Hilux KUN26L build in USA

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Tue, 12 Jan 2021 6:52 +0000

DeadlyBeast wrote:Looking good
Some leaf packs are left/right side specific sometimes indicated by a "+" on one of the packs and a "-" on the other. Not sure if that might be a contributing cause of the uneven height.

Pre-empting other comments: many accounts of strut spacers causing strut failures
Have you jacked up the rear by the centre and measured the front L/R heights?
Is common for the drivers side to be about 10mm higher when cabin is unoccupied


These leafs are not side specific, same part number and I called Dobinson's to ask as that was my suspicion too. They said the parabolics have two spacers installed at the top of the leaf pack, one or both can be moved to the bottom for leveling.

As far as the spacer I ordered, it's a 1/4" poly unit to combat the "taco lean" battery gas tank and driver all on the left here. Not the big 2" "lift spacers" that I removed. I'll decide whether or not to install it after a couple more weeks of settling. I did jack it up by the diff and measurements were pretty close. Either way it's loads better after swapping leafs! Thanks for the input!
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Tue, 12 Jan 2021 6:55 +0000

Caleebra wrote:Dude! Thats awesome finds on the Taco vs Hilux parts!
In other words you can actually fit some beefy UCA/LCA or a long travel kit from, say; Total Chaos or Dirt King Fabrication, etc.
Wonder if the steering rods and front axles(stronger & wider) can be swapped also, you can pretty much build a Tacoma styled Hilux with wider stance, would look sick!

But then again, waaaay to much money to go that far... :lol:

On topic; The Hilux has come along nicely! Cant wait to see more! :D


So far the UCA is the only interchangeable part up front. LCAs, CV axles etc. Were a no-go. That would be sweet though, and it would save me heaps on shipping! And thanks, it really is coming along, albeit slowly!
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:55 +0000

Its a real pity the CVs arent a direct swap.

Do you know why the LCA doesnt fit?
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Wed, 13 Jan 2021 5:15 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Its a real pity the CVs arent a direct swap.

Do you know why the LCA doesnt fit?


Agreed on the CVs! And I did not physically try the LCAs, it was based on reading. It may be possible to swap the entire front suspension setup from the frame out, maybe then the CVs would work. I however will not be that guinea pig unless I roll it... :lol:

New UCAs will be here tomorrow, will probably get them on in the next week or so then realign.
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Wed, 13 Jan 2021 7:52 +0000

Yeah I've played with the idea of swapping the front end for prado or FJ parts for a few more options but time, money and need have prevented that.
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Fri, 29 Jan 2021 7:09 +0000

SPC UCAs installed this morning, no problems. No more rubbing and I can get as much caster as I want. Also installed a .25" spacer on the LH side to combat the lean. Should actually be done with suspension after an alignment tomorrow. :D Sad to see that my brand new CV boots already have some cracking after a couple hundred miles... :roll:

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Brand new set of uppers if any of you want to pay for shipping! :lol:

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Fri, 29 Jan 2021 8:55 +0000

Genuine CV boots?
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:54 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Genuine CV boots?


No couldn't source any in time, hopefully they'll hold up for a while. Next time I'll order oem
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:49 +0000

Got in for another alignment after the SPC UCA install. Set it around 4 degrees of caster and it's driving quite nicely! Took it for a hard shakedown run to test everything out, accidentally caught a foot or two of air along the way :shock: Everything performed well and alignment still tracking beautifully.

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Also winched a random fella out of the ditch on the way by. Happy to see my new brackets held up fine.

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Next up is an exciting cupholder mod and an awful lot of glass polishing. :roll:
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:52 +0000

Haha the cupholder! Glad its all come together. How are the rear springs?
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:55 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Haha the cupholder! Glad its all come together. How are the rear springs?


The suspension felt great, had some noise when fully unloading the front suspension. So I retorqued both struts and caps and it seems to be gone. Parabolics are a little stiff with no load in the bed as expected but overall I'm very pleased!
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Wed, 03 Feb 2021 5:52 +0000

Good to hear. Check the UCA bolt in a couple of 1000km/miles - they can come undone. Its rare but its happened to me and others.
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Thu, 04 Feb 2021 5:16 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Good to hear. Check the UCA bolt in a couple of 1000km/miles - they can come undone. Its rare but its happened to me and others.
Will do thanks! Gonna check over all the suspension bolts in a few Ks!

So, it may seem petty but one of my (and my GF's) biggest gripes is that the cupholders are all can size and we don't have anywhere to put our Yeti mugs. I needed a solution that looked factory and would be robust and reversible. Here's what I came up with:

Ordered a Gray metal Tuffy drink holder and set to work on the required bracketry.

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Sawed off some thread couplers to the required length and loc-tited into the console.

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Fabbed a steel bracket and a high durometer rubber sheet for a filler panel/ vibration dampener.

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Very pleased with the way it turned out, super solid and gave me a chance to really clean up under and around the console.

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:D :D

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Tue, 20 Apr 2021 6:04 +0000

Finished some side projects and back at it. Decided to give polishing the badly scratched front windows another go. Unfortunately they're just too badly scratched to get them passable. I've been online looking for someone that can ship the glass for hours, looks like I found a place. Also went ahead and ordered new window belts/trim from Amayama. Fingers crossed that these are the correct windows and they arrive intact!
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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Tue, 20 Apr 2021 7:06 +0000

Yeah I'd never considered not having easy access to glass. The hilux is one of the most popular vehicles on the road here - we have no problems getting any part.
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Thu, 22 Apr 2021 4:39 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Yeah I'd never considered not having easy access to glass. The hilux is one of the most popular vehicles on the road here - we have no problems getting any part.


Yup, it's always a fun logistical experience when I need a large part (especially a fragile one no one wants to ship)
A couple pics of the second failed polishing attempt. To be fair, if it had been one or two deep scratches I could've gotten them out. This was more like someone wiped down the windows with coarse sandpaper. Pics can't really convey...

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Thu, 22 Apr 2021 4:40 +0000

Getting some use out of her between projects.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Thu, 22 Apr 2021 4:43 +0000

Decided to repair the inop door check straps with a kit from Russia, will post pics later. Also figured I'd throw some sound deadening in the doors while I'm in there.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby hiluxxury on Thu, 22 Apr 2021 6:55 +0000

Make much difference?
I might be wrong.

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Re: Hilux KUN26L build in USA

Postby AmeriKUN26 on Thu, 22 Apr 2021 9:25 +0000

hiluxxury wrote:Make much difference?


Haven't driven it yet, it'll be a few weeks before glass comes in and all four doors are done. Eventually I'll probably do the floor and back of cab as well. I'll report if it's noticeable! Since I have it apart it's cheap to do, and it cut down a lot with road noise on previous builds.
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