Hilux KUN26L build in USA

[AmeriKUN26]

Went ahead and worked on the bedside damage a bit while waiting on parts. Also installed new LH taillight. Headlight hit the states from Poland after 60 days!









Almost passable from a distance, it'll do until I get around to a repaint.

[hiluxxury]

Nicely done - can you come across and do mine?

[AmeriKUN26]

Nicely done - can you come across and do mine?

Sure, as long as you send me home with some spare parts!

[AmeriKUN26]

Headlight arrived from Poland after 70 days... Depo unit, looks pretty good.

[AmeriKUN26]

Nothing terribly exciting but one of my biggest gripes with the Hilux was not having a place to put my phone, especially if using navigation. So I decided on a phone mount after a few failed product attempts.

I made a mount out of 2.5" aluminum angle.





Painted and baked, 3M trim tape and the option for two screws if needed.



The ashtray still opens and the mount is incredibly solid.



I used RAM Mount 1" ball components for easy removal and future changes.

[AmeriKUN26]

Got out for some riding this weekend



And put the winch to use





Also, full Dobinson's kit came in. I'll be doing the rear this weekend, front is waiting on CV parts and strut caps.

[hiluxxury]

Are those parabolics I see?

[AmeriKUN26]

Indeed! Front leaf bolt kicked my ass! Rear is installed and rides great, I'll do the front this week. Pics to come!

[hiluxxury]

Its been on my list to try the parabolics if I ever bothered to change out the stock springs. Glad you are happy with them.

[AmeriKUN26]

Its been on my list to try the parabolics if I ever bothered to change out the stock springs. Glad you are happy with them.

I'll let you know how they do once I finish the front. I got inner cv joints and some boots too, if they fit...

[AmeriKUN26]

Leafs put up a fight, front bolt had to be cut with the sawzall...



As did the U-bolts. Surprising as the undercarriage is in good shape.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WDcIZ ... no-tmp.jpg

[AmeriKUN26]

Front end proved worse, lower control arm bolts had to be cut, and upper ball joints were worn out.







Built up the new struts yesterday and ordered:

-New upper control arms
-New lower control arms
-Upper and lower ball joints
-Outer tie rod ends
-All new cam bolts

Now I have a yard ornament for the next two weeks...

[hiluxxury]

Yikes - strut spaces! Glad you got those out - the risk of a bent strut is great with those.

It will feel like a new hilux after all that!

[DeadlyBeast]

Great work on the restoration
The front end will feel so much better after getting rid of those strut spacers + new arms and joints.
Its done well to hang in there for 270+K from the previous owners
Hows those CV's looking?

Addit - Just noticed hiluxxury beat me to it on those two points

[hiluxxury]

[AmeriKUN26]

Thanks guys! I ordered new inner CV joints and new outer boots as the CVs felt good but both outer boots were torn. I ended up with Cozza LCAs from onlineautoparts in Australia. I had limited options and they ship here. If they turn out to be of poor quality I'll put new bushings and LBJs in the old ones... More pics to come as parts trickle in!

[AmeriKUN26]

LH side came off much more easily, some play in the LH CV where it goes into the diff but it feels the same on my 4runner and it isn't leaking so... Aussie order will be here Monday, UAE is the weak link as usual, have had to cancel two orders of camber bolts.



CVs actually feel great despite age, I may just clean them up and reboot them...



Parts pile is growing:

[DeadlyBeast]

I feel your pain regarding postal time.
I've received goods faster from the U.S than parts from Australia
Hopefully those CVs will last another 50K. Any plans for diff drop relocation?

[AmeriKUN26]

I feel your pain regarding postal time.
I've received goods faster from the U.S than parts from Australia
Hopefully those CVs will last another 50K. Any plans for diff drop relocation?

I hope so too! And currently no plans for a diff drop, I'm only at about 2" of lift and don't plan to go any higher.

[DeadlyBeast]

Fair enough. Theres been a lot of $ put into this already.
Looks like you will be using this off road regularly.
Once those CV's start clicking and need replacing consider a diff drop. Even 1" lift will increase the rate of wear. Plenty of stories on this site of new CVs getting busted under articulation with 2" lift... although the drivers right foot usually has a part in this.
Keep the updates coming