Ralivan

[Team Illuminata]

Hi, Thought I'd start a thread about our new tow and delivery vehicle.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/myPlate.gif


http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/img337.jpg

We plan to use it to tow our race cars to events and move tires and wheels around for our parts business. First thing we did was throw some of our wheels on it.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/IMG_0716med.jpg

They are 15x7 BRAID Winrace Acropolis rally wheels and are super-strong. We mounted some Yokohama A/T tires in 235/75-15 and are rather pleased with the result. We also mounted up a pair of PIAA driving lights as no self-respecting RALIVAN would be seen dead without some extra lighting.

http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/IMG_0698med.jpg


and of course lots of stickers:

http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/IMG_0076med.jpg


This is one of the cars it will be towing:

http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/IMG_0238med.jpg


Of course we plan a few more modifications but nothing too radical. Just a bit of RALLY-BLING. Mud flaps are a must and we might add a couple more lights to the front. We ordered a Mercedes grill too as the Dodge one is falling off. We are also planning on replacing the dampers with Bilsteins or KONIs and maybe a K&N air filter as well as more stickers.

Although only a 2005 it already has 250,000 miles on it so we won't be flogging it very hard even though it runs great. Already suffering from Sprinter cancer but only surface stuff, mostly around the windshield and right in the middle of some of the body panels. Have to take care of that soon. It needs a windshield anyway so popping this one out and painting the surround will have to be coordinated.

I love driving this thing and am looking forward to many happy miles, some more mods and conversing with fellow Sprinter owners on this forum. BTW you can see bigger versions of the pictures here: http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/ralivan.htm (http://www.teamilluminata.com./cars/Harvey/ralivan.htm)

If you have any suggestions or questions let me know. http://www.detroit-scca.org/e107/e107_images/emotes/det_scca/icon_smile.gif

[Team Illuminata]

Now the van is officially the Michigan RALIVAN

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0762.JPG

Also got a Mercedes grill today:

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0758.JPG

Had to peel off the hood mounted chrome strip after bolting it in place. Left a terrible mess of goop that took half a can of Goop Off and a gallon of elbow gease to remove.

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0764.JPG

but worth it

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0767.JPG

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0765.JPG

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0766.JPG

OK, needs a chrome Mercedes star and apparantly theres a trim that goes round it too.

[Team Illuminata]

A bit more Mercedes bling arrived over the weekend:

http://teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0768.JPG

[rollo]

Cool!

Needs an action shot.. maybe a water splash? :D

[Team Illuminata]

Cool!

Needs an action shot.. maybe a water splash? :D


I'll work on it. :lol2:

[I Like It Sideways]

This thing is BA!! I love it!

[Team Illuminata]

Got the rest of the Mercedes grill parts last week and slapped them on.

http://www.teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0794.JPG

Had to paint the grill surround flat black but the chrome star came already chromed! I think it looks rather nice :)

http://www.teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0795.JPG

Next day I rented a trailer from U-Drag and loaded up the race car for a RallyCross 2.5 hours away.

http://www.teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0796.JPG

The RALIVAN did very well and had no problem pulling the car and trailer at 65-70 mph. At 70mph the temperature was slightly elevated from 65mph but not too high at all.

http://www.teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0797.JPG
http://www.teamilluminata.com/cars/Harvey/IMG_0798.JPG

It struggled a bit more on the way back however. Not sure why but we towed a different car back and there was a rather large headwind. With the cruise on it would drop from 70mph to 65mph on some of the drags. Once we got half way home (and the wind died down a bit) it was business as usual.
Generally I was very satisfied with the way it towed and it was great to have the van at the race instead of unloading everything from the race car after driving it there on rally tires! I think it's time to buy a trailer.

For those who are interested in these things for the 300 mile round trip it got 17.5 mpg. Not bad I think.

[Team Illuminata]

I think we need to catch up with our RALIVAN updates. Got a bit behind.
During the winter months we installed a ProClip iPhone mount in the cab:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575770_10150675215510773_307937410772_9946068_1828 176999_n.jpg
No, this is not for phone use, I'm not that good a driver that I can talk and drive at the same time. This is so I can use the iPhone's navigation app, play my tunes through the stereo via the USB input and use the OBD2 diagnostic and gauge app. I bought. It also locates the iPhone's camera in a perfect spot for on-track in-van video should the need arise.

We also replaced the OE mud flaps with some bright red polyurathane rally mud flaps from Rally Armor, one of the lines we carry, because, well, it's the RALIVAN!
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/458428_10150675223250773_307937410772_9946078_2422 75987_o.jpg

The OE holes allowed us to fab up some Rally-bling type brackets too:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529820_10150675226265773_307937410772_9946081_2046 671391_n.jpg

Surprisingly (or not) Rally Armor don't make fitment specific mud flaps for the Sprinter so we used their universal model which comes without pre-cut holes or hardware. This allowed us to cut holes that lined up with the original mud flaps's holes and use the original screws with big fender washers where necessary.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/464050_10150675228455773_307937410772_9946083_6834 7336_o.jpg

A piece of copper pipe makes a great spacer to reach the original mounting bracket.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/552927_10150675230755773_307937410772_9946084_1919 293942_n.jpg

So then we were ready for all the snow and slush Mother Nature forgot to bring us this winter. Still, it looks RALLY.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534897_10150675235185773_307937410772_9946103_1742 860922_n.jpg

While we had the wheels off we checked the brakes and discovered it was time for new rear pads:
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/398839_10150675238820773_307937410772_9946111_5807 85977_n.jpg

Uh. ho! this don't look right:
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/467634_10150675242530773_307937410772_9946122_3454 55690_o.jpg

That's more like it:
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/412017_10150675240870773_307937410772_9946118_2116 149369_o.jpg

[Team Illuminata]

More updates:
I decided, as they were leaking oil, it might be an idea to replace the dampers. First had to find the top bolts. Oh, here they are, under the driver's plastic carpet and in the tool shed on the passenger side.
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557856_2148903418672_1728951275_1058405_249869644_ n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562461_2148888818307_1728951275_1058390_882807278_ n.jpg
Went with regular duty Bilsteins. Can you tell which is new?
Fronts
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/574610_2148905898734_1728951275_1058406_1668331328 _n.jpg
Rears
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/485735_2148910538850_1728951275_1058409_587674525_ n.jpg

And installed
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/577331_2148909018812_1728951275_1058408_1578799945 _n.jpg
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/292228_2148912858908_1728951275_1058411_941164684_ n.jpg

I had to buy a whole set of spanners just to get one that would fit down onto the front strut nuts. Still, $15 isn't bad for a whole set of spanners. Thanks harbor freight.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/574462_2148930979361_1728951275_1058422_1604610747 _n.jpg

One of the easier damper swaps I have done and worth doing as the RALIVAN rides much better now.
I also replaced the front speaker as the right one was blown. Looks like this is going to be at least the second set of replacements. Can't believe this is OE.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/301805_2148920979111_1728951275_1058416_652053844_ n.jpg

Strangely I had to remove the A pillar trim to get at the speakers.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/401666_2148916418997_1728951275_1058414_1676025281 _n.jpg

Walmart specials. $35!
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560317_2148924299194_1728951275_1058418_1192521679 _n.jpg

With a few "adjustments they plop right in.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/526219_2148928659303_1728951275_1058420_1268929001 _n.jpg
They don't sound too brilliant but at least they work.