1985 Hilux with Ford v6, suggestions welcome!

[Lid]

Hey guys I'm new to the club and would LOVE SOME ADVICE on what to do with my Hilux.

It's a 1985 single cab, a 3.0L Ford v6 conversion was done when the previous owner bought the bakkie (some pics attached)

My plans are to:
upgrade the (still original) suspension to old man emu suspension. (Planning to do this at 4x4 mega world)
Put in power steering (I don't know where I can get this done??? Any suggestions?)
Put in a gearlock (is this a good idea? Suggestions welcome... I don't want my hilux stolen!)
Do some bodywork (really just superficial) eg: polyurethane liner, tonneau cover, repaint the rims, upgrade the front bull bar & back bumper and possibly have a roll bar made up that can support a tent platform.

If any of you have advice you'd like to share please comment I'm a complete novice

[The Legend]

O Buddy how do I mis mine.Save your money on a gearlock.They stole my previous SFA with gearlock locked.They either reverse it or put the 4x4 lever in nutral and puch it where they want it.

[Mud Dog]

Agree with Dawie about the gearlock ... useless on a 4x4. As said, they just put the X-fer into neutral and tow it away.

The OME suspension is a good start - will raise the ride height, thus improving approach / departure / break-over angles, will improve axle articulation thus improving off-road traction / capability as well as ride comfort.

Power steering might be a hassle if you opt for the original push-pull setup. You will have to source a new crankshaft pulley if the current one has no place for the extra belt, a power steering pump and reservoir as well as the mounting bracket (you might get lucky enough to find at a scrapyard). The big issue will be the steering box - like hen's teeth and pricey as hell. Here it might be an option to consider x-over steering and use the steering box from an IFS model (plenty available and cheap as chips by comparison). The difference in cost between the two steering boxes will go a long way to offset the cost of the x-over components (steering arms and steering link).
The benefits of x-over steering is that you eliminate the bump-steer that is inherent with the push-pull system, you will be able to discard the torque rod (stabilizer) which in turn improves front axle articulation and front suspension travel.

Nice looking old bakkie by the way!

[Lid]

O Buddy how do I mis mine.Save your money on a gearlock.They stole my previous SFA with gearlock locked.They either reverse it or put the 4x4 lever in nutral and puch it where they want it.

Nice bakkie! I'm sorry to hear it's moved on... Thank you for the heads-up on the gear lock, I will be taking your advice. I just started to look around at some of the forum's past posts and see this has been covered quite extensively under 'anti-theft ideas'

I have started using a steering wheel lock those that only allow you about a quarter turn of the steering wheel. Which I hope will be a visual deterrent.

Also may look installing a hidden kill switch

[Lid]

That second last paragraph was a quote from "Obelix and Dogmatix", I'm still working this forum reply thing out...

[Lid]

Power steering might be a hassle if you opt for the original push-pull setup. ...The difference in cost between the two steering boxes will go a long way to offset the cost of the x-over components (steering arms and steering link).

The benefits of x-over steering is that you eliminate the bump-steer that is inherent with the push-pull system, you will be able to discard the torque rod (stabilizer) which in turn improves front axle articulation and front suspension travel.

Awesome input Mud Dog, I will definitely do some research into x-over steering, thanks for that

[Mud Dog]

That second last paragraph was a quote from "Obelix and Dogmatix", I'm still working this forum reply thing out...

Fixed.

[Lid]

Haha!

[Froll]

Welcome Lewis, hope you enjoy it here on the forum. Nice looking truck you have.