toyota hilux surf

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bigjim

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2006
Messages
548
hi all anyone know much about Toyta hilux surfs??? it looks like one may be donated to me spares or repairs :?: 1988 vintage all working but head gasket on the way out not sure if petrol or diesel yet? as i forgot to ask? is this an easy repair?????? with either or engine :?: i belive the diesel is simular to a landy engine?????
 
itll be 2.4 d there always on ebay with blown heads gues normal english hilux uses same engine yet you dont see them dead you can get 3.0l td which is suposed to be stronger i like look of em much like r3m terrano,bung some barr sealer in flog it for quick profit all proceeds to jim needs a holiday fund lol!
 
Heres some info on the age of vehicle you are looking at,

First generation (1984–1989)

The Toyota Hilux pickup (upon which the Surf was originally based) underwent a major redesign in 1983 for the 1984 model year. Instead of developing an entirely new model, Toyota took an existing short-bed pickup body, made some simple modifications, and added a removable fiberglass top.

Thus, the first generation Surf is nearly mechanically identical to the Toyota Hilux pickup. All first generation Surfs had two-doors and were indistinguishable from the pickups from the dashboard forward. Nearly all changes were to the latter half of the body; in fact, because the rear springs were actually downgraded with one leaf less than the pickup, with the additional weight of the rear seats and fiberglass top, these models tend to suffer from sagging rear suspensions (a problem which continued to afflict later generations of the Surf).

The first Surfs were introduced in 1984 as 1984 1/2 models. For this first year, all models were equipped with black or white fiberglass tops.

In 1986, the Surf underwent a major front suspension design change as it was changed from a solid front axle to the Hi-Trac independent front suspension. This change made the Surf more drivable at highway speeds and increased the space in the engine compartment (necessary to fit larger engines, such as the V6 introduced in 1988) but arguably decreased the truck's off-road capabilities. The Hilux at this point retained the more rugged and capable, if less refined, solid axle configuration

Small cosmetic and option changes were made in 1989, but the model was left largely untouched in lieu of the replacement model then undergoing final development.
 
these were surely called 4 runners. certainly were in states and eventually when brought here, though many grey imports appeared before this.

oddly never sold well, considering popularity of hilux and eventually phased out replaced by mini land cruiser the colorado.

not a caravan/towing post so moved to general.
 
firm round here got modded one api engines there grey import engine supliers!
 
I know snap on dan, who has not renewed his membership and im not paying it agin for him (my son in law) has done a lot of work on these He used to get a lot of good advice and parts from milner off road some have dual mass flywhells and have clutch 'issues' but millner do a conversion kit for a normal clutch.

apparently the 3 litres can be horrible things if they go wrong and very exspensive to mess with, if it is a 3 litre and the head gassket is going/gone it will probably need a new head giving you a DIY bill of well over a grand!

and they ae alos suposed ot be realy thristy!

though if it is as everyone seems to think a 2.4 like the earlier ones they have a good reputaion.
 
i had surf wheels on r3m recently gave kid that had it two spare wheels tyres bummer mate you could have had them!
 
thanks for the good advice and keep it coming i thought if it was repairable it would make a good off road toy as it looks as if has alot of extras on it but only viewed it though a chain link fence and was told about it though the grape vine at work
 
My mates go 1 & he's had loads of bother with the starter motor :roll: His gearbox is starting to get a lovely wine on it, but I think it's got something to do with him doing 70mph in 4wd up the duel carrageway in the wet 8O
If your getting it for nothing you could fix it & sell it on as said above, run it into the ground on pay & play sites & then break it up & sell on the parts :lol:
 
manuals rare aswell as most jap imports and they do love there autos!
 
i know at present so little about it it may even be a yank import i can't even remember if its left hand drive, find out more on tuesday, when i am back to work.
 
I have heard they are all jap imports. The age you are on about have live axels so you could give it a decent lift and would be good off road, I think the later ones are coil sprung all round and have center diffs.
 
Commonly known as smurfs. I know a few who run them as off roaders and daily commutes. Very capable vehicles, even without mods.
 
cameraman said:
Commonly known as smurfs. I know a few who run them as off roaders and daily commutes. Very capable vehicles, even without mods.
must admit from a distance looks handy?????
 
camerman you tantlized my taste buds
ill let you know how i get on
 
Excellent pictures!! like the video camera attached to the gutter...lol :lol:
 

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