Just a couple more months...
- Thread starter IanB
- Start date
IanB
New member
Ya mine has the multimode AWD like the '99+ limited got here, push button AWD and 4hi/4low via the shifter handle.
IanB
New member
Over the weekend I did my 1st full oilchange since getting the truck, I had a drain and fill (no filter) done right after I picked it up and before I drove it home, about 7000kms ago now. It was a pig. Someone jacked that thing on there, and I could not budge it, up on a sturdy stepladder leaning into the engine bay twisting with both arms, removed the airbox for more room, nothing. I went and bought a filter wrench (metal strap style), there was just no room for the handle to swing, so I returned it and got a nylon strap style one with a 1/2" socket handle fitting facing up, ended up using a long extension and my breaker bar, and finally got the biotch out of there, lol. Put a big dent in the side of the filter and it was still tough, I wonder how long that filter had been in there?!?
Spent too much time on that, and didn't get a chance to install my OEM trailer hitch, so that will happen one evening this week. I had to track down the M12x1.25 tap from a buddy as my set didn't have that size. I've got new grade 8 bolts ready to go, just need the time.
Spent too much time on that, and didn't get a chance to install my OEM trailer hitch, so that will happen one evening this week. I had to track down the M12x1.25 tap from a buddy as my set didn't have that size. I've got new grade 8 bolts ready to go, just need the time.
JohnsD90
New member
I have pulled a filter off my moms discovery after 5k miles, i had to get the channelock pliers out and it looked like a crumpled soda can after i finally got it out, i have no idea why it was such a *****.
Hitch isn't too bad to install, especially on a rust free truck, just helps to have an extra hand to hold the hitch up while you put the bolts on.
Hitch isn't too bad to install, especially on a rust free truck, just helps to have an extra hand to hold the hitch up while you put the bolts on.
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IanB
New member
I went for the channel locks but this filter is 4" across, too big for the pliers I had, lol. I would have just jammed a screwdriver through it and cranked, but the orientation is all wrong for that, same problem as the 1st oil filter wrench, just no room to turn it.
IanB
New member
Thought I"d revive this thread, it was more of a purchase/retrieval thread than a build thread, but it can be both. I've got some changes/upgrades on the horizon, and wanted to share.
I just got home from a vacation to Big Sky, Montana, and it was great. Idled through Yellowstone Park, hit the highway with cruise set at 80mph, went white water rafting, just beautiful scenery, great roads, and big hills, lol.
I suffered a chipped windshield which cracked immediately, and a little bit each of the next few days, and my power mast antanae took a dump, and sounds awful every time the antana tries to go up, coming down is much quieter, but it's stuck up.
Today I tore into the truck and installed the Wheeler's Offroad steering rack bushing set, and front and rear poly swaybar bushing sets. I installed some 4runnner corner lenses, so I'm fully legal as they are being real tight on that kind of thing here atm. Then I tore the dash apart to replace the HVAC bulbs, but found I had the wrong ones so I'll have to swing them by the dealer in the AM and have them match them for me. I also disabled the wounded power antanae while I had it all apart.
I'm very close to installing my '99 springs and new OEM balljoints, thinking maybe this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon a buddy is helping me fab up a hardpipe from the OEM airbox to the turbo, primarily to clear some room to install a 1500w recirculating coolant heater. I'm also started work on a headlight relay wiring upgrade, that will hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks! I'll be doing the tacoma whip mod to replace the power mast, and I guess I'll need a new windshield, which sucks. Oh ya, I've got metal to make sliders, and I'm hoping to get that done before fall.
I've decided to sell my other car, a '99 Acura 1.6EL, as I don't have time, and I've lost interest for the time being. Sold the B20 swap I'd pieced together today, and parted out many other items, car will be safetied and sold shortly, so I'm making permanent room in the garage for the Surf.
I just got home from a vacation to Big Sky, Montana, and it was great. Idled through Yellowstone Park, hit the highway with cruise set at 80mph, went white water rafting, just beautiful scenery, great roads, and big hills, lol.
I suffered a chipped windshield which cracked immediately, and a little bit each of the next few days, and my power mast antanae took a dump, and sounds awful every time the antana tries to go up, coming down is much quieter, but it's stuck up.
Today I tore into the truck and installed the Wheeler's Offroad steering rack bushing set, and front and rear poly swaybar bushing sets. I installed some 4runnner corner lenses, so I'm fully legal as they are being real tight on that kind of thing here atm. Then I tore the dash apart to replace the HVAC bulbs, but found I had the wrong ones so I'll have to swing them by the dealer in the AM and have them match them for me. I also disabled the wounded power antanae while I had it all apart.
I'm very close to installing my '99 springs and new OEM balljoints, thinking maybe this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon a buddy is helping me fab up a hardpipe from the OEM airbox to the turbo, primarily to clear some room to install a 1500w recirculating coolant heater. I'm also started work on a headlight relay wiring upgrade, that will hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks! I'll be doing the tacoma whip mod to replace the power mast, and I guess I'll need a new windshield, which sucks. Oh ya, I've got metal to make sliders, and I'm hoping to get that done before fall.
I've decided to sell my other car, a '99 Acura 1.6EL, as I don't have time, and I've lost interest for the time being. Sold the B20 swap I'd pieced together today, and parted out many other items, car will be safetied and sold shortly, so I'm making permanent room in the garage for the Surf.
ncockerham04
New member
Those lights!
Hey man. First off, very nice ride. It's spotless! I am not very knowledgable of the Hiluxs though. Are there any of those bumper mounted driving lights around? They look awesome! Unique compared to all the PIAA, KC, and Hella lights running around the USA.
Thanks,
Nick
Hey man. First off, very nice ride. It's spotless! I am not very knowledgable of the Hiluxs though. Are there any of those bumper mounted driving lights around? They look awesome! Unique compared to all the PIAA, KC, and Hella lights running around the USA.
Thanks,
Nick
IanB
New member
I've only ever seen those lights on imported Surf's, and some in the UK that were imported to there. They do look unique, but they've seen better days, and could use a refurb. Has anyone come across a high heat reflective paint you could respray the reflector with?
IanB
New member
Got most of the intake built on Friday afternoon, just need to drill the hole for the IAT (I have a grommet), and get a 2.75 - 2.5" reducer, to connect to the stock airbox. The way we built it I can use the stock airbox for winter/dusty condition, high water, etc, or run a cone filter if I choose to go that route. I'll try and snap some pics in the next few days, it turned out really nice. Made from 2.5" aluminum tubing, and mandrel bends, my buddy tig welded everything really nicely.
IanB
New member
IanB
New member
Well, I got the '99 springs and new OEM lower balljoints installed this weekend, but I wrecked a tie rod outer in the process, and couldn't for the life of me get the old one seperated from the inner, so I've still got that and an alignment left to do, but it's driveable for now. Measured lift is only about 1/2", which is a bit disappointing, but I haven't heard the tires rub on the fender liners since, which was the main motivation behind the swap, so that's good.
I should get the reducer for the intake today or tomorrow, and I can get that installed as well, pics to come.
I should get the reducer for the intake today or tomorrow, and I can get that installed as well, pics to come.
IanB
New member
I'm thinking the '99 springs may have settled, in combination with my '96 springs having low kms on them, and possibly some extra weight due to the iron block diesel (this is a guess at best), but either way it isn't really noticeable, other than the tires don't rub any more, which is great. I got my tie rod outer and alignment done yesterday, and it drives very nice. I'm contemplating adding a trim packer to the rear springs to give me a bit of rake, unsure on that for now.
IanB
New member
Well I ordered 2x OME 10mm trim packers for the rear today, hoping to achieve a small raked stance. Still no rubbing from the tires, so I'm going to deem this a success!
Also got a call that my silicon reducer for the intake is in, so I'll pick that up on the way home and hopefully get it installed tonight! Turbo whistle FTW!
Also got a call that my silicon reducer for the intake is in, so I'll pick that up on the way home and hopefully get it installed tonight! Turbo whistle FTW!
IanB
New member
I sold my '99 Acura 1.6EL yesterday, almost by surprise. I was slowly getting it ready to put up for sale, but had an offer for it as-is, unsafetied, and I took it. I've had EL's since 2002 (3 of them over the years), and I'm going to miss that car very much. On the plus side, the Surf gets to park in the garage going forward, and I've got more time to focus on it now.
IanB
New member
I got the intake installed about a week ago, but it needed a little fine tuning to fit properly. We got that done last night, and scrapped the old bracket for something totally different, and it's ready to snap some pics and show off tonight! Still no tire rubbing since the '99 spring install, and I have to say it's GREAT being able to drive however you want and not worry about that embarassing noise, that's not what I want to turn people's heads, lol. So pics coming tonight...
CraigRoberts
New member
Are you getting better MPG yet? Do you drive like a granny or pretty aggressively?
IanB
New member
Mileage has been very consistant, about 20mpg in the city, about 22 on the highway. I drive like both a granny and an asshat, depending on the situation, lol. I will be doing 3" exhaust, which I expect will help the mileage, but the sliders will add weight, at the end of the day I'm sure what I'm getting is what I can expect going forward.
Even going from 31" tires to 32's didn't make any measurable difference, although I haven't been compensating for the different diameter, but the old tires had a larger error in speedo vs. GPS, with the old tires reading faster than reality and the new tires are nearly dead on accurate, and the odometer should follow the same trend, so if anything the old tires were giving inflated numbers, and the new tires should be accurate.
I was initially disappointed as the UK Surf forums cited 24-28mpg, and then I realized they use different sized gallons. Once I converted, I'm right in the same range they are getting, so no surprises I guess.
Wow! I love you ride! Beautiful! And so many awesome options we never got here! Loving the rear mirror/spoiler and the fender mirror, not to mention the engine! Awesome ride! Cant wait to see what you do with it! And let me know if you can source any of those fun accessories, lol!
IanB
New member
As promised, pics of the finished intake! We designed it to use either the stock airbox, or a cone filter, turned out pretty nice. Turbo whistle is more prominent, and it looks good. The driver of this project was to clear up room for a circulating coolant heater, not for power gains, as this just carries unboosted, filtered air to the turbo anyways.
