Hilux 4x4 Forum

Good day Gents,

I am in the process of starting my lexus conversion. Now my big question is about the prewired units available from Lexstreme and V8 solid. I am keen to find out from the guys on the forum if they have had made use of the prewired units and how do they find them. Any Issues with the units. Also which route did they opt for VVTI or non and of coarse how they running. Any info would be greatly appreciated

I went with the VVTI and Spitronics ECU - Very happy after more than 2 years and 20 000 kms of mostly off road travel

Thanks Theo,

I am really tempted in getting a unit from Lexstreme or V8 Solid. The units that are already wired up and started, just not sure if this is the way to go. Any info as to what I will need to do the conversion will be great.

Mine work well and was done by Timm " Lextreme.

Donovan, unless if you want to farm it out to Gauteng etc I would gos peak to Allen(Hoppy) Venter who is also a well known member here.

i had spitronics Lexus and now the vvti with std management from Lextreme. the vvti runs much smoother than my previous spitronics unit, gearchanges is smoother (manual box). if you take take the prewired unit, you only have 5 wires to connect to your vehicle, and i am quite sure you will have a more reliable system aswell... I will never go back to spitronics

Hi Theo,

Allen is the one that got this ball rolling. I was at his place some time back when took me for a spin in a Hilux with a Lexus conversion. And that was it for me SOLD, wanted one ever since. That Sound Getting Engine mounts from him for conversion.

Outlaw wrote:i had spitronics Lexus and now the vvti with std management from Lextreme. the vvti runs much smoother than my previous spitronics unit, gearchanges is smoother (manual box). if you take take the prewired unit, you only have 5 wires to connect to your vehicle, and i am quite sure you will have a more reliable system aswell... I will never go back to spitronics

This is what I like about these units easy to wire up for the DIY guy. Any advise as to what else I might need for conversion. I have bought a KZTE radiator and electric fan unit already. Is it possible to do the conversion without a body lift. I have raised suspension with 33's.

Pre wired is the way to go.

Lextreme and V8 solid both use original ecu... thats the best way. Why change when you can keep everything standard.

I have the non vvti. The surf's transfer bolts on to the lexus non vvti box. Just input and output shafts differ. My next engine will with out a doubt be the 4.3l 3uz. Will then need an adapter for the transfer but the power is

Good luck.

Can be done without body lift but is much more of a tight squeeze and might require cutting the bay. I made the mistake of using my old radiator. Works great until I tow something or play in the mud. Looking at getting a custom built 1 or go the 740i route.

Lextreme is on my doorstep - I'll go and have a chat even if it is just for the fun of it.

Ali3n wrote:Pre wired is the way to go.

Lextreme and V8 solid both use original ecu... thats the best way. Why change when you can keep everything standard.

I have the non vvti. The surf's transfer bolts on to the lexus non vvti box. Just input and output shafts differ. My next engine will with out a doubt be the 4.3l 3uz. Will then need an adapter for the transfer but the power is

Good luck.

Can be done without body lift but is much more of a tight squeeze and might require cutting the bay. I made the mistake of using my old radiator. Works great until I tow something or play in the mud. Looking at getting a custom built 1 or go the 740i route.

Thanks Francisco. Think I might just rather do that body lift. Can machine some spacers up that's not to a big job. 4.3l 3uz Awesome but I think I will take baby steps for now.

Agteros wrote:Lextreme is on my doorstep - I'll go and have a chat even if it is just for the fun of it.

Thanks Hugo, Would also be great if I can call on you when I order my unit. Me been in Cape Town makes it difficult to be there when they prestart the unit before loading. Hoping to place the order within the next week or so.

Workhorse wrote:

Agteros wrote:Lextreme is on my doorstep - I'll go and have a chat even if it is just for the fun of it.

Thanks Hugo, Would also be great if I can call on you when I order my unit. Me been in Cape Town makes it difficult to be there when they prestart the unit before loading. Hoping to place the order within the next week or so.

Hi Donovan - not a problem! I don't have much technical knowledge but at least I know how an engine should sound when running properly

Lol Just picked up my radiator and fan now fan seems to be on the small side looks like a 14inch. Guy at silverton reckons it will do the job. I was thinking more on the lines of a 16inch. What the guys using.

Workhorse wrote:Lol Just picked up my radiator and fan now fan seems to be on the small side looks like a 14inch. Guy at silverton reckons it will do the job. I was thinking more on the lines of a 16inch. What the guys using.

I use 2 10" fans. Works perfectly.

That sounds like a better idea Gonna change it for two tens thanks.

Not sure if space in the Hiluxes is a problem but the nice thing with the VVTI is the OEM viscous fan than can be used.Couple it with a decent radiator and a proper fan-shroud and you will never have a problem ! The one in Olive will suck most type of dogs and small children through the radiator ! :shifty:

Good day. Just spoke to lextream and there engines isn't badly priced. Who has contact details of where I can have the conversion done. I have a 4.0L auto and think 1 of my head gaskets has gone. Want to compare prices. Thanks.


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Thought of going viscose, but like the idea of electric don't hear that viscose all the time.

Hi Corne,
Depends on where you are, there are many guys doing these conversions. In Cape Town I recommend Allen Venter.

Vra vir Juandre by lextreme Of Timm al sy Winkel in die Kaap oop het vir besigheid

Maak maar eerder gebruik van n viscus fan om toekomstige verhittings probleme, ens, uit te skakel Lextreme sal jou daarmee ook help en met a adaptor vir jou TC. Anders moet jy duurder gaan en Chris Mod s'n gebruik.

janerasmus wrote:Maak maar eerder gebruik van n viscus fan om toekomstige verhittings probleme, ens, uit te skakel Lextreme sal jou daarmee ook help en met a adaptor vir jou TC. Anders moet jy duurder gaan en Chris Mod s'n gebruik.

Waarvan praat ons nou. Is dit vir die torque converter.

Die viscus fan kon nie in pas in my enjin by nie en dit is die selfde as die IFS sin. Al hoe hy kon pas was deur om te moes sny aan my cradle wat ek geweier het om te doen.

As jy auto hou en non vvti gaan kan jy n surf transfer case gebruik. Hu bout op lexus se boks sonder adapter.

janerasmus wrote:Vra vir Juandre by lextreme Of Timm al sy Winkel in die Kaap oop het vir besigheid

Hi hy werk nie meer vir Lextreme nie. En die shop in die kaap is op hold

Wys jou hoe vinnig kan dinge verander

I got a price on a vvti 1uz here in nelspruit today, with standard ecu, just plug in 5 wires and it runs for R23500, is this steep or fair?

Sven wrote:I got a price on a vvti 1uz here in nelspruit today, with standard ecu, just plug in 5 wires and it runs for R23500, is this steep or fair?

Thats rather steep. Got mine from V8 solid. They only specialise in lexus V8. The same deal prewired and started before you load. Paid R17700.00. Which includes the courier cost to Cape Town aswell. They organise everything all you do is provide your delivery address and a 50% deposit and the rest on Delivery.

Mine is set to arrive in the morning. Cant wait
Will post picks when it arrives.

sorted, thanks Donovan, did it also include exhaust manifold and 5 speed auto?

Yes, its a complete setup. Gearbox 5speed auto. Just connect 5 wires and its running.

I decided to go this route as the non vvti motors are becoming a problem to find. And after doing loads of research and chatting to people that have gone the route of vvti with OEM I decided to do the same. There's loads of uncertainty with going the Spitronics as their gearbox controllers for the 5 speed auto are not quiet there yet. Spoke with Armando from spitronics and his reply was they working on it. Their shifter will also not work without a modification to the cable bracket on the gearbox. So taking all this into account I decided to purchase on of these prewired units.

Hoping to get started this weekend.

Donovan, personally I think you made the right decision. Spitronics works very well with the older non-vvti engine + 4 speed box(it's been tried and tested thoroughly).

The VVTi engine with the 5 speed box is a different beast with many new features/variables and although the aftermarket guys have produced management systems that can control all these features(like VVTi), the tuning guys aren't 100% sure on how to tune it(even if they claim the opposite). This inevitably leads to alot of tinkering, tuning and some guess work to get the best out of the engine. As MudDog always says the short okes with the thick Coke bottle glasses from Japan know what they are doing and have massive budgets to get there OEM management system setup just right, so it'll save you a heck of alot of money and potential frustration in the long run staying with OEM!

B

Thanks Mr B

My thoughts exactly. So received my engine today. Will post some pics. Must say really impressed with the workmanship of V8 solid. Wiring done really neatly.

So I received my motor Friday.

I am so surprised as to what a good state this motor is in and how neatly the wiring has been done by V8 solid.

There is only 8 simple wires to connect and of coarse fuel lines, water lines etc etc.

Cant wait to get this baby up and running.

And the fun begins

Nou waste kleur moet ek die covers maak?

Gunston Orange!!


-F_D

Family_Dog wrote:Gunston Orange!!


-F_D

+100 - or Cheetah Orange!

Lol

So I stripped the hydraulic pump off last night so that I can mod it. Don't just want to bypass it with belt. I think that it might slip if the aircon is activated. I decided to remove the two inner gears completely and blank the pipes off. Now the bearings inside the pump need to be lubricated so I drilled a hole in the top of the pump and tapped it 6mm. This serves as a filling hole on the pump so that once assembled I can fill it with oil and then at least bearings still have oil to run in, and this way I still use the original belt.

Keep the pics coming !

Managed to get some work done over the weekend.

Took the old faithful out Saturday. This complete motor and box is up for grabs. If anybody interested

After a long debate over the Auto box adapter to sfa box.

I was really hoping that I could just get one of the shelf, but unfortunately this is not the case.

In all cases the places wanted to me to send my auto box and sfa box in to marry the two.

With a lead time of 3 to 4 weeks I decided to do it myself.

Been the Engineering Manager for my company and having access to all the necessary equipment I am going to make the adapter myself.

Wow great job so far!
Keep the reports coming.
I am watching closely as I'm busy with a 3UZ.
Bit of a long term project tho.....

Hiluxfan_111 wrote:Wow great job so far!
Keep the reports coming.
I am watching closely as I'm busy with a 3UZ.
Bit of a long term project tho.....

Thanks

3uz

Got my Shifter yesterday.

Hi . Looking great

Just do the timing belt . If the belt snaps its goodbye to 16 valves on one side .

Like the colour .

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BlumTRD wrote:Hi . Looking great

Just do the timing belt . If the belt snaps its goodbye to 16 valves on one side .

Like the colour .

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Thanks David.

Going to do the timing belt once all mountings and fittings are done, just before I do the final assembly.

Getting there slowly. Just waiting on the adapter plates to join the two. Having them laser cut.

Managed to get motor in on Saturday.

Ended up doing a body lift just to make things fit a bit easier.

That's looking sweet!

Keep it up !

What fuel pump are you going to use ?

Thanks MR B

Theo I am using a bosch inline pump.

I managed to get some work done this past weekend.

Gearbox Adapter is complete and in place.

I decided to rather reposition the gearbox cross member than mod the mounting, so got all that done as well.

Will post pics tomorrow of installation Left camera at home this morning.

Here are some pics of the adapter.

Workhorse wrote:..
Theo I am using a bosch inline pump.

External ? Which model and where did you find stock if it is the 044 pump, please ?

Sorry Theo

Yes external pump. I bought it ages ago from Diesel Electric as a spare for my Rotary. Will check the number this evening.

Good day All,

I apologize for not posting any comments and pics have been really busy with conversion. Managed to start the lexus on Saturday and wow all I can say is wow that sound is absolutely amazing. A very big up to Derrick and his team from V8 solid for making it so simple to for us DIY guys. Just connect 5 simple wires and turn the ignition and she purrs like a kitten. For me this is the way to go guys no sending for tuning or dyno etc. It sets itself Awesome

This one is for the team at V8 Solid. Thanks Guys.

Looks great !

Where do you get vacuum from for the FPR guage ?

Looking GOOOOOooooD!