The Toybox.... no more

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:34 pm

Well i think its about time i put my van up here... i got her bout 2 years ago and have loved every minute of it.

She is a 89 2.2 4Y and has 305 000km on the odo...

The first thing I did after getting her was take her to see Johan Tyres and fitted an Ironman kit and some 31" Cooper ST's, made a world of difference. I'm convinced she still had her original 1989 shocks and springs and they were finished!

The Ironman's lifted the van about 70mm, but it think this was mostly because the old springs were kla...

The pic shows the difference between the Ironman and the old shocks

Testing the new setup on Johan's axle twister

Some early changes I made was to change the front bench seat for individual Toyota Conquest seats and to change the headlights to the crystal type....

I managed to get my hands on a Desert Stormer bullbar with Warn 8000i winch from Louis which is a great addition..

The winch isn't fitted in this photo as I had sent it to be overhauled at the time.

About 15 000km ago I replaced the 4y with a Chinese import and besides the starter paking up last week I havent had a moments trouble with it.

Then a while ago i started an EFI conversion. Despite the advise on the forum I decided to go with the Spitronics EMU. All has turned out well and except for a strange idle valve issue she is running well. I want to get the idle setup sorted out before I send her to Schalk for a dyno.

Some pics of the EFI setup:

Pre-EFI

New manifold and injector rail in place. I had the injectors cleaned and serviced priot to fitting them.

Wiring in the EMU and idle control unit. It looks a lot messier than it is!

The completed EFI, well more-or-less complete, except for the idle control problem...

This weekend I fitted a BMW electric fan (thanks Cookie Monster and Zantus!

) and so far its working well. The shroud was a near perfect fit and the fan is uber powerful.

Interestingly the EMU uses the standard mag pick-up in the dizzy, Peet Spitronics had to make a small modification to the board to get rid of interference at low rpm but now its sweet. The EMU also controls the fan, I figured the EMU temp reading is probably more accurate than a Midas thermostat.

Scorpion · Post by **Scorpion** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:13 pm

Your van looks very nice!

Post some pics of the seats and tell us if it was a difficult fit... Njoy!

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:22 pm

Oh yes almost forgot. I manager to find some heat sheild stuff for between the manifolds. Its pretty amazing, even after the engine is up to temp i can still touch the material without being burnt.

I also opted to fit a Lambda sensor. I know the general consensus is that it isnt worth the effort but Peet explained to me that it is the only way in which the EMU can effectively altitude compensate. Granted it's not as effective as being redyno'd when i get to the coast but for R400 odd it cant hurt....

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:26 pm

Scorpion wrote:Your van looks very nice! Post some pics of the seats and tell us if it was a difficult fit... Njoy!

Thanks!

Sure thing. I actually stripped them out today to rubberise the floor pan. Will take some pics tomorrow when I reassemble. The fitment was a piece of cake. Just some minor grinding to the seat mounting points and drilling new holes for the bolts...

Post by **Family_Dog** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:26 pm

Jonathan, it looks great! You are now set for many years of happiness with your van!

-F_D

BenHur · Post by **BenHur** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:26 am

Did you use the original Toyota 1 (2 as the chassis is earth) wire Lambda sensor?

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:31 am

Bennie, the Lambda is from a VW and is a 4 wire sensor. 1 of the wires does go to chassis earth, 1 to power via an EMU controlled relay (to heat the element thing, as far as i understand) and 2 wires to the EMU.

I have to admit i was shocked to see how fast the Lambda registers changes. makes on the fly tuning a lot of fun!

BenHur · Post by **BenHur** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:34 am

How much did you pay for the sensor?

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:37 am

IIRC it was R450 from Peet. I did try and get one from Goldwagen but they couldnt help me without knowing exactly which VW it came from. i had forgotten to ask him so i just got one from him when i popped by last time....

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:57 pm

For Johann,

Today the seats went back in after the Durabak had cured...

Nice clean rubberized floorpan

The conqueast seats were a bit wider than I had thought and required a bit of 'profiling' to get them to sit flush with the 'hump' in the centre of the floor pan.

I also had to drill a hole more towards the middle to bolt the seat rail down. You can still see the bolts where the seatbelt used to fit for the bench seat between the two rails.

All in all i am quite happy with the seats, I'm sure there are far more comfortable seats out there but these were in good nick and cheap...

Dadz Toy BFI · Post by **Dadz Toy BFI** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:07 pm

Nice Toy Jonathan :!: :!: :!: :!:

Thanks for posting the pics, must deffinately rubberise my floor pan too - thanks for the idea :!:

When I fitted my BM seats I chose to drill out the fine threaded threads and use M10 8.8bolts with locking washers and nylock nuts, what did you do

I'm also going EFi and it's great to see another happy 4Y EFi owner :D

(Anything else just ain't Hilux hey

)

Thanks again :!:

Rich

pampoen · Post by **pampoen** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:19 pm

sweet choice on durabacking your floor,did it to mine and never looked back.Has anyone put merc seats in a hilux before i wonder?

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:51 pm

Dadz Toy wrote:Nice Toy Jonathan :!: :!: :!: :!:

Thanks for posting the pics, must deffinately rubberise my floor pan too - thanks for the idea :!:

When I fitted my BM seats I chose to drill out the fine threaded threads and use M10 8.8bolts with locking washers and nylock nuts, what did you do

I'm also going EFi and it's great to see another happy 4Y EFi owner :D

(Anything else just ain't Hilux hey )

Thanks again :!:

Rich

The two outside holes still have the original fine thread bolts, but for the new holes on the 'middle' side i used 8.8 bolts with body washers and nylocks... Havent had any problems so far, and i'm pretty sure in the event of an accident the Desert Stormer will serve me well.

"my crumple zone is the car in front of me..."

Tristan · Post by **Tristan** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:59 pm

Were can I get the Durabak from

and how is it applied

Can it be stripped and reapplied if the floor needs to be welded

Thanks

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:01 pm

You should be able to get Durabak from your lacal Midas. Its pricy but worth it!

For application the tin suggests using roller but I find that a large brush is easier. Just stir the blik really well before you start and then again give it a stir every couple of minutes during the job...

I'd imagine that a wire brush bit on a drill would take Durabak off no problem...

Dadz Toy BFI · Post by **Dadz Toy BFI** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:05 pm

There's also a Durabak Solvent available. :)

R

Tristan · Post by **Tristan** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:58 pm

Sorry for all the questions

but how thick is it after it has been applied

Can several coats be done

Dadz Toy BFI · Post by **Dadz Toy BFI** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:20 pm

Apply as little or as much as you want Bru

It's just liquid latex, very viscous; a bit like waterproofing/flashing sealant.

A couple of 1 ltr cans should be enough :)

Rich

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:29 pm

Exactly! It takes me about 2 cans to do a coat of the pan....

Cookie Monster · Post by **Cookie Monster** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:08 am

Hay mate she is looking mighty fine :!: :!:

Glad the fan is sorted :!: 8)

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:50 am

When bad things happen to good Lux's....

We were a week into our 3 week trip to Tanzania, the potholes in Moz destroyed the halfshaft seals and we had to go through to Liliongwe (Malawi) for repairs. Toyota Malawi changed the seals and did some other small stuff like absolute professionals.

On the way back to Cape Maclear we rounded a blind corner to find a truck overtaking another truck (in our lane). Anyways the rest is history, we missed both trucks but rolled the lux. RIP Toybox.

Cookie Monster · Post by **Cookie Monster** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:03 am

Oh wow this sucks :!: :!: :!:

Sorry Jonathan any chance of repair

And the main things are you all ok

Zantus · Post by **Zantus** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:12 am

Ag no bud, that's terrible

Hope you all ok??

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:31 am

Thanks guys, there were 2 of us in the car and thank God we're both okay. In fact, bless her, the lux did really well and we walked away with minor bumps and scratches.

IMO the lux is a write off, the chassis is quite badly twisted and bent and the engine and gearbox shifted about 2 inches back and toward the right. Not to mention every panel on the car was dented and misformed. Insurance is still deciding whether to tow her back to SA for salvage.

Post by **Family_Dog** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:47 am

Geez Jonathan, this is sad news indeed. Thankful that you are OK, the old girl was a tough one and this no doubt played a big role in preventing serious injury.

Are you back home again?

-F_D

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:52 am

I am, flew in yesterday.

No thanks to insurance, but thats another story for another time. Let me first try get my money out of them before we get into that. :evil:

Bushwacker · Post by **Bushwacker** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:41 am

Sorry for your loss Jonathan

Post by **Family_Dog** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:09 pm

If they do bring Toybox back, might be worth your while to purchase it for scrap. Then at least you will have the EFI kit, the complete engine, tyres and maybe your shocks for Toybox II. You should recover your scrap-value purchase price quite easily.

Cosmetic parts are in great demand too.

-F_D

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:26 pm

I agree, I have already told insurance i'll take the wreck if they bring it back. Unfortunatly the suspension was destroyed. The leaves on the right side are bent beyond recongnition and the right rear shock is bent about 45 degrees.

Hopefully insurance stops messing me around and pay out soon. Then the hunt for Toybox 2 is on.

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:30 pm

Hey Jonathan,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, really happy to hear you and the passenger walked away in one piece! Good luck with TB II...

B

Cookie Monster · Post by **Cookie Monster** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:44 pm

Glad you guys are all fine :!: I agree with Eric about the fact she is tough. Maybe worth a trip to go fetch her if the insurance dont want to bring her home I am sure she would like to find her final resting place in good old SA.

BenHur · Post by **BenHur** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:22 pm

Hey Jonathan glad to hear you guys are OK and made it back home safely. Salute to the Lux who kept you guys intact and praises to the Almighty who kept you safe.

At least think of it this way, with Toybox II you will do do it all over again and improve on ver I and benefit from the lessons learned 1st time round.

How was the EFI performing on the open road and what was your consumption?

Niel · Post by **Niel** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:11 pm

Jonathan, glad your ok and pitty abought the lux.

Dadz Toy BFI · Post by **Dadz Toy BFI** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:12 am

Real sorry to read of this Jonathon

Praise be that you and your passenger are safe and well

R.I.P. TB, long Live TB2

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:45 am

The EFI performed flawlessly. The other lux iI was travelling with is carburetted and the difference was amazing.

The consumption was about 8 or there abouts. Considering the vehicle was packed to the point of overflowing with our stuff, food, water and fuel, I'm happy with the figure. The greatest difference was that I could cruise along at 120km/h and didnt struggle as much up the mountain passes, where as the carbed lux could only cruise at about 100km/h.

Cant wait to get started on the TB2 EFI project :D

Post by **LouisZ** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:00 am

Ag no Man! Glad you Guys are alright. All the best for the New Year and Toyboy II!!

Regards,
Louis

ThysdJ · Post by **ThysdJ** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:36 am

Darn.. This is sad news. Glad you are okay though.

Post by **Mud Dog** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:22 pm

Glad you guys are OK! A real pity about the TB though ... my heart bleeds for you (no sarcasm this time).

Rider · Post by **Rider** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:36 am

yoh

:wth: real sad story :alvarin: did you managed to get toybox 2

?

Mr_B · Post by **Mr_B** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 1:03 pm

Luke, this was in 2008, and yes Jonathan "upgraded" to a 2 x 4Y SFA Hilux, better know as a Lexus V8... with some serious suspension mods!

Toybox · Post by **Toybox** » Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:04 pm

Goodness, its hard to believe it was that long ago already.