Buying a Hilux - Need some help and info on purchasing one!

[CHUUBZ]

Hey guys,

I'm selling up my SS ute and wanting to buy a Hilux ute now as i'm going on a small trip around NSW/VIC early next year and need some of the guru's help on which one to select, as in year etc.

I'd wanna spend around the $15,000 mark, has to be dual cab and diesel, turbo if possible (wondering weather all the Diesel Turbo's are factor released T.D. or Just bolt on Turbo's?)

Also looking at a big lift and some 15 x 35's x 12.5 Baja Claws that I have already from my old GQ Shorty so wondering which year and suspension set up is easiest to get it jacked up as I heard the Hilux's have 2 different suspension set ups?

So yeah wondering if I could get a bit of help as to which year hilux to get with which suspension set up and where would be the cheapest place to get it jacked up and yeah any info really would be great.

Cheers,
Maciek

[ferrit]

pre- mid 1997 will get you the easy to lift solid axle suspension, but then your stuck with the 2.8D

Post 2000 will get you the factory 3.0TD motor, but IFS which is a lot harder to lift.

THen you get rarities like my lux- Solid axle with the 3.0TD motor, but these are custom jobs and there would probably be less than 20 of them australia wide.

the 2.8D isnt a BAD motor, just dont expect to do anything in a hurry with it!

[CHUUBZ]

How much more power do the 3.0D and 3.0TD have over the 2.8D ?

Also wondering what kind of economy i will be getting with each of those motors and I called up a Suspension place (Wombat Offroad in Ringwood) and they told me that the Live Axel is 3" for $1800 and the IFS is 4" for $1800 aswell and 2" Body Lift is $850 and 3" Body lift is $1400.... this sound about right?

Also they told me that a lux rolling on 35's will be an absolute Cookie to drive unless i change diff ratios so wondering weather this is true or the standard diff ratio's with the 35's will be okay? remembering that im goin around Aus next year so ALOT of HWY driving aswell as inland/bush etc

Cheers.
Maciek

[m0rkz]

i have a 1995 hilux 2.8D with a sus lift and B/L. runs 35's with 4.56 diffs. car is fine going down hill or on a flat. come to a hill drop your gear and get as much speed as possible. got as low as 70kms on the freeway on sunday.

[CHUUBZ]

what do you mean you only got 70kms on the freeway?

[some_guy]

speed

we've got a 2.8 non turbo on 34's with 4.33's, on a slight hill on the freeway or with a headwind and we can be down to 60k's

[Gibbon TSAM]

just picked up a 2001 3.0D dual cab 190000 on the clock for $12000 and for its first highway run it used 8L/100km, not sure f thats goo but I am happy with it. The motor seems to have enough get up and go for I need as well.

So I guess my point is if your patient you can get good car for a good price, but I'm sure everyone knows that already

[+dj_hansen+]

How much more power do the 3.0D and 3.0TD have over the 2.8D ?

Also wondering what kind of economy i will be getting with each of those motors and I called up a Suspension place (Wombat Offroad in Ringwood) and they told me that the Live Axel is 3" for $1800 and the IFS is 4" for $1800 aswell and 2" Body Lift is $850 and 3" Body lift is $1400.... this sound about right?

Also they told me that a lux rolling on 35's will be an absolute . to drive unless i change diff ratios so wondering weather this is true or the standard diff ratio's with the 35's will be okay? remembering that im goin around Aus next year so ALOT of HWY driving aswell as inland/bush etc

Cheers.
Maciek

To run 35's you would need as a min 2"suspension lift and 2"body lift, combined with guard massaging, possibly some bumpstop tuning and moving front axle forward a few mm on a solid axle.

To run 35's you would also want to change diff ratios to 4.88's to bring gearing back to standard, especially if you want to do a trip. Fuel usuage will also be heavy running 35's when comparing to something that stock runs 29's.

You can do 2"body lift for way cheaper than $850 by installing it yourself and getting blocks either made up or there is a few people on this board that could help you out.

Take a look in the members section at a few luxs in different configuration for an idea...
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic122179.php
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic111975.php
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic88045.php

If your going around australia id consider getting a 33"size tyre as it will make it better on the highway and also picking up a spare on the road with be an easier and cheaper experience than trying to source a 35', especially if your in the middle of no-where.

10lt/100km is probably achievable aswell depending on how hard you push it.

[BENOLUX]

dont let the 2.8 worry you. I dont understand how ppl are going as slow as 60 on the highway with a 2.8 when im pulling 100 to 110 with 33s and a 2.4 diesel with standard diff ratios??? yes it will slow down with a head wind maybe to 90 and yes hills will slow it down but u just drop a gear and plant it, last trip i did to fraser i had a full tray to the roof with camping gear and was still pulling 100 on the flats on the highway.

and as for the body lift mine cost me $150 for the polished alloy blocks and 25 bucks for the bolts and then a few hours work!

[thehanko]

dont let the 2.8 worry you. I dont understand how ppl are going as slow as 60 on the highway with a 2.8 when im pulling 100 to 110 with 33s and a 2.4 diesel with standard diff ratios??? yes it will slow down with a head wind maybe to 90 and yes hills will slow it down but u just drop a gear and plant it, last trip i did to fraser i had a full tray to the roof with camping gear and was still pulling 100 on the flats on the highway.

and as for the body lift mine cost me $150 for the polished alloy blocks and 25 bucks for the bolts and then a few hours work!

yeah i agree,
its not that bad, just dont get your self into a rush and you just relax and do what the car is happy with.

I get 9L empty 10L loaded per 100Km out of the 2.8 tirbo. The guy getting 8L per 100k's out of the 3 liter is phenominal. they are better known for using 13-14 per 100k's. The fact that the formula done back to front would see (i.e km per L) the fuel usage as 12.5 per 100k's makes me wonder...

My car can be as slow as 40km an hour through winding passes where its steep and windy. but you wuldnt want to go much faster through that sort of road in a lux.

mine easily does 120 on the hwy, even up slight hills. moderate hills ill do 100, but a few of the really steep ones sydney to newcastle will see me back to 80km/hr.

but for the 500km north of sydney this would happen a few times, totaling probably 10 minutes out of 6 - 7 hours, so its not to bad.

Just cant hope to overtake much unless its divided road. normal roads with limited space just isnt gonna happen.

[booflux]

It all depends on your nature, personally I could never live with a 2.8 or non turbo 3.0L they are just way too slow. If you like to sit on the speed limit get a turbo one as you will be flogging the hell out of it otherwise.

[daveo]

ive got a 1998 3.0l dual cab and pretty consistently get 11-12l/100km. goes up marginally when loaded up for a camping trip involving lots of highway kms. on the highway i can cruise at 110 on the flat but drops back on hills to 90 or less depending on how steep. overtaking is a mission if its not a divided road. towing more than about 700kg (at a guess) is also pretty crap. if your budget stretches to it get a 1KZ-TE 3.0 turbo.

[ferrit]

power wise

2.8D- 60kw/186nm
3.0D - 65kw/197nm
3.0D- EFI - 71kw/200nm
3.0TD- 85kw/315nm

Fuel economy- varies so much with use. My 2.8D wouldnt get below 12L/100, the new 3.0TD will use anywhere between 10L/100 and 15.5L/100 depending on what im doing- 15.5L was on the dunes at beachport

[CHUUBZ]

Thanks for all the information guys, much appreciated.

I never knew the 2.8D and 3.0D were so similiar in power?
Would it be worth me looking into a newer model or waiting for a model with the turbo droped into it or truthfully really doesnt make THAT much of a difference weather its turbo or not?

Becuase in my eyes the 20kw at the motor doesnt make THAT much of the difference especially considering that the VY SS ute that I'm selling at the moment makes over 300kw at the rear wheels with over 800nm of tourqe so no matter what I get its gonna feel like a slug...

[thehanko]

3L and 5L are pretty much the same engine but bored out a bit bigger.

Yeah but there is slug that will go up hills and slugs that die in the ass on any slope.

20kw diffeence between as ss making 280 and an ss making 300 will be not so noticable.

but going from 60kw to 85 is a 45% increase. thats a huge difference.

I would either plan to put a turbo on or buy one with a turbo on it - they are pretty common these days.

I drive a falcon xr6 - not in the same league as your ss it only makes 200kw, but i go between the 2 vehicles all the time and really enjoy driving the hilux.

[jonamaphone1]

hiluxs arn't made for touring.

i drove 8 hours straight in my 93 2.8 hilux at christmas last year and near the end of it the transfer case was heating the cab faster than the aircon could cool it down.

id go a newer 3ltr TD but goodluck getting one for under 20g so you'll have to buy a N/A one and turbo it. then suspension lift, body lift, change diff ratios to suit the 35s and away you go...

thats if you absolutely, positively MUST have a hilux

[thehanko]

hiluxs arn't made for touring.

i drove 8 hours straight in my 93 2.8 hilux at christmas last year and near the end of it the transfer case was heating the cab faster than the aircon could cool it down.

id go a newer 3ltr TD but goodluck getting one for under 20g so you'll have to buy a N/A one and turbo it. then suspension lift, body lift, change diff ratios to suit the 35s and away you go...

thats if you absolutely, positively MUST have a hilux

I drive my 2.8 hilux on long trips all the time, and i mean all the time, its currently seeing an oil change every 2 to 3 weeks.

never had any issues with it doing touring style driving.

nothing to worry about there in my opinion.

[CHUUBZ]

Jesus now im sooo confused!
I know I'm asking in the Toyota section but if its to choose between a Lux or a GQ LWB Patrol what would you guys choose...

I already have had a GQ but a SWB and I really liked it although I had the 4.2 Petrol/Gas... this time i want nothing but a Diesel...

[ferrit]

the kws dont tell the story with the hilux's, its all about the torque- Look at the difference between a 3.0D and a 3.0TD, yeah. your only making another 25kw in the 3.0TD, but your making over 100nm of torque more.

I converted mine from 2.8D to 3.0TD and its chalk and cheese- I can go up the freeway or expressway here in adelaide at 100+kph and accelerate, the old 2.8D wouldnt hit 65.

[thehanko]

The patrols are a coil option, more powerful engine, strong vehicle. if you would rather a lwb wagon then patrol for sure.

i think they are a more comfortable vehicle. but will use a bit more juice as they are a bigger engine, bigger vehicle etc.

again no turbo they are slow, with turbo they are much better.

but its so long since ive driven a non turbo patrol i really cant remember how slow to be able to compare to a slow lux.

I have a lux and am very happy with it. but sometimes i think about getting a patrol gq diesel turbo lwb. I think it would be a nicer vehicle to travel in.

[ferrit]

i know some insane turbo'd GQ's- Like a ute that makes 160kw/660nm at the wheels!

[thehanko]

i know some insane turbo'd GQ's- Like a ute that makes 160kw/660nm at the wheels!

yeah lots of power to be pulled out of that 4.2 and its a tough engine so you dont kill them too quick.

parts are easy to get. as a hilux owner i get frustrated by how many patrol parts are for sale compared to lux ones.

[CHUUBZ]

Well like I said I had the 4.2 Petrol and it was on LPG and that had the 35's on it and yeah definatlly could stay on the speed limit in almost all places, hills etc and had enough punch for the off roading that I was doing.

I want a Hilux for 2 main reasons really, one is because I love the look of them and 2 I go motorbike riding a fair bit so the tray would be real handy insteead of towing trailors around thats why I had a ute at the moment aswell as needing it a little for work sometimes but I could get away with the boot in the LWB GQ.

But in saying that I know that the Patrol is alot easier and cheaper to get high (6" suspension lift) than the Hilux, 4" Suspension and 2" Body lift...

Really really confused... like the Hilux is alot newer aswell soo... tough decision!

[ferrit]

the biggest downfall with the hilux's is to get the good motors (3.0D, 2.7VVTI, 3.0TD) you need to get the post 1997 models, which mean your stuck with IFS.

Which then means if you want to go seriously, your up for either a SAS, or lockers and lots of CV's.

You can drop the later model engines back into the LN106's, but its a lot of effort. Worth it, but lots of effort!

[thehanko]

which hilux is newer?the 3 liter? remember it goes to ifs, while the gqs were solid axel like the 2.8L hilux.

you can also get patrol utes... but not a duel cab if that was your pick.

the patrol also is probably a more capable vehicle straight up, coil and good lsd compared to the lux.

but a bigger vehilce in general which can be a positive or negative.

i would suggest taking 2 for a drive and see what you think.

[CHUUBZ]

I've driven both before, like I said I used to own a GQ and my Dad had a 1995 Single Cab lux witch im not 110% if it was a 2.4 or 2.8l Diesel N/A.
I was looking into the 3.0L Hiluxs... but yeah im not certain no more cause my Dads hilux was fucken gutless... like it was a slug and it was on 31's and still struggled up hills and shit! My GQ had alot more punch even with the 35's.
But then again I loooove the look of HIlux's and think there one of the tuffest looking 4x4's on the market...

[thehanko]

I've driven both before, like I said I used to own a GQ and my Dad had a 1995 Single Cab lux witch im not 110% if it was a 2.4 or 2.8l Diesel N/A.
I was looking into the 3.0L Hiluxs... but yeah im not certain no more cause my Dads hilux was . gutless... like it was a slug and it was on 31's and still struggled up hills and shit! My GQ had alot more punch even with the 35's.
But then again I loooove the look of HIlux's and think there one of the tuffest looking 4x4's on the market...

if it was a 95 single cab it was a ln106, so it came factory standard as a 2.8L (named 3L) non turbo engine.

isnt your gq petrol? if so it will of course have heaps more go. i remember as a kid in the back of my old mans NA diesel not being able to overtake cause the straights were not long enough. but then he turbod it and it became a much better car to drive.

[jonamaphone1]

mates N/A diesel patrol on 31s easily holds 130 on the highway and still has more if he needs it. my 2.8 only got to 130 down steep hills with my foot to the floor.

if i was in your position, id go the patrol (actually, id buy an 80 series) over the hilux.

[thehanko]

I probably would too. the NA patrols extra torque will help it hold speeds uphill, but it takes a while to get there as they are still not a powerful donk standard.

but i would sasy the patrol is probably the way i would go.

having said that i have my lux and love it and cant complain at all as it does exactly what i new it would do and does it well. just dont get a lux and expect it to ever go quick.

[jonamaphone1]

just dont get a lux and expect it to ever go quick.

x2 i am so over going slow