I'm Back.. with a dumb, new project.

"Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu" (Haddy) 03/26/2020 at 01:56 • Filed to: None

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Yo, though , some of y’all know me. I was the originator of the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and more recently my rather scummy, though nicely powered !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Gentlemen, and woman, I present to you my latest Bad Idea, The Deliverer!

A STATELY 1970 Chevrolet P30 van. With a Grumman-Olson body made form Aluminum. While on the outside she looks like any delivery van made from 1955-2000, on the inside she.. looks exactly like every delivery van made from 1955-Today.

So, with a little cleaning, she’ll basically be shiny, and rust free up top. But what’s up top isnt very interested. Whats under the hoo- er.. hump? Is more itneresting. Pop open the doghouse and what do you find? Not a SBC, Not a Cummins 4bt (which wasnt available in 1970, it was 13 years later!)

Not an inline 6, nor an inline 4. Some of you may be thinking a SBC or Big Block of some type! And you’d be wrong. She has, from the factory, mated to her SM465 Transmission, the mightiest of engines...

A 3 Cylinder, Naturally Aspirated, Blower equipped, 3-53 Detroit Diesel 2 stroke! This beast unleashes with a MIGHTY 98HP, and 205ftlbs of torque. How fast does she go? Well, about 75.. on the back of the transport truck. For now, we havent gotten her started. Still talking to the owner about getting her into my posession, paperwork, etc before moving forward.

Now, while this IS an unusual rig, it’s not quite unusual enough for me, as it sits. It has some POTENTIAL though. The DD 3-53 engine has two accessory drives, and air compressors, hydraulic pumps, etc are available for them. Enormous alternators are easily adapted to these engines, from their straight six brethren in big buses. The transmission also has TWO PTO ports, and they are both easily accessible on this frame. So it’s possible to bolt on a Generator, Hydraulic pump, etc. As much fun as that is, it’s still not weird enough to me. But that transmission got me thinking...

The SM465 was used in a lot of applications. LOTS of applications. not all of them.. shall we say, 2wd. Yes, many transfer cases are adaptable to the transmission, and many are available stock with the 4x4 tailshaft and housing. An easy swap...

I’ve already measured the front axle. it’s a solid beam with leaf suspension. Mounting points dont line up with anything, but the width is within striking distance of a standard sized GMC Kodiak 4x4 front axle... Which i have sitting on a pallet in my shop. It already has draglink steering, both the axle and the van. So a custom drag link is probably all I need to engage in this stupidity. Rear axle might well be on the chopping block too. A slight lift will happen because the axle wont drop, so spacers, or custom springs, out back are needed. As well as two custom drive shafts.

The engine is next. I can put some hotter injectors in there VERY easily, but that’s about all the engine can tolerate in its current form. MAYBE 115hp, 120ish at the cost of more smoke and lower economy. Another option is to convert he engine into a ‘Silver’ 3-53T. Turbocharging the engine with proper pistons, connecting rods, head sprayers, and bearings, as well as a new 4 valve head, can put that engine up to 140HP with a little wiggle, and complete silver engines are available for 4k if i wanted to go that route...

Solar panels, racks, etc, my usual fare, will be available. I might convert the whole truck to 24 volt to make for a very large solar power and AC system. We’ll see!

Nom De Plume > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 03:02

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Sketchy as frig and lovely all the same.  What livery will this wear, if any?

Chinny Raccoon > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 04:16

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I’m here for Van content.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 05:05

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Big yes. What will you do will all that room for activities?

PartyPooper2012 > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 06:22

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Appropriate project for the times

shop-teacher > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 08:27

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Sounds like an amazing project! I definitely want to see progress along the way!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 09:29

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The most epic 4WD front axle would be a V-drive, but I have no idea where you’d get one, and since you have the other...

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 09:57

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Seems like a crazy project and I am here for it.

Jim Spanfeller > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 10:15

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So, what mural are you going to paint on the sides?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 10:17

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Welcom e back. I love off the wall projects like this. 

bob and john > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 11:13

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thats an intresting motor. 

VincentMalamute-Kim > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 11:36

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?? “naturally aspirated, blower equipped” ??

This will be like the Escargot Project by Bad Obsessions Motorsports?

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > Nom De Plume 03/26/2020 at 12:47

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I have a few civil defense license plates from 1970, that are legal for me to use on it in my state (my bug has one) So I may do a blue and white theme, like old civil defense vehicles.

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > VincentMalamute-Kim 03/26/2020 at 12:49

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Yeah, the detroit diesel 2 stroke engines are considered NA, but they have a supercharger . Th e supercharger doesn’t really build boost in this application , it merely scavenges and allows the engine to huff out it’s exhaust. There are compound super-turbo DDs, which is what i am considering putting in. In fact, when you hear someone call a supercharger 6v53 or 8 v71, etc, it is the detroit diesel engine they are speaking of, that the style of supercharger would have gone on. These were the early sources of superchargers for hotrodders and drag-racers.

It’s not quite as big as that vehicle, but its pretty large!

Nom De Plume > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 12:50

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What is currently on the side that can’t be made out in the photos?

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' 03/26/2020 at 12:53

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Probably put in a layer of rigid foam insulation, some la uan for wall covering, a few partitions, and make it a camper-ish thing.  Upgrade the seat, add a seond one, and a hitch to tote around 4 or 5k.

Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu > Jim Spanfeller 03/26/2020 at 12:53

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A zombie invasion seems fitting.. or a giant wizard, bring back the 70s.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 12:55

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wow - TIL.  Thanks.

Jim Spanfeller > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 13:10

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Or perhaps something like this, but powered by that big two-stroke three-cylinder:

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/26/2020 at 13:30

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Ve ry cool, I can’t wait to see the updates. Good luck with it!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Kit 'Haddy' Iwamatsu 03/28/2020 at 12:56

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Ooooh, late to replying but this will be very cool!