Newbie Hilux Mk3

[Risky]

Hi all
After finding this site and having a quick look around and seeing what can be done with the awesome 1uz's I thought it best to register and say Helloooooo.

I'm from The U.K, what's left of it!! and I have a Hilux Mk3 in mint condition that I decided was too good to ruin off road and somewhat lacking in the engine department.
I'd heard of the Lexus swop but decided to go with the "easier" Rover V8 conversion. The RV8 swops had been comprehensively covered on the Hilux forum so as a starter I opted for that route.
Job done a while back and no real problems. Sounds great and goes very well and is more about the sound than the performance although it is nice to have much more ooomph.

I saw a Lexsurf conversion and that got my juices flowing. Looked into it a bit more and thought it could be fun to have a Lexus lump in my Hilux to restore it back to Toyota through and through.
2 days after looking at the forums I owned a 97 LS400... 90,000 miles on the clock and service history. I bought it to smoke around in and then to possibly use as a donor motor for the swop..........we've fallen in love with the old bus!!! After giving it a clean up I've realised the motor is spot on with minimal damage all round...scrubbed up well.
It's all there and working apart from a few silly little bits like the lights on the radio display...big deal!

So for now the car is saved and we are enjoying a bit of luxury motoring for peanuts, I paid £695 for the car...happy days.

I've now seen the superchargers bolted on the motors....YES PLEASE, I likey that a lot.
1st question, is it pretty simple?
2nd question, what's the best set-up?
Jaguar xk8 supercharger looks popular, is that a simpleish job?

Anyway....loving the work you guys have done and I shall be reading up as much as possible in the coming weeks.
Hope you like my truck and appreciate the Rover V8 swop...I know it's not a Toyota V8 but it was my 1st attempt at this stuff.
Eventually I may go for the swop of the Rover lump but for now i'll do some homework on it all.
Regards

Phil.

 

[samsdad]

I've had the "Rover Lump" in a Vitesse and loved it... Well aside from the Lucas fuel injection that was attached to it...1UZ you will absolutely adore it in the 'Lux esp with a bit of "tickles". You really need to talk to lexsurf as he is in your neck of the woods and does a magic job. But with a UZ up front you will need either an R series box or go auto.

Lexsurf does like to "Bling things up" a bit and I go more practical, but I'm in Aussie and he's in the UK So I strongly suggest that you get in touch

 

[Risky]

I've had the "Rover Lump" in a Vitesse and loved it... Well aside from the Lucas fuel injection that was attached to it...1UZ you will absolutely adore it in the 'Lux esp with a bit of "tickles". You really need to talk to lexsurf as he is in your neck of the woods and does a magic job. But with a UZ up front you will need either an R series box or go auto.

Lexsurf does like to "Bling things up" a bit and I go more practical, but I'm in Aussie and he's in the UK So I strongly suggest that you get in touch

Hi.. We're loving the LS400 as a motor to bimble about in and having cleaned it properley now I couldn't contemplate tearing it apart..way too nice.

The trucks driving and running sweet as, but being a tad mental I now fancy the 1UZ lump up front...Toyota and all that. I'd be more than happy to go with the auto box as a unit but would want to keep all the 4WD system just in case we should venture off road again.

I'm in no rush and i'll wait for bits to come along as and when, would like to have a sniff around a Lexsurf though to see what it's all about....anyone near me in the U.K? I'm in Wallington South London.

Cheers for your reply.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Welcome on board Phil.
Flounderbout on the Surf forum would be the nearest to your neck of the woods, he's in Guildford and owns Lexurf VI.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Lexurf does like to "Bling things up" a bit and I go more practical,

Actually I do both, I just like to hand over something special to my customers and it also gives them something to show off.

 

[Risky]

Welcome on board Phil.
Flounderbout on the Surf forum would be the nearest to your neck of the woods, he's in Guildford and owns Lexurf VI.

Cheers for the headsup on a local truck, just down the A3 from me, happy days.
I'll try and meet up with him somewhere along the line if he's up for it and get an idea what I may be getting myself into!

 

[Risky]

Not a lot to report other than I now have 2 LS400's!
1st one I bought as a potential doner then realised just what a bargain and just how mint she is, happy days! 90,000 miles and nearly FSH. £695!! Cleaned up and looks SUPERB, drives spot on and does the usual rolling burn outs easily (just had to check that bit out as ya do)
So that is our Sunday driver...well anytime drive actually..we Looooooooove that motor!

Then spoke to a mate in a garage...he knew of another LS400. Few days later it is now sitting in my garden
81,000 KM's Yep....LOW LOW MILEAGE. Checked the paperwork and talking to the guy that owned it since 2000 it all stacks up to genuine..MOT's to back up.
Been sat for about 6months and wouldn't do anything but light up the dash..no starter turning. Played around with gear selector and tweaked a few wires...fired up!
So....have the car, everything ready to go but still not 100% certain about starting all over again......time will tell.

In the meantime i'll get it running sweet as a nut, drive it to make sure everything is working in the engine/gearbox department and then see where I go with it.
Whatever happens I cannot lose. I only paid £275 for it and already I have a potential buyer for the LPG gas conversion kit that's fitted to it. I'll strip it for spares for my LS and stash them parts all away.....get the engine/box out and then run the rest to scrap, that said I do know that some of the UK boys are now racing these motors with differant engines...so I can even sell the Shell. SORTED!