Daihatsu Hijet Van/ Goldwing GL1800 Engine

Mkguyvr wrote: In reply to clutchsmoke: The stick shifter in the van is cable shift on the forward and back axis as well as the side to side. I removed the side to side cable and I am going to find an angle i like and weld it into place so that it only shifts forward and back. The cable wont quite reach the area i need it to so I will fab up the original shifter with the aluminum foot lever on a cross member and integrate the cable to a pivot bracket to a piece of pencil rod to the shift linkage. Shift forward for down shift and backwards for up shift.

Looks great, thanks for sending me the link! I have had good success using boat control cables for projects like this. They come in a wide variety of lengths and styles and are readily available.

The shifter cable is very much like a boat cable except that one end has already been engineered to the stick for me.... All that needs to be done is to mate it to a straight steel linkage using its original bracket. If it ever fails in the future due to wear i can just do a boat cable at that time.Thanks for the tip!

I finished the engine mounts last night, now I can focus on the easy stuff.

I got the fuel system completed today, ran the extended wire harness up to the dash to the gauge cluster, plumbed the coolant lines, mounted the clutch master and ran the hydraulic line to the engine. Whats left to do.... finish the exhaust, wire up the fuel pump to the Goldwing harness, wire the fuel sending unit, mount the key switch, build a switch plate for the on/off start and reverse switches, fabricate the shift linkage, clean up the electrical harness under the van, bleed the clutch, fill with coolant, probably forgetting a couple things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfcfXL4kL9Q

Got the Clutch master bled, now I am working on the linkage for the shifter now. Will look something like this, add some mounting plate in there though. Im using the original foot shifter just with the toe part cut off, its already been a proven system, im just making the dog bone longer and mounting my cable to it.

Its looking good!

Awesome. What a cool project.

Finished the shifter linkage tonight, should be able to test drive it this weekend after a little bit of cleanup work.

http://youtu.be/WxVhKaunxAw

Test drove the van yesterday....first impressions...WOW! This thing moves... Teaser vid of me in the driveway doing a quick launch to see if anything was going to break, rather break it in the driveway. This little guy flies. Still have some bugs to work out, I think there is air in the coolant system due to the layout of tubes and such, also I need a new radiator cap to rule that out as a problem.

https://youtu.be/NoN85HeWyGk

Little launch marks..lol

Ok so I need some advice, I need an axle for the van, the gearing in the original axle isnt going to work, its ways to low. I need something in the 2.93 to a little taller to fix the issue. The Goldwings run a 2.93 but run a little taller tire than my van. I have 53 inches of clearance inside the fenders, im thinking a narrowed 9 or? Anyone have any affordable suggestions. If I cant find something close to the size i have now I will have to cut and tub the rear, 4 link and fuel cell it, I dont really want to go through all of that if i can help it, I like the sleeper look. Thanks for any ideas.One of these would fit the bill but im pretty sure they are pricey.Its the Goldwing trike kit rear end.

If you are willing to go with a trailing arm system, the E30 325e came in a super low final. Something like 2.7ish. They also have a bolt in sub frame (if memory serves) and should be reasonable easy to source and cheap!

Might check junkyards. Not sure car or bike though. I know of several Goldwing trikes that ended up in a junkyard after an accident.

(caveat-several years ago and different area than I'm in now)

In reply to singleslammer: Thats BMW right? I think you are right they have an independent rear with a 2.73 if i remember right. Thanks

In reply to wlkelley3: Thats a good idea, i will do a search. Thanks

singleslammer wrote: If you are willing to go with a trailing arm system, the E30 325e came in a super low final. Something like 2.7ish. They also have a bolt in sub frame (if memory serves) and should be reasonable easy to source and cheap!

I was thinking this as well. E28 (80's BMW five series) 528e's are the same rear w/ different cover, slightly higher rear end (might be a 2.9), and slightly different rear traling arm setup. Be worth checking out.

In reply to bluej: I will add that to my list to research, thank you.

Doing some research on those BMW rear ends, the problem i will have with them is the width, i can only have a 53 outside to outside (tires) width.

Saw one of these in the wild for the first time last week-end. Hilarious size compared to everything else on the road.

Brainstorming: Toyota Starlet rear is narrow, geared high, and unwanted-You could have mine, but it is bent. However, I agree, an IRS rearend would be way better.

LOVE the Build!

Mkguyvr wrote: Doing some research on those BMW rear ends, the problem i will have with them is the width, i can only have a 53 outside to outside (tires) width.

Yeah, wasn't sure what the e30 width is offhand. Shouldn't be super wide, though. The axles bolt to the diff stubs so you could run adapters for whatever axle/CV if you wanted to fab up/adapt a different IRS.

In reply to NOHOME: Yeah most people dont realize just how small these are until they see then up close. Then imagine it blowing by on the road....

In reply to bluej: Think I have a direction, I just inherited a ford 8.8 (99 F150)from my mail man and had a buddy offer me another one for $100 with disc brakes from a 70s-80s Lincoln Versallis. Parts are supposed to be plentyful and the Lincoln rear only came with 4 ratios from 2.60 to 3.00 so It should be in the ballpark, just have to narrow/respline.

Guy, the Dana 44 in my V8 Daihatsu Hijet with Suzuki Vitara wheels measures 52" from the outside of each tire. The axle is out of a postal jeep and you will have to narrow one side of it, but it is simple and can be done in your garage.
I made a detailed video of the process. I will send you the link if you want it. The rear ends are cheap, fairly plentiful and very strong. Mine has a 3.07 ratio which is probably as tall as you will find in one of these jeeps, but i believe that the aftermarket supplies as tall as 2.87 for this housing. Most have limited slip as a bonus! The axle comes with a somewhat wide jeep/ford truck 5 bolt pattern, but according to an article that I read on the britishv8.org site, you can alter the bolt pattern to an MG style 4 lug. They also have a nice article on their site about this axle.

In reply to Ben_Modified: Hey Ben, you know I remember watching that video and when this came up it was the first thing I thought of. I just didnt know that there were alternatives for the lug patterns on that axle. I believe you are in south eastern Ga. ,do you know anywhere I can locate one of those axles? Im in south eastern Fl. I did a few searches but not to much luck. Thanks.