Australian wanting an X-runner on a pigs ear budget

Got myself a nice little stock pickup 2wd with the 2tr-fe motor. a few things done and a few camping features but it had been owned by a mechanic and the work was all pretty good.. or so I thought. Later I found out that the base model I had didn't come with central locking and the wiring that had been installed, did my head in. Also a rather crappy headunit completed the mass of wires...

 

Damn lucky with your hilux

 

Thanks Brandon. It lasted like this for about 2 weeks before I decided it needed a facelift. I really liked the look of the F150 Lightning (before I knew the X-runner existed) so I wanted to create a smaller version of that. Mags, front bonnet scoop and rear flares to keep the back end legal.

 

We can't get hilux in the states cause of some trade embargo against light pickup trucks

 

Also painted the front bar. It's about now I decided I wanted to make it go a bit better than stock since I thought it looked pretty cool anyway. Went with the manifold from Ozboost with my own little turbo.. 6 pounds of boost. Made a 2.5 inch exhaust that split out both sides. I used an exhaust flap and valve to keep it quiet when I needed and opened it up on the drivers side for the extra noise..

 

That pic has the engine loom pulled out because I was already thinking about the haltech upgrade for more boost. You can also see the front intercooler in the shot above which I had mocked up. I was pretty happy with everything... for about another month. That's when everything went south. I decided I wanted more of everything! More boost, more gadgets and more go fast bits.... change the manifold plate and let's do it all over again.

 

Burnt some of the wiring on the new turbo. Its a 30 something something that I had laying around the workshop. Wasn't too cocerned though because I'll just replace the wiring with the haltech loom..... famous last words! We are almost up to date to where I am now. It's been over 3 months of trying to get some help with the haltech locally. I am a motorcycle mechanic with a love of all things electrical... but this project could change all that!

Had the loom out for a workshop that said they'd do it for $400 using the haltech loom and relays. Sat there for 3 weeks until it was all returned to me untouched with a "sorry we can't do this". Took it to the next workshop where my precious sat in the carpark for 2 months until I lost patience and said "sorry you can't do this" hahaha

In that time I found Boomslang on this forum and made the purchase! While waiting for things to turn up though I got 'creative' and pulled a lot of the old electrics out so I could go with a newer model that had power windows/mirrors.. maybe even cruise control if I can sort it.

 

This is how she currently looks inside.

Things I've learnt:
There's enough subtle differences between the 2008 and the 2012 to make it a tricky swap.
If you are buying the loom from the wreckers.. take it out yourself and take EVERYTHING! (loom cut in places)
The hilux loom is really more like 4 looms. Engine loom, engine bay loom, Dash loom and finally the cabin loom.

I have upgraded the engine bay loom and the dash loom. I also did the doors at the same time so now I have power windows and power mirrors.

 

Awesome job so far. I like when people make it their own.

 

Thanks Jeremy. I’m pretty good with sheet metal so I plan on making rear flares once it’s all back together. Think it’ll set it off

 

I’m having an issue with the stock ecu cutting out power to the injectors and spark so thought screw it, I’ll put the haltech in now.

The very first step (crankshaft trigger) and there’s already a problem. Looking at the data logger in haltech software and it’s reading anything from 25 teeth to 32.. when there is supposed 36 with two missing teeth.

I’ve traced the wiring and the positive trigger goes to where it is supposed to on the haltech unit (B1) but the negative which is assigned to B5 never makes it there. In fact the boomslang harness doesn’t have a wire connected to B5.

I brought this up with Boomslang to find out if it gets it from somewhere else etc and they said to contact Haltech USA for the latest basemap...

 

Haltech got back to me and said that Boomslang should provide something as they don’t have a map to share (roll eyes)