A few observations...

[Rattlenbang]

I’ve now driven almost a month straight, and covered about 7500 kilometres throughout the US southwest and Mexico, about the same distance as Vancouver to Newfoundland, a first for me and this Delica, which I’ve only owned for a year.
Allow me a few observations:

Contrary to a concern I had, the extremely high speed limits in the states, I had no trouble keeping up 90% of the time, and when large climbs presented themselves, it was simple enough to pop in with the semi’s. Even when climbing for very long stretches of highway, the van barely crept above half way on coolant temp. It cruises at 70-75 with no problem at all.

Although I have real reservations about the quality of a lot of the cheap Chinese junk they sell at crappy tire, their Motormaster tires did very well. People laugh at the make, yet off-roading in very rough terrain in the desert they did very well and had great traction (the van is now all scratched up and we managed to tear off my fog lights nosing into a very steep sharp gulley in the dark). And at one point I went onto the beach at Crescent City, CA., not realizing how soft and deep the sand was, and that there was a good slope to it. I had driven onto the beach in Oregon several times and always found firm, packed sand; this stuff was fluffy, and near the road about a foot deep and all churned up by vehicles. My front tires are at the end of their lives with minimal tread, and although I had to put it to the floor in low 4X4, I was able to climb up and out of that mess. It was touch and go, but I did it. For 130 bucks installed and warranty I’m very pleased with the performance.

A year ago I replaced the head (and rad and belts and idlers) with an inexpensive complete ebay unit from the UK that set me back about $640.00 with shipping. Since then I’ve driven just over 30,000 km without a problem, including a bad overheat situation that required a new head gasket. That head has proven itself in my mind, because most ebay stuff shows when it’s junk very quickly. I have no idea how many clicks I will get out of it, but especially after this trip, with many, many hours at exhaust temps over 1000 degrees F, I think it’s proven itself (touch wood).

The aluminum radiator I bought from Maxoverdrive has been a disappointment. The top of the rad is nylon fibre and the molding is poor. The stock rad cap fits too loosely and when the vehicle heats up it leaks coolant from around the cap. I’ve bent the cap tangs inward so that it fits more tightly, which has helped a lot, but occasionally it still drips a bit. This leakage is what caused the van to overheat last summer; I keep a close eye on coolant levels now. Other than that, the capacity of the rad is great and cools the engine extremely well. I don’t know if others have also found this with Maxoverdrive aluminum rads, but if you are looking at a replacement, be aware of this.

The Delica has been a reliable vehicle. Despite some pretty good punishment from me, it just kept on chugging along even though I was really pushing it on those interstate freeways. The only breakdown of sorts was the driver’s side outer brake hose started leaking brake fluid at the ferrule. It didn’t blow, just started dripping, and I only found out because the low brake fluid light came on. I was able to get the two hoses in the US by quoting Mistubishi Montero parts. I still need to do the other side. Those were original hoses so after all this time I don’t see that as a quality-related breakdown as much as a maintenance one. If I had a Westy, I’m convinced I would have had more issues.

The van is a small camper. There was only me for most of that time, but damn that was a cramped camper, even with the rooftop tent. It badly needs a raised roof. I pulled the sliding seats out and wished I hadn’t the open floor space really isn’t needed and those are comfortable chairs. I’m looking to reinstall one if someone has one kicking around. The Westy fridge/stove/sink cabinet worked great in the van; headroom was the issue. If the van was only 20% larger I think it would be a perfect adventure wagon. Given that Japanese folks are a little more compact on average, it’s possible that for them Mitsubishi built the ideal vehicle for camperizing and touring.

Americans loved the van. I had several people come up to me to ask questions about it. I thought the RHD would have been the biggest curiosity, but the fact that it was a small 4X4 van on diesel (and veggie oil) that they thought was so cool. Lots of thumb’s up and waves from passing motorists. It’s cool to have a vehicle that’s such a great ice-breaker with strangers, and many people were excited to learn that you can now import earlier ones to the states.

[thedjjack]

I vote to cut the roof off and put a raised roof on... Standing up is so nice...extra storage...best mod I ever did to my delica

I would either get a 100% aluminum rad or find a old copper one and have it rebuilt... the plastic/aluminum rads are complete garbage...

sounds like a nice adventure...any photos?