Hilux Revo 2016 Build....

I was in contact with Total Chaos and was asking about their lower boxed units to strengthen that part of the truck and amazingly the lowers will not fit the Hilux. I am still not certain why. I looked at both the Tacoma and the Hilux and they are identical. The tech is going to look into it and let me know. Seems odd that the upper fits but lowers will not.

 

A few asked where I wheel. I found this club online today. They are out of the area where I work. I sent them an email. gt a quick response

below is a YouTube video of what I have seen is pretty typical wheelin in these parts. Now being honest, doubt I want to sink my new Hilux to the door sils anytime soon but.....

Btw the Suzuki's in the video's are pretty stout wheelers. I see many. They drop turbo diesel engines in them. Small wheelbase, light. lots of power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJuqcHPa4dU

 

Im jelly. Subbed.

 

Would trade mine for a 2.8 Turbo Diesel in a minute. Cant wait for those to hit the states! Super Jealous. Nice truck Jafo!

 

Would not take your truck in all of that lol. You can never get that much mud off.

 

Thanks. I will do more over the coming weeks. Just no time right now

Well I will not do this anytime soon. This is my daily driver as well so I do not want to trash it to bad but I do like going off road. Hard balance.

 

That shift knob looks identical to the one in my tacoma.. I'm guessing you have a 6 speed automatic? Probably virtually identical drivetrain aside from the diesel. I like the 3.5L just fine but I would love a to have that 2.8L diesel. Keep us updated on the build! I'm following for sure.

Toyota has stated on many occasions even just this year that they will never be bringing that diesel to our US tacoma.

 

Yes the drive train is identical. 6 speed auto. I agree nothing wrong with the 3.5L motor by any means, but the diesel is a bit nicer for a host of reasons. I, like you. had heard the diesel was coming to the Tacoma but it never seems to make it. My belief is they probably struggle to meet all the EPA SMOG nonsense. Easier to manage a regular gas truck.

 

Thought I'd post some pics. I had some time this weekend to get some stuff done.



First up, this is was what I think Toyota should just do. I have always hated having to heft my hood up and then reach around that silly bar in the middle. This kit by Rival is very slick and I pop my hood and it just lifts right up. Waaay better and far easier.



While not performance related whatsoever I took off the 4x4 Diff Loc Decal and added the Tacoma TRD Decal I " borrowed" from the US before I left. I like it much better.

 

Off with the factory drum brakes project begins









As I mentioned the Toyota Fortuner (top of the line SUV here in Thailand) now offers 4wd Disc brakes. This kit bolts right onto the Hilux rearend which leads me to believe that the 4Runner in the US and the Tacoma share the same components as well. My buddy and I did the conversion at his shop in BKK. He used the pics for his FB page.


The conversion was very staright forward and took us about 5 hours. I probably should have installed braided steel lines while I had them all out but it was an after thought.

Braking wise, It is significantly better. I did a road test before with my friend on a side street. Not only does it stop quicker but the brake feel is much better.

 

Truck looks good! I have a hood strut kit from Redline Tuning it's a huge improvement over that friggin prop rod.
But man that blue Hilux is the squirrels nuts!!
Do they buy them new to build for resale or??

 

Thanks on truck. I too like the Struts. Any kit will do. That prop rod is annoying.

As for the Blue Hilux, They do both ways, they will buy and custom(not too many as they are specific and not too many buyers but use for advertising) or build up a customers ride. They were about to start another customer build up. This was on a new Ford Ranger they sell here. They have some pretty sick trucks at the shop.

 

Awesome truck. What do you do for work in Thailand?

 

Thanks Juforrest. Its fun to be able to still sustain my truck hobby and wrench on them.

As for employment, I manage a US based contract manufacturing facility. Fun job but as we all know work is work. I built a house over here with my wife and will retire here.

 

What does your company manufacture? Have you thought about changing out the exhaust to a larger diameter or straight pipe?

 

I snapped off this photo to show you what these folks do with their Hilux trucks for work. This is nothing honestly. I have seen them with twice the load and taller. So what I found though is they have a company that sells 1 ton rear ends with multi spring packs so they can carry these loads. I will try and snap a pic of a set up. Its actually pretty stout stuff. The diesel does its job here.

 

Actually being a contract manufacturer we build many different products for multiple companies, lots of PCB assemblies, RF devices, Optical transceivers. I manage 1700+ people at the plant(Clearly not all directly as I have Senior managers that report to me).

 

dope ride so far.