It's about time I made a build thread to document the bits and pieces on my mangy mongrel Hilux. So here goes . . . .
I bought my 2006 SR D4D manual dual cab Hilux second hand in November 2007.
This is the list of the modifications/additions it already had when I bought it :
ARB Deluxe bar
ARB Turbo Timer
Safari snorkel
Ironman 9500lb winch
No name driving lights from Opposite Lock
GME TX3400 UHF
Auscruise cruise control
Carpet floor
Toyota bonnet protector
Toyota headlight protectors
Toyota tonneau cover
Toyota tubliner
SR5 tiedown points
Toyota towbar
Bald 205R16 tyres
So after a very hairy slip sliding incident on a wet mountain road the day I brought it home, the first thing I did was throw some 245/75R16 Cooper S/T tyres on the stock SR rims. Feeling content, I left it at that for a while.
18 months later I picked up some new 16x7 +20 offset CSA Magnum alloys clad with 265/75R16 Mickey Thompson MTZ's, threw them in the tub and dropped the Hilux off at crosssport's workshop in Albury.
There it had an EFS constant 300kg+ suspension lift installed, a Steinbauer power module installed, an Humex 3" exhaust installed, wheels and tyres fitted and a wheel alignment providing maximum castor.
I was really happy with these first lot of mods. The suspension, although advertised at approximately 40mm of lift actually gave me almost 3" of lift. This settled to about 2" after about a year. The power from the Steinbauer combined with the zorst was awesome. And the MTZ's gripped like Spiderman.
Next were Skogs diff breathers, Ruffnut heavy duty seat covers and a Digoptions version 1b GPS/entertainment system just in time for our 6200km road trip to Cairns. It was on this trip that I decided I needed flares to cover the MTZ's
So Utemart flares were ordered. Then I picked up some rocksliders from Millweld.
Flares fitted.
I also picked up some front recovery points.
Somewhere along the way I did the seatbelt beeper and key in ignition mods, added a left hand side in-dash cup holder, LED interior light, replaced girlie horn with Stebel horn, removed tailgate stickers, added a Fumoto oil drain valve, added a rear recovery hitch and installed an ARB high flow onboard compressor with tyre inflator kit and E-Z tyre deflator.
Next was the neck snapping, tyre smoking Sprint Booster power converter which is always set on red. Then I purchased some 90 series Prado steel wheels, painted them matt black and whacked on some 255/85R16 Maxxis Bighorn tyres.
The usual front mudflap removal, panel seam bending and plastic wheel arch cover heating and bending was done but I forgot to modify the ARB bullbar splash plates to suit the larger diameter tyres before I embarked on the next high country trip resulting in this...
I removed it with minimal tyre damage and the other side has never touched. I also covered the the wheel arch butchering with mudflaps that I made out of 3mm insertion rubber.
Then I fitted front and transmission underbody gaurds supplied by NewHilux member crosssport (Shane from All Terrain Mechanical in Albury).
After that I ordered from Ultimate Suspension a Clutch Industries 4 Terrain heavy duty 4WD clutch and it was back to Albury to have Shane fit it for me.
Whilst there we removed a leaf from each rear spring pack to soften the ride a little. This also lowered the rear end over an inch giving the Hilux less of a nosedive look.
I also did a small exhaust mod, replacing the muffler section with a straight through pipe that I bought off Max. It's a little bit louder now.
The next thing to do was fit the Uptop Campers rooftop tent and I was ready for Easter.
And that's it for now. That's my Lux standing proud, cover in mud and dust and scratches and dents. It ain't nothin special but I love it.