Car mods

install a 4.2lt diesel with a 4inch exaust

I owned a 89 and a 96 model hilux same engine as yours. Fit extractors and learn to drive it with economy in mind. Between the 2 i owned, i did just over 1milion kms with no engine problems. Just change the oil every 5000km oil filter every 10000km and fuel filter every 20000 k's. I used to get around 10-11L/100km.
Remember its no power house, so don't try to make it one and it will last awhile.

Cam
Your car is a very serious off road work vehicle and you would not believe where it will take you in standard form providing you learn to drive it properly. It is not a sports car and never will be no matter what you do to it. If that is what you want then Toyota will be happy to sell you something that will frighten the life out of you whenever you put your foot down.

Start by enrolling in a good 4wd driver training course. Don't try and learn from your mates by playing in a mud hole each weekend.

I have heard people say this is one of the best training course but there will be others like it in other parts of the country.

You can carry out all kinds of alterations and end up with it sitting way up in the air on massive wheels but never forget these changes will have a detrimental effect on the way the car handles on the street and if you push it along too fast, you may not find out what your handiwork has done until it is too late.

Be careful of what you read in 4wd magazines. All they are doing is trying to sell their sponsors products regardless of whether they are needed or not.

My own non turbo diesel Hilux single cab has standard suspension and stock size 205 x 16 tyres but I have driven it over dozens of Victorian High Country tracks and many unsealed desert roads and tracks that include what is left of the Gunbarrell Hwy and similar roads.

G'day Cam,
I had a 1989 2.8lt fourunner (first full steel body one), and in 2001 on a trip to the Kimberly, fully loaded and a slight headwind I never used 5th gear and on long slow climbs down to 3rd, and this was on the highway!!

When we got back and with 410,000kms on the clock I put a DTS turbo and a 3" exhaust with straight thru muffler on it and a very good tune, well it was like chalk and cheese.

Never worried about a hill again. In 2003 I put in a rear Lokka. I give her a 2" body lift and a 1-1/2" suspension lift and bought an Aussie Swag camper and towed it up the OLTT to the Cape and across the Frenchmans track to Portland Road without any trouble at all.

We sold her in 2005 with 515,000kms on the clock and as far as I know she is still going strong.
Economy doesn't get much better because you tend to drive them a bit harder.

Fitted out for touring and you have a reasonably capable vehicle.

Safe Travels Jim Bob.

hi

Larger diameter tyres on these make for a very slow vehicle .
The strain on the engine is noticeable .
Of course u then fit a safari turbo kit goes well but engine does not last.
TO MUCH LOAD
This overloading happened twice .
The tell tale signs is when the compression gets past the rings and causes oil leaks every where .
I don't no the boost pressure of this kit but at a guess probably 5-8psi .
I would not set up an engine like this unless it was built for it
Max for aftermarket around 3-4 psi .

It would be better to transplant a factory 3.0 ltr turbo hilux engine .

Extractors on a std naturally aspirated engine is the go .
Just make sure the cooling system is in excellent condition , they will crack heads easily .
good water pump
good viscous hub and fan blades not cracked or fatigued
flushed block
radiator removed and rodded out at rad shop
All hoses and thermostat replaced

check harmonic balancer key way

swampy

I know a few people putting the commodore v6 in and made a awesome tourer out of it.
good on fuel and plenty of power, engines are cheap cheap

There is a certain element in the 4wd community that are focused on modifying vehicles .... they just want to modify vehicles ..... yeh OK.

However ..... one of the biggest advantages of hiluxes is .... they are cheap reliable motoring.
They are also rediculously reliable.
In addition the parts are thick on the ground and cheap enough.
Start modifying them too much and you piss that away.

So this 94 diesel ...... it would have cost you a few grand ........ how much money is it wise to throw at it.

If you put a new shocks, 2 inch lift and 31's on it ....... it's a happy thing ...... no problem with the regulators and very little ill effect on the vehicle performance or handling.

Before looking at any more mods than above think about the coast and if you would be better off selling it and buying something else.

cheers