Delica JB500 Camper

Nulla said:

Hello, We are very new to the world of Delica. Our Delica is a JB500 camper should be arriving in Los Angeles in about 2 to 3 weeks. We will prep it in Los Angeles then begin our joy ride across the USA. We have a lot of learning to do. What we know so far is that it is a L300 with a 4D56 turbo Diesel engine (learned from this forum). The first thing we will do is to change the timing belt, we are trying to source a timing belt kit. I have already send inquiries to Amayama and Megazip. If there are other sources please let us know. After changing the timing belt, water pump etc.. Next is to make the engine more efficient and reliable . This will include the following;
1. Inter cooler - looking for a bolt on kit if available
2. Installing a larger down pipe - looking for a bolt on kit if available if not it will be a trip to a muffler shop
3. Installing a more efficient air intake - looking for a bolt on kit
4. EGT gage - what brand are you all using?
5. Boost control - what brand are you all using?
6. Install an electric fuel pump
7. Install an oil catch can
Other suggestions to make the engine for efficient and reliable are welcome. After installing the above we will then twik the engine as suggested in this forum i.e, removing the EGR gage etc....

Looking forward to your suggestions. We will share inside photos when we get them. Thank you.

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Nulla said:

Hello, We are very new to the world of Delica. Our Delica is a JB500 camper should be arriving in Los Angeles in about 2 to 3 weeks. We will prep it in Los Angeles then begin our joy ride across the USA. We have a lot of learning to do. What we know so far is that it is a L300 with a 4D56 turbo Diesel engine (learned from this forum). The first thing we will do is to change the timing belt, we are trying to source a timing belt kit. I have already send inquiries to Amayama and Megazip. If there are other sources please let us know. After changing the timing belt, water pump etc.. Next is to make the engine more efficient and reliable . This will include the following;
1. Inter cooler - looking for a bolt on kit if available
2. Installing a larger down pipe - looking for a bolt on kit if available if not it will be a trip to a muffler shop
3. Installing a more efficient air intake - looking for a bolt on kit
4. EGT gage - what brand are you all using?
5. Boost control - what brand are you all using?
6. Install an electric fuel pump
7. Install an oil catch can
Other suggestions to make the engine for efficient and reliable are welcome. After installing the above we will then twik the engine as suggested in this forum i.e, removing the EGR gage etc....

Looking forward to your suggestions. We will share inside photos when we get them. Thank you.

Click to expand...

Macleod said:

Engine work aside, you're going to have a learning curve on the house electrics, appliances, expanding house battery capacity, new US standard shore power, maybe a fridge swap to something that runs efficiently on 12V, than also solar on the roof ( I put a 160 watt panel up)....the list goes on.
My JB500 is the same model as yours.
And mine came over with about 12K miles on 4/20, I got it on 9/20, been working on it since, planning on heading off in a month.
I'm not modifying the engine. Just going to go slow. Timing belt, balancer shift belt, all belts, pulleys, water pump were done when I got it as part of my purchase deal.
Issues with old rubber / plastic parts decayed from age pop up.
The gray water waste tank spigot broke apart the first time I worked it, had to drop the tank, cut a hole to fit a new, different unit , re-fiberglass the tank, get it back up etc etc....things like that just happen.
My front end is getting new ball joints, had to replace the Idler arm, the synthetic bushing in it had deterioration, gonna replace the rear leaf spring bushings, also age related deterioration, and look into a helper leaf to boost the rear up a couple inches, plus I had a custom rear trailer hitch fabricated to pull my motorcycle trailer.

Click to expand...

Macleod said:

Engine work aside, you're going to have a learning curve on the house electrics, appliances, expanding house battery capacity, new US standard shore power, maybe a fridge swap to something that runs efficiently on 12V, than also solar on the roof ( I put a 160 watt panel up)....the list goes on.
My JB500 is the same model as yours.
And mine came over with about 12K miles on 4/20, I got it on 9/20, been working on it since, planning on heading off in a month.
I'm not modifying the engine. Just going to go slow. Timing belt, balancer shift belt, all belts, pulleys, water pump were done when I got it as part of my purchase deal.
Issues with old rubber / plastic parts decayed from age pop up.
The gray water waste tank spigot broke apart the first time I worked it, had to drop the tank, cut a hole to fit a new, different unit , re-fiberglass the tank, get it back up etc etc....things like that just happen.
My front end is getting new ball joints, had to replace the Idler arm, the synthetic bushing in it had deterioration, gonna replace the rear leaf spring bushings, also age related deterioration, and look into a helper leaf to boost the rear up a couple inches, plus I had a custom rear trailer hitch fabricated to pull my motorcycle trailer.

Click to expand...

Zinguy said:

I don't know where to jump in on this thread so I'll begin at the beginning.
We have also just purchased a '93 JB500 from OttoEx in Portland. $35K plus upgrade like durable/cleanable flooring, Webasto diesel furnace, LED lighting, USB ports, etc.
OttoEx has been great to work with, especially considering that it was mostly done over the phone. We did fly to Portland for 2 days after it arrived from Japan to figure out exactly what we wanted done. Alex and Sam are working on it now for a late October 2021 pick up.
Any opinions on changing to larger rims/tires would be greatly appreciated. We have a lot of questions but will start slow. Does the out of date dogfood come with every JB500? View attachment 13869

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Macleod said:

I'd be interested to know what OttoX did with the OEM Japanese shore power system to US

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Nulla said:

Finally got all my inside appliances working including the refrigerator, but it does not get cold enough so we purchase a Dometic CFX and placed it on the bench across the table. Still have not decided what to do with the oem refrigerator. Maybe turn it into a cabinet?
Curious to know how your rig is doing pulling a MC trailer I have been thinking of doing the same with my MC sidecar. Thx for posting.

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Zinguy said:

We are switching to an AC/DC marine refrigerator from a 3 way propane fridge since we have solar panels. Could probably work something out if you wanted the oem fridge. Same for oem propane furnace if anyone needs one and can pick up in Portland from Alex at OttoEx.

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Zinguy said:

We are switching to an AC/DC marine refrigerator from a 3 way propane fridge since we have solar panels. Could probably work something out if you wanted the oem fridge. Same for oem propane furnace if anyone needs one and can pick up in Portland from Alex at OttoEx.

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Nulla said:

Can you share the link of the refrigerator and the furnace you are going to use. My OEM refrigerator also works. For now I will use it as a back up.

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Nulla said:

Finally got all my inside appliances working including the refrigerator, but it does not get cold enough so we purchase a Dometic CFX and placed it on the bench across the table. Still have not decided what to do with the oem refrigerator. Maybe turn it into a cabinet?
Curious to know how your rig is doing pulling a MC trailer I have been thinking of doing the same with my MC sidecar. Thx for posting.

Click to expand...

Macleod said:

I would also like to know what you're replacing the OEM fridge and furnace with.

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Macleod said:

I'm looking at adding a 12v fridge for this year that will live under the middle table, which I replaced with a Lagun table base.
I'd like to get an Engle 20 liter, but may end up with a Chinese instead. My OEM fridge works, but doesn't get very cold in hot outside Temps.
I'll use both both as needed.
The MC trailer and Honda is about 500lbs together, the tounge weight is maybe 75lbs.
I'm going with the Honda CRF 250L due to its fairly low 320lb weight.
The trailer hitch was an expensive adventure, and is way overkill for my load needs, and slow me down to 55.

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Nulla said:

I will be towing Bmw 1150gs with a sidecar, I think I will be at about 1,500 pound with a Kenyon trailer. My hitch is rated at 2500 pound and 500 pound touque weight.

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Zinguy said:

I don't know where to jump in on this thread so I'll begin at the beginning.
We have also just purchased a '93 JB500 from OttoEx in Portland. $35K plus upgrade like durable/cleanable flooring, Webasto diesel furnace, LED lighting, USB ports, etc.
OttoEx has been great to work with, especially considering that it was mostly done over the phone. We did fly to Portland for 2 days after it arrived from Japan to figure out exactly what we wanted done. Alex and Sam are working on it now for a late October 2021 pick up.
Any opinions on changing to larger rims/tires would be greatly appreciated. We have a lot of questions but will start slow. Does the out of date dogfood come with every JB500? View attachment 13869

Click to expand...