Four on the tree! Legendary configuration…
You may be able to get the Ambo from Dollar Bill.
I’ve seen a couple HiAces with the 5-speed column shift.
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TJ, any updated pics of the new van ?
Nothing too exciting yet. I made rubber floor mats for it so I don’t destroy the soft comfy carpet.
Currently reworking the kart rack from the last van to work in this one. Also want to get a hitch and carrier installed and a roof rack eventually too.
Should be ready for a shakedown trip to the track within the next week or so!
Roof rack installed. Now I need a ladder to get up there easier, and then I need to figure out what actually should go in the rack…? Tires for sure, but not sure what else. Ideas? I could put almost anything up there but what am I willing to risk getting destroyed in weather or when the cheap rack decides to eject itself on the freeway?
Also got the rack reconfigured to fit this van. With the 3rd row seats removed, there are two channels down into the floor that the rack sits perfectly in, and then I just use the mounting points for the seat rails to bolt the rack directly into the van. Pretty slick. So like before, my folding tables will sit on top of the rack as a platform, and the kart on top of the tables.
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Lawn chairs, roof tent, stepladder with seat for supreme track views, Satellite, grill, KC lights, Christmas lights, solar panel, tarp
Hopefully something there sparks interest
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Trophies. Lots of them.
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I think ladder is next, so I can reach the damn roof rack, and to have a nice viewing space. Tarp and lights is a good call.
I did a test fit today with the kart, tables, crates, and kart stand. Snug as bug in a rug. The kart is about 2" too long to fit with the middle row seats facing forward, which is kind of a bummer. But if I really wanted to, I could take the front bumper hoop off and that would get me enough space to get it in there with the seats forward. In the event I have to transport the kart and 2 other people, I will do that. Otherwise with the seats facing backwards, it fits great and you still have a little room to rest your feet. The seats have dedicated lap belts for rear-facing passengers, so you could ride there if you wanted to, and risk catching a full go-kart to the face in the event of an accident. Minor detail.
Stand fits perfect under the tables, and I can fit 3-4 milk crates across the back. I plan on building a little rack with PVC tubes/caps to house axles off the roof rack, doing an awning off the other side for quick and easy shade, and installing a hitch and hitch carrier to store stuff off the back bumper too. This thing is going to be a mule.
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Nice airbag for the rear seats…
If the bumper is pushed in it means 30gs have been registered and the passengers should be taken to the hospital.
@tjkoyen is at the forefront of safety
How bada** would KC lights be?
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Very. But also expensive and not really useful to me. But I do plan on getting some LED lights for the rack so we have some work/beer drinking lights at the end of the day.
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I like this thread, JDM stuff is super kewl! You just don’t see things of that quality anymore.
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I’m truly impressed with how well this van is built. It does only have 53,000 kms on it, but still it’s almost 30 years old. Barely a creak or rattle. We had it up on the lift the other day and even my dad who is a die-hard American truck guy was like “damn, this thing is built nice”.
We are working on a hitch. I think that’ll be next week’s project. I’ll be at the track again Friday, and maybe I’ll bring the kart this time since I only have a half day of coaching. We’ve got it sorted enough that it could easily go into service as a track rig now.
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Awning installed. I plan on coupling this with a 10x10 EZ-up if I need more shade.
Also reconfigured the roof rack size and placement to access it from the moonroof easily.
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Ohhooo someone found the GIF button
Cross-posted from the weekly video thread…
Probably a nice little book-end on the build-out. Not much left to do but tidy up things, paint the rack, and use it! I’ll continue to share fun pics and videos of the van’s adventures as they happen.
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I’m back in Ireland for a couple of weeks and snapped this for you since I don’t think we get them in the US.
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I thought I was a weirdo for doing this, but I was told that basically all karters in Japan build out their HiAces almost the same way I have to transport their stuff:
And when I was going through these photos, I saw this and thought “no f*****g way…”:
But apparently yeah, you can fit a WHOLE ASS LEGENDS CAR in the back of a HiAce… Insanity. The rear springs on this van must be pretty hefty. Edit: I just translated and read the blog… Turns out they spent about $300 on the jacks and stuff to make it work and the springs are just totally bottomed out here and the van is barely drivable so they were going to install air ride on the rear.
Link for pics: http://autofactory.jp/tpb/topv.php?mode=s&seq=532
What. That’s a sprint car. In a car.
