Finally got something RetroRides worthy agaon.
After several years of not having retros (or boring bone stock ones), i have picked up this little beauty.
The previous owner overheated it, and blew the headgasket.
It was recovered, and was going to be scrapped because of the costs to fix it.
Made the guy an offer and took it home, thinking it would be an easy fix because it's just a rhd Hijet.......
Well, it seems the Hijet and Atrai do have a lot of differences....
This little beauty is fitted with an 3 cilinder 12Valve 660cc engine, that's only fitted in the Japanese vehicles.
Nothing like the 850cc, 1000cc and 1300cc engines we have in the Hijets over here.
After a lot of searching i found some parts online, but the headgasket was only available in Japan, for well over 100 pounds ex shipping for just a gasket.
So after looking at a lot of headgasket pictures, i ordered one for a 850cc engine.
As it looked almost identical.
Only major difference was a couple of coolant passages that where missing, so got the drillpress out, and made them myself 😎
Seems to be working out, runs like a champ, and does not overheat, and if it does, i've only wasted 15 euros on a 850 headgasket 😁
So with the engine running, it was time to get some wheels for it.
These vans have a weird 4x110 bolt pattern with an enormous centre bore, so i got the hubs and drums redrilled to 4x100 and got someone to put the hubs on the late and knock the centrebore down to a better size.
Then i stumbled on these "beauties", they are 5.5x15" Kia Picanto wheels with 175/50R15 tires.
Next job is lowering, as it needs it desperately
After several years of not having retros (or boring bone stock ones), i have picked up this little beauty.
The previous owner overheated it, and blew the headgasket.
It was recovered, and was going to be scrapped because of the costs to fix it.
Made the guy an offer and took it home, thinking it would be an easy fix because it's just a rhd Hijet.......
Well, it seems the Hijet and Atrai do have a lot of differences....
This little beauty is fitted with an 3 cilinder 12Valve 660cc engine, that's only fitted in the Japanese vehicles.
Nothing like the 850cc, 1000cc and 1300cc engines we have in the Hijets over here.
After a lot of searching i found some parts online, but the headgasket was only available in Japan, for well over 100 pounds ex shipping for just a gasket.
So after looking at a lot of headgasket pictures, i ordered one for a 850cc engine.
As it looked almost identical.
Only major difference was a couple of coolant passages that where missing, so got the drillpress out, and made them myself 😎
Seems to be working out, runs like a champ, and does not overheat, and if it does, i've only wasted 15 euros on a 850 headgasket 😁
So with the engine running, it was time to get some wheels for it.
These vans have a weird 4x110 bolt pattern with an enormous centre bore, so i got the hubs and drums redrilled to 4x100 and got someone to put the hubs on the late and knock the centrebore down to a better size.
Then i stumbled on these "beauties", they are 5.5x15" Kia Picanto wheels with 175/50R15 tires.
Next job is lowering, as it needs it desperately
