Ground Zero

I heard stories of running diesel engine using vegetable oil 70% on a separate tank and 30 % diesel, this website has a kit www.greasecar.com before you turn ON the ignition and after you turn if OFF you should turn the valve/switch to let the car run into diesel, maybe on that way when they do lab test for the van then it will pass it's emission test for CA (CARB), let me know your thoughts of this or if any have tried to run their delicas with veggie oil?
 
BrianQ said:
they need to go through the exhaust system and ads a catalytic converter and any other necessary parts etc....They say it's a lot of work. After they finish the work, they take it a CA certification board for approval. Then they place a CA compliant sticker on the vehicle. Once you have the sticker you can get it registered. Huge pain both in time and $. They have done about 5 Delicas
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Hello Brian, would you take pictures of what did they install in your van so others have an idea, also if there is significant change you have noticed when driving your van (loss of power) and if your van will also be tested in STAR smog station or is there special smog station for the van, just in input here in the forum if you have time. Thanks
 
I will try and send some pics later today. From what I can see visually, they added a catalytic converter to my exhaust and put a CA emissions compliant sticker on the engine compartment. I was told they also preformed a series of emissions tests during the process which took approximately 4 months to complete. No difference in driving, no loss of power only $$$$ from my bank account. :) I love my van....!
 
Hi there everyone, future Delica owner here looking to get a bit of guidance. I think I have everything squared away but I just want to be sure before I embark on this journey and shoot myself in the foot.

First things first, has anyone here bought and imported a Delica from a private party? I'm buying one from a friend in Montreal and Driving it back across country to Portland, and will be importing it myself through the Blaine, WA border crossing. From what I understand I'm going to need CBP form 7501, EPA form 3520-1, and DOT form HS-7 along with the title, bill of sale and documents proving it was built at least 25 years ago (it's a '93). Is there anything I should know if I'm importing myself? I'm taking limited time off of work to get this done so I need as little border grief as possible and I'm foreseeing a HUGE headache, but I'm turning to y'all to hopefully get some insight as to what I'm getting myself into. Any help and advice is VERY appreciated!
 
xprofessionalcurmudgeonx said:
Hi there everyone, future Delica owner here looking to get a bit of guidance. I think I have everything squared away but I just want to be sure before I embark on this journey and shoot myself in the foot.

First things first, has anyone here bought and imported a Delica from a private party? I'm buying one from a friend in Montreal and Driving it back across country to Portland, and will be importing it myself through the Blaine, WA border crossing. From what I understand I'm going to need CBP form 7501, EPA form 3520-1, and DOT form HS-7 along with the title, bill of sale and documents proving it was built at least 25 years ago (it's a '93). Is there anything I should know if I'm importing myself? I'm taking limited time off of work to get this done so I need as little border grief as possible and I'm foreseeing a HUGE headache, but I'm turning to y'all to hopefully get some insight as to what I'm getting myself into. Any help and advice is VERY appreciated!
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Why aren't you importing it back east?
 
rdelica said:
Why aren't you importing it back east?
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I suppose I could, but I have friends in Vancouver that I can stay with, and I can take the bus back to Portland if anything goes wrong with the import. Also I feel like the blaine CBP has more experience with importing vehicles so potentially less of a hassle but I could be wrong. Any reason why I should import through Toronto instead of Blaine?
 
xprofessionalcurmudgeonx said:
I suppose I could, but I have friends in Vancouver that I can stay with, and I can take the bus back to Portland if anything goes wrong with the import. Also I feel like the blaine CBP has more experience with importing vehicles so potentially less of a hassle but I could be wrong. Any reason why I should import through Toronto instead of Blaine?
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I don't have any import experience firsthand, but I feel like I recall a friend of mine having issues trying to import/register the vehicle once it had already crossed the border. It was a non-Delica import, something like a Camry, so it's apples and oranges, and may not even be relevant. If it were me I'd just call someone at the WA border to verify it won't be an issue. You're probably right regarding the west coast border having more experience with the vans.
 
After some PMs with Fabian I got a lot of great info that I hadn't considered yet! if anyone has any othe tips about the border / driving across canada in march please let me know!
 
Hey Kellyn,
Great work on this forum! I am looking into purchasing a Delica but am wondering about how they will perform at higher elevation? I live in Colorado at 8,000ft and am a little worried about how much power it will have going up I-70 or bigger mtn roads? Ask wondering if you would recommend an automatic or manual for these conditions? Any feedback would be great! Thank you!

Ben
 
Having driven Washington/Oregon passes (much lower elevation) in my Delica and the I-70 CO passes in a 6-speed, turbocharged, direct injected sports car, I'd say that "power" up those hills is the wrong word, haha. You'll be fine, but you'll be slow. Like semi truck slow, I imagine. There's tons of Colorado members on here though who would know better.
 
rdelica said:
Having driven Washington/Oregon passes (much lower elevation) in my Delica and the I-70 CO passes in a 6-speed, turbocharged, direct injected sports car, I'd say that "power" up those hills is the wrong word, haha. You'll be fine, but you'll be slow. Like semi truck slow, I imagine. There's tons of Colorado members on here though who would know better.
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Thanks for the reply! Would you lean toward a manual or automatic? Either more reliable?
 
The manual feels peppier and more responsive driving around normally, and the automatic will hold higher speeds on the highway (gearing), especially with larger tires.

Auto better off-road for controlling your acceleration etc.

Neither has any real pervasive reliability issues, but the manual has more parts and needs of service over its lifetime.
 
I used to live in California and owned an 83 4D55 truck. The Federal version was rated for 28mpg highway, the California one at 24. The only difference was that the CA one had a "timing retard device" (quoth the factory service manual), which despite my damndest efforts to find an actual device, appeared to be nothing more than different injection timing. I timed the pump by ear and the truck consistently got 32mpg highway and ~26-27 combined, on 28" AT tires, for years after. In short, CARB compliance *might* be achieved by nothing more than retarding the pump timing, which a diesel shop should take no more than an hour or two and no parts to do.
 
Kellyn said:
Behold, the best damn USA Delica forum on planet Earth. My name is Kellyn. I am your leader. I own Karr Automotive LLC and can help you with any vehicle import issues you may have. Welcome and feel free to ask any questions.
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Kellyn, thanks for this Forum!! So glad to know I am not the only crazy person out there buying 25 year old Japanese imports :)

I just bought my Delica this past week but have been eyeing them for 25 years and just waiting for the day when I could finally import a Space Gear to the USA. I'll start another post with an intro but wanted to say thanks for putting this all together and offering help.

-Sean
 
Backdoor said:
Kellyn, thanks for this Forum!! So glad to know I am not the only crazy person out there buying 25 year old Japanese imports :)

I just bought my Delica this past week but have been eyeing them for 25 years and just waiting for the day when I could finally import a Space Gear to the USA. I'll start another post with an intro but wanted to say thanks for putting this all together and offering help.

-Sean
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You're most welcome. Thanks for coming! The community here is incredible and it is truly a labor of love.

K
 
Hello!
Somehow as someone who searched a long while for their first Toyota Hiace I've ended up being seduced by a sexy as heck 1993 Delica! She'll be on a boat next week!
I'm looking forward picking through this forum!
Thanks for having me!
(This should have been in all caps cause I'm excited)
 
Allular said:
Hello!
Somehow as someone who searched a long while for their first Toyota Hiace I've ended up being seduced by a sexy as heck 1993 Delica! She'll be on a boat next week!
I'm looking forward picking through this forum!
Thanks for having me!
(This should have been in all caps cause I'm excited)
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Welcome to the asylum. It is a very slippery slope. Where are you located?
 
I recognize your name from the BaT auction comments for my Delica. I expect I'll be scrambling for footing on 2 slopes. One is the the obvious infatuation with this sweet ride. The other will be keeping my wife from staking claim to it. I kinda look forward to both!
I'm in the middle of South Carolina.
 
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