Outer Limits 4x4 Board

ok i have a gq patrol on roids that is under going a bit of a freshen up at the moment and i am looking at geting a hilux as a daily driver. i want a 2.8 diesel duelcab about a 93 but my problem is i dont know f&^% all about them. questions how much $$$, fuel economoy, reliability, how do they handel turbos, and any other little things you guys think i should know. thanks

Once you drive a Lux, you wont want to get back into your pootrol.

Depends what it has on it, prob expect around $3500- $5000.

Look around and you will pick one up with a turbo... Don't buy one without, or expect to put one on

Generally very reliable even with the turbo, as long as it is set up ok.

Average 10-12L / 100km

was looking for a mate a while ago and its very hard to buy much of a diesel hilux for less than 5 grand.

check for:
power steer box leaks
rear main leaks
rust in... everywhere floor, roof, firewall etc etc
axle seals leaking etc etc
cracked hanger mounts
cracked chassis beside the steering box
flogged out center bearings - try find one with a 1 piece tail shaft even better
look for a seller who services every 5000k's and then the k's they will all have wont be as scary.


god im already forgetting stuff about luxs after moving to the nissan side.

but they are good tough vehicles that will do their thing if looked after for a long time.

definitely turbo it - takes a crap top drive ute and makes it nice. you can buy turbo kits form the surfs 2.4's anywhere from $500 up - manifolds bolt stright on etc with a simple moving of a stud.

and just dont expect it to be a patrol

When i sold my lux, I had been driving the patrol for a week or two and then got back in the lux - it really was so different but in a lovable way

brad 93hilux wrote:Depends what it has on it, prob expect around $3500- $5000.

That is an unrealistic price range for a 93 LN106, dual cab diesel. I bought exactly that last year and paid 8K, I looked around for a long time and that was a very good price at the time for a clean model with no rust.

Have seen them at the auctions for that price.

Depends on what you a looking for, I went to have a look at one for a mate, was stock standard with good motor and gearbox only leaking swivel hubs and talked it down for $3500.. Minus a few hundred for seals was pretty cheap and only had a tiny bit of rust... If you are not in a rush you can get them cheap

Edit; but of course if you want something clean, straight, no rust and low k's then you pay for it..
But imop it all goes down the drain once you start going bush.

But that's my opinion

Hey Mate, I've just come over to the DARK side and bought a Tojo.

Not a bad thing either......

In all seriousness, spend as much as you can afford to, I bought a '97 LN106 Single cab with a turbo, canopy, EFS lift, airbaged rear end, ARB front bar, tow bar, UHF, CD player, etc, etc. with 170,000 clicks for $11k. Thing drives great, and I also had to replace the swivel hubs and did so with the great kit from Locktup 4x4, I think it was called the "Super Duty Swivel Hub rebuild kit" or something.

Some might say too much money, but it really is in good nick and not just a beater!!!

Good Luck, Dano.

ok still havent got a hilux, i am looking at the surfs about a 94 2.4 turbo diesel are they a good thing or not?

Jake GQ.. wrote:ok still havent got a hilux, i am looking at the surfs about a 94 2.4 turbo diesel are they a good thing or not?

Keep the cooling sytem in good nick fit a aftermarket temp gauge and they are a good car biggest problem with a 2.4 is they tend to crack the head but this is mainly due to a poorley maintained cooling system!!

With them a good mod is to put on a 2.8 head, more power and less prone to cracking.. Gets done alot

Brad