New member, Auckland, L300 4x4

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Hi Guys,
I'm a new member, just bought a 4x4 van and looking to get into a bit of expedition wild camping around NZ.
Just recently got back from Europe after touring about for 5 months approx in an L300. Loved it so decided to get another.

Truck is pretty low k's 1994 2.5 Turbo Diesel in pretty good condition. Standard height (for now) with Savero AT tyres.
5sp Manual with High2wd/High4wd/Low4wd and LSD rear diff.

Found it at Christmas down in Marlborough sounds after looking for one for a while and drove it home to Auckland.

So far I've built up a roof rack for it with side ladder and added a safari tent. Planning to make a snorkel and do a simple 2" raise and eventually get some wider 31" tyres and flares. The current tires are brand new but their a bit narrow and I wouldn't mind a bit of extra track width too being so high.

It's already semi kitted out as a camper in the back but it's a pretty shit design so I think I'll go back to the drawing board and start again with a false floor and drawers etc.

Have had it up the Wairau river bed near Blenheim and through the tracks around the river bank. It seems go pretty well off road but haven't had it in the mud or water yet. Hopefully it goes ok, should go anywhere a standard IFS surf could go but I guess time will tell....will be taking it out to the dunes out west in the next few weeks so we'll see how it gets on in soft sand.

Here it is when I picked it up down south


Heres the new rooftop accessories. No pics of the ladder as it's not done yet.



Lookin forward to some outings and meeting a few of you.


If anyone's got any experience modding or offroading an L300 I'm all ears

[phraza]

Will be a first that I've seen one of these being done up!

Welcome!

Start a build thread to keep us all in the loop of the mods, would be good to see in in action in Woodhill

[CLUMZ1]

good van choice pretty much pajero running gear from what I understand. keep the build pics a comin

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Will be a first that I've seen one of these being done up!

Welcome!

Start a build thread to keep us all in the loop of the mods, would be good to see in in action in Woodhill

Cheers, my inspiration was this.....


From the UK, doubt I'll get it as high as his though, the L300 is pretty hard to lift more than 2" as they dont have a separate chassis so a simple body lift is out of the question.

good van choice pretty much pajero running gear from what I understand. keep the build pics a comin

Yeah, 4.875 diffs, 4D56 TD engine. No centre diff, it's just a straight engagement so definitely no 4wd on the tarmac! With the LSD diff though it means worst case scenario when stuck you still have 3 wheels spinning.
The rear LSD is still very tight, chirps the tires in a U-turn and always spins both wheels on gravel/grass

What i would have really liked would have been one of the earlier box shaped ones, they have a separate chassis and are lighter and it's not hard to put the modern turbo diesel in at all. Only hard thing is finding one thats not either rooted or rusted out!

Will make a build thread after the weekend

[CLUMZ1]

From the UK, doubt I'll get it as high as his though, the L300 is pretty hard to lift more than 2" as they dont have a separate chassis so a simple body lift is out of the question.

Sorry - but after seeing above "inspiration" pics, I'm going to have to encourage you to replicate that van exactly. Looks awesome, Zombie spec.

[Cameron]

badass! that zombie response van was asked to be part of some post apocalypse movie in britain when it was in thos epics. a guy of retrorides forum owns it and also owned this one for a while.


good luck with your build. look pretty awesome so far!!

[suzookyman]

Just picked my one up yesterday. 1989 L300 Delica 4x4 2l petrol. Not as flash
as yours tho. This one needs a tidy up, scored it for 3k-cheep as when you think about what you can do with them.
Al

[Smurf]

I had one back in 97ish, 2.5 diesel, re arched the rear springs, tweaked the front to match, 31inch muds. went well with a LSD in the back, other than the front overhang I would say it went as well as a IFS Surf with similar mods would go.
Biggest issue I had was that the engine fan was good friends with the radiator.

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Just picked my one up yesterday. 1989 L300 Delica 4x4 2l petrol. Not as flash
as yours tho. This one needs a tidy up, scored it for 3k-cheep as when you think about what you can do with them.
Al

Yeah after looking about at what alternatives were available in my price range and seeing a few I was keen on sell for 6500-7500 on trade me I was VERY happy to get this one for $4400
I initially wanted an SWB or MWB cruiser but anything I could afford was old and buggered.

I tried on some 31-10.5-15's and steelies tonight. The fit is really nice, will be perfect with a 50mm raise.

I had one back in 97ish, 2.5 diesel, re arched the rear springs, tweaked the front to match, 31inch muds. went well with a LSD in the back, other than the front overhang I would say it went as well as a IFS Surf with similar mods would go.
Biggest issue I had was that the engine fan was good friends with the radiator.

Mean, that looks like the earlier one than mine, I think they are a better vehicle in concept. The built-in chassis of the later model like mine seems a bit limiting.

[suzookyman]

Took mine to the beach today, goes well.



Al

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Took mine to the beach today, goes well.

pics

Al

Nice one, so is that a petrol one?
Have you tried it out properly off road yet?

[doo0Tdoo0T]

Have started a thread to document future mods, wont be updating this thread any more. http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 18&t=34197

[suzookyman]

Took mine to the beach today, goes well.

pics

Al

Nice one, so is that a petrol one?
Have you tried it out properly off road yet?

Yeah it's only a 2L petroll but its only done 160,000 and had one owner for the last 18 years. I have 5 Suzuki's at the moment so if I go 4x4ing it's in one of those. I must admit tho it is growing on me ( only got it as a go to work car ). Will follow your other thred, it's lookin good! .
Al

[surf_L300]

just got me an 87 l300, had heaps of work done underneth. its a 2.5 diesel and far its guttless! any ideas to getting more power out of it? and where to get a decent basket rack? i have the same plans as you pretty much, will be following your build

[doo0Tdoo0T]

just got me an 87 l300, had heaps of work done underneth. its a 2.5 diesel and far its guttless! any ideas to getting more power out of it? and where to get a decent basket rack? i have the same plans as you pretty much, will be following your build

Is yours not a turbo?
That woudl be the first thing you could do. And then add a few extras like an intercooler and a bit more boost.

Mines gutless too but I find it's more the aerodynamics that holds it back, drinks twice as much gas at 100 as it does at 80. I just sit around 80-90k's

I've given up looking for a basket, people want moonbeams for them, will eventually just make my own.
There was a full length L300 one on tardme not long ago but the dude wanted 400 or somthing....