My first 4WD (Hilux LN106R)

[OneHilux]

Quick update, some spares have arrived, nothing too exciting. New washer bottle and pump, seal kit for power steering box, leaf spring bush kits (wanted nolathane but ended up with poly - it’ll do for now) Also got some drag link end rebuild kits, genuine exhaust mount and also genuine fan shroud. Engine bay finally looks nice with that sketchy looking fan out of view! Will do the more fiddly jobs next week around my work.

The nicest the engine bay has looked in a long time. In this photo you can see the upgrade fleetguard filter with hand pump and glass bowl/water trap

drag link rebuild kit included a new ball, which can be fitted into the boomerang arm. The old one (right) is shaped more like an oval, accounting for most of the play in my steering. The old one looks shorter, but that is because most of it was cut away to get it out of the boomerang arm. They are pressure fitted and the the top is mushroomed out to lock in to the arm.

one of my upcoming challenges is to fit this sucker - which means drilling a fat hole through my guard. Don’t have a template or anything, so I’ll do some research about fitting them up. I wanted to get stainless snorkel, but for $850, I just dont think so. Everyone tells me they are a bad idea and do not give the right induction effect due to them not having a ram style head on them, just a gaping hole picking up air from behind.
happy with this snorkel though- I got it for $20, mounts and everything - steal for an airtec. just don’t have a template

 

[Batts88]

Just a note rubber bushes reduce the jarring felt through the leaf springs poly etc increase it and are harsher on wear as the grease dries out.

 

[OneHilux]

Just a note rubber bushes reduce the jarring felt through the leaf springs poly etc increase it and are harsher on wear as the grease dries out.

That’s what I thought - I’ll see if I can source some better quality ones later on. Nothing like that that rough ol’ ride quality from the springs - will just try the poly for now.

 

[allen239]

Welcome to the forum hope you have lots of fun and adventures with your Hilux, I remember when I got my first 4x4 I can't explain that happiness, well currently i have 3 truck 2 is being used for towing service in Queens and 1 Toyota 4wd am using for my personal use.

 

[OneHilux]

Aright! One more quick update, I’m making the most of my weekend here haha

fitted up all my new suspension bushes and got the Monroe Gas-Magnums in. Hope they perform as great as they look! Also slipped in a quick photo of what I did to my rear drum brakes - just a little overhaul. They were covered in heavy rust, RH side was seized and the pads were borderline. Replaced both slave cylinders, fresh bendix heavy duty shoes, a sandblast and coat of cast iron colour high heat resistant paint on the drums! They were a real eyesore before...

 

[Andrew_LN65]

Good one mate, can't go wrong with an old lux!

 

[OneHilux]

Alright! Back at it again, theres good news and bad news this time. First off, we resprayed the rear diff and leaf springs, just a quick job that makes it all look a lot nicer.

The black duck seat covers finally arrived and fitted up nicely, improving the look of the interior heaps. Took this photo using a torch, the seat covers look much darker in daylight.

And now the bad news: I discovered a little dark spot on the concrete a couple of weeks ago. After degreasing things and running the motor for a while to identify the leak, we soon worked out it was coming from the seal on the input shaft of the fuel pump. So alas, a lot has had to come out of the engine bay. Fortunately the new seal is very inexpensive, and fits up without having to disconnect the injector lines and remove the entire pump. New seal is in now, just need to get a fresh seal for the timing case cover and it’s ready to go back together.

My next job is to fit up my new LED tail lights, and I’ve also been doing a little bit of prep work for when I do the closed door spray on the cab. Planning on doing a new coat of the factory Toyota white, with a high gloss clear finish to make it look a bit snazzier. I’ve got quite a bit of research to do about spraying, as I’m planning to do the whole job at home with some mates. Well, that’s it for now, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks!

 

[boris mikilchuck]

I am really enjoying this build thread . Keep up the good work mate, its coming along very nicely.

 

[Barra GU]

Awesome build thread mate they are great rigs
Reminds me of swampy the all for adventure rig

 

[OneHilux]

Apologies for the wait here, but I’m absolutely still working away on my Hilux. I got a bit distracted with going away over New Years, but back into it now. I’ll fill you in with what I did at the end of 2019, and later post what my plan is for the next couple of months

First of all, we (temporarily) wired up and fitted the new tail lights, which seem like a really great upgrade over the stock halogen lights...

(I’ll guess you’ll recognise them, but they are LedAutoLamps Maxilamp 3’s)


Next up, I removed the tow bar and completely sanded it back, took out the bend in one side, sprayed it with some gal paint for undercoat/primer and finished with some chassis black

Then the same for the tongue, except a new ball and locking hitch pin. Seems to be a lot of freeplay in it, might try a packer of some sort to make the tongue solid in the towbar

before:

After:

(have since got a hitch collar)

and finally I picked up a locking fuel cap. Not keyed to ignition key as the factory one would be, but a small complaint compared to having fuel stolen or contaminants planted in your tank.

in addition to this, I’ve removed the tray and stored it elsewhere as I’m doing a closed cab respray ( more of that later) In the meantime I’ve prepped the chassis and gone over obvious areas with more chassis black. Just a few little jobs to tick off the gradually decreasing ‘to-do’ list.

Any bits of advice/observations, please let me know.

Cheers

 

[OneHilux]

G’day again

I know it’s been a month or so since I posted last, there’s not really any excuses for it this time though, just a lack of motivation I suppose, and also being a little busy with work. Ironically, I now work as a trainee for the local Toyota dealership, and I’m hoping for an apprenticeship. I doesn’t look good with this coronavirus though.

Now that I’m full time and finally have a stable income, I should be in a great position to start making some serious progress on the Hilux, and hopefully get it on the road, although getting my P’s has been delayed by the big Rona’ also haha

Here’s a couple pictures of the minor jobs I’ve done over the past few months.

Above: Drilled and tapped a hole for a pinning bolt on the tongue, which took all the freeplay out of the tow bar.

Above: fitted a new fuel filter and replaced the disgusting air lines that had been used for fuel with actual new fuel lines

Above: Drained, cleaned and removed fuel tank - it’s got no rust at all, although there was lots of rust scales floating at the bottom of the tank. All good now though.

Above: As I was removing some door rubbers, I found this... heaps of bulging rust in the door. This door is a bit dinted further down anyway, so I’ll consider replacing entirely.

Above: Supplies for painting starting to gather...

Next step is to get some quotes for sandblasting the tray and also a TJM bullbar I got in a trade for my Toyota bullbar. It seems way more solid and has spotlight and Ariel mounts on it already. Once they come back from being blasted and undercoated, I’ll hopefully be ready to paint them factory white, then finishing with 2-pac clear. Want to do the bullbar white for something different, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

meantime I’ll continue with some other jobs that have to be done. Also have some steel work to do on the tray before it’s sent to the blasters.

stay tuned!

 

[OneHilux]

Also a quick rare photo of it outside the garage a couple of weeks ago with the stainless all fitted up (believe me the paint looks worse up close haha)

 

[SFA hilux]

Love your work man, I’ve got one the same ute.
As far as the auto locker in the front goes, definitely do it. This is my second ln106 and I have had a lokka in both. Drastically improves off-road capability. But can I suggest that you hold off for a while before you install it. With an auto locker in the front your always driving a locked vehicle when in fwd. Most of the time off road It won’t matter what line you take you’ll still have a wheel on the ground giving you traction. If you give yourself some time to learn to drive being very conscious of keeping your wheels level as possible your skill and understanding will increase quickly. Because even with a locker having four wheels as evenly planted on the ground will give you the most traction.

 

[SFA hilux]

Snorkel looks good too. Raslarr? I made one myself. The 4” pipe is definitely an overkill on a Hilux, but 3inch looks too small. I’m sure a Maccas straw would provide plenty enough air flow though, haha.

 

[OneHilux]

Haha, yes it’s just cosmetic, not really much else, as it’s basically just a little tractor motor, and as you said doesn’t benefit hugely from improved air flow or reduced filtration. The snorkel was done by Jmax Engineering, I think they are in NSW. It was a bit pricey, and I should have spent my money on more important fixes, but oh well, my money to waste I suppose.

I haven’t thought about the difflocks for a while now, but I do remember seeing a lokka install on another build thread and being amazed at how simple it was. Seems better than a complicated air or e-locker. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Batts88]

Looking good it's coming along well.

 

[OneHilux]

Alrighty, the solid tailshaft swap is done. Very happy with the end result, it cleaned up and painted very nicely. It sits a little lower than the previous 2 piece tailshaft, but it shouldn’t be a big issue, given I will be on the highway more than I’m off-road. I’m liking the much more gentle angles on the uni joints for sure.

 

[Groovy Bloke]

OneHilux, great job on doing her up. I recently had a single piece tailshaft made up to suit my LN106R. Universal Driveshafts did some amazing work for me. You make it look like that shaft has just come out of the pro workshop! What did you pull it out of - a LN167? How's it treating you? Has this beast hit the road yet?

 

[OneHilux]

quick photo of the rusty old tray. Tomorrow it’s off to be refinished! Spent the last couple of afternoons spot welding the remaining little holes all over it from the many things that have been bolted, riveted, cable tied and duck taped to it...

It should be done in about 3 weeks. Opted to have it done professionally to save a bit of time, I’m really wanting to get this thing registered now. My neighbour just had his old ln106 tray done by the same mob and it came up a treat, so I figured I’d do the same.

 

[OneHilux]

OneHilux, great job on doing her up. I recently had a single piece tailshaft made up to suit my LN106R. Universal Driveshafts did some amazing work for me. You make it look like that shaft has just come out of the pro workshop! What did you pull it out of - a LN167? How's it treating you? Has this beast hit the road yet?

Thanks Groovy Bloke, yes the shaft came out of an ln167. It has a greasable yoke at the top so depending on how much grease is in the there the length of the shaft can change, so exact lengths of the two shafts were no big issue and it fitted well. Glad you liked the paint job too, I probably put a bit too much effort in considering no one will see it when the tray is on haha

unfortunately it’s not on the road yet, but I’m really itching to get it registered soon. I can’t test it out yet though, but I’m glad you noticed a difference in yours. I have heard a few reports of the single piece tailshaft removing vibrations on the road, so it’ll be interesting to give it a good drive with it in.