Hilux 4x4 Forum

My new wheels. Got a lot to learn and some to do's. Cheers! David

Welcome to the forum, David!

I wonder why TSA did not introduce this model to SA - I would have bought one in a flash. Better choice to a Fortuner, more spacious too.


-F_D

Thank you, Eric. As you probably already know, this comes to Moz thru Japan. I'm looking to get up to speed as quickly as I can on this vehicle…my first purchase of a Toyota. Back in the US I owned an Acura…liked the Japanese tech…it was very easy to work on. Will see how it goes with Toyo. I need to acquire a manual, consensus on which manuals are best? I saw someone mention there are Haynes manuals down here, how readily available? I'll dig around the forum to get an answer as well. [Okay, I found the manual thread…sorry for the quick trigger finger]. Cheers! David

Welcome David. Enjoy !!

Welcome David, hope you enjoy it here on the forum.

Thank you for the welcome Jacques and Roger. Jacques, where does one find snow? I think I remember there are some places I heard of in Swazi. I come from a much colder climate…winter temps often -10C. So would like to visit the snow sometime while I'm down here :-)

Swaziland and Lesotho are your best bet for snow down here. Welcome! Is your Surf running the 2.7i petrol motor? If so its a dam fine piece of engineering, perfect for Africa where maintenance is almost never done, slightly heavy on juice though. We have a 2.7 at work that's pushing 700 000km and still running everyday, towing trailers. love that thing.

pampoen wrote:Swaziland and Lesotho are your best bet for snow down here. Welcome! Is your Surf running the 2.7i petrol motor? If so its a dam fine piece of engineering, perfect for Africa where maintenance is almost never done, slightly heavy on juice though. We have a 2.7 at work that's pushing 700 000km and still running everyday, towing trailers. love that thing.

Yes, it's the 2.7l petrol. I appreciate knowing it's a workhorse, hadn't heard much about it other than it was good engine. That's a lot of kms and still running as a daily…superb.

Will have to watch the weather reports and make a run to Swazi some day when the snow flies…guess that'll be next year some time.

Thanks much.

Hi David.
Awesome vehicle. I really love the surf. My first Hilux was the Surf Double cab. And you have the perfect motor in there. Bullet Proof.

george wrote:Hi David.
Awesome vehicle. I really love the surf. My first Hilux was the Surf Double cab. And you have the perfect motor in there. Bullet Proof.

Hi George:
I know the 4 Runners, of this era, from the US, are considered to be very good vehicles. I'll be getting a double cab at some point…so will be paying close attention to how well this one treats me. I really wish General Motors/Chevy would sell their full size pickups down here. I have a 1991 ½ ton, V-8 petrol, 4x4, extra cab, manual trans pickup that has 371,000km on it and still going strong! Superb truck on all counts. I'm the second owner. The first guy towed recreational trailers with it - 10meter types. I burdened it hauling stone and mortar and construction materials. Off-duty hours it was my backcountry, two-track fishing partner. Got me in to a lot of generally inaccessible fishing spots. I miss the truck and if it was right-hand driver - I'd have it down here asap.

Jip, have to agree. The 2.7 motor is awesome. Mine has done 570 000 km, and still going very well. Did the SAC conversion at 525 000. Unbelievable motors.

Cheetah Drakie wrote:Jip, have to agree. The 2.7 motor is awesome. Mine has done 570 000 km, and still going very well. Did the SAC conversion at 525 000. Unbelievable motors.

Hey, what's the SAC conversion?

Also, what forum do I submit a question about my radiator and a/c cooling system? I just see that Workshop forum looks best for this - I don't know though if I should also put it in the Surf forum because some guys with Surfs might not pick up on it in the Workshop? Is that allowable? I need to make this decision on what to do soon - can't have my wife stranded or suffering in Moz heat (95F/35C tomorrow,). I'm quite inclined to replace it rather than fix gasket around the plastic top. I"m looking for suggestions as to whether to just get OEM or is there an aftermarket that's better. Also, going to need some shocks in the next couple months.

Firstoneman wrote:

Cheetah Drakie wrote:Jip, have to agree. The 2.7 motor is awesome. Mine has done 570 000 km, and still going very well. Did the SAC conversion at 525 000. Unbelievable motors.

Hey, what's the SAC conversion?

Steve's Auto Clinic. They almost mastered the art of turning more power out of the 2.7 motor. Gas flow the heads, put new cam's in, modify the air intake to improve breathing, chip and free flow exhaust. Just go to www.steves.co.za.

I am very happy. Gave my car a new lease on life for sure. More power, and at times when I drive decent, better consumption.

Cheetah Drakie wrote:Steve's Auto Clinic. They almost mastered the art of turning more power out of the 2.7 motor. Gas flow the heads, put new cam's in, modify the air intake to improve breathing, chip and free flow exhaust. Just go to http://www.steves.co.za.

I am very happy. Gave my car a new lease on life for sure. More power, and at times when I drive decent, better consumption.

Will look into this soon. Once I get a vehicle these days I like to do upgrades quickly, if affordable at the time. I posted a question in surf and workshop forum about radiator replacement….still looking for recommendations on what to do for the replacement…got any ideas?

And, why do you say…"they **almost** mastered…"
Cheers!

Hi David. SAC Nelspruits is very good. Not tooo far away from you. I got very good service from them om my 2.7. The owner had one and understood the motor

george wrote:Hi David. SAC Nelspruits is very good. Not tooo far away from you. I got very good service from them om my 2.7. The owner had one and understood the motor

Thank you George. I do get up to Nelspruit regularly - so I will look into them. Thanks for your time.

Agree with George. His name is Bossau, He originally mapped my chip, and later after the SAC guys at their Head Office in Vd Bijl did the gas flow of the head, etc I had the chip re-mapped, and the exhaust free-flowed in Nelspruit. Great service

Cheetah Drakie wrote:Agree with George. His name is Bossau, He originally mapped my chip, and later after the SAC guys at their Head Office in Vd Bijl did the gas flow of the head, etc I had the chip re-mapped, and the exhaust free-flowed in Nelspruit. Great service

Thanks. Now on my list of service providers. Going to call to see if he can tell me options for what to do about the radiator.
I've never had a an engine rebored and modded like yours…what does it mean to "gas flow the head"? When they modded the engine, did they install a larger aftermarket radiator? Looking for an answer for my radiator question. Since I have received no replies to either of my threads in the Surf and Workshop forums I wonder if that means everyone uses the stock OEM solution and there is no need for a larger unit - even down here in Moz. Thanks.

It basically just optimises the combustion in the head, so that you have optimum power. Better oxygen and fuel mixture equals a better combustion.

Cheetah Drakie wrote:It basically just optimises the combustion in the head, so that you have optimum power. Better oxygen and fuel mixture equals a better combustion.

Thanks for the education Peter. Are you using a stock radiator in your vehicle? Thanks.

Yes I haven't had any problems with radiator at all. Apart from the SAC conversion, and an ARB bulbar, my car is stock standard. Even still have the steel rims

Cheetah Drakie wrote:Yes I haven't had any problems with radiator at all. Apart from the SAC conversion, and an ARB bulbar, my car is stock standard. Even still have the steel rims

Good to know Toyota did a good job in designing these systems. Do wonder if my "designed for Japan" Toyota radiator is up to the task here in Mozambique. Cheers!

nice looking ride you got there.