...I know it's not a 'classic'... swapped mitsu starwagonvan

hillbillyhector · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:37 pm

yes, it's a 1990...(nowhere near vintage, in my mind) but I love this forum, and really don't know where else to post this (the 240sx guys'll hate it... and the mitu-loyal? we'll see:

Cody bought his second starwagon after a short-lived love affair with a panel version that was too far gone, and my craigslist-addiction happened to dredge up this far cleaner 'vanwagon' (passenger van)

so we've loved these little vans for some time now... but admittedly, the 105 hp motor and slushy auto trans makes for a 'limited' driving experience.

it's no secret we like Nissan/Datsun products. the KA is bulletproof. (it's a truck motor!) 'nuf said. we found a roached out rare nissan 'vanette' at pick'n'pull that had a Naps-Z24 motor and the cable-shifted trans with the correct bellhousing to bolt right up to the KA series!

Cody then bought a complete KA24de (twincam, 2.4L 155 hp) out of a 1995 s14 240sx. (well, he bought TWO... the first? very little salvageable parts even for a complete rebuild) new clutch/PP, lightened flywheel, aluminum radiator (AE86), petal assembly sourced form australia & modifed for LHD chassis, modified toyota van manual trans cable shift assembly, custom motor mounts, trans mount, radiator mounts, relocated battery, P/S res, overflow res, homogenized wiring harness (retaining stock cluster, Cruise control and idiot lights.) a ton of little brackets and tweaky mods later.. (A/C will work as soon as we source the right fittings and recharge!) it all seems to fit as though it was meant to be!

hillbillyhector · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:39 pm

(oh yes, & it's been lowered & painted 'delica' style w/ the black upper two-tone)

...the exhaust is about two and a half feet long, so far, BTW.

drivetrain test:

http://www.vimeo.com/10145674

Garant · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:46 pm

pefect shop mule!
the usa spec front bumper gives the impression of a pouting lower lip

75wagon · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:21 am

They've got those big bumpers over here in Australia too (or similar). I do have to ask the question, why not just put an EVO motor in it. Not because it's Mitsu, just because it would be easier to fit, maybe?

Nice job, I can over look the foreign donk...

Camshaft · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 1:05 pm

75wagon wrote:

I do have to ask the question, why not just put an EVO motor in it. Not because it's Mitsu, just because it would be easier to fit, maybe?

Hector made it seem like the KA24DE was a pretty easy swap...

ben · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 8:47 pm

Nice, love the box vans!

75wagon · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:40 pm

Quote:

Hector made it seem like the KA24DE was a pretty easy swap...

What motor did they come out with in the US? Here in Australia they had a single cam 4G63 in them. All that would have had to changed over is the head. I can't see the Nissan motor being an easier swap then that. But if it was easy why not? It's obvious from Hectors website that he is capable of things that others may not have such easy access too.
I love the box vans too, I'd love to have an EVO powered one...

hillbillyhector · **Posted:** Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:34 am

the vans originally had a 4G64 motor. we never got a 5 speed version, and goodluck finding a RWD transmission that bolts up to the 4G63 that is setup to be cable-shifted!...(but if there is such an option, please let me know...I'd love to do a 4G63 in the next one!) hence the KA...not to mention the price (500$ motor/wire harness/ecu & all extremities)

so yes, a mitsu motor would have been nice, but this one made more sense budget-wise (pick-n-pull parts & a 500$ used motor)...but of course like with most odd-swaps, you're nickel-and-dimmed to death on every hose/fastener/belt/gasket!

we're planning to we-work the rear bulkhead/firewall this week, and I'll post picks of the sheetmetal work!

75wagon · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:42 am

Quote:

we never got a 5 speed version, and goodluck finding a RWD transmission that bolts up to the 4G63 that is setup to be cable-shifted!...

Well that answers my question then. Now it all makes sense.
Did you get the commercial vans over there (no rear windows or seats)? They are dime a dozen in Australia, you can still buy them new (or at least up till recently you could). The gearboxes out of them would fit, but if you didn't get them then that answers it?

Now that I know why, it's probably a sensible swap.

fuel · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:34 pm

cool!

I wish I never sold my Delica

hillbillyhector · **Posted:** Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:43 pm

crystal-lite sky-view roof and factory tube-bumpers?? sweeeet!!

city hunter · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:21 pm

OK, cant say I really care for the swap, but I can understand it if you wanted a manual. Dont we all in these vans lol. Clean looking van though.

I've had a few, right now I have a beat up silver n grey 2 tone 88 with the rare factory monster sunroof, that of course doesnt work.b I'm picking up another 1988 silver and grey identical except for the sunroof here in a few days thats perfectly straight. Gonna be funny seeing 2 old mitsu vans the exact same color driving down the highway.

As for a manual trans swap for a 63, other than importing them, I may have found a way to make the toyota van trans work. From what I have read the toyota manualt rans should share the same bell housing bolt pattern as a w58 5 speed transmission. If this is true, then a bill hicher bell housing for a 4g63 to w58 should do the trick. I have yet to confirm that the toyota trans actually shares the same bell to trans pattern as a w58 though.

These vans are great fun, but not until you get some lower profile tires. I'm rocking starion wheels on mine right now, and you can really slide it around in the rain :lol:

city hunter · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:22 pm

75wagon wrote:

Quote:

we never got a 5 speed version, and goodluck finding a RWD transmission that bolts up to the 4G63 that is setup to be cable-shifted!...

Well that answers my question then. Now it all makes sense.
Did you get the commercial vans over there (no rear windows or seats)? They are dime a dozen in Australia, you can still buy them new (or at least up till recently you could). The gearboxes out of them would fit, but if you didn't get them then that answers it?

Now that I know why, it's probably a sensible swap.

Even the cargo vans we received only came in auto :roll:

fucking america

Komeuppance · **Posted:** Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:11 am

city hunter wrote:

America!! FARK YEAH!!

Fixed... LOL...

-Robert

schassisowner · **Posted:** Sat May 01, 2010 8:41 am

reminds me of A team

but JDM tyte

sweet whip, and im a 240 owner :tu:

RallySol · **Posted:** Sun May 16, 2010 10:37 pm

Bravo on the effort! Can't really speak to the whole nissan/mitsu thing though, says the guy considering a honda for his starion (oh no!). Do what we gotta do to get what we want or know, right?

You're not all that far, we should throw a 'van-in' together or something

hillbillyhector · **Posted:** Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:21 pm

lookin like a mitsubishi dealership from the late eighties over here!!

city hunter · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:12 am

I'm loving it. That 87 grey silver 2 tone musta been popular. I've seen 3 around now including mine and another I wanna buy. These vans are just awesome to drive.

I wanted to ask. What kind of gas mileage are you getting with that ka?

RaptorReed · **Posted:** Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:45 pm

city hunter wrote:

As for a manual trans swap for a 63, other than importing them, I may have found a way to make the toyota van trans work. From what I have read the toyota manualt rans should share the same bell housing bolt pattern as a w58 5 speed transmission. If this is true, then a bill hicher bell housing for a 4g63 to w58 should do the trick. I have yet to confirm that the toyota trans actually shares the same bell to trans pattern as a w58 though.

While on the subject of the 63s and a manual trans, wouldn't a KM132 out of a Dodge D50 or Mighty Max work?

Komeuppance · **Posted:** Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:22 am

RaptorReed wrote:

city hunter wrote:

As for a manual trans swap for a 63, other than importing them, I may have found a way to make the toyota van trans work. From what I have read the toyota manualt rans should share the same bell housing bolt pattern as a w58 5 speed transmission. If this is true, then a bill hicher bell housing for a 4g63 to w58 should do the trick. I have yet to confirm that the toyota trans actually shares the same bell to trans pattern as a w58 though.

While on the subject of the 63s and a manual trans, wouldn't a KM132 out of a Dodge D50 or Mighty Max work?

A narrowblock 2.0 MM/D50 trans would bolt up, but the shifter location is at the tailshaft. These vans are actually mid engined, and you are sitting far forward of the shifter location of a standard trans. Plus those trannys are weak.

-Robert

...I know it's not a 'classic'... swapped mitsu starwagonvan

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