Mitsubishi Delica T120

[THRUKI]

Hi guys,

i got a delica t120 old petrol van,not used in meny years .engine,body not bad.i want to convert this in to a smoll truck.also run in gas.Anyone has suggestion about this and places where I can get it done,if u have pic of a such modified t120 i realy appriciate.

thanks

[The Don]

Hi guys,

i got a delica t120 old petrol van,not used in meny years .engine,body not bad.i want to convert this in to a smoll truck.also run in gas.Anyone has suggestion about this and places where I can get it done,if u have pic of a such modified t120 i realy appriciate.

thanks

The gas conversion should not be too much of an issue and any company who does gas conversions should be able to help you with that.

Converting to a truck however is a different issue. I assume you want to take the roof off and have the rear as a flat bed truck ? To be honest I do not recommend cutting in to the roof at all because the roof plays a major role in providing the vehicle strength and the truck version of this van would have a specially re enforced body or chassy to cope with the lack of a roof at the back to stop the chassy from flexing. Thus its perhaps better to maybe use the vehicle as a truck without major body modifications.

If you are however intent on making such a modification you would need to work with somebody who understand the mechanics of motor vehicle bodies and can create a sub frame to strengthen the lower section of your van to support the body modification. You would also have to recreate the truck cab which is a task on its own. it might be good if you can find a truck cab of the same generation of vehicle.

You also need to be aware that financially a modification of the above will not really be viable, and the money spent will never be recovered at resale, so unless you are doing it for a particular purpose or want to protect your investment sell the van and buy a truck

[THRUKI]

hi,don

Thank you so much for your professional and effective advice.

[Twin Turbo]

your van and the later models had a mini truck version offered from the manufacturer

http://car-blueprints.narod.ru/images/mits...truck-2005a.gif

as seen in the attached figure, the under carriage is having a truck type ladder chassis making the truck carry heavy loads. But the the van has a steel monocock without a ladder frame and would suffer serious safety probs if the body is cut to make a truck.

the best thing is to look for the real thing.( factory truck model)

Alternately , you can get a L200 2wd chassis and make measurements if that can be grafted in to the under carriage of the van, then modify the bodywork. But taking the cost into account,this may not be viable.

[THRUKI]

After all professional advises and information given by dear members, the don and twin turbo, I gave up the idea of cutting the body and convert it to a mini truck, so now am very happy as I have lots of memories with this van, it is in good shape now. Thank u very much for your advices again. See some images.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5251/p7230359.jpg

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6973/p7230368.jpg

[terrabytetango]

Machan don't convert that van to a truck, instead just remove fold the rear seat or fit a folding rear seat. Polish it up a little and use it as it is, especially since it is in such good condition.

[samishka]

After all professional advises and information given by dear members, the don and twin turbo, I gave up the idea of cutting the body and convert it to a mini truck, so now am very happy as I have lots of memories with this van, it is in good shape now. Thank u very much for your advices again. See some images.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5251/p7230359.jpg

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6973/p7230368.jpg

GREAT RESTORATION JOB ! Good for studying the evolution of Japanese vehicles.

Hope you have not changed the interior. (Dashboard, meters, steering wheel).

The dual-tone colour brings back memories of my early childhood (before 1983, when DelicaT120s, Mazda E2200s, Corolla KE20s, Sunny B210s, Ford Cortinas 'ruled' our roads.)

Nowadays a good example of this model is rarely seen. Majority being abused by using for transportation of goods.There was another (older?) model with large single headlights.

[DevakaC]

THRUKI, that van of yours is in superb shape.

[Ruslan]

Found good collection of Delica photos from the past.. Interesting.. (Credit goes to the original Flickr uploader)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fexlboi/34850...57617452680566/

Edited November 2, 2009 by Ruslan

[samishka]

Found good collection of Delica photos from the past.. Interesting.. (Credit goes to the original Flickr uploader)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fexlboi/34850...57617452680566/

Could see the original truck version within those photos.

Sadly what we see on our roads are 'van into truck' conversions.

Glad to note that THRUKI's van has been saved from such a disastrous conversion.

(Thanks to advise from The Don, Twin Turbo and terrabytetango.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is another van (Not a Delica, however) spotted recently, kept in its original 'shape'.

It bears a 35 sri number (registered as a 9-seater, petrol-engined bus)

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9144/p10006282.jpg

[Gummybr]

After all professional advises and information given by dear members, the don and twin turbo, I gave up the idea of cutting the body and convert it to a mini truck, so now am very happy as I have lots of memories with this van, it is in good shape now. Thank u very much for your advices again. See some images.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/5251/p7230359.jpg

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6973/p7230368.jpg

Hmm.. the good old Delica "Chiri Chiri", the first van I went to school in. Still remember the time the rear door opened when we were climbing a steep hill in Dehiwela coming from Ebert Silva Garage side. Those were the days.

Good job machang on the restoration.

[samishka]

..............the good old Delica "Chiri Chiri", .....................

This model is unmistakable with that 'characteristic' noise.

I remember, this Delica model was a favourite among those who were starting a school van service. Petrol was also cheaper those days.

[Even in April 1989 it was Rs. 13.50 per liter. In September the same year it went upto Rs. 20. I guess, this huge increase in petrol price meant the end of Morris Minor Taxis. ]

In the early '90s some owners fitted these Delicas with Diesel engines.

[Supra_Natural]

Machan don't convert that van to a truck, instead just remove fold the rear seat or fit a folding rear seat. Polish it up a little and use it as it is, especially since it is in such good condition.

Actually dude, he asked the question about the truck conversion over a year ago... I guess he decided to restore the van instead.

I must say, very well done THRUKI... van is looking factory fresh, you must be very proud!

[harshansenadhir]

GREAT RESTORATION JOB ! Good for studying the evolution of Japanese vehicles.

Hope you have not changed the interior. (Dashboard, meters, steering wheel).

The dual-tone colour brings back memories of my early childhood (before 1983, when DelicaT120s, Mazda E2200s, Corolla KE20s, Sunny B210s, Ford Cortinas 'ruled' our roads.)

Nowadays a good example of this model is rarely seen. Majority being abused by using for transportation of goods.There was another (older?) model with large single headlights.

yes, that's the mkI model afaik. It's known as JR face and the lights were positioned at slightly higher position than to this model. My neighbour has a well preserved example with all originals including upholstries. Will try to post a pic if bugger is alright with it

[Ruslan]

well, these Delicas are very popular in Haputhale area. just like the Lancers in Ratnapura.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Ruslan

[harshansenadhir]

well, these Delicas are very popular in Haputhale area. just like the Lancers in Ratnapura.

there's a reason for that. There's lot of down and up hills in that area where they sometimes technically travel the entire trip in the neutral gear with engine switched off!! Freaky yeah.. Newer models with brake assistance rather brake booster requires the engine to run in order to apply brakes effectively. So they prefer this model over L300.

Edited November 5, 2009 by harshansenadhir

[DevakaC]

there's a reason for that. There's lot of down and up hills in that area where they sometimes technically travel the entire trip in the neutral gear with engine switched off!! Freaky yeah.. Newer models with brake assistance rather brake booster requires the engine to run in order to apply brakes effectively. So they prefer this model over L300.

no wonder Ive seen so many of these in galaha, haputale, hatton etc. does anybody actually know who started bringing these down? I doubt ######## existed those days, but I could be wrong. Or were these assembled like the upali mazdas.

[samishka]

..............................................does anybody actually know who started bringing these down? I doubt ######## existed those days, but I could be wrong. Or were these assembled like the upali mazdas.

It is said that the SL govt. lifted the ban on car imports only on 1977.

Since this is a pre-1979 model, it is obvious that majority of them which were brought here were "Re-conditioned".

In addition to UMLL, old-timers such as Ishara Traders, Indra Traders, Ramanayaka Automobiles et al. existed those days.

There were also (now defunct?) Kosala Agencies and Lakshmans, both of whom specialised in Japanese vans.

AL members of 35+ age might know exactly whether UMLL imported any brand new Delica T120s

Edited November 5, 2009 by samishka