Two hilux questions

First, where did the Hilux get sold in the US in the 80's? I remember a lot of pickups from that era and never saw a Hilux or a Hilux ad in my area (southeast USA). Was it a regional thing, or just rare? Would a dealership have sold both regular and Hilux pickups in the early 80's?

Second, I've considered getting an imported Hilux, maybe from Australia or Japan. I know a lot of the Prados have a problem with the L series engines failing for various reasons, and there's a lot of interchange between Hilux and Prado, and I was curious if there were engines to avoid in an imported Hilux, or engines that are really sought after.

 

The truck up to 1995 was very similar to the Hilux. Early on Toyota called the trucks here Hilux, up until 1975 I think. After that the vehicle we got here was just called the "Toyota Truck." Mine was a 1991 that came from Japan with a box made in Japan so AFAIK it was a left hand drive Hilux without being called a Hilux. In 1992 Toyota started building some trucks at NUMMI in Fremont, CA, and eventually all trucks sold here were made there.

When people import them now it's for a few reasons. One is to get a solid axle version (Toyota didn't change the Hilux to IFS completely until 1997, they were sold globally in both IFS and solid axle from 1986 to 1997 but we only got IFS after 1986.

Another reason is to get a diesel engine truck and a third reason is because the Hilux came in Double Cab way back to 1979 but we never got a 4 door pickup until 1995 (edit: actually 2001) with the Tacoma. Also overseas the Hilux has the option for an external hook box and two latches instead of a center handle.

For example, a 1989-1991 U.S. XtraCab Truck:


A 1989-1991 right hand drive Double Cab Hilux:

 

Small detail, but we didn't get a Tacoma double cab until 2001. They waited forever on that haha

 

You're right, that was a brain fart.

 

And just a FWIW.

79-83 Double Cab


84-88 Double Cab

 

Thanks - that's great stuff.

I saw a nice 4 door pickup with a 2.4 liter 2L engine. I'm also used to seeing people with Prados that have some L series engines that give a lot of grief. Maybe it's the 2LT? Is it the turbo that blows the head gasket or cracks the head? Anyway, is that 2L a dependable bullet proof engine? I don't care about speed, comfortable 65 mph is fine by me.

 

My very, very limited experience with 2L and 3L engines is that as slow as they are the 20R and 22R are only worse in mileage.

The only advantage to an L-series motor is if you can get one that's mechanically injected as a SHTF truck and even brand new at sea level they're making 90 HP with the turbo. The United Nations spec is still to use a L-series motor and that's probably only because they'll run just as well (or poorly, same difference) on unfiltered peanut oil.

The 1KZ (which came in a mechanical pump variant if reliable is what you want) and later the 1/2KD (probably the sweet spot between reliable and advanced enough to drive nice is a 1KD-FTV, first gen D-4D) or 1GD are superior. In the same was as the 22R-E was replaced by the significantly better 2/3RZ motors and now the very good 2TR.

One thing to note is that only of these the L engines are EPA-approved so the others are not technically legal to use anywhere on the roads here. Lots of places don't have emissions testing so YMMV on getting them titled and registered, though. The trucks themselves are legal to import at 25 years or older.

 

Thanks - great info. I didn't know about the EPA aspect. I had a BJ73 with a 3B in it and it passed emissions just fine and was of course legally imported. This truck was also imported and sold by the same very reputable company. We have emissions now but they're doing away with it in a few months. Anyway, just wondered. I wish there was a book about this, but I guess that's what the internet is for. Thanks again.

 

I know of several 1KZ engines around, for example. So there's that.

 

Would that mount up to most manual transmissions of the 80's - 90's? I'm gonna get a "SHTF" truck when the Tacoma is paid off in 2 - 3 years, I just don't trust all the computers and plastic. I have to have something I can truly depend on for peace of mind if nothing else.

 

A 2L supposedly fits where the 20R or 22R were. Same bell housing, same motor mounts. If you get the bell housing with a 1KZ I assume that would solve the transmission match. Not sure about the mounts.

 

You should be asking these question on IH8MUD, where there's actual experts who know.

 

I always enjoy driving my in laws hilux when visiting Portugal. Wish we had those diesels here.

 

I think every blue color worker drives one over there.

 

I've been a Toyota hilux guy since I started driving in the 80's, and I always wanted a double cab, I wanted to import but such a hassle back then cause of the 25 yr rule. Eventually got my dbl cab in 01.

But ya know, the 79-83 is still my favorite truck and I keep thinking I can import one now and do a modern D4D engine.

Sure would make a great reliable strong truck

 

1992 Double Cab - JDM LN107 - 5th Gen Hilux with IFS..... .... 3L Diesel




Rocky Mtn Hilux

 

Had my name on one very similar to that, then 2020 happened and port delayed it 16 months.... Gets here and the engine is totally trashed. Importer threw it up on BaT. No sale to me.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...n-brother-of-the-tacoma.780987/#post-27956190


Rocky Mtn Hilux