My 2 year update on a veggie Delica (Very long post)

[BCDelica]

Can't remember what mine cost at the wreckers, but it seemed pretty cheap. Guess with a drill and welder you could mount a tank heater to the pick up. I no nuting.

BTW, have you looked at the steel that resides under your rear bumper step? Took my bumper off this afternoon and was blown away by how rusty the step support is, had eaten right through in a couple of places. It must really trap water and grit under there.

Cheers,
Kev

[josh]

I took my bumper, front steps, and sliding door step all off awhile ago... doesnt seem too bad for rust. And personally I like the look better without any of them on.

Josh

[Adam]

Adam,
Where did you get your tank? what kind of price tag did it carry? and would you be able to outfit it with a in tank heater (such as a hotfox)? Kev, any idea? I cant wait till July 7th. I have tonsd more room underneath the Delica for a tank now that I retrouted the exhaust.
Josh

I got my tank at BC Auto Wreckers just minutes from my house for $75 ($85 with tax). Weird thing is they quoted me $125 on the phone and when I got there and told them what I was doing with it they cut the price down, not sure why, but I didn't cause a fuss. I was planning on using a hotfox in tank coolant heater, I just measure the tank depth and it is 10" at the centre opening. The shortest HotFox from PlantDrive should do the trick, it's 8" with an optional 2" extender. According to the description:

[The HotFox] Can be mounted vertically in from the top of the tank, or, in many cases, sometimes with adding an extra component, mounted horizontally in from the side, across the bottom of the tank.

So it looks like you'd have the option of going for a longer one as well.

[BCDelica]

Adam, make sure you keeps us posted as your install progresses. Thanks.

What is it with wreckers, same happened with me, the phone price was over $100 and the actual amount was a fraction of that. Didn't know if it was; cause they knew me or liked the idea of WVO.

[Adam]

I'm meeting with the Plant Drive dealer/installer in Cobble Hill tomorrow so that he can look at the Deli and decide what'll fit in there. Right now I'm planning on using the 2-tank kit (TTVTS with VegMax Filter #16206), plus a HotFox in-tank heater and a NADA SVO Controller for automatic switch to WVO when ideal temp is reached. I was considering the more expensive VO Controller, but I'm not sure if it is overkill and more bling than function. I don't mind spending a bit more now to get a decent semi-fool-proof system, I'm just trying to avoid extra bells and whistles. I'll keep you posted on my PlantDrive assessment tomorrow.

[josh]

I'm meeting with the Plant Drive dealer/installer in Cobble Hill tomorrow so that he can look at the Deli and decide what'll fit in there.

Send me a PM as soon as you get the feed back on what will work the best in your Delica. I want to order from plant drive as well, and would like to right away because the idea is to install it July 7th... anyhow, good luck and please keep me posted.

Thanks.
Josh

[Adam]

I already PMed much of this to Josh, but I wanted to everyone else know the results of the meeting with Dr. Bjorn of Brjorn Auto in Cobble Hill. We spent 45 minutes or so looking over my Delica to see where the parts would fit. As you probably know things are very tight under the hood (or seat in this case) and Bjorn thought he'd probably have to relocate the current fuel filter to a new spot and stick the VegMax filter in it's place. This would require the fabrication of some new brackets, etc...

Bjorn seems like a very trust worthy guy. He gives you the option of doing whatever work you feel comfortable with so you can save on labour, or have him do the entire system. I'm not a backyard mechanic, so I'm looking for a turn key solution. Bjorn said he could do that for between $2,500-$3,000 including parts and tax. I was a little shocked by this, I was hoping for something around the $1500 range, so I'm assessing my options.

I still think the basic 2-tank kit from PlantDrive with an additional HotFox heater is the most cost effective kit out there. It totals $700 CDN before shipping and taxes. So that leaves $1,800 to $2,300 CDN for labour and misc. parts like coolant lines, fuel lines, brackets, clamps. I guess I was being naively optmistic to think it could be done for $800-$1000. Maybe I should look into becoming a backyard mechanic.

[josh]

Right now I'm planning on using the 2-tank kit ([url=http://www.plantdrive.com/shop/product. ... t=3&page=1]TTVTS

I was looking at that also, but thats for applications for 25 MGP and over... where as the TTVTM is for applications of 25 MPG and under. My Delica seems right on the cusp, but with my summer tires I am pretty sure I am under 25 MPG now. Did you ask about which kit is the better match?

So that leaves $1,800 to $2,300 CDN for labour and misc. parts like coolant lines, fuel lines, brackets, clamps. I guess I was being naively optmistic to think it could be done for $800-$1000. Maybe I should look into becoming a backyard mechanic.

Why not drive up to Williams Lake with us on the 7th of July, I plan on getting mine installed with the expertise of Kev and James... (and Andy? are you mechanically inclined?). That would save you a fairly big chunk of change and bring your expenses back down to near the $1000 mark. ***And you would get to go to a Delica Meet to boot!***

Josh

[Adam]

You're right Josh. I think the 2-tank kit with the VegTherm Mega is the best choice for our rigs. It is supposed to draw more from the alternator, but it will heat a higher flow of fuel.

Alternator and belt must be in good condition. If the alternator, belt and battery are in good shape, and the unit is used as directed, the Vegtherm can run all the time, and not cause a problem for an alternator at all. We recommend that the rated output be at least double that of the Vegtherm, so for this model, at least a 40A alternator. We and many customers run with daytime running lights (headlights on all the time), long nights, long winters in Canada, with heaters and rear defrosters, etc. operating, and do not have problems. The new VTSW80C thermoswitch and tee/fitting can be added if desired, to prevent the Vegtherm from heating oil past 80C, but it is not needed in many cases

I'd love to make the William Lake meet in July. I used to go climbing there all the time when I lived in Prince George. I ended up putting a hole in the gas tank of my station wagon taking it into a climbing area on forestry roads. Would love to go back there in my Deli for revenge I don't think I'll be able to get away though, it's a long trip when you are leaving behind 3 kids. Even longer if you bring them.

Besides, I don't think I'd be able to get the kit in time for the meet. Regardless of whether I get Bjorn to do the work I think I'll end up ordering the kit through him, it's the same price as through Plant Drive directly. Bjorn is off to Germany next week for 3.5 weeks, so he's not able to do any work until he gets back on Jul 17th. I'm sure I could get him to order the kit and have it shipped to me, but that seems to be cutting it short. I'll think about it some more and see what I can come up with, cause it's going to be hard to come up with $3000 for a full install, I'll tell you that right now.

[BCDelica]

Bjorn seems like a very trust worthy guy. He gives you the option of doing whatever work you feel comfortable with so you can save on labour, or have him do the entire system. I'm not a backyard mechanic, so I'm looking for a turn key solution. Bjorn said he could do that for between $2,500-$3,000 including parts and tax. I was a little shocked by this, I was hoping for something around the $1500 range, so I'm assessing my options.

Good to know, somebody asks me to install a system about once a week and it would be great to have somebody to point them towards. I'm not qualified in IMO to wrench solely on some else vehicle, but hey I'd install your system for you for half the amount. Kidding, but I would be happy to help - bring the kids up to bills pond, my 11 year old son will be there.

Your right about the alternator, I had the one out of her van in for a rebuild years ago. I had a coolant heated racor filter mounted in that big void under the battery compartment, plenty of room and close to the engine for the plumbing. The racor was a spin on filter with a coolant head over 10 inches deep plus four hoses running to it, if I had kept it there I would have insulated and sealed it in with 120 v pad heater for instant warm up.

Let us know how it's going!

Why not drive up to Williams Lake with us on the 7th of July, I plan on getting mine installed with the expertise of Kev and James... (and Andy? are you mechanically inclined?). That would save you a fairly big chunk of change and bring your expenses back down to near the $1000 mark. ***And you would get to go to a Delica Meet to boot!***

Isn't Andy a shop teacher or something, just look back at some of the cool metal fab'ing he's done. It's great he can join us!

[Adam]

I had a coolant heated racor filter mounted in that big void under the battery compartment, plenty of room and close to the engine for the plumbing. The racor was a spin on filter with a coolant head over 10 inches deep plus four hoses running to it, if I had kept it there I would have insulated and sealed it in with 120 v pad heater for instant warm up.

Big void under the battery compartment, eh? I'll have to check that out once my wife gets back from shopping. That would save some work if I could mount the VegMax Filter there, which is supposed to be smaller than the racor version. Hey, here's an idea for the WVO install in Williams Lake. Pictures, lots and lots of pictures. That would sure help me out in deciding what tasks I could tackle myself and what I should leave up to the dealer. I'll see what I can do to make the meet, but it's not looking good right now.

EDIT: I just looked for the void beneath the battery compartment. Do you have to remove the batteries to access it?

[BCDelica]

No, it's up under the undercarriage on the passenger side, behind/below the filler cap area. I'll try and take lotsa pictures, I'm healing still and can't do the heavy wrenching.

[josh]

My wife is coming with me for the install, and she likes to document everything with the camera... so I am sure there will be pictures galore.

Josh