Hello & say Hi to my new Hilux!

[Tapster]

Hi everybody,

I had some very useful advice from Family Bulldog in the run-up to my recent purchase of my first vehicle in South Africa, the 1991 SFA Hilux shown in the photo. Thanks again, Eric, for your enthusiastic & friendly help!

My name's David Tapp. I've recently moved to South Africa from the UK. I live near Krugersdorp, Johannesburg. I have come over to steal your women!.......well one of them anyway & I'll be marrying the lovely Lize in December. We met when she was studying in England. One look & I sold everything and shipped over!

Back to vehicles: In the UK I had a 3.5litre V8 Land Rover 90 which was very competent off-road. It was hard to sell her but the import duty was too much & I had an inkling that a more reliable vehicle might be needed in SA!

My Hilux is a good runner, having done approx 10,000 km on its new Chinese 4Y engine. But it is SLOW, and thirsty! I wish it had a Chevvy V8 under the hood as it is under-powered, especially with the 33 inch wheels, but at least I won't get any speeding tickets!

HELP PLEASE !!

* Does anybody know if it's possible to change the gearing to make it more tractable on the road? I did this on my Land Rover by changing gears in the transfer box and it did the trick.
* If not, what's the best engine to shoe-horn into the vehicle for more power & so that I can use bigger wheels!
* The a/c is only a whisper. Can I uprate the blower or something like that?
* There's no heat coming through the heater at all! I might need this in winter!
* Can anyone help me with maintenance here? A comprehensive online maintenance manual perhaps? A good workshop in Joburg?
* The vehicle looks good on the outside but the inside is a mess. Does anybody know of any coachbuilders who can pimp my ride, so to speak?
* Lastly, I'm looking forward to getting into off-roading in South Africa. There's so much scope! What I've done mostly has been informal "trialling" of one sort or another, usually featuring lots of MUD! Please can anybody tell me of any groups near Krugersdorp or in Joburg.

Many thanks to members for any responses. Your forum seems really helpful & well supported. I'll be back!

Bye for now.

Dave :)

[legend35]

Hi Dave,welcome to the forum and to SA.Hope you enjoy your stay and keep on surging,you wil get the best help and advice here and happy Hiluxing :)

[Niel]

Hi David

Welcome to the forum and SA and enjoy :D

[Cookie Monster]

Hi David Welcome I am also busy with plans for the inside of my van we must chat sometime

[Scooter]

Firstly, welcome David, may your stay be an experience and your experience be why you stay.
Secondly, sorry to hear about your harship with a land rover, even if you didn't come here for our woman, you definately made the right choice coming for our Hilux's

On to the questions. Do a search on the forum and you will find plenty discussion on which engine to replace the old donkeys with. As for the gears, someone will give advice I'm sure.

The A/C unfortunately is a sore point with these vehicles and yes a you are lucky if you egt a whisper. I have heard of guys replacing the fan with a toyota tazz fan but not sure if it makes much difference.

The heating, you may have a blocked heater or maybe it has been disconnected due to leaks or the heater valve?

Maintenance, I do my own as do alot of other guys on the forum. If you look in the workshop manual section viewforum.php?f=44 you will find what you need. If you would like a Haynes manual, try motorbooks. http://www.motorbooks.co.za/details.php?prod_id=835

Upholstery, there are many guys that do it but not so many that do it well. I have always used a guy in Roodepoort, Auto Trim. You can contact them on 0117602672. They are not the cheapest but they do a good job.

Hope this helps
Scott

[Optimus Prime]

Hey There ,Welcome

Unforunatly i will not be able to give you help on all th efixings needed on you Hilux
but i can say it looks good .Lekke

I am in Krugersdorp and we like to play with our 4x4's when ever you need to go play a bit just let me know ,me and a couple of friends
go often and there are a few places close or a bit further.

you 'll get me here on the forum or at info@tracks4africaadventures.co.za

Cheers for now .
Happy 4x4ing :D :D

[CasKru]

David, Welcome to South Africa! Hope you enjoy the country and our people to the utmost. Hope you enjoy the forum and that you will get your answers.

I basically know of three different conversions done on the engine that might help. The problem is that none is so reliable as the original. The three I can think of is the 7M-GE (Cresida motor), Lexus V8 and Ford 3L. I put them in the order of reliability (in my opinion of course and there would definitely be people arguing this). Hope this helps a bit

[BenHur]

Hi David

Welcome to sunny SA. I have a friend that stays down in Jeffreys bay. She worked in the UK for a year or two and also stole a Englishman's hart there. She was not even back for a couple of months when he came over to ask her for her hand in marriage. He was here for only a couple of days and then fell in love with the country too. They got married and lived in the UK for a couple of months but as soon as they managed to sell his property there they moved to SA.

They are now in SA for 3 years and just came back from a trip to visit the folks back there. Mark said to me that as soon as he stepped out of Heathrow into a Cab he truly realised that home is not in London no more but back in SA I hope you get to love this country just as much. Ahh and also your SFA. Just be careful that you wife does not get jealous.

Check out the Gauteng thread from time to time to see when we are going to play again.