Sprinter 4x4 Trail Run

[HINO SG]

The more interesting question is whether to convert a 2002-2006 5-cylinder or a 2007-on V-6. The two trucks are really quite different in everything from styling to cabin design and I don't think there's any consensus yet on which is "better."

I've been on the Sprinter mailing list for quite some time, actually. I agree that the newer generation may not nessecarily be "better" for a lot of people.

So Upscale is willing to convert pretty much any vehicle, within reason?

What about the cab/chassis/dual rear wheel?

Sorry, I know you don't work for the company, just questions I thought might be of general interest.

 

[Michael Slade]

What's the line and availability on just the engine/tranny/computer?

Seems like the 5-cylinder might be a good option for a diesel conversion (that is if the engine is not the same front oil-pump design as the 5-cyl diesels in the Mercedes sedans/wagons).

Still wondering about a Merc. diesel in the RRC and/or the CrewCab.

 

[kerry]

I've owned a couple of pre-Sprinter MB vans, one was converted to a Class A motorhome (1985 307d) and the other a van conversion (1985 409d). None of the early vans seemed very resistant to rust. I've seen one that spent time in the Northeast that was a complete rust bucket. Are the newer Sprinters more resistant to corrosion than the earlier vans?

 

[kerry]

What's the line and availability on just the engine/tranny/computer?

Seems like the 5-cylinder might be a good option for a diesel conversion (that is if the engine is not the same front oil-pump design as the 5-cyl diesels in the Mercedes sedans/wagons).

Still wondering about a Merc. diesel in the RRC and/or the CrewCab.

I've seen a few of the engines for sale on Ebay.

 

[mhiscox]

So Upscale is willing to convert pretty much any vehicle, within reason? What about the cab/chassis/dual rear wheel? Sorry, I know you don't work for the company, just questions I thought might be of general interest.

I don't mind answering when I know the answers, which I often do because I've been trying for years to keep Upscale interested in figuring out some sort of conversion for my own van and so John's kept me in the loop about this.

Apparently, any Sprinter will be a candidate for the conversion, assuming everything works as expected when they convert the newer NV3 series in a month or two. I specifically asked about the cab-and-chassis units, because I was thinking that my composite shell on a Sprinter cab-and-chassis would be a very cool rig, and John said no problem. And there's nothing about the DRW configuration that should make any difference, I don't believe.

 

[mhiscox]

I've owned a couple of pre-Sprinter MB vans, one was converted to a Class A motorhome (1985 307d) and the other a van conversion (1985 409d). None of the early vans seemed very resistant to rust. I've seen one that spent time in the Northeast that was a complete rust bucket. Are the newer Sprinters more resistant to corrosion than the earlier vans?

Wow, a 307d and a 409d. Extremely cool, but I do know from the Unimog guy who supplies my parts and has had several of these vans that that they are among the worst for rusting even compared to other MBz cars and trucks of that period, which were themselves certainly no model of integrity.

Strangely enough, a couple of years ago, I created the web survey we used on the sprintervan forum to investigate the extent to which rust was an issue and to help support warranty claims members wanted to make. At that time, the rust issues were substantially more common than you'd suspect for a modern vehicle, but even then, there wasn't much reporting of big-time, all-over-the-truck rust, so the complete rust bucket one you refer to wouldn't be the norm. However, lots of people did have small areas of rust in places like around hinges, mirrors, window frames, etc. and also it didn't seem like to took much damage to the paint for the rust to get through.

My guess is that the situation is much improved now, given that rust is not a common topic on the sprinter lists as it was a two-three years ago. And my own van, a 2005, doesn't have rust except in a couple of small places where I can account for it from paint damage due to attaching rook racks and similar stuff.

 

[mhiscox]

Still wondering about a Merc. diesel in the RRC and/or the CrewCab.

Well, if anyone can manage it, it'd likely be you, Michael, but I've got my doubts about any of the NAFTA engines proving to be workable because of the computer issues.

The problem is that the engine computer is also tied in to the computers that control the braking system, the traction control, the transmission shift points, and even (infamously) communication with the transponder in the ignition key that lets the vehicle start. Personally, I think it'd be quite a feat to keep the Sprinter engine happy if it wasn't connected to all the other Sprinter running gear, as the ECU needs to have positive reports about things all over the truck, down to things like acceptable tire diameters.

Come to think of it--and I don't know that it's a fact, but I'd be willing to bet on it--I'm guessing one major reason that we didn't have Sprinter 4x4 options until this Sportsvans top-to-bottom conversion came along was due to the difficulty of keeping the engine happy with different running gear. I'm certain that someone can (or did) figure out how to make the engine computer happy with Ford axles, but I'll bet it wasn't easy.

Of course, this situation isn't much different than if I tried to put a new computer-controlled CAT diesel into my Unimog . . . which got me nothing but laughter when I once brought it up. Apparently, the engines need their computers to run and the computers need a whole bunch of acceptable inputs from all over the truck, making engine swaps across manufacturers real doubtful.

Just my $0.02, though, and I'm an known wuss about such things, so maybe with a little courage and patience . . . ?

 

[Motobueno]

Other uses for the MB motor

Just A note about motor swaps.It could be said "Too much time on hand"This man dosen't give up!He put a T1N 5cyl into a Tacoma!!
My kind of guy-If it ain't broke,Lets upgrade.
Hats off to him!

http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3275&highlight=toyota

I will post up my impressions of my T1N 4x4 conversion later this week.:victory:

 

[adventureduo]

Just A note about motor swaps.It could be said "Too much time on hand"This man dosen't give up!He put a T1N 5cyl into a Tacoma!!
My kind of guy-If it ain't broke,Lets upgrade.
Hats off to him!

http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3275&highlight=toyota

I will post up my impressions of my T1N 4x4 conversion latter this week.:victory:

Wholy smokes, thats awesome. :drool:

 

[herby]

Sportsvans Sprinter 4x4

Wholy smokes, thats awesome. :drool:

well thats just the top of the iceberg!
i do sprinter 4x4 every day and you don'd know what the Sprinter 4x4 can do.
i wish i would have been there to show you!
frank

 

[4Rescue]

Just A note about motor swaps.It could be said "Too much time on hand"This man dosen't give up!He put a T1N 5cyl into a Tacoma!!
My kind of guy-If it ain't broke,Lets upgrade.
Hats off to him!

http://www.sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3275&highlight=toyota

I will post up my impressions of my T1N 4x4 conversion later this week.:victory:

Yeah, but no 4x4 is a bummer. Still kind of neat.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Motobueno]

Impresions

First off the build.I was really impressed with the quality of the components!This is a BOLT on operation.NO fabrication at all!Not simple to do but still it all(OEM) bolts on.Seems that the electrics are where the sorting out is at this point.NAFTA But I'm not too concerned at this point.I am in good hands with John(Upscale)and Frank(Sportsvans)It is clear that they know these vans!:imagesCADZQMBJ:
The van drives great!Not that much diff than before.It does feel a little taller (3"lift) but it still handles great.I haven't had a chance to go offroad after the Oregon dunes and hope to get it out to Holister hills this week for some more offroad experiance.
Fuel mileage. This is where I need some help.The spedo as stock was off by the usual 3 mph and my scan was right on the money.Now the spedo is exact and the scan is low by about 3mph. The TOYO m/t's are about 1.5" taller.So now my odometer must be off.I go farther but show less miles.I haven't been able to figure fuel mileage acuratly.With things being off I am getting much lower mpg readings.Anybody got the formula for the corrections so the I can report back what I am actually getting?(I know it's got to be better than what I am comming up with:smiley_drive
Thanks for any help with this.
Tom

 

[byron]

the rig

hey, i tried to contact you or the person who put your rig together a couple of weeks ago. i am in SB calif. and am wondering about the process of aquiring a similar set up for a sprinter. Price, availability, and who would do it? the pics are great and by your explaination it seems to handle the trails good. I have had a number of syncro vans and trucks and i would love to have the same availabilty to the back country with the sprinter.
thanks for your response. Byron Beck

 

[mhiscox]

hey, i tried to contact you or the person who put your rig together a couple of weeks ago. i am in SB calif. and am wondering about the process of aquiring a similar set up for a sprinter. Price, availability, and who would do it? the pics are great and by your explaination it seems to handle the trails good. I have had a number of syncro vans and trucks and i would love to have the same availabilty to the back country with the sprinter.
thanks for your response. Byron Beck

Hi, Byron. Good to see your enthusiasm. I think the people who've been most interested in my Sprinter camper have been those with Westies and other VW van conversions. Having spent time in both, the Sprinter's extra room and all-solid sides is a big plus.

You can proactively contact John Bendit at Upscale Automotive at this phone/address:

www.upscaleauto.com

19460 SW 89th Ave
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503) 692-0846

John's a great guy who's done a lot for the Sprinter Community since they started being imported, and this 4WD conversions is quite an accomplishment. I'm sure he'd be eager to talk with you for as long as you'd like. For that matter, tell him I sent you.

 

[mhiscox]

Fuel mileage. This is where I need some help.The spedo as stock was off by the usual 3 mph and my scan was right on the money.Now the spedo is exact and the scan is low by about 3mph. The TOYO m/t's are about 1.5" taller.So now my odometer must be off.I go farther but show less miles.I haven't been able to figure fuel mileage acuratly.With things being off I am getting much lower mpg readings.Anybody got the formula for the corrections so the I can report back what I am actually getting?(I know it's got to be better than what I am comming up with:smiley_drive
Thanks for any help with this.
Tom

Hey, Buddy; thanks for the update.

Your odometer is almost certainly off. The best thing is if you can get your hands on a GPS that can keep track of distances, as most can. (At the very least, you can put in a dummy destination and watch the "miles to destination" count down.) Or just drive the freeway and use the mile markers.

Anyway, note your odometer reading and then drive ten or twenty miles. At the end of the drive, divide the odometer change (probably something like 21 miles) by the actual distance (say, 20 miles). You get a number like 1.05.

Whenever you need an accurate mileage, like to figure your fuel economy, multiply the odo miles by 1.05. Say your odometer says you went 400 miles on a tank of fuel. Multiply by 1.05 and see that you really went 420 miles, which you then use for the fuel economy calculation. If for example, you used 20 gallons, you really got 420/20 = 21 mpg, rather than the 400/20 = 20 mpg you'd have thought. (Also, realize that your maintenance has to be done sooner than the odometer would indicate; 10,000 actual miles will come up in only 9500 odo miles.)

I used the 5% correction factor as an example because that's what I noticed on my van with the 30.7 inch Bridgestone AT's. Speed was originally 5% high at cruising speeds; it's now accurate speedwise, but the odo reads 5% lower than actual and fuel economy is about 5% better than what would be indicated from calculations with the uncorrected odo reading.