Making a spare tire swing carrier.

[XLsior]

A day of making exhaust pipe hangers by adapting the hangers from the old exhaust system...Some scrap metal to fill in the spaces

all welds to stainless done in stainless...

Mild steel to mild...

Spritz of high temp paint...

Hopefully it will all go back together as intended...

Then its the start up turbo diesel whistle test...

[cheesy]

Nice work.

[XLsior]

Originally Posted by cheesy

Nice work.

ehh, given the limitations of the welder and the .9mm gasless stainless steel mig wire it's about as good as it's capable of...

It certainly behaves different to the .8mm mild steel flux core wire which I'm getting better at using...

The Blue Demon Gasless Stainless Steel wire requires all the amps my welder is cranking out and is still forms high welds and does not tolerate contaminants. which like to spatter/popcorn.

I still recommend the product and if they made it .8mm it might have performed better. 240v/160amp is just enough but more would be better...

I had to combine dissimilar metals with the hangers, So what ever welds resulted were more of just getting the job done and holding solid.

But considering its exhaust pipe I'm more concerned with function and longevity...

I'll tack the snorkel and getting finished buy a professional with a TIG welder...(when I get around to it) a job for another time.

[XLsior]

It happened...


I got the bastard out.


taking it to a specialist for a full rebuild.


Much wallet pain to be felt...


However compared to modern vehicles its also somewhat cheap in comparison.

[XLsior]

I was experimenting with WVO and diesel blends on my Deli that just clicked 250k.
For awhile i thought all was ok for about 1-2hrs of driving.

heading home up the range engine starts getting the hiccups and losing power...I just managed to get home and pulled into the garage...

I proceeded to change the filter...then the injectors. In the hope my 4m40T running woes were not critical. Well it was clatter-choofingly apparent my alternative fuel experiment might have pushed the old ZEXEL/Bosche pump to much.

So I went down the rabbit hole of removing the pump from its grip and opted to take it to my local diesel pump/injector service specialist, Which is North Coast Diesel Service


All they do is diesel injector pumps for over 20 years.

I called and told them my issue and they said "yep, bring it in"

Bit of chin wag later and a few days and my pump was ready...I also asked if they could give me a bit more poke on boost...with the response being "10%"...sounds good to me.

They also removed some Japanese winter spec coolant line gubbins so (simplified) with the final service price $1280 total.

I was told these pumps don't like bio fuels, I was informed the new seals were more tolerant of bio fuels, but they will not cover their warranty if bio fuels are used (1year/20000km)

Anyway I just spent the day putting it all back together with a drained tank and fresh diesel purged...flushed and primed the lines...Anxiety...turn key and vroom....relief.

I am yet to drive it and test the 10% boost. But hearing the engine run healthy again is all the confirmation I need to know the guys at NCDS know their shit.


Well I fired up the van in the garage hoping to bleed the air out of the coolant lines after buttoning it all up...
and it started chuffing again all kinds of colored smoke came out of the pipe.

I managed to unstuck the clutch and back out of the garage to clear the air a bit but it konked out again...

Multiple start attempts with long no fires and then occasional idle to weak idle...hit the pedal and get some revs but it would chuff up and konk out repeatedly...

Which implies a failed head gasket or cracked head all along....

In other words my injection pump was probably fine...so there goes $1280 in a puff...Nothing against North Coast diesel Service.

the problem was me and my path of reasoning.

So, I do have a head gasket spare...But I'm in again for time and bleeding knuckles with a set of head bolts and hopefully not a cracked head.

The oil is fine and level but there was some condensation when removing the cam cover and I did notice my coolant expansion tank level was dropping but also holding pressure...

Loss of compression is my only remaining factor after sorting out all the related fueling potential issues, which by all accounts and $ was resolved...

The joys of 25year old 4wd motoring...I wanted a vehicle to wrench on...I guess I'm in the deep end now.

[Thumper]

Rule of thumb working on old vehicles. One thing leads to another.

I learned this in spades after buying an '02 Civic from the city impound lot. Full front end work... CV axels, struts, both lower control arms, then got into the timing belt just for good measure. Found new OEM Honda belt and shiny new water pump in there, but changed the idler pulley and belt anyway

Then a few hundred miles later, realized it was going through coolant and overheating. The head gasket had to be replaced, so went ahead with a remanufactured head as long as it had to come out.

Along the way, I found used radiator mounting bracket, battery tiedown, and a couple of other "missing pieces". Why not ?

OK now it uses a bit of PS fluid, engine oil (oil pan leak?), and the transmission is a bit thumpy. But it starts and runs great otherwise

Such a good deal this turned out to be

[XLsior]

The 4m40T engine is being cloned in china, so ironically aftermarket parts are somewhat cheap. It's actually found in plethora of china pickups/ SUV. So a set of injectors is less than $100AUD, a head gasket can be found for under $50 and a fully assembled new cylinder head is $500...How long they last is about as sure as a big bore kit for a CG250 does



If EV conversion kits were cheaper I'd love to got down that route but as for now an Indirect injected Turbo Diesel has got me grimed up.


https://ziptek.en.made-in-china.com/...hallenger.html

We have RAM pickups in Australia too now...lets just say after exchange rates and taxes you're looking at over 150k.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by XLsior

The 4m40T engine is being cloned in china, so ironically aftermarket parts are somewhat cheap. It's actually found in plethora of china pickups/ SUV. So a set of injectors is less than $100AUD, a head gasket can be found for under $50 and a fully assembled new cylinder head is $500

https://ziptek.en.made-in-china.com/...hallenger.html

The Mitsubishi 2.8L i4 engine is an absolutely perfect size for a Turbo diesel. Even today (!), you can buy those Toyotas in Australia with the same size- Utes (Hilux) and the Land Cruiser. Awesome torque and 30mpg or more (~8liters/100km).

It is almost worth trying to find a used 4WD Mitsubishi with a worn out gasser in the USA and do the conversion. Almost.

You are lucky to have the original TD versions of Mitsubishi trucks in Australia. All of the peripherals and the wiring harness would be a nightmare to find in the USA and the wiring harness would be difficult to say the least.

You can see a first gen Toyota 4x4 in the background in one of those pics I posted with my brewing system. It was a rust-free vehicle I found in Arizona!

Then I found a first gen diesel Toyota and rebuilt the head. I had everything- intact wiring harness and cab, fuel pump and other engine peripherals, but NO TURBO! It was just too daunting. I ended up selling the diesel at a loss and eventually got a Ram 2500 with a cummins TD. But that thing got 15-16 mpg and much worse when I hauled a trailer! Yes, it could move a HOUSE, but I hardly ever needed half of that torque. I felt stupid hauling my 200lb carcass around in that massive truck. You see them everywhere here, most of them sparkling clean, tonneau cover, with one person in the quad cab
The whole point of the i4 diesel in a pickup like the older Toyota Tacoma was to have a capable Ute that didn't spew so much CO2 and didn't cost so much to run. I sold the Ram and got a new Toyota gasser.

Enjoy the Delica. You have a real gem there

[Bruces]

Who would have thought ,Cheesy would end up being an imported toilet water drinking snob ! lol .should of had a Fosters !

[XLsior]

If you want a real Australian Beer buy Coopers.


Yes we have overpriced craft beers. the taxes in pubs are putting a glass of beer at $10...


I brew my own these days. Having lived in the Czech Rep for over a year all aus beer to me tastes like puddle water.

[Thumper]

I haven't had time to brew for a couple of years. I have a 10 gallon system, a cut out half barrel and 5 gallon soda fountain kegs. Pyrex carboys for collecting wart and also for the primary and secondaries...My mashtun is a Home Depot water cooler. I use gravity and muscle instead of pumps to refill the kettle with the extracted wart. I'd like to build a hand cranked elevator for this instead of using muscle, or a pump. Cleaning it all after the session is easy without all of that plumbing, and no electricity needed!

Here are a few pics from a Dry hopped darked Amber session. Nice caramel notes with a bit of charcoal flavor from the roasted barley. It was similar to a porter, damned good! It was a windy day, so I propped up shields to keep the flame steady for the boil.


Collecting wart through my homemade chillzilla (MOchilla)


And the sanitized primaries are filling...



Here is my MOchilla reversed flow chiller half made. It's refrigeration grade soft copper tubing within tubing and brass fittings (garden hose adapted for the cold sleeve). I like to brew in the Spring when the water from the city water system is COLD!

Here is an earlier pale ale I drank while brewing the darkened amber. Inspiration

[Thumper]

And here is that pint glass about one minute later

[XLsior]

Yes any 20+ year old project vehicle is going to start showing its age and ask for parts offerings...If your the kind of person that anticipates such events then you get what you expect.


Being a monocoque chassis L400 and onwards...what kills them is rust...my van is basically rust free which made the purchase of a rolling project a solid choice. the older L300 toaster body uses the 4D56...I see them getting imported into the USA quite a bit due to the 25year import laws...early L400 should be exempt now too.



Also mine is a very rare 5 speed manual transmission...But 20mpg rolling a 2t hippo body around isn't bad


I do like like old Toyotas and Nissans, but so does everyone else so they are expensive.


The 4M40T was enough of a solid platform that Mitsubishi adapted it into the common rail DOHC 4M41...Not easy to work on and more expensive parts...
If I was going to do another similar period diesel it would be something with a ISUZU 4JB1T engine Like our Australian domestic Holden Rodeo ute/pickup...


I believe in the states you had the Isuzu Trooper...The 4JB1T and following 4JJ1* series of ISUZU diesel engines are all solid performers and a little less likely to have head/gasket issues like the Mitsi 4M40 engines.



You see a lot of built 4J engine on Thai racing skiffs.


Anyway being a diesel only 2 things can go wrong, feul delivery and compression. No ignition system.
and being a 4 banger SOHC only 1 head gasket and cam. In other words about as simple as wrenching on a van engine gets...

[XLsior]

So I bought a new 4M40T complete cylinder head from ebay. (made in China)


I paid $470 aud shipped which was the best value* aka cheapest deal I could find.


Scrolling down to the specifications it specified head+gasket+bolts.


I was a bit unsure as other listings around the same price were cylinder head only...


well I messaged the seller trying to confirm but either way it was the cheapest offer so I purchased it prior to a reply. (locked in the sale) I took a screen shot showing specific items listed...



I get shipping confirmation of 3 boxes.. So I'm like "Ok it was a complete kit for that price" Amazing!!!



Then I get reply from the seller "Sorry it was a listing error here is a link to the complete kit $800"


Errm I decided not to reply as Australian consumer law mandates listed items and prices are in the purchases benefit if mislabeled.



Now replacing a cylinder head kinda blows in the first place...but I'm not unappreciative when lady luck smiles in ones favor...

[XLsior]

Having slept on the van for a bit longer over the weekend and trying to distract the issue I wanted to unequivocally determine that there was a head gasket issue and not a fuel issue.

with a clean bottle and fresh diesel I bypassed all the fuel lines and set up a direct feed line to the refreshed injection pump.

Cold start the van fired up into life and began to idle about as good as serviced injection pump could...

eventually the diesel IV would run out but i repeated the top ups a few times and maybe there is air getting onto the lines but I am ruling out the pump.

On the 4th run up I filled the coolant expansion tank and started the van which resulted in a foam up...So I have no doubt there is a head/gasket issue.

I wanted to try a compression test but non of the included kit fitting matched the thread pitch...

However when I went to take out the glow plugs I could hear what I can only describe as a coffee peculator drip and steam fizzling inside the engine as it had now built up some temperature.

I looked at the glow plugs and it appears cylinder1 is sick.

however whether it was a fueling issue that might have caused the headgasket failure is a chicken/egg conundrum.

suffice to say I think the Van had a mid life crisis at 250000km hobbled home, sulked in the garage and decided it wanted a full comprehensive service.

The Head is definitely coming off.

However the #1 cylinder down is a bit more forgiving than a 2 cylinder cross over in terms of possible damage.

Looks like my week is fully booked.