1994 Toyota Hiace Super Custom Limited

[dangermouse]

So not much progress (as usual ) but a few trips and pictures to document. MOT passed a few weeks ago, reminding me about the patch work exhaust and suggesting i need some new tyres soon. The exhaust i'm getting sorted when i go see my folks next month and the tyres i'm well aware of so thats all gravy

After looking for more time than i care to mention, i scored some Hiace steel wheels that had been in someones garage for 10 years! They are getting shot blasted and done in the same dark metallic grey. I'd like to get them banded but money is money for other things the van needs

Anyway so a group of us went camping to the Crows Nest (between Scarborough and Filey) and enjoyed the lovely English greyness



^^ (don't worry i gave her a soapy hot jetwash straight after this) ...i still feel bad though ...it was fun though


Some £8 solar lights from B&M Bargains i put into the roof lining, great for saving the battery!

and finally as seems to be traditional nowadays... some instagramness a friend sent me


Again sorry for not much progress, just thought i'd keep this thread alive and keep the mojo alive...

[dangermouse]

Finally i have some RR worthy progress!! The roofrack i had stored at my parents house in Kent has been collected!! I'm very proud of it if i'm honest, it started as a bargain Ebay purchase, a 1970's Paddy Hopkirk rack, which we had to get extended 3 inches on both sides to clear the arched roof of the Hiace. My dad then spotted an old wooden bed frame someone was throwing out so he grabbed some bits, attached them and BOOM... amazing roofrack (in my humble opinion)

I'd like to say i meant for it to fit perfectly between the sunroofs but that was a happy accident!

I am wanting some thoughts on colour though shall i plastidip the metal frame a darker grey (or black?) to match the wheels? I am planning on staining the wood to match the wood on the side... some photoshop help would be appreciated please

Whilst in Kent the van also got a full stainless steel exhaust to replace the patchwork effort that was on there, i made sure with the guy that losing all silencers wouldn't increase the sound and make it a headache on the motorway. I've been doing a lot of reading up on the 3.0 diesel engine and the only thing that really kills them is overheating so a (semi) straight through exhaust is recommended to keep engine temperatures down... suits me sir! Its just nice not having it knock on the body over every speed bump or drain cover. I'm finding it quieter most of the time and possibly a placebo effect but i'm sure its slightly keener to pull lower in the rev range?? Placebo i'm sure

Lastly before leaving Kent i noted my dear old mums' Pug 206 was losing its little chin spoiler so i gave it a little kick, a pull and finally a damn good yank and wouldn't you know it, it just fell off in my hands!! Shocking!! I then lovingly attached to the front of my van where it seemed much happier and at home. Recycling and minor criminal damage at its finest!

With the Mojo high after a successful Kent trip, the first thing i did was go down to Stews lock up and try the steel wheels i'd got a few weeks back. I'd been having sexy dreams out how good they'd look and how perfectly they'd fit, after all they came straight off another Hiace of the same shape, what could possibly go wrong?!? THEY DON'T F***ING FIT!!! The wheels were off a work/delivery version of my people carrying version and they have smaller brakes!!! The damn 14's wouldn't fit around my bigger brakes!!! Soooooooo stupid!! Why didn't i think of that?!?

The worst big about it was they looked incredible, completely the look i've wanted from day one
(This is them fitted backwards to replicate banded steels.... The dream)



If anyone knows of a Hiace this shape being broken with 15 inch steels or some Weller/Slotmags in 5x114, 67mm bore with a 18-20 offset in 15 inch or bigger i will be eternally grateful, pay you lots(within reason!!).... lend you my sister... Anything!!! Please!!

[oldisbetter]

I own a 96 toyota granvia, Later shape with same engine as yours but mine has less toys, Its not great on fuel(SVO?)as you say but very big and smooth to drive, Mines due for an exhaust but a stainless system maybe better as it seems to kill exhausts fast, But anyway you have a nice looking motor there .

[gpw]

Great post dangermouse, good to see another one of these cool vans. I just received one myself that I imported personally, no joy-talk or kettle but someone in japan has had some fun with it and they fitted some bigger wheels

[briwiththei]

Hi I just bought one of these and looking for a new engine sadly for mine but proving very hard to find one! is the same engine in a land cruiser?? my super custom is a 1993 2.8 TD auto any help would be much appreciated!

[kevstarlet]

Jul 26, 2016 15:13:24 GMT briwiththei said:

Hi I just bought one of these and looking for a new engine sadly for mine but proving very hard to find one! is the same engine in a land cruiser?? my super custom is a 1993 2.8 TD auto any help would be much appreciated!

You should look for a J import or aussie hilux they came with the 2.8td engine also. Is the engine an "L" code?

[briwiththei]

yes its a L3 I'm told so the same engine is in a imported Hilux? I been looking for weeks now

[sciclone]

It's 3L, not L3... There is also a 3L-T... (turbo). 5L-T (old 3 litre turbo), then the later 1KZ-TE, which was used in hilux's and prados up until common rail.

[thewootts]

Hi All,

I was reading through this thread @ work as I have a Hiace reguis, I'm always on the lookout to see what people are doing with there Hiace's... briwiththei I would deffeniatly just put the 1kz-TE engine your van. should be easy to find and is by far the best engine of the lot. The swap should be a simple in and out with no drama.

gpw the picture you put up.. I'm pretty sure your van has the 6x139 stud pattern. Dangermouse you can get the 6 stub hubs pretty cheap and convert it over then you are spoilt for choice with rims as that stud pattern is used on pretty much every 4x4

Altering the ride hight is super easy as well. torsion bar front springs and if you have leaf spring rear you can just space axel off the springs. If it's IRS rear its a bit more tricky.

My van is 1998 is that old enough to put a few pics on here?

Pretty intensive first post but it beats doing real work ;-)

[briwiththei]

Haha as you can see I'm new to the Toyota Hi-ace scene! 3L! its a 2.8 turbo Diesel auto not very fast tho! so I could put a 1kz-TE engine in the van? that will make life so much easier if they are easier to come by! thanks Chaps! SO APPRECIATED!

[br00klyn99]

Great looking van!

[briwiththei]

thewootts put some pics of you van on for sure!

[briwiththei]

Hi Chaps I have been asking around for a kz1=TE engine for my Hi-ace and a numer of the breakers aren't sure if it will fit? a number of them have said "no idea if it will fit, check the code on your hi-ace, significantly the "TE" part at the end of our engine indicates that it has an electronic fuel injection pump. I'd be surprised if a 1993 modal had that as it was introduced around 96-97"

OMG its a minefield!

[kevstarlet]

You can get a modified mechanical pajero fuel pump to work on those engines instead of the electric one.

[thewootts]

Thats a valid piont you would also need to swap the wiring loom as the 1kz-te has a ... Its not that much of job ;-) depends on how far you want to go. very basic wiring.

You can use the manual pump from the 3l engine... however you will need the boost step up diaphragm from the 2LT from memory... God its been a few years since ive played around with these engines. its all flooding back like a dream or nightmare not sure witch at the moment. lol

Fitting and timing the pump is a tricky job as well...definitely not a job for novice.

My opinion is that its much easier to swap the loom and fit ecu than swapping pumps over.


I guess It's easy to sit here and type an email suggesting what to do if you yoyur not doing the work :-)

What went wrong with the 3L??

[briwiththei]

[briwiththei]

Jul 28, 2016 15:14:08 GMT briwiththei said:

This is her! thanks for all the advice but its not going to me who does the work I just need to find somebody who can and will! lol I've no idea what's wrong with the engine that's in, she starts and drive but over heats after a while I'm told she also blow out a bit of smoke from the exhaust and in my opinion doesn't sound great a knocking or slapping noise from the engine but the chap I got it off send its always sounded the same, he had a recon engine fitted in 2013, its just had £500 spent on it in march for new timing belts etc and MOT but it over heated on the way back from the garage maybe they didn't fit the belt correctly??

[briwiththei]

The engine!

[kevstarlet]

I'd say the head is cracked it's a known problem with the L series

[briwiththei]

really that's a worry these engines are like hens teeth it seems! this is what the van sounds like the chap I got it from sent a video of the camper facilities but you get an idea of the engine issue!