93' 4Runner/Surf compatability

[Red]

Hi,
Im new to the T4R Forums, I recent bought my third Toyota, first 4Runner. Ever since my first Toyota I've been hooked.

Anyways, I have a few questions regarding parts and compatability between the Hilux Surfs and the 4Runners.

First I was wondering how compatable the body parts are between the 4Runner and the Surfs? Im assuming they are pretty much interchangable for the most part but I'd like it if someone could verify this. The reason I am asking this is because I have a 93' 4Runner but I'd like to see if I can find the passenger side fender of a Hilux and maybe the fender flares and running boards that they come with. Basically I'd like to make my 4Runner look like a Surf.

I'd like to find the window visors that most surfs have on them, they are a bit bigger than the ones you can buy from Lund and onther companies like that. If anyone has anything like that for sale or knows where I might find them, that would be great.

I've checked Ebay and will continue looking but so far no luck.

Thanks for reading.

 

[struth]

If a Surf is the same as it is here in Aus, basically a grey import 4 Runner, and the generation of vehicle is the same then almost if not all the body parts will fit from one to the other. The majority of drivetrain parts will interchange as well.

Cheers

 

[Red]

Oh ok.

Thanks for the confirmation Struth! idealy I'd like to just find a nice Surf from one of the importers here in Canada but they dont come in nearly as often as the skylines and MR2's and sports cars like that. I've recently retired my Supra and now Im a bit more interested in the four wheel drive Toyota's but Surfs arent very common.

I have one question though, I've seen Aussies refer to imported cars as "grey". What does that mean exactly?

 

[struth]

There are Australian delivered imported cars, like the 4 Runner, any car imported by the manufacturer and sold by them in aus really.

Then there a grey imports, like the Surf, vehicles not sold by the manufacturer in Australia.

The importer needs to make them ADR "Australian design regulations" compliant before they can be registered.

Insurance companies charge more to insure them, even though a Surf is almost identical to a 4 Runner.

Mechanics go "Ca Ching" when an unsuspecting customer brings one in and doesn't know that even though the car is a grey import the parts are readily available from the 4 Runner range.

There are basically grey areas surrounding the cars suitability to our regulations, and wether or not all parts are available, some Surf engines for example were never sold in any Aussie delivered Toyota.

Some japanese vans imported from other Asian counties have been found to have insufficient seatbelt anchor poits, etc.

That said we have as many Surfs here as 4 Runners and our premier web site for 4 Runner info is actually a Surf site.

Cheers