Offroad-Express

Hey guys looking at getting a mitsi space gear,

Im after a 4wd van and the only type seem to be the hiace and mitsi ones.

3.0 turbo diesel hiace would be sweet but they are a bit out of my price range, and if they crack the head, (prone apparently) they are very expensive to fix.

The 2.8 hiace is apparently very under powered but reliable.

Im getting very keen on a space cab as they seem to be comfortable, resonable powerful, and can be easily lifted for bigger wheels etc.

The only thing i am sceptical about is the reliability of the engines?

Iv heard after 95 they are pretty reliable but can anyone confirm this? Chain driven which is good but to they have any other common problems to look out for when buying etc?

I have talked to two owners and they love them but would appreciate some feedback from you guys.

Cheers.

z181200 wrote:s.

3.0 turbo diesel hiace would be sweet but they are a bit out of my price range, and if they crack the head, (prone apparently) they are very expensive to fix.

The 2.8 hiace is apparently very under powered but reliable.
.

Cheers.

i had a 4wd duel range 2.8D hiace for several years and drove it everyday, towing trailers, off road etc. did over 100,000km in it. No problem with a lack of power and only thing i ever did to it was maintenance and a clutch. i remember towing an Transit the full length of 90 mile beach. 11 people in the transit and 8 in the hiace. no problem as long as i kept above 80Kph. if i needed a 4wd van i would be very happy with to have another one.

m nom nom

Depends what your using it for but the Mitsis are quite tall and narrow. My old man bought a rolled one that had been kitted out as an offroad ambulance. Had 1500km on the clock... Also used them for work vans when I was over the west coast, rolled two of them. If you get a 1kz powered Hiace just fit a bigger exhaust right through, seems to prevent cracking the head.

i prefer the earlier shape delica


but apparently the later2.8 longnose are a much better van.
bit of a big deal to get anything bigger than 30s on them apparently and the rear suspension always makes me giggle with how much it hangs down. I would, however, own one. they seem pretty cool.
there's a minter the next street up from me that the people seems to have relpaced with a newer van but the delica doesn't seem to be for sale yet. if it's cheap I'm so gonna get it

yeah that white one is sweet I wouldnt go that hard though. Just some bigger wheels and maybe a small lift.

test drove this one the other day and it went good a few wee problems though.

Looks pretty sweet for just a set of 31's slapped on
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 709336.htm

When you managed to roll two, were you driving wildly or just just navigating a normal corner?

The one I test drove seemed to corner sweetly.

Cameron wrote:i prefer the earlier shape delica


but apparently the later2.8 longnose are a much better van.
bit of a big deal to get anything bigger than 30s on them apparently and the rear suspension always makes me giggle with how much it hangs down. I would, however, own one. they seem pretty cool.
there's a minter the next street up from me that the people seems to have relpaced with a newer van but the delica doesn't seem to be for sale yet. if it's cheap I'm so gonna get it

I had this shape a few years ago and I absolutely loved it, it was quiet, really comfy, tolerably capable off road for fishing expeditions, spacious enough for pretty much anything including sleeping in, went fine, lovely high driving position. Typically of the Mitsi diesels it wasn't the best on fuel but comparable to most 4wds I'd say.

If I had a need for this type of thing again I'd have another but it'd always be the older shape, they just look that much cooler.

I have got a 96 spacegear now my first 4wd! The tyres will need replacing after the next wof and I was thinking of getting some 31 inch tyres and 15inch black spokes.

I test fitted a 31 and it rubbed at the standard height but winding up the torsion bars with a little guard work It should work fine.

Im in chch where is the best place to get new rear springs, new shocks and good seconf hand tyres?

Cheers Andy.

A mate of mine has the newer shape delica, and we fitted up some 31"s without too much drama. Needed to trim some plastic from the front bumper, fold some body seams flat and ditch the mudflaps.

those vans are good, me and a mate bought a dereg one for the running gear for a project but after playing up the bush decided to keep it. put 31's on the std wheels took off the swaybars and it goes good.worth putting a proper tempgauge on as the mitsi one is useless,like any jap diesel they will let you down if you dont look after them,good antifreeze and regular serviceing and dont let it get hot. uncanny for a high van how stable they are, we use ours on the 42 traverse and it does it no trouble,our kids love it cause its like taking a small room up the bush,ours is auto 2.8 tdi.

I've got one of those '88 4x4 delicas, awesome van. Would go with the space gear just because of how frickin cool its dad is.

I always liked the look of the older delicas. Thought they reminded me of the ole landrover forward control. Heh.

niblik wrote:I always liked the look of the older delicas. Thought they reminded me of the ole landrover forward control. Heh.

now that would tow the boat! Very cool!

The boss at wk was a passenger in a mitsy wag off road, said it went way further than he thought it wld with nothin more than a set of small muds. An the upside was he was "sittin in an armchair with a bunch of mates and a big fkn chilly bin jammed in there " sounds like theres plenty of room and capable enough.

yeah its an awesome van, seats all rotate, fold flat into a bed etc. How much can you wind the torsion bars up in the front before you have to get longer shocks/ the cv angle gets too steep?

i'd only be winding them to within 10mm of the up travel bump stops. this will keep some sort of comfort and control on road.
Not sure what driveline they run
If your going to use this off road i'd seriously be thinking of getting some proper tow hooks fitted and some recovery gear.
These thing may go further than you'd think off road but it will still go nowere near as good as a hilux,pajero etc.

Cheers im not going to go seriously off road or anything, but it would be good to be able to get up the mountains no problem, out to my uncles hut on his farm etc. Was great in the snow the other week too!

Iv bought some 31 10.5 15 tyres for it and am on the look out for some 15 by 8 rims. I want them to stick out a bit so it has a wider track to balance out the eventual lift.

You can space out the door rail for clearance past the tyres and I will make some flares from garden edgeing.

Thinking about freeing up the exhaust with a 2.5 in straight through side exit. Im guessing it wont be too loud with a diesel turbo?