What to do?

[Newhouse]

Hi guys,
I just scored myself a 1997 4x4 hilux. It's in pretty good nick, although it has a seized motor, which I'm told is pretty common with this model. As this is my first ever hilux and not knowing a great deal about them I was chasing some info on what people do to them to make them better. It already has a 2 inch lift. I will be using it for some mild 4wding and camping, fishing with my little fella. Any info would be great,

Cheers,

Chris.

[brad 93hilux]

What motor is it? 3.0l diesel, turbo diesel, 3.4l petrol etc.

Cheapest thing is replace what's there with a reco one, but if they are looked after that model hilux motor should last on its own.. Just gotta keep up regular servicing with quality oil/ filters
Brad

[Zookified]

Be VERY careful and do your homework if you are buying a reco motor. I got burnt by a large company (not sure if I can name and shame?).

[Newhouse]

The engine is a 2.8ltr. I'm going to re build that myself! I was wondering if there is any other things people do to improve the car whole whilst it's off the road without spending millions

[94lux]

Fix the motor, get some barwork, winch, decent tyres and leave it at that.

[94lux]

Oh and put a turbo on it straight away!

[Newhouse]

Thanks for all the responses! What's a good suspension set-up to run on these old girls? Also 94lux, what turbos are people putting on these trucks?

Pulled the motor today. The sump was full of thick sludge that's about as far as I got. Hopefully find the full damage tomorrow!

Chris.

[94lux]

I used to run a DTS but Denco's are also good or you can go the cheap way and grab a CT20 off a surf....I'd say stick with the 2 inch lift it has. It's IFS so I personally don't see the need to go any bigger. Maybe some new shocks if the old ones are stuffed.

[Ashchaya]

Pretty sure 1998 is the first of the IFS Hiluxen (for 4WDs), so your 97 should be the solid front end.

I'd suggest turboing your 2.8L diesel, and depending on how far and wide you're going to venture, think about a long-range fuel tank. The slightly-less-than-60litre capacity of my Hilux used to shit me up the wall. It now packs a 145litre.

Also, Zookified, I know that feeling. I spent $5500 on a professional rebuild by a mob who apparently won awards. EXTREEEMELY unhappy . That was 5 years ago and I'm still pissed. Would love to name and shame too...

[SCANAS]

Yeah post up some names fo shizzle. You can't really get in trouble as long as you tell the truth.

[Newhouse]

sorry boys its a 96 model. all info has been good thus far, thanks heaps. and yes its leaf front.

chris

[CRUZAAMAD]

gem engines?

i was going to go this way but prefered a local mechanic than some big business that you couldnt realy give them grief over it.

[Ashchaya]

Yeah post up some names fo shizzle. You can't really get in trouble as long as you tell the truth.

Okay I'll try to keep it short.

Goulburn Engine Centre - approximately 5 years ago.

FULL rebuild. Price seemed okay and reasonable. I had my ideas of what to do to run-in a new motor and bed the rings in, but decided to ask them their opinion anyway. Turns out they had no opinion.

Them: "Nah mate, just drive it. She's good to go."
Me: "Oh so you've already run it in?"
Them: "Yeah mate we've been driving it around the area to make sure it's all good."

I checked the odometer. +82km. Wow, okay. Hopefully bedding the rings in properly was within the first 10. :/

I start it up and I've never seen so much black smoke from a single vehicle.

Me: "What's with all the smoke? That's more smoke than it ever blew before."
Them: "That's just how they are mate."

I enquire further and all they've done in that 82 kays is just gently drive it around the FLAT suburban area.

As a result, yep, it used about a litre of oil every 4,000km. Before I found the time to take yet another day off work (this is actually quite difficult for me to do in my line of work) and take it back to them, 18,000km/9 weeks later - all the time bellowing so much black smoke I was just waiting to be pulled over and executed for crimes against humanity - it spun a bearing.

I suppose I should have done things differently, taken it back to them sooner, raised hell when I first picked it up, I dunno. But they obviously had no idea about bedding rings in so taking it back to them would probably have the same result, or worse. I didn't exactly want a now pissed off disgruntled engine builder working on my engine.

So right there I decided to cut my $5,500 losses and never deal with them again.