "Donkey," like Hammond did his Landy in the Top Gear Bolivia Special (which everyone here should watch if they've not already). But it could also be my "Toaster," since it's toaster shaped, has no AC, and pretty much bakes you alive down here in Phoenix.

Any ideas?

[Dingus]

Its a stretch (from Temple of Doom, not Raiders) but how bout Short Round?

[DR1665]

Its a stretch (from Temple of Doom, not Raiders) but how bout Short Round?

That's actually pretty cool, Dingus. It is a SWB model, and it does have round headlights (none of the others did)...

Maybe we'll get a few ideas going and I'll post a poll here to pick the new name. :)

[mararmeisto]

NOW you're in the in-crowd. Nice looking rig. More pictures please. How much work does/did it require?

I wonder what it would take to drop a 4D56T into the engine bay...

Did you check the link I posted above? It has been done and it looks pretty sweet.

Craig

I had forgotten about that vehicle (even after I'd been interested in it).

Still, it would be a good project to see what a proper performance shop could do with a different turbo, some adjustments, and the like to get a diesel up over 150hp? 175hp? Dare I say even 200hp?

[DR1665]

I've done some minor research, Paul. 4d56t makes more torque at something like 2000rpm than a 4g63t makes peak. I suspect a simple MBC, intercooler, exhaust would easily get a 4d56t to 300ft-lbs. And that would embarrass just about any DSM/EVO on the street.

It's actually what I'd like to run in my race car, too. 150HP/300ft-lbs... 30mpg... :)

[FalcoColumbarius]

The Mitsubishi 4D56T generates 90 hp @ 4,200RPM and 197 NMs (145 ft. lbs) @ two grand.
With an intercooler it generates 104 hp @ 4,200RPM and 240 NMs (177 ft. lbs) @ two grand.
(Mitsubishi Astron Engine)

Falco.

[DR1665]

Thanks for sharing that, Falco. Pretty sure I got my info from Wikipedia too, but now I can't seem to find the same information. (And I definitely don't remember seeing anything about 4D68!) I stand corrected. Thanks.

I'm gonna post a poll in the OT section about the name, now.