Dirits
New Member
Greetings Delica community!
I recently purchased a 1997 A'm Craft camper. It is a double walled fiberglass pop-top camper built on the P25T platform (I think). I believe this is the same platform used by the JB470 and JB500s. A'm Craft campers were also built on the Toyota Townace platform. I haven't been able to find much information about the company as I think they closed around 2010. I am excited to restore, refurbish, and buildout the Delica for outdoor adventures for my family of four until the kids are too old to want to hang out anymore.
As with any of these projects there are many things to do with varying priorities levels. The vehicle has approx. 130,000 kms and the timing belt and water pump replaced at 101,000 kms. Also, the injector pump and turbo coolant hose (?) were replaced recently. My highest priority are items that concern the reliability and drivability of the vehicle.
I have investigated the forums for information and it has been very helpful. As my camper is built on the P25T, the Delica Truck, architecture I have learned there are definite differences between the van and the truck L300 platforms. This makes part searches a bit more challenging as most part support focuses on the vans. The best I have gathered, the front of the vehicle is similar to the van and parts are interchangeable. Even the engine and transmission are mostly similar.
One of the biggest differences is the rear suspension. It seems like the L300 van came with coil or leaf springs in the rear depending on the year/trim. The trucks had leaf springs but were underslung versus the van being overslung (below vs. above the axle).
This brings me to one of my top priorities. My initial drive was incredibly harsh when ever going over bumps. When I investigated, the vehicle was pretty much riding on the bumpstops in the front and the rear. With help from information on the forums I was able to tighten the front torsion bars (27mm? diameter) and things improved dramatically though the rear was still bottoming out.
The leaf pack in the rear is completely flat and riding on the overload springs. I have searched but I was unable to determine if the rear leaf springs were the same for the vans as the trucks. My assumption is that they are different given the different set-up (under vs. overslung). Does anyone know if this is true? I would like to refresh my rear suspension with the goal to carry 300-400 lbs on the hitch that has yet to be built (another project).
The best information I was able to find was the JB500 build thread @Nulla created. What an awesome thread and incredible resource. It seems like he had his rear springs of his JB500 re-arched then added three additional leafs with a longer shackle for some lift. Is this the best approach or could a Montero/Pajaro aftermarket spring work?
I would love to hear your ideas!
I recently purchased a 1997 A'm Craft camper. It is a double walled fiberglass pop-top camper built on the P25T platform (I think). I believe this is the same platform used by the JB470 and JB500s. A'm Craft campers were also built on the Toyota Townace platform. I haven't been able to find much information about the company as I think they closed around 2010. I am excited to restore, refurbish, and buildout the Delica for outdoor adventures for my family of four until the kids are too old to want to hang out anymore.
As with any of these projects there are many things to do with varying priorities levels. The vehicle has approx. 130,000 kms and the timing belt and water pump replaced at 101,000 kms. Also, the injector pump and turbo coolant hose (?) were replaced recently. My highest priority are items that concern the reliability and drivability of the vehicle.
I have investigated the forums for information and it has been very helpful. As my camper is built on the P25T, the Delica Truck, architecture I have learned there are definite differences between the van and the truck L300 platforms. This makes part searches a bit more challenging as most part support focuses on the vans. The best I have gathered, the front of the vehicle is similar to the van and parts are interchangeable. Even the engine and transmission are mostly similar.
One of the biggest differences is the rear suspension. It seems like the L300 van came with coil or leaf springs in the rear depending on the year/trim. The trucks had leaf springs but were underslung versus the van being overslung (below vs. above the axle).
This brings me to one of my top priorities. My initial drive was incredibly harsh when ever going over bumps. When I investigated, the vehicle was pretty much riding on the bumpstops in the front and the rear. With help from information on the forums I was able to tighten the front torsion bars (27mm? diameter) and things improved dramatically though the rear was still bottoming out.
The leaf pack in the rear is completely flat and riding on the overload springs. I have searched but I was unable to determine if the rear leaf springs were the same for the vans as the trucks. My assumption is that they are different given the different set-up (under vs. overslung). Does anyone know if this is true? I would like to refresh my rear suspension with the goal to carry 300-400 lbs on the hitch that has yet to be built (another project).
The best information I was able to find was the JB500 build thread @Nulla created. What an awesome thread and incredible resource. It seems like he had his rear springs of his JB500 re-arched then added three additional leafs with a longer shackle for some lift. Is this the best approach or could a Montero/Pajaro aftermarket spring work?
I would love to hear your ideas!
