Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club UK™

[jejoenje]

That's the plan! As soon as the rain subsides enough to have a chance to stick tape to the roof...
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[Google]

[jejoenje]

So tonight I couldn't help myself and I felt compelled to commence the grinding...

Started only lightly, on the passenger side, i.e. the "best" side. Arriving at this stage didn't take long:


In for a euro, in for a pound I suppose...


I know! Let's take the sunroof out, I'm sure that will make me feel better... oh...


ARGH! HOLE!


Never mind the massive holes above, I was kind of expecting those. This bit here, however, worries me a little more as it's going to be a right pain in the backend patching. Plus I hadn't realised there was any rot there - no wonder it seemed to be leaking from right above the rear view mirror!


Here is my progress for the night, in all its gory glory:


So my original half-baked plan was to try to patch sections of metal in but preserve most of what's there, including the sunroof, as per the post on the US forum gotbeanz linked to above... I'm now thinking I may just take out the entire sunroof and the full (approximately rectangular) section ahead of the front crystalites... I think that would be easier...
Anyway, the sunroof glass is back temporarily and all the holes have been patched with lots of duct tape, to keep the inevitable downpour out... I may have to get creative with some tarp and tent poles, soon...
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[Lewis]

Or you could just order a complete new roof from Mitsubishi and replace it.

L300 roof exceed Crystal lite roof panel:- Item 78035

The one to order would depend on your bodytype, as shown in your chassis type number.





HTH
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Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[jejoenje]

Ha - Lewis - that hadn't even occurred to me.. Might actually be an option... Although I reckon shipping could be "interesting"....  
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[Lewis]

What shipping ?

You simply order it from your local Mitsu dealers parts dept, then collect it on arrival.

It will be shipped by them from Japan to the UK in their normal parts delivery containers, so no extra charges.  :D

Having your old roof off in one go makes it easier to get all the roof glass off and transfer it to the new one after it has been welded on and sealed.
_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[andyman]

Now might be a good time to think about whether you want to do a proper high roof or pop-top camper conversion. An electric 'nibbler' is a less messy way of cutting long distances in steel sheet, it will take your lid off like a can opener.
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[jejoenje]

Yes that's one of the options I've been mulling over. However, I think I've more or less decided I want to keep the crystalites more than I want a pop-top roof. Plus I wouldn't really be able to afford one, right now anyway...
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[johnnyc]

I'm interested to know how much a whole new roof would cos!

[Lewis]

Mitsubishi MB835196 Crystal lite Roof Panel US$ 1,238.49

Supplied by Amayama:- https://www.amayama.com/en/search?q=MB506768

HTH
_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[jejoenje]

Thanks Lewis. I think for that sort of money I might sooner consider getting the whole thing professionally welded. I think that would be cheaper!

I'm opting for the "try to patch it and see how quickly it starts leaking again" first. I'm going for panel bond which I'm currently testing (seems rock solid!), and I'm awaiting some sections of sheet metal. Wish me luck!

Incidentally, does any one know what PNC# 78366, i.e. MB506775 refers to? I think it's the roof brace that sits below the skin, just in front of the front crystalites? But on the parts diagrams I can find online it is drawn at the front of the roof, not where I think it should be?
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[Lewis]

Correct.

It is the front supporting roof rail and common to all the Roofs, not just the sunroof options. The rear one is item no 78367 in the diagram.

The extra braces are for the LWB roof.


_________________


Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[jejoenje]

Been pressing ahead, both with removing the inside of the lining as well as the top.

All empty now:


Sadly, lots more rust appeared towards the back  :?


Really bad bit, interestingly, just above where the four relays for the Crystalite blinds motors are attached:


A slight touch of the grinder and wire brush poked some more holes within seconds:

This is only just behind from the sunroof and the first cross brace, so lots more to do.

Prepped for surgery... bit scared now... not sure when I'll work up the courage yet...    

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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[Deker]

Just to let you know -

You're not alone with red disease problems  

Wonder if the nice moderators could start a new thread = Rust and how to repair it. L 300 & L400.
Or a thread for each model.

Mr D

[Lewis]

There are more than 236,907 posts on this website.

How many days do you think it would take a Moderator to read through them to find the ones about rust and split them off into a new section ?  Whilst ensuring any links to those posts and ensure they are redirected to the new one.
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Copyright is retained for all my photos. Please don't copy them without asking permission
Do not blindly go where the path may lead you. Go where there is no path and leave a trail that others may follow!
ルイス

[andyman]

Just put "L300 rust" or "L400 rust" in the subject box before posting on the topic. Then anyone searching for info on the subject wiill find it. Or people can add to existing threads, like this one or Mouseflakes'.
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Andy C L300 Super Exceed - over 100 smiles per gallon!

[jejoenje]

[jejoenje]

Just finished a bit of an epic afternoon/evening - just decided to plough ahead... what's the worst that can happen!

Choppy chop:


I think from now on she shall be known as Frankenselma:



The latter photo long before I was finally finished, and before I started throwing panel bond epoxy around... sadly it looks a whole lot more ugly now  

Guess I'll have lots of sanding to do, and some filling. And some painting...

Anyway - more soon. Was racing all evening to beat the darkness and the impending rain, so not so many photos latterly. Plus I am not sure how proud I am of the result yet...  
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1992 L300 Exceed "Selma"

[mouseflakes]

Well done Sir! Proving there's more than one way to (re)skin a (Deli)cat. It's a big undertaking, but given the state of your roof, doing nothing wasn't really an option (as I found with mine). It'll all be worth it - it's quite a nice feeling to know all the rain is staying on the outside.
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1992 L300 Super Exceed

[gotbeanz]

That's looking sweet jejoenje, its going to look really good and keep the rain out.

[jejoenje]

Thanks both!